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 with a solar flux around 147 and sunspot numbers holding steady at 141. Expect good conditions on 20m, 17m, and 15m throughout the day and night, while higher bands (12m, 10m) are only fair during daylight and poor at night. The K-index is low (2), indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions—great news for stable propagation and reduced noise. Lower bands (80m, 40m) are fair during the day but improve at night, making them ideal for evening and overnight contacts. Operators should take advantage of the quiet geomagnetic field and focus on the mid-bands for reliable DX and regional QSOs.

💡 Operator Tips

• Focus on 20m, 17m, and 15m for the most consistent DX and intercontinental contacts today.
• Evening and night are best for 80m/40m—try CW or digital modes for longer paths and lower noise.
• Daytime on 12m/10m may offer occasional openings, especially for east-west paths; monitor for sporadic E.
• Use FT8, CW, and PSK on higher bands to maximize weak signal work, especially as SSB may be less effective on 12m/10m.
• With low geomagnetic activity, expect stable signals and lower absorption—perfect for contesting or chasing DXpeditions.
• For VHF/UHF, conditions are typical; watch for any sudden auroral alerts if the aurora index rises.

⏰ Best Operating Times

• Early morning and evening: 20m and 17m for grayline DX.
• Night: 80m and 40m for long-haul and regional contacts.
• Daytime: 15m, 12m, and 10m for possible short- and mid-range DX, especially if sporadic E appears.

🌍 DX Opportunities

• Grayline propagation is strong on 20m and 40m—target sunrise/sunset for best long-path DX.
• 15m and 17m are open for intercontinental paths, especially east-west (Europe <-> Americas, Asia <-> Europe).
• 10m and 12m may open briefly for DX during midday, especially during solar flux peaks or sporadic E events.
• Aurora activity is low (2), so VHF auroral DX is unlikely today.
• Watch for special event stations and DXpeditions on 20m and 17m during daylight hours.

📻 Band-by-Band Analysis

• Best bands today: 20m, 17m, and 15m are consistently good for both DX and regional contacts, day and night.
• 80m and 40m: Fair during daylight (higher absorption), but good at night—ideal for domestic and some DX.
• 12m and 10m: Fair during the day, poor at night—check for brief midday openings, especially for short-path DX or sporadic E.

📊 Current Solar Activity

• K-index: 2 (quiet geomagnetic field)—expect stable propagation, low noise, and minimal fading.
• Solar Flux: 147 (moderate)—supports good propagation on 20m–15m, with some potential for 12m/10m.
• Sunspot Number: 141 (healthy, but slightly down from recent highs)—still supports decent HF conditions.
• Space Weather: No major flares or disturbances; X-ray flux at C3.5 indicates some solar activity but no HF blackouts.

📈 Geomagnetic Conditions

• Recent K-index trend: Stable and low over the past 24 hours, with no significant spikes.
• Impact: Excellent for HF—low absorption, reduced auroral activity, and minimal geomagnetic fading.
• Outlook: No geomagnetic storms expected; conditions should remain favorable for the next 24–48 hours.

🌟 Space Weather Details

• X-ray Activity: C3.5—moderate; no current risk of HF blackouts, but keep an eye on sudden increases.
• Solar Wind: 416 km/s—typical; not high enough to trigger geomagnetic storms.
• Particle Environment: Electron flux (2100) and proton flux (311) are within normal ranges; no major impact on HF.
• Aurora Activity: 2—very low; auroral propagation on VHF/UHF is unlikely today.
• Helium Line: 124.7—stable, indicating no major changes in solar activity trend.

📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details

• Historical solar flux and sunspot trend: Solar flux has decreased from 160 (Dec) to 125 (May), and sunspots from 124 to 101. This gradual decline means HF conditions are slightly less robust than earlier in the cycle, but still very workable for most bands.
• Recent months: Despite the downward trend, the current solar numbers remain supportive of good propagation on 20m–15m, with occasional 12m/10m openings.

🔮 3-Day Forecast

• Propagation outlook: Expect similar conditions for the next three days—quiet geomagnetic field, moderate solar flux, and good HF propagation on 20m–15m.
• Best bands: 20m, 17m, 15m for reliable DX and regional contacts.
• Watch for: Brief 10m/12m openings during midday, especially if solar flux ticks upward or sporadic E appears.
• No alerts or warnings at this time—enjoy the stable conditions and plan for extended operating sessions!