= NOW 13 WPM = TEXT IS FROM JUNE 2021 QST PAGE 56 = THE SUN CAN INTENSELY IONIZE THIS LAYER, AND SIGNALS CAN BE REFRACTED UP TO 2,000 3,000 MILES 3,200 5,000 KILOMETERS FROM ONE REFRACTION, OR HOP. MULTIPLE HOPS CAN OCCUR UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, ENABLING SIGNALS TO GO OVER 12,000 MILES 19,000 KILOMETERS WITH LOW LOSS. ITS ONE OF AMATEUR RADIOS MOST EXCITING MODES. BUT THERE ARE DOWNSIDES TO VHF DURING A SOLAR CYCLE PEAK. D, E, AND F LAYER IONOSPHERIC ABSORPTION, AS WELL AS FARADAY ROTATION POLARIZATION ROTATION OF SIGNALS THROUGH IONOSPHERIC LAYERS, < QST DE W1AW = INCREASES. SOLAR FLARES CAN CAUSE IONOSPHERIC RADIO BLACKOUTS. THE ABSORPTION DECREASES THE ALREADY WEAK SIGNALS FROM EARTH MOON EARTH EME COMMUNICATION, AND FARADAY ROTATION OF RADIO SIGNALS CAN CAUSE LOCKOUT WITH TOTAL LOSS OF RECEPTION. IF SOLAR CYCLE 25 IS SIMILAR IN MAGNITUDE TO CYCLE 24, SOME INTERESTING PROPAGATION WILL OCCUR ON 6 METERS, INCLUDING F2 AND TRANSEQUATORIAL PROPAGATION TEP. TEP INVOLVES REFRACTION SIGNALS OFF = END OF 13 WPM TEXT = QST DE W1AW <