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 moderate solar activity and very quiet geomagnetic conditions. With a solar flux around 110–116 and sunspot numbers in the mid-70s, expect good performance on lower bands (80m–20m) and fair to poor conditions on higher bands (17m–10m). The K-index is at 0, signaling very stable ionospheric conditions and minimal geomagnetic disturbance, which is excellent for HF reliability. Operators should focus on the lower and mid bands for both local and DX work, as higher bands are mostly closed or poor except for occasional short openings. Take advantage of the quiet geomagnetic field—today is a great day for reliable contacts, especially on 40m and 20m.

💡 Operator Tips

• Prioritize 40m and 20m for both day and night DX; these bands are consistently good under current conditions.
• 80m will be strong at night for regional and some DX, with low noise due to quiet geomagnetic activity.
• 15m and 17m may offer occasional fair openings during daylight, especially for north-south paths.
• 10m and 12m are mostly poor—monitor for brief sporadic-E or solar-driven openings, but don’t expect much.
• Digital modes (FT8, FT4, PSK) will outperform SSB/CW on marginal bands.
• Use simple antennas (dipoles, verticals) confidently; low K-index means less QRM and stable propagation.
• For contesters: focus on maximizing contacts on 40m and 20m, and check 15m for any surprise openings.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• 80m/40m: Best after sunset through sunrise; 40m remains good all day for regional and some DX.
• 20m: Good all day, especially for east-west DX; check for grayline enhancements.
• 17m/15m: Try late morning to mid-afternoon for possible fair openings.
• 10m/12m: Limited to no openings; monitor for brief enhancements.

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline paths on 40m and 20m will be enhanced—target sunrise/sunset for best DX.
• 20m supports worldwide DX during daylight and early evening, especially on long-path routes.
• 15m/17m: Watch for north-south openings (e.g., South America, Africa) during local afternoon.
• Low K-index means polar paths are open; try for northern latitude DX.
• No significant aurora—VHF/UHF auroral propagation is not expected.
• No major solar events or blackouts forecasted; stable conditions favor reliable scheduling.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

The lower bands (80m, 40m) are performing best, especially at night and during grayline. 20m is solid all day for both local and DX. 17m and 15m are marginal—worth checking for short openings, especially for north-south paths. 12m and 10m remain mostly closed; only brief, rare openings possible.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 0 (very quiet) – No geomagnetic disturbance; excellent for stable HF propagation.
• Solar Flux: 110–116 – Moderate; supports good 20m and lower band activity, but not enough for reliable high-band (10m/12m) openings.
• Sunspot Number: ~76 – Moderate; enough for decent F-layer ionization, but not peak conditions.
• Space Weather Overview:
  • No major solar flares or proton events.
  • X-ray flux at B6.7 (low), so blackout risk is minimal.

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• K-index trend: Stable at 0 over the past 24 hours—no geomagnetic storms or disturbances.
• Impacts:
  • Low noise on all bands, especially low bands.
  • Polar paths are open and reliable.
  • Aurora activity is minimal (level 2), so no auroral propagation expected.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity:
  • B6.7 – Low X-ray flux; no risk of HF blackouts or sudden fadeouts.
• Solar Wind:
  • 349.6 km/s – Normal speed; not likely to trigger geomagnetic activity.
• Particle Environment:
  • Electron Flux: 2780 – Moderate; no significant impact on HF, but can occasionally cause minor absorption at high latitudes.
  • Proton Flux: 89 – Quiet; no polar cap absorption events expected.
• Aurora Activity:
  • Level 2 – Very low; VHF/UHF auroral propagation is not expected.
• Helium Line:
  • 111.2 – Stable; no indication of rising solar activity or flare risk.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Recent Solar Flux:
  • Peaked at 138 in June/July, now settled around 116—a downward trend but still supports good HF propagation.
• Sunspot Number:
  • Dropped from over 100 in May/June to 76 now—moderate, but not at solar minimum.
• Implications:
  • 20m/40m remain reliable for DX.
  • 10m/12m need higher flux for consistent openings.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• Solar flux and sunspot numbers expected to remain steady; no major flares or geomagnetic storms forecasted.
• K-index should stay low (0–1), keeping conditions stable.
• Best bands: 40m, 20m, and 80m (at night).
• Worst bands: 10m and 12m—expect them to remain mostly closed.
• No alerts or warnings for HF or VHF operators—enjoy the quiet space weather and stable propagation!