Amateur Radio Propagation Report

Sun Images for Past 72 Hours

Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project

📋 Propagation Summary

Today’s HF propagation is shaped by a solar flux of 137 and a sunspot number of 74, both supporting decent upper HF activity. The K-index is at 1 (very quiet), meaning geomagnetic conditions are stable and favorable for HF work. Expect good conditions on 20m, 17m, and 15m throughout the day and evening, while 12m and 10m are more variable. Lower bands (80m/40m) will perform best at night. Take advantage of the calm geomagnetic field and moderate solar activity for reliable regional and some DX contacts, especially during daylight and grayline periods.

💡 Operator Tips

• Daytime: Focus on 20m, 17m, and 15m for consistent contacts; 12m and 10m may open for short periods, so check often.
• Nighttime: 80m and 40m will be your best bets for both local and some long-haul QSOs.
• Modes: Use FT8 and CW for weak-signal work, especially on higher bands where conditions are only fair.
• Antennas: Multi-band verticals or dipoles will maximize your chances; consider directional antennas for DX.
• Contesters/DXers: Watch for grayline openings on 20m and 17m; check 10m/12m for sporadic E or brief F-layer openings.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• Early morning and evening: 20m, 17m, and 15m are most reliable for DX and regional contacts.
• Night: 80m and 40m open up for local and some long-distance work.
• Daytime: 12m and 10m may open briefly—monitor for short-lived openings.

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline: Enhanced propagation on 20m and 17m during sunrise and sunset; target east-west paths for best results.
• DX Hotspots: 15m and 17m offer potential for intercontinental contacts, especially during daylight.
• 10m/12m: Watch for sporadic E and short F-layer openings, especially mid-day and early afternoon.
• Aurora: Low aurora activity means polar paths are stable; northern operators may see some VHF auroral enhancement, but HF is unaffected.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

Analysis:

• Best bands: 20m, 17m, and 15m are consistently good all day and into the evening—these are your go-to bands for both DX and domestic contacts.
• Lower bands (80m/40m): Fair during the day, improving to good at night—ideal for local/regional nets and ragchews after sunset.
• High bands (12m/10m): Fair during daylight, but poor at night; check for brief openings, especially around local noon.
• DXers: Focus on 17m/15m for the best shot at long-haul contacts; 20m remains reliable around the clock.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet) — Minimal geomagnetic disturbance, supporting stable HF propagation.
• Solar Flux: 137 — Indicates moderate solar activity; supports openings up to 15m, with occasional 12m/10m activity.
• Sunspot Number: 74 — Sufficient for decent HF propagation, especially on the upper bands.
• Space Weather: No major solar flares or storms; X-ray flux at C2.5 (moderate), so only minor risk of short-term HF blackouts.

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• Recent K-index trend: Stable and low (K=1), with no significant spikes in the past 24 hours.
• Impact: Quiet geomagnetic field means low absorption and good propagation, especially for polar and trans-equatorial paths.
• Outlook: Expect continued stable conditions unless a sudden solar event occurs.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: C2.5 — Moderate, with low risk of HF blackouts; keep an ear out for brief fadeouts on the sunlit side.
• Solar Wind: 287.7 km/s — Below average, indicating a calm solar wind environment and minimal geomagnetic disturbance.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux at 2320 is elevated, but not at storm levels; proton flux at 15 is quiet—no major impact on HF.
• Aurora: 2 — Very low; no auroral HF absorption, and VHF/UHF aurora is unlikely.
• Helium Line: 125.4 — Indicates steady solar activity; no rapid upward or downward trend.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Recent trends: Solar flux and sunspot numbers have been moderately variable over the past 6 months, with a slight dip in early spring but a rebound in June and July.
• Implications: The current moderate solar activity supports reliable upper HF propagation, with no major disruptions expected.
• Historical context: Solar flux has ranged from 120 to 151 since January, and sunspot numbers have fluctuated but remain supportive of good HF conditions.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• Propagation outlook: Expect continued good conditions on 20m, 17m, and 15m. 12m and 10m may see brief openings, especially if solar flux ticks up.
• Geomagnetic forecast: K-index is expected to remain low, supporting stable HF and DX opportunities.
• Operator advice: Monitor solar data for any sudden X-ray or geomagnetic activity, but plan for solid operating windows on the upper HF bands through the forecast period.