All I know is that the SFI numbers have been jumped up from the lows in the 60s to the high 80s lately. As I have a nightly 80-meter rag chew event with hams from most of the western US states, what I have noticed is that the signals have been very unstable, excessive noise and signals dropping out quickly. This latest solar activity has not been friendly to communications under 500 miles.
SFI 94, a=8, k=2, who needs 95 sfi when I am just starting to hear JA's in and out on 29.3 FM, using a 4 element pointed at 305 degrees from northern Oregon right now. I have had ja, vk, zl, fk8, 3d2, kh6, kp2, kh2 guam plus numerous south americans for the past two weeks or more on 10 meters cw/ssb but this is the first good indication of japan starting on 10meter FM.
I won't be 100 % satisfied until I complete a full contact/report qso on 10FM with Japan or other dx, the signals on 29.3 FM were almost there yesterday but just not enough to complete a full contact. From memory of past FM DX qso's on 10meters SFI needs to be 110 or more for solid copy but yes it's almost there, I just need patience.
Sun spots are areas on the sun that are cooler than the area around them. They produce a certain type of radiation that ionizes the ionosphere of the Earth, causing it to reflect HF radio waves back to the Earth.......but you knew that! Shame on you! HiHi---Tim.
Maybe this next cycle 6m DX Maps will look like that (minus the FT8 contacts). Lol. Keeping fingers crossed for a good cycle and F2 E/W on 6m.
HAY! WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT LADY THAT USED TO DO THE RADIO PROPAGATION FORECAST,INFORMATION ON SUNSPOTS?????What happened to her? anyone know why she's not here or what?
