Propagation guide

This may not be perfect, but it gives a general guide to HF conditions. It shows the F2 MUF goes way above 30 MHz at times in certain places.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

Exceptional E-W F2 MUF

In the last few weeks the F2 MUF has exceeded 50MHz "across the pond" on a few occasions. I would expect this at times at the height of a good(ish) solar cycle. It would reach 8m far more often. Indeed my 8m 2.5W FT8 to a dipole was regularly spotted in Canada, the USA and Caribbean in autumn 2023 as well as this autumn. 

In my view this is where 8m FT8 could score. Just occasionally for a short period, the MUF will be high enough. These openings are far less likely to be spotted on CW or SSB, whereas with 8m FT8 and PSKreporter it is far more likely these brief openings will be noticed.

As the sunspots decline the N-S MUF may support 8m FT8 to South Africa more often than we might think.

6m F2?

When sunspot numbers and solar flux numbers are high, there is always a chance of the F2 MUF reaching 6m or even higher.  I remember some years ago hearing 6m SSB stations from South Africa and the USA just like locals. At the time I just had a wire dipole.

Propagation today

 The MUF in some parts of the world is high. It "feels" as if we are at the start of the long decline to sunspot minimum, although there is sometimes a second peak.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

HF propagation

Conditions on HF do not seen exceptional today. I am not expecting to get any spots on my 0.5mW 10m WSPR beacon, but you never know!

See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

High MUF

We are close to the peak, possibly just over it, of solar cycle 25. Yesterday, in some parts of the world, the MUF was over 42 MHz. In the depths of the next solar minimum we will look back with disbelief.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF)

Around the sunspot maximum we can see the MUF going much higher than we are used to. Take for example the 8m band, which is allocated to the Amateur Radio service in some countries and available to some on an experimental basis. Quite regularly, my 2.5W 8m FT8 is copied in the Caribbean, USA and Canada. This is on 40.680 MHz USB dial. This suggests the MUF is probably at 41 MHz quite often even on E-W paths. The MUF is usually higher on N-S paths.

For a long time, I have been advocating that 5 kHz at 8m be made available to the Amateur Radio service, narrow digital modes only, strictly non-interference, secondary, in the ISM band, low power, by application only.  I can see this only really appealing to true experimenters. It would appear the FCC and OFCOM (and the RSGB) are dead against, but I struggle to understand why when so much propagation research could be done. Even it permits were limited to around the solar maximum it would be useful.  Instead, in the UK we have to pay to do research - total madness and stupidity.

HF propagation

In the last few days (until today) I had given up on 8m. Today, I am back on the band and have been spotted by 4 stations including 2 in the Caribbean. F2 conditions appear to be quite good still. It is worth keeping an eye on propagation including the MUF.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/.

Sunspot maximum

According to the forecasts, the solar maximum for cycle 25 is next month. It has been this for a long time. We are already seeing MUF figures above 41 MHz even on E-W paths. Usually the decline is far slower than the slope up. If so, conditions could be good yet for some while. It is not unusual to see a double peak. Enjoy the good times.

Promising HF conditions today

It looks like the MUF today could be the highest this sunspot cycle according to the charts I have seen. It is always worth checking these.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/

HF MUF

Recently, I was made aware of this website. As the MUF is creeping up, it is worth a regular look. It may give a clue to possible 8m and 6m F2 openings.

See https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/HF_Systems/6/5 - this gives the MUF for vertical incidence.

See also https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

New near real time propagation tools

My thanks to Southgate News for bringing this to my attention.

Jim Bacon, G3YLA has a new propagation tool, which is worth linking. Jim does the TV weather in East Anglia, and is a well regarded Es expert.

See http://www.convectiveweather.co.uk/ionosphere/index.php

MUF

It certainly seems that HF conditions get better nearer the equator. http://www.hamqsl.com/solar3.html shows a diagram of MUF (maximum usable frequencies) and going closer to the equator does seem to help. I am definitely no propagation expert!