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 Previous: Surfin': Long-Delayed Echoes -- Again, Again, Again... |  Next: Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, Named QEX Editor |
The average of daily sunspot numbers for this reporting week, July 5-11, were about the same as the previous seven days, declining slightly by less than two points. We've seen no zero sunspot days since an 11-day spotless period ended on June 25. If sunspot numbers continue at this level and higher, it will become easier to convince ourselves that the sunspot minimum is already behind us (see the table of 3-month moving averages in last week's bulletin ARLP028).
On July 11, the Air Force had a prediction for heightened solar flux (probably indicating more sunspots) from July 13-15. Alas, by Thursday afternoon the predicted solar flux had dropped 10 points from 85 to 75 for the same period. Using some very rough approximations, plus maybe a fudge-factor or two, this might be reflected in a slightly greater than 13 point difference in the expected daily sunspot number.
Predicted planetary A index for July 13-19 is 8, 10, 8, 8, 8, 15 and 20. For the same period, Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet to unsettled conditions for July 13, unsettled July 14, quiet July 15-17 and unsettled July 18-19.
Wade Grimes, K0MHP, of Elsberry, Missouri wrote to ask if 6 meters is the "magic band, or invisible band?" He isn't hearing the propagation on 6 reported in this bulletin. He's having much better luck on 20 meters, although he is constructing a quad antenna for 6 meters, and he does copy some distant beacon signals.
I should point out that not everyone is hearing DX on 6, but still the reports come in from those who are patient and lucky. Ken Tata, K1KT, sent in more examples via maps. Poke around this site and you will find both current real-time maps showing propagation on 2 and 6 meters for both North America and Europe, as well as some fine examples of recent propagation on some archived maps.
Howard Runyons, W4HLR, of Newbern, Tennessee (EM56jb) wrote about he and N4QWZ (EM66) both working W7CI (DM41) in Sierra Vista, Arizona on 2 meters on June 27 at 2349 UTC. Howard ran 50 W through hard-line to a 15 element beam at 40 feet.
Mark Roberts, KD5SMF, of Fairview, Oklahoma has been enjoying both 6 and 10 meters, and he recently took a trip up Gloss Mountain (EM06xj) to see what he could work on both bands. At a height of more than 1500 feet on July 7, he worked 41 stations on 10 meters, nearly all to the southeast and northeast; he worked one station in Anaheim, California. As the propagation moved, he got many reports of 10 dB over S9, but after moving west, propagation shut down. You can see a photo of him and his portable operation at www.qrz.com/kd5smf.
Thanks to David Sumner, K1ZZ, of Coventry, Connecticut, who pointed out that the call sign for John Butrovich is W5UWB (not W6UWB) in last week's bulletin.
For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service. A detailed explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin can be found here. An archive of past propagation bulletins can be found here. Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and 12 overseas locations are available at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.
Amateur solar observer Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, provides this weekly report on solar conditions and propagation. This report also is available via W1AW every Friday, and an abbreviated version appears in The ARRL Letter. Readers may contact the author via e-mail.
| Previous: Surfin': Long-Delayed Echoes -- Again, Again, Again... | Next: Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, Named QEX Editor |
