surviving 2019 propagation - wordpress.com

Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.

SURVIVING2019 PROPAGATION

Understand band condition informationUse a propagation gadget & beacons

Try digital modes now!

By:

Dick By:

Dick Morgan K6RAH


We have waves that we can’t see

We have bands where the DX be…

Way up high, we’ll QRZee

On radio waves that we can’t see

By:

Dick

Altered lyrics from ‘Wings’ by:

Jimmy Buffett

“Ride radio waves to the Ionosphere”

Immense Power of Our Sun


Earth

Good

Bad

Ugly

Oct. 24, 2014

Radio Signal Confusion? Yes! Like predicting the weather…only harder

Astroscience – Major unknowns yet to solve What causes sunspots & the solar cycle?

Space weather affects all hams

Low Solar Cycle…..everybody…Boo-Hiss!

Low solar flux & sunspot numbers…Boo-Hiss!

Effects on frequencies differ

Seasonal variations

Coronal Mass Ejections, blackouts

Solar flares, geomagnetic storms, etc.


What’s To Know? Solar activity goes in 10 to 11 year “cycles”

Actual 22 year cycle with polarity reversal

Hypothesis: Sun’s rotation = ‘Magnetic dynamo’

Slipping down Solar Cycle 24 thru 2019 Boo-Hiss!

Cycle 19 - Historic era for ham radio 1954-1964


What’s To Know?

Many factors affect electromagnetic radio waves

Sun causes most factors (ultraviolet radiation)

Factors impact Earth’s Ionospheric layers

Factors may happen simultaneously – good & bad

Solar flares, sunspots, solar winds, X-rays

and…Coronal Mass Ejections…Boo-Hiss!

MUF constantly changes


Coronal Mass ejection

What’s To Know?

The Ionosphere

Often described in regions (C,B, A?)

D = closest to Earth 25-55 miles up (daylight hours only)

E = 55-90 miles up (mostly daylight only)

F1 = 90-150 miles up

F2 = 250+ miles up

Layers absorb, bend, or pass radio waves

Ionospheric conditions affect frequencies differently &

Same frequency differs between day and night


Signal Types Line of sight (VHF & UHF) – Repeaters, Satellites

Ground Wave – Lower frequencies, Local RF

Refraction/’Skip’ – Important for HF DX

Special Effects –Scatter; Ducting; Sporadic E, NVIS, Earth-Moon-Earth


No signal

in Dallas?

Gadgets Provide Summary HF & VHF Conditions by band

Maximum usable frequency (MUF)

Available free on QRZ.com

Sunspot Number 0-250 (now 0 to 30)Boo-Hiss!

Solar Flux Index 62.5-300 (now 69 – 72)Boo-Hiss!


SFI = Solar Flux Index Solar radiation @10.7cm (62.5 to 300 scale)

Indicates “F region” ionization level

Higher numbers = more ionization = DX!

Higher numbers = increase in MUF

Updated 3 times daily (today’s estimate = 70)


SN = Sunspot Number▪ Scale is 0 to 250. Updated once daily

▪ Loosely correlates to the solar flux index

▪ Higher sunspot numbers = best high band DX▪ Lower SN = 80 & 160 meter DX


2019 = Bottom?

A & K Geomagnetic Indices▪ Magnetometers measure geomagnetic activity

▪ K =Scale 0 to 9 (qlog) Update 8X daily (<3 is best)

▪ A = Scale 0 to 400. Update daily (<15 is best)


Meaning for Hams?▪ One measure does not tell the story! Listening is key!

▪ Factors sometime work together, other times oppose

▪ The Gadget provides observations. Interprets likely result on band conditions.

▪ MUF, magnetic field, and basic noise level also helpful▪ Watch MUF increase as ionosphere becomes more & more active!

▪ Gadget is on the QRZ.com home page

▪ Gadget website is http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html


HF Propagation Beacons

▪ Is this band “dead” today? Nobody transmitting?

▪ Three popular real-time answers…

▪ Radio beacons (18 around world) transmit CW Monitor to determine current band conditions

▪ Beacon frequencies: 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930, 28.200 MHz

▪ Sequenced from 100 W down to 0.1 W

▪ Check www.ncdxf.org/beacon.htm for details

▪ W6NEK Beacon Tracker @ www.w6nek.com (free tracker)


HF Reverse Beacons Determine who is receiving your signal with:

www.reversebeacon.net

Send CW CQ and call sign

Search by your call to see which beacons received you.

Compare signal reports from reverse beacons (dB).

Determine your antenna directionality

Determine your amplifier effectiveness.


https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html


Easy favorite

Try HF Digital Now!

FT8, JS8call, PSK31, JT65, JT9 - Low power, narrow bandwidths for contacts below noise floor!

Very active modes now - (poor HF propagation)

Use a TNC/sound card, PC, existing rig

Free software - for digital modes

Keyboard (PSK) or mouse clicks (FT8)

CW a great option! Digital has ‘punch’


https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

Bandwidth ‘Punch’ ComparisonSignal Bandwidth % *Watt =

SSB = 2,500 Hz 100% 50 W

RTTY = 300 – 1,000 Hz 12% 417 W

JT65A = 178 HZ w/EC 7% 714 W

CW = 100 - 500 Hz 4% 1,250 W

PSK31 = 50 - 70 Hz 2% 2,500 W

FT8 & JS8 = 50 Hz 2% 2,500 W

JT9 = 16 Hz w/EC 0.6% 8,333 W

*Equivalent punch power/Hz based on 50 Watts PEP


Joe Taylor’s Digital Modes Website

***Thank you…

for your Boos and Hisses!


https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

surviving 2019 propagation - wordpress.com

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