Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP

Propagation Report from Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP

17 January, 2010

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low levels.

2010 started with a useful amount of sunspot activity.
Currently sunspot region 1 040 is exciting HF enthusiasts.
A new record solar flux of 95,4 for Cycle 24 was reached on Tuesday.

The effective sunspot number is expected to be between 20 and 30 for the coming week. Overall conditions are on the rise.

15 and 20 m will provide the best opportunities for DX. Conditions to India will be good from the afternoon onwards. During the late afternoon and early evenings, it will be moderate towards Europe. In the afternoons there are good possibilities of contacts with the USA on 15 m.

Contacts with New Zealand will be possible for a short stint on 15 and 20 m during the mornings. Contacts with Australia will be possible on 20 m for a short spell during the mornings and the afternoons.

During the afternoons and evenings, 20 and 15 m contacts may also be possible with Brazil.

Local conditions are going to be good on 40 m during the daytime. 80 m may perform well during the early mornings and late afternoons over the shorter distances. 30 m will perform well over the longer distances during the middle of the day.

With summer here, 20 m is also once again very useful for contacts over the longer distances, especially up to two o'clock in the afternoons.

80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings

Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.

South African Radio League

• All propagation reports can be found at:
http://www.southgatearc.org/propagation