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The past week saw increased solar activity, with average daily
sunspot numbers rising from 5.3 to 19.6 and average daily solar flux
from 69.8 to 74.5. We havent seen such strong activity since the
beginning of last Summer, when Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP016
in 2018 reported average daily sunspot number at 22.6 and average
daily solar flux at 75.3.  But sunspots only persisted from January
22 through January 30, and on January 31 they were gone.  Predicted
solar flux is 72 on February 1 to 8, 69 on February 9 to 12, 72 on
February 13 to 27, 70 on February 28 through March 3, 69 on March 4
to 11, and 72 on March 12 to 17.  Predicted planetary A index is 18,
12, 10, 8, 12 and 8 on February 1 to 6, 5 on February 7 to 18, then
12, 20, 12 and 8 on February 19 to 22, 5 on February 23 to 26, then
8, 18, 10 and 8 on February 27 through March 2, and 5 on March 3 to
17.  At 2314 UTC on January 31 the Australian Space Forecast Centre
issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning for the following day due
to a high speed solar wind stream from a recurrent coronal hole.
There is a chance of minor storm on Friday.  6 meter sporadic E
continued through the last week of January. Most of the paths
favored the Gulf Coast states and Mexico. Winter sporadic E tends to
occur more frequently in these parts of North America.  I received a
minus 21 report, 21 dB below noise, from W4TAA EL87 at 0035z.  I
copied many decodes from XE2JS operating portable in rare grid DL78,
but no luck getting a reply.  I copied XE2JS working N8JX and KF8MY.
The latest from Dr. Skov can be found on //www.youtube.com .  If you
would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers, email
the author at, k7ra at arrl.net .  Sunspot numbers were 19, 27, 26,
22, 16, 15, and 12, with a mean of 19.6. 10.7 cm flux was 73.5,
73.1, 75.8, 75.1, 76.6, 75, and 72.4, with a mean of 74.5. Estimated
planetary A indices were 19, 13, 7, 5, 1, 2, and 2, with a mean of
7. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 13, 10, 5, 3, 0, 0, and 0,
with a mean of 4.4.  The FCC now officially has its full complement
of five members.  Democrat Geoffrey Starks, who succeeds Mignon
Clyburn on the Commission, was sworn in January 30. He formerly
served as assistant bureau chief in the FCC Enforcement Bureau and
in the US Department of Justice.  I am deeply honored to serve as a
Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, and I thank
the President and the United States Senate for this exceptional
privilege, Starks said in a statement. As the last few weeks have
affirmed, being a public servant is a calling to serve a mission
bigger than yourself.  Throughout my career, I have focused on
protecting the most vulnerable and holding wrongdoers accountable.
In my new role, I shall not only continue to pursue those goals, but
also look forward to working with Congress, my fellow Commissioners,
and the FCCs outstanding staff.  Brendan Carr, who already was
sitting on the Commission after appointment to an unexpired term,
recently was reconfirmed for a new full 5 year term. Three of the
FCCs five members are traditionally of the same political party as
the President.

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