UK propagation charts for February 2012

Solar conditions have declined over the last month. Just a few weeks ago we were suffering from geomagnetic disturbances, with reports of aurora being seen in northern England.

And now we have seen the solar flux fall to around 100-110.

This doesn't bode well for the rest of the cycle, although there is still plenty of DX to be had. Just the other morning I heard a station on from Tinian Island, Marianas on 10m SSB. He peaked at 55-56 before vanishing. In case you have never heard of Tinian island it is where Enola Gay set off from for Hiroshima in 1945.

Other DX that has been romping in includes the VP6T DXpedition to Pitcairn Island and the HK0NA Malpelo DXpedition near Columbia.

We may start to see the best of the low-band DX (80m and 160m) fade out a little as we head towards spring, and 10m may not play ball as much if the flux remains down below 120.

But keep an eye out as there will be plenty on the other bands.

Go to the February propagation charts from the UK

UK propagation charts for January 2012

Good solar conditions continue and we seem to have gone through quite a long period of settled geomagnetic conditions, which has helped no end.

The solar flux index has hovered around the 130 mark with no really large fluctuations and as a result we are still seeing the higher bands come to life, notably 10m.

But this is really the month for good low-band openings - 160m, 80m an 40m.

Tony G3ZRJ reported hearing long delay echoes on 80m at about 2100z on 1st January 2012. These are either signals coming around the world "the wrong way", or aided by magnetospheric ducting, or some other form of propagation that we don't really understand.

Whatever, it makes for some interesting effects. You can read more about one ham's views on LDEs here.

Just want to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy new year and remind you that you can still download a FREE guide to ionospheric propagation written by Alan Melia G3NYK and me.

Go to the January propagation charts from the UK

UK propagation charts for December 2011

We are heading into the winter season now, but the conditions remain just as good. Don't be surprised if conditions to North America are not quite so hot on the higher bands in December - this is fairly normal as a comparison of the charts for October, November and December will show.

Propagation on 10m tends to close before the band has a chance to work west across the US.

The low bands (160m, 80m and 40m) come into their own with the longer hours of darkness so make sure you give them a look.

Go to December's UK short path propagation charts

Podcast: HF Propagation Report, Autumn 2011

In this month's podcast I look at current solar conditions and how 10m is finally alive with signals - work the world with low power and simple antennas. If you don't do it now you could be missing out. Lasts about 6mins 30s.

Click on the headline to listen to the programme online or if you prefer to listen to it on your iPod search for G0KYA on iTunes.

Titanic 100th anniversary next year - new book available

Here's a good stocking filler.

Lawrence Beesley was a science teacher, journalist and author who was a survivor of the Titanic tragedy in 1912. In this dramatic real-life tale Beesley tells first hand what it was like to be on the Titanic as it plunged into the icy waters of the North Atlantic on that fateful night.

As well as describing the voyage, the collision with the iceberg and the subsequent sinking, Beesley documents what could have been done to save the 1,500 plus people who perished.

His account, and others, resulted in many changes to maritime law and procedure in an effort to make sure that a disaster of Titanic’s proportions should never happen again. “The loss of the S.S. Titanic – its story and its lessons” was first published in 1912, shortly after the disaster.

Now republished by InfoTech Communications, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the accident, the 116-page paperback book is available via Lulu.com, delivered straight to your door wherever you live in the world.

Find out more

UK propagation charts for November 2011

The great conditions just keep on coming (bar any coronal mass ejections that is).

With sunspot numbers in the 120-130+ range, and autumnal conditions, there is plenty of DX to be had.

Keep on eye on 40m as Hawaii has been rolling in in the morning, often way past sunrise.

10m continues to be a great band, often open to the US and Caribbean in the afternoon. I especially like the KQ2H repeater in upstate New York on 29.620Mhz FM.

Go to November's UK short path propagation charts.

RSGB Convention updates

A few updates for people who were at the RSGB Convention this weekend.

• I have now updated the "Propagation to T32C" presentation to include the actual results we are seeing as at 9th October. There is a good fit with the predictions. Go to the T32C page
• You can also download the Ionospheric Sounders presentation given at the Contest University
• Carl K9LA talked about greyline propagation and mentioned my earlier research on the subject - you can read more here.

Steve G0KYA, 10th October 2011