Sunspot Numbers

[Steve - K4HX]

Over 200 recently! No wonder the high bands have been hot. I was hearing Kuwait at S9+ on 20 meters last night at 10-11 PM ET (0200-0300Z).

From the recent ARRL Propagation Report:

Sunspot numbers for October 20 through 26 were 195, 207, 164, 128,
151, 147, and 104, with a mean of 156.6. 10.7 cm flux was 159.1,
167.8, 164.1, 155.5, 145.3, 138.8, and 132.2, with a mean of 151.8.
Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 5, 3, 3, 23, 33, and 3, with a
mean of 10.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 5, 2, 2, 16,
27, and 4 with a mean of 8.4.

[k4kyv]

Hope this cycle isn't a flash in the pan and holds up for several years.  Maybe those earlier predictions were correct after all, that this one would be one of the greatest in recorded history, possibly surpassing Cycle 19.

I don't recall ever hearing this much DX on 10 over the entirety of Cycle 23, and Cycle 24 is just beginning.

On the down side, look for a lot of solar flare activity, possibly damaging or temporarily disabling satellites, and endangering any humans in space. And may aggravate the global warming issue.

[KX5JT]

Hope this cycle isn't a flash in the pan and holds up for several years.  Maybe those earlier predictions were correct after all, that this one would be one of the greatest in recorded history, possibly surpassing Cycle 19.

I don't recall ever hearing this much DX on 10 over the entirety of Cycle 23, and Cycle 24 is just beginning.

On the down side, look for a lot of solar flare activity, possibly damaging or temporarily disabling satellites, and endangering any humans in space. And may aggravate the global warming issue.

Don, are you set up for transmitting on 10 meters?  Just curious if you will be joining the fun up here?  I could probably only hope to work you via E-skip but it would be neat.

[W0BTU]

I've been trying to correlate the numbers on the hamqsl.com applet at the bottom of www.w0btu.com with what I hear on 10. Mostly the solar flux (SFI). Maybe I should be looking at sunspot numbers?

[Steve - K4HX]

Dunno. There are numerous articles out there on the difference and simularites of SF and SSN.

Some now claim we won't see the peak until early 2013, so we potenially have more than a year. Then it's a matter of how fast we drop off the peak as to whether it will be a flash in the pan or not. Enjoy the ride!

[G3UUR]

Quote from k4kyv:

On the down side, look for a lot of solar flare activity, possibly damaging or temporarily disabling satellites, and endangering any humans in space. And may aggravate the global warming issue.

Such negativity, Don. Last cycle was great on 10m AM and this one might just turn out to be a whole lot of fun as well. You ought to come up and join us.

I missed the first few weeks of activity on 10m AM this cycle 'cos I was away in Grenada. When I got back there was plenty of activity and my antennas were down. So, for the last 10 days I've been fitting in a bit of antenna work between the other chores and should be back on 10m later this week. While I've been working in the garage, I've been monitoring 10m AM on a Radio Shaft DX394 with 8ft of wire stuffed in the back. So far I've heard a number of US and Canadian stations and a 7X2 and a 6V7 on AM. There appear to be many more Eu countries on 10m AM this cycle. This afternoon, Jim, KB1MCV, was a lovely signal on his Viking. He was the one working the 6V7 in Senegal.

Mike, I wouldn't worry about the sunspot count, the solar flux is a more reliable figure to go by, but you might want to add the A and K indices as well.

Dave.

[WA3VJB]

Band's open, Dave, right now !!

1815 GMT Tues

Listening and calling 29.040 plus minus 10

[G3UUR]

Sorry to say, Paul, that the beam didn't go up this afternoon. I was hoping it would but things didn't work out as planned and I ran out of natural light. I could have put on some halogens and continued, but was just too tired and gave up.

It will definitely go up tomorrow afternoon - I shall be out in the morning.
So hope to catch you later in the afternoon.

It's been a long time since we last spoke. I don't think we've worked on 20m AM in the meantime, though I have been sort of active active on there in between the sunspot peaks. Worked Bill, W8VYZ, many times on 20m AM and was saddened to hear of his passing.

73,

Dave.

[KX5JT]

All tuned up and calling occassional CQs on 29.050 AM .....

Work you there if you care!

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I've been trying to correlate the numbers on the hamqsl.com applet at the bottom of www.w0btu.com with what I hear on 10. Mostly the solar flux (SFI). Maybe I should be looking at sunspot numbers?

The increase in sunspot numbers has done nothing to enhance any 6 meter openings.

[WA3VJB]

Alright Dave, well maybe Wednesday or outbound.
The chart shows some path between us, and also to my south.

YAH-low !  YAH-low!  do you hear my RAY-ro ?

over over

All tuned up and calling occassional CQs on 29.050 AM .....

Work you there if you care!

[KX5JT]

I'm barely hearing a few signals in the noise floor here.  I think Virginia might be too close in to Louisiana unless we are having some E-skip.  PA seems to be the margin. New England and Canada being more armchair for me.  Idaho, Utah, Nevada and farther west in the other direction.

Maybe when the working stiffs get home after 5 pm eastern I'll have a qso or two... lol...

I really think most of my weekday 10 meter AM qso's have been with retired or handicapped non-working folks.