Amateur Radio Propagation Report

Sun Images for Past 72 Hours

Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project

📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation is looking favorable today, with solar flux at 143 and a sunspot number of 142 supporting good conditions on most bands. The K-index is very low (1), indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions and minimal disruptions. Expect solid daytime performance on 20m, 17m, and 15m, with 12m and 10m showing only fair openings. Nighttime brings improved conditions for 80m and 40m. Operators should take advantage of the stable space weather and plan for productive DX and regional contacts, especially during daylight hours.

💡 Operator Tips:

• Daytime: Focus on 20m, 17m, and 15m for reliable DX and intercontinental contacts.
• Nighttime: 80m and 40m will be your best bet for regional and some DX work.
• Modes: Use FT8, CW, and SSB for best results; digital modes will help on marginal bands like 12m/10m.
• Antennas: Multi-band dipoles or verticals will cover most opportunities; consider directional antennas for DX.
• Contesters: Plan your operating windows around daylight for higher bands and after sunset for low bands.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m & 40m: Best at night and early morning for local/regional QSOs and some DX.
• 20m, 17m, 15m: Excellent from late morning through early evening for long-haul DX.
• 12m & 10m: Try midday and early afternoon for sporadic-E or F2 openings, but expect only fair to poor conditions.
• Grayline: Sunrise and sunset are prime for enhanced propagation, especially on 40m and 20m.

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Daytime: 20m, 17m, and 15m are open for transcontinental and intercontinental DX, especially along east-west paths.
• Grayline: Enhanced paths on 40m and 20m—watch for rare DX at your local sunrise and sunset.
• Night: 80m and 40m open up for longer-haul DX, especially toward sunrise.
• Special Events: No major solar storms or aurora currently, so expect stable conditions for DXpeditions and contests.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

• Best bands today: 20m, 17m, and 15m are consistently good throughout the day and evening, making them the top choices for DX and general contacts.
• Low bands (80m/40m): Improve after sunset, offering good regional and some DX opportunities at night.
• High bands (12m/10m): Only fair during the day, with poor conditions at night—watch for brief openings, especially during peak solar flux or sporadic-E.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet) – Geomagnetic field is stable, excellent for HF propagation.
• Solar Flux: 143 – Indicates strong solar energy, supporting good propagation on 20m-15m.
• Sunspot Number: 142 – High sunspot count means more ionization and better high-band openings.
• Space Weather Overview: No major flares or storms; X-ray activity is moderate (B9.8), so no significant HF blackouts expected.

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• Recent K-index trend: The K-index has remained very low and stable over the past 24 hours, signaling quiet geomagnetic conditions.
• Impact: Expect minimal absorption or disturbances, with enhanced propagation on all HF bands and reduced aurora risk.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: B9.8 (low-to-moderate) – No risk of HF blackouts; conditions are stable for all modes.
• Solar Wind: 348 km/s – Typical speed, not likely to trigger geomagnetic storms.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux at 1990 (moderate) and proton flux at 24 (quiet) – No significant impacts on HF.
• Aurora Activity: Level 2 – Very low; auroral propagation on VHF/UHF is unlikely, especially for mid-latitude operators.
• Helium Line: 118.7 – Indicates moderate solar activity, supporting current good HF conditions.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Historical solar flux and sunspot trends: Over the past 6 months, solar flux has ranged from 130 to 160, and sunspot numbers have stayed mostly above 80, peaking above 120. This sustained solar activity has kept the higher HF bands open and reliable.
• Recent trend: Slight decline from winter peaks, but current values remain strong enough for good propagation on 20m-15m.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• HF conditions: Expected to remain stable with continued good propagation on 20m-15m. No major geomagnetic storms or solar flares forecasted.
• Best bands: 20m, 17m, and 15m will continue to be the most reliable for DX and general contacts.
• Low bands: 80m and 40m will stay strong at night; 12m and 10m may see brief daytime openings but remain marginal overall.
• VHF/UHF: No significant auroral or sporadic-E activity expected.
• Operator advice: Take advantage of the quiet geomagnetic field and high solar flux for DXing, especially during daylight and grayline periods. Stay alert for any sudden solar events, but no warnings are in effect at this time.