The AM Forum

The low bands were really crapped out here near Philadelphia last night. I tooned to 75 metros and then down to 160 Metros and the QRN was S9+40 at times. It was as bad as 160M in the worst of Summer. In spite of such I was able to have a QSO with Gary, W1GHW in Ct. and John, KC8LII in Ohio, and Bill, W3HWT in Pa. on 1885KC. I then went up to 75M again and only heard more QRN/M etc and decided to QRT.

Was there a solar phenomona or disruption going on?

Joe,
I don't know what the solar indices were but it sure was noisy last night.  I was listening on the bedside radio about 10pm and it sounded like there were thunderstorms on a typical summer evening.   I pulled the power switch about 15minutes later cause I couldn't take the static crashes.

Well here they are:
SFI:81 frm 79 A:8 frm 2 K:2 (18 nT) 2100 05 Mar
Frcst: No SWX storms are expected next 24h.
Obs: No SWX storms were observed last 24h.

6h hi:C1.1(2007Z 03/05) 24h hi:C1.1(2007Z 03/05)

SSN: 13 (03/04/2005)
Au: 9
S Wind: 386 km/s @ 11.0 protons/cm3
Bz:  -3.1 nT at 2005 Mar 05 2213Z

Global HF Propagation Conditions
for 2100Z on 05 Mar, 2005
Low Latitude: Normal
Mid Latitude: Normal
Hi  Latitude: Fair-Normal

Watch (395): Geomagnetic A-index of 20 or greater predicted
Valid for UTC Day: 2005 Mar 07

Looks like crappy conditions are coming. But Joe was right. The static on 160 was horrendous. I went up to 75 just to listen but didn't find anyone. Of course the receiver had just been turned on and may have suffered some deafness.

Wasn't from El Sol and usually never is. Some of the worst static I've heard has been in the winter. A front coming in (cold hitting warm or vice versa) can cause some nasty static. Had some here a few weeks ago from an advancing snow storm. Just about wrecked 160 locally. Guys up north could barely hear it.

According to LightningStorm.com the tstorm activity was out at sea, off the coast of the Carolinas a couple of hundred miles.  I just shut the rx off and watched some videos with the family before going to bed.

It's that time of the year.  Usually when tstorm activity starts up in March, it stays with us.  We'll probably have a few more quiet nights from time to time, but it's about over for this season.

Although it wasn't responsible for the static last night. I was correct about the bands going to be crappy
As the late & great Ray Charles would sing,  "Tell me what I'd say?"
----- Original Message -----
From: <sr@hfradio.org>
To: <w3slk@uplink.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 4:23 PM
Subject: e-alert 03.06 21:10 UTC


SFI:84 frm 81 A:27 frm 9 K:3 frm 5 (35 nT) 2100 06 Mar
Frcst: SWX next 24h:minor: G1
Obs: SWX last 24h:minor: G1

6h hi:B1.1(1720Z 03/06) 24h hi:B2.7(0118Z 03/06)

SSN: 22 (03/05/2005)
Au: 10
S Wind: 656 km/s @ 2.9 protons/cm3
Bz:  -3.6 nT at 2005 Mar 06 2108Z

Global HF Propagation Conditions
for 2000Z on 06 Mar, 2005
Low Latitude: Normal
Mid Latitude: Normal
Hi  Latitude: Fair

Warning (1053): Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
From: 2005 Mar 06 0129 UTC To: 2005 Mar 06 1600 UTC
Condition: Onset

Watch (395): Geomagnetic A-index of 20 or greater predicted
Valid for UTC Day: 2005 Mar 07

Warning (473): Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
From: 2005 Mar 06 0755 UTC To: 2005 Mar 06 1600 UTC
Condition: Onset

Warning (474): Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
From: 2005 Mar 06 0755 UTC To: 2005 Mar 16 2359 UTC
Condition: Onset.  Extends Warning #473.

Cancelled Warning (475): Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
Warning number 474 has been cancelled.

Warning (476): Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
From: 2005 Mar 06 0755 UTC To: 2005 Mar 06 2359 UTC
Condition: Persistence

Alert (1017): Geomagnetic K-index of 4
Period: 0000-0300 UTC
Threshold Reached on 2005 Mar 06 0132 UTC

Alert (461): Geomagnetic K-index of 5
Period: 0900-1200 UTC
Threshold Reached on 2005 Mar 06 1139 UTC

Don - I think you're correct on what we can expect. Regardless; we still have plenty of good QSO weather on 160M. The band seem to be long last night in spite of the QRN. John, KC8LII runs legal limit and was S9+35-40 at times, averaging 30 over. He heard W3HWT running 25  watts carrier power from a 1939 Hallicrafters HT-6 transmitter. I was really surprised to say the least. W3HWT is only 20-25 air miles from my location and he was only 50-60 percent copyable due to the QRN.

In spite of the soon to be omnipresent QRN we have to "hold the fort". I hear a group of nasty slopbucketeers from 4/land on 1882 sometimes who come up to 1885 and complain. I wouldn't want them to think they can take over when they don't hear anyone on AM.

Doesn't appear the next 24 hours will be much different than the previous.


 Sun Spots: 22 as of 03/05/2005  :: Flux: 84  | Ap: 27  | Kp: 3 (35 nT)  
 Solar Wind: 654 km/s at 1.7 protons/cm3


 On 2005 Mar 06 2358Z: Bz: -3.3 nT
 Bx: 4.1 nT | By: -2.3 nT | Total: 5.7 nT

Most recent satellite polar pass:

 Centered on 03/06/2005 : 2207 UTC
Aurora Activity Level was 10 at 2207 UTC
 visit noaa for latest.

 X-ray Solar Flares:
 6h hi [B3.4][1825Z 03/06] 24h hi [B3.4][1825Z 03/06]

 Global HF Propagation Conditions for 2300Z on 06 Mar, 2005

 Low Latitude: Normal
 Mid Latitude: Normal
 Hi Latitude: Fair

Summary for last 24 hours:
 Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor.
 Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred.

 Forecast for next 24 hours:
 Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be minor.
 Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected.

Heard you testing on 1885 last night Steve. I didn't have the gear fired up here or I would have called you. You weren't real strong but were 100% copy anyway.

--Larry W8ER

Ha! You never know who is listening. Not bad considering it was still daylight. I'm guessing you are about 350-400 miles from here.

I was going to get on a little later. When I came back, 1885 was already in use but I wasn't copying most of the stations very well. So, I didn't check in.

T-storms here tonight, so no radio action. Maybe catch you later in the week. I don't think I've ever worked you on 160.

What were you running? It sounded hi-fi! My guess was that you were probably running power.

--Larry

A modified FT-102 (http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/ft102.htm) minus the FM/AM board and a homebrew NE602 modulator (http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/602mod.htm) driving a linear - 250 watts to a dipole at 60-70 feet.