Amateur Radio Propagation Report

Sun Images for Past 72 Hours

Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project

📋 Propagation Summary

Today’s HF radio conditions are shaped by low solar activity and very quiet geomagnetic conditions. The solar flux is modest at 92, and the sunspot number is low at 28, leading to generally fair to good propagation on the lower bands (80m–20m) and poor conditions on higher bands (15m–10m). The K-index is at 1, indicating minimal geomagnetic disturbance, which is great news for stable propagation, especially on the low bands. Expect best results on 40m and 20m, with 80m also performing well at night. DX opportunities will be limited on the higher bands, so focus your efforts on the lower frequencies for reliable contacts.

💡 Operator Tips

• Prioritize 40m and 20m for both local and DX contacts, especially during daylight and early evening.
• 80m will be your go-to band for nighttime operations—expect quieter noise and good regional coverage.
• Digital modes (FT8, PSK31) are recommended, especially on 17m–10m, where conditions are marginal.
• Use vertical or dipole antennas for best performance on lower bands.
• Monitor grayline times for enhanced DX on 40m and 20m.
• If you’re chasing DX, check cluster spots for rare openings on 15m and 17m, but don’t expect much on 12m or 10m today.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m/40m: Best at night and early morning for regional and some DX.
• 20m: Good throughout the day and into early evening for both local and long-haul contacts.
• 17m/15m: Fair during midday; check for short-lived openings.
• 12m/10m: Poor all day; only try during peak solar events or sporadic-E (not expected today).

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline enhancement will boost 40m and 20m DX at sunrise and sunset—watch for signals from opposite hemispheres.
• 20m may offer brief DX windows to distant continents during local afternoon.
• Aurora activity is very low (Aurora: 2), so VHF/UHF auroral propagation is not expected.
• No major space weather events—expect stable, but not spectacular, DX conditions.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

Analysis:
The best performance is on 20m (good all day and night) and 40m/80m (good at night, fair during the day). 17m and 15m are marginal—try digital modes for any chance of DX. 12m and 10m are essentially closed; don’t expect much activity there.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 1 (very quiet geomagnetic field—ideal for stable HF propagation, especially on lower bands)
• Solar Flux: 92 (low; limits higher band openings, but supports 20m and below)
• Sunspot Number: 28 (low; correlates with weaker ionization and reduced MUF)
• Space Weather Overview: No significant solar flares or disturbances; X-ray flux is at B3.1 (quiet).

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• The K-index has remained low and stable over the past 24 hours, with no significant spikes.
• No geomagnetic storms or disturbances are present or expected.
• Propagation is stable—no sudden blackouts or absorption events.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: B3.1 (very low; minimal risk of HF blackouts or sudden fadeouts)
• Solar Wind Speed: 279 km/s (slow; indicates a calm solar wind environment, supporting steady propagation)
• Particle Environment: Electron flux at 1620 and proton flux at 23 (both low; no significant impact on HF propagation)
• Aurora Activity: 2 (very low; auroral propagation on VHF/UHF is not expected)
• Helium Line: 103.4 (low; suggests continued quiet solar conditions)

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

Recent months show a declining trend in both solar flux and sunspot numbers since June, with current values at their lowest in the past half-year. This trend explains the reduced MUF and limited high-band activity. Expect continued emphasis on lower bands until solar activity picks up again.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• Solar and geomagnetic activity are expected to remain quiet for the next three days.
• No major flares or geomagnetic storms are forecasted.
• HF conditions will remain stable, with the best results on 40m and 20m.
• 12m and 10m will likely stay poor; focus on 80m–20m for reliable contacts.
• No alerts or warnings for amateur radio operators at this time.