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 moderate solar flux of 124 and a sunspot number of 114, both supporting decent daytime band openings. The K-index is very low (1), indicating stable geomagnetic conditions and minimal disturbances—great news for HF reliability. Expect good performance on 20m throughout the day and night, with 40m and 80m improving after sunset. Higher bands (15m, 12m, 10m) are only fair during the day and tend to close or become poor at night. Operators should take advantage of the calm geomagnetic field for DX and reliable regional contacts, especially on the lower bands after dark.

💡 Operator Tips

• Use 20m for all-day DX and reliable contacts—this is today’s “money band.”
• 40m and 80m will shine after sunset; try these for regional and intercontinental QSOs during the evening and night.
• Higher bands (15m, 12m, 10m) may open for short periods during daylight—watch for brief DX windows, especially around local noon.
• Consider digital modes (FT8, FT4, PSK31) on higher bands to take advantage of marginal conditions.
• With low K-index, CW and SSB will perform well on all open bands—great day for contests or chasing new DXCCs.
• For VHF/UHF: Aurora activity is minimal, so expect typical line-of-sight propagation only.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m & 40m: Best at night and early morning (local sunrise/sunset)
• 20m: Good all day and into the evening
• 17m & 15m: Fair during daylight, especially late morning to afternoon
• 12m & 10m: Try late morning to early afternoon for any brief openings

🌍 DX Opportunities

• 20m offers the most reliable DX paths, both east-west and north-south, throughout the day and evening.
• Grayline propagation: Excellent on 40m and 80m at local sunrise/sunset—target distant regions along the terminator.
• Short-lived DX possible on 15m, 12m, and 10m around local noon, especially on north-south paths.
• No significant auroral or sporadic-E events expected for VHF/UHF DX.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

Analysis:

• 20m is the most consistent performer, with good conditions all day and night—ideal for DX and reliable QSOs.
• 40m and 80m improve after sunset and are best for nighttime regional and intercontinental contacts.
• 17m and 15m offer fair conditions during daylight; check for short DX openings.
• 12m and 10m may support brief daylight activity but are mostly poor or closed at night—monitor for any surprise openings, especially using digital modes.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet geomagnetic field, minimal disturbances—excellent for HF)
• Solar Flux: 124 (moderate, supports good 20m and some higher band openings)
• Sunspot Number: 114 (healthy, helps sustain ionization for HF propagation)
• Space Weather Overview: No major flares or disturbances; X-ray activity is low (B7.6), so blackouts are unlikely.

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• The K-index has remained low and stable over the past 24 hours, indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions.
• No recent geomagnetic storms or disturbances—propagation is stable and predictable.
• These quiet conditions favor both DX and local contacts, especially on the lower bands.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: B7.6 (low)—no risk of HF blackouts or sudden fadeouts.
• Solar Wind Speed: 391 km/s (moderate)—not high enough to trigger geomagnetic storms.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux (2090) and proton flux (326) are within normal ranges, so no enhanced absorption or polar cap absorption events expected.
• Aurora Activity: 1 (very low)—no auroral propagation for VHF/UHF; stick to standard tropo and line-of-sight.
• Helium Line: 121.5 (stable)—no signs of major solar trend changes.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Recent months show a gradual decrease in solar flux and sunspot numbers from late 2025 into spring 2026, but values have stabilized in May and June.
• Solar flux has dropped from 160+ to around 125, and sunspot numbers from 130+ to just above 100.
• Current trend: Stable, moderate solar activity—no dramatic changes expected in the immediate future.

🔮 3-Day Forecast