surviving 2019 propagation - wordpress.com
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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
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Copyright 2019. Richard 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”
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Immense Power of Our Sun
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
Earth
Good
Bad
Ugly
Oct. 24, 2014
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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.
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
Coronal Mass ejection
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
No signal
in Dallas?
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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!
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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)
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
2019 = Bottom?
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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)
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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)
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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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.
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
Easy favorite
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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’
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html
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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
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
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Joe Taylor’s Digital Modes Website
***Thank you…
for your Boos and Hisses!
Copyright 2019. Richard Morgan K6RAH.
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html