September 2, 2016
This week brought a glimpse of
better things to come. Andy, M0NKR reports he worked VP6J Pitcairn Island on 12
metres and the maximum useable frequency was often above 21MHz earlier in the
week. The downside was, as predicted, periods of unsettled geomagnetic
conditions, with the K-index hitting four at times and even six on Friday. But,
looking on the bright side, as we enter September we are now heading towards
better autumnal HF conditions in the northern hemisphere. The ionosphere is
starting to cool and there is a shift towards more monoatomic and fewer diatomic
species in the F2 layer. These are easier to ionise so we should start to see
maximum usable frequencies increase. But we really need calmer geomagnetic
conditions too, so look out for lower K-indices for better propagation on the
higher HF bands.
Next week may see the solar flux
index increasing thanks to large sunspot group number 2585, which is rotating
into position on the solar surface.
The US Air Force predicts the Solar
Flux Index will be around 105 this weekend, tailing off to 70 by the end of the
week. Geomagnetic conditions may be unsettled at the beginning of the week, but
improving by next weekend.
The smoothed sunspot number for
September, for use with VOACAP-based prediction programs, is 35.
VHF and up
propagation:
This week’s weather will be largely
dominated by high pressure, meaning that we’ll be getting a chance to try some
VHF and UHF tropo. In fact, for much of the coming week high pressure will
extend across much of Britain and, at times, there should be some good quality
temperature inversions to cause ducting over quite long distances.
Remember, tropo is not a fleeting
signal path like sporadic E, but can last for hours or even days, with some
variability. It is often better at higher frequencies, so try the GHz bands and
UHF first, then move down to VHF. The positioning of the high should allow
contacts from the UK to Scandinavia and down across Biscay to Spain, as well as
within the UK itself. This is a chance to test out your station. Don’t rely on a
repeater to do the work for you, go simplex and try other modes like CW and
SSB.
Moon declination is negative all
this week, meaning shorter moon windows. Add this to the Moon’s apogee on
Tuesday, bringing the highest losses, and EME opportunities will be more
limited.
The Orionids meteor shower is
spread over many months between late August and mid-November, so continue to
look out for improved meteor scatter conditions this coming week.
http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/propagation-news/2016/09/02/propagation-news-4-september-2016/
