‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

A familiar sight appeared this week, as sunspot 1003 emerged for one
day, then was gone. 1003 was a new Cycle 24 sunspot, based on its
magnetic polarity and high position in our Suns southern hemisphere,
and like all the other recent sunspots, it was short lived.
Geomagnetic conditions were still quiet, although a coronal hole
wind stream having maximal effect centered on October 3 caused
unsettled conditions.  At mid latitudes the effect was slight, with
a middle latitude A index for October 2 to 4 at 11, 10 and 8.
Toward the poles conditions were more active, as expected.  In
Fairbanks, the college A index for those same days was 26, 32 and
17.  With northern hemisphere hours of darkness expanding and
geomagnetic stability the norm, this is a good time to use the lower
part of the HF spectrum, 160, 80 and the relatively new 60 meter
band.  Last weeks Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP041 mentioned
Mike Reid, WE0H and his experimental operation on 500 KHz. This week
he mentioned that LF and MF propagation seem to have inverted
propagation from the HF bands. He notes that on October 2, 40 meters
seemed dead, but 600 meters came alive.  You can learn more about
WD2XSH and the ARRL 600 Meter Experimental Group.  Regarding
noctilucent clouds and VHF/UHF propagation, Roger Swickis, VE7BZR of
Gibsons, British Columbia recalls seeing them in Churchill, Manitoba
in 1968 and being quite impressed at the time.  He added, I saw them
again in the early 1970s while working the midnight shift as a Radio
Operator/Weather Observer at Kenora, Ontario.  Early that morning I
heard Winnipeg Tower, at about 120 miles, testing on 121R5 and 243R0
MHz and we exchanged signal reports.  I always wondered if the long
propagation was related to the NLC.  For October 10 to 17, the U.S.
Air Force Space Weather Operation predicts planetary A index at 5,
5, 15, 10, 5, 5, 5 and 5.  Over the same period Geophysical
Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions today, October 10,
unsettled October 11 and 12, quiet to unsettled October 13, and
quiet again October 14 to 16.  Sunspot numbers were 0, 0, 12, 0, 0,
0, and 0 with a mean of 1R7.  10R7 cm flux was 66R3, 67R2, 66R6,
67R4, 67R2, 66R7, and 67R7 with a mean of 67.  Estimated planetary A
indices were 12, 13, 11, 4, 4, 3 and 2 with a mean of 7.  Estimated
mid latitude A indices were 11, 10, 8, 3, 3, 1 and 2 with a mean of
5R4‚

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