Amateur Radio Propagation Report

Sun Images for Past 72 Hours

Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project

📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation is currently moderate to good thanks to a solar flux of 128 and a sunspot number of 53, with very quiet geomagnetic conditions (K-index at 1). Expect good performance on the 20m, 17m, and 15m bands throughout the day and evening, while 80m and 40m will be fair to good—especially at night. The higher bands (12m and 10m) are open but spotty, with best results during daylight hours. With low geomagnetic disturbance and stable solar activity, now is a great time for both casual QSOs and DX hunting, especially on the mid-bands.

💡 Operator Tips

• Focus your efforts on 20m, 17m, and 15m for reliable daytime and evening contacts—these bands are currently performing best.
• 80m and 40m will provide solid night-time regional coverage; use these for nets and local QSOs after sunset.
• Try FT8 or CW on 12m and 10m during late morning and early afternoon for possible short-skip and sporadic-E openings.
• With low K-index, DX paths are more stable—take advantage of this for long-haul contacts, especially along the grayline.
• Keep an eye on the X-ray flux (C1.6); while not extreme, it can cause brief HF fadeouts during strong solar events.
• For VHF/UHF, auroral propagation is not expected, but monitor 6m for possible sporadic-E.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m/40m: Best at night and early morning (regional and NVIS)
• 20m/17m/15m: Excellent from mid-morning through late evening (DX and intercontinental)
• 12m/10m: Try late morning to mid-afternoon for possible openings; expect fair to poor at night
• Grayline periods: Sunrise and sunset for enhanced long-distance propagation, especially on 20m and 40m

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline DX: Enhanced paths on 40m and 20m at local sunrise/sunset—target antipodal regions for best results.
• 20m/17m/15m: Good trans-equatorial and east-west DX paths, especially during daylight and early evening.
• 10m/12m: Watch for short, sporadic-E DX openings around midday—FT8 and digital modes may yield surprises.
• Aurora: Minimal auroral activity (Aurora index 1), so VHF auroral DX is unlikely today.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

Analysis:
20m, 17m, and 15m are your top performers today, offering consistent good conditions from morning through evening and even into the night. 80m and 40m are fair during the day but improve to good at night—ideal for local and regional nets. 12m and 10m are fair during daylight but drop to poor at night; use digital modes for best results on these bands.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet)—minimal geomagnetic disturbance, stable HF conditions
• Solar Flux: 128 (moderate)—supports good propagation on 20m-15m, some openings on 12m/10m
• Sunspot Number: 53 (moderate)—enough for reliable F-layer propagation, but not peak cycle levels
• Space Weather: No major flares or storms reported; X-ray flux at C1.6 (minor risk of short HF fadeouts)

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• The K-index has remained very low and stable (0–1) over the past 24 hours, indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions.
• This stability means minimal absorption and excellent reliability for HF propagation, especially for polar and trans-equatorial paths.
• No geomagnetic storms or sudden disturbances are expected in the near term.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: C1.6—moderate, with only a slight chance of short HF blackouts during peak flare moments.
• Solar Wind: 373 km/s—a moderate speed, not enough to trigger geomagnetic storms.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux 1620 (moderate); Proton flux 11 (quiet)—no significant impact on HF, but keep an eye out for sudden increases.
• Aurora Activity: 1 (very low)—no auroral propagation expected on VHF/UHF.
• Helium Line: 120.8—shows stable solar activity, no major upswings or drops.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Over the past several months, solar flux has gradually decreased from a high of 160 in December 2025 to around 125 now, with sunspot numbers following a similar trend.
• This means we're past the recent solar maximum, but current values still support good HF propagation on most bands.
• No major solar events or sudden drops in solar activity are evident in the recent data.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• Expect continued moderate solar activity with solar flux and sunspot numbers remaining steady.
• K-index is forecast to remain low, so quiet geomagnetic conditions should persist.
• Best bands: 20m, 17m, and 15m for reliable DX and regional contacts.
• Watch for: Possible short-lived 10m/12m openings during midday, especially for digital modes.
• No warnings or alerts at this time—enjoy the stable conditions and make the most of the bands!