‰  NOW 18 WPM transition file follows‰

W1AW transmits morning fast and slow code practice Tuesday through
Friday at 1300z, or 9 am et.  Visitor operations are Monday through
Friday at 1400 to 1600z, or 10 am to 12 pm et, and then from 1700 to
1945z, or 1 PM to 345 PM et.  The revolving schedule of code
practices and bulletins, both digital and phone, begin Monday
through Friday at 2000z, or 4 PM et, until 0400z, or 12 am et.
Audio from W1AWs CW code practices, CW/digital bulletins and phone
bulletin is available using EchoLink via the W1AW Conference Server
named W1AWBDCT.  The monthly W1AW Qualifying Runs are presented here
as well.  The audio is sent in real time and runs concurrently with
W1AWs regular transmission schedule.  All users who connect to the
conference server are muted.  Please note that any questions or
comments about this server should not be sent via the Text window in
EchoLink. Please direct any questions or comments to w1aw at
arrl.org.  The complete w1aw operating schedule may be found on page
103 in the April 2016 issue of QST or on the web at,
www.arrl.org/w1aw .  On March 6 and 7 the planetary A index was 35
and 24.  According to Spaceweather.com this was caused by a CIR. On
March 4 they wrote, NOAA forecasters estimate a 50 percent chance of
polar geomagnetic storms on March 6th when a co rotating interaction
region is expected to hit Earths magnetic field. CIRs are transition
zones between fast and slow moving solar wind streams. Solar wind
plasma piles up in these regions, producing density gradients and
shock waves that do a good job of sparking auroras.
Spaceweather.com also mentioned that the Spring Equinox, Sunday,
March 20 at 0430 UTC, is a time for enhanced aurora activity. The
weeks around equinoxes, both Autumnal and Vernal, are a time of
increased aurora borealis. 6 meter operators will want to be alert.
On March 6 Spaceweather.com reported a G 2 Class geomagnetic storm.
G 2 signals a moderate geomagnetic storm, and typically HF radio
propagation can fade at higher latitudes, and aurora has been seen
as low as New York and Idaho.  Predicted solar flux is 95 on March
11 to 13, 90 on March 14 to 17, 95 on March 18 to 20, 90 on March 21
to 23, and 95 on March 24 to 30. Solar flux then continues to
meander between 90 and 95 for the remained of the 45 day forecast.
Predicted planetary A index is 5 and 10, on March 11 and 12, 8 on
March 13 and 14, 5 on March 15, 30 and 24 on March 16 and 17, 25 on
March 18 and 19, 12 on March 20, then 5 on March 21 through April 2,
then 22, 10 and 8 on April 3 to 5 and 5 on April 6 and 7. The
planetary A index then increases to 25 again on April 13 to 15.
Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas can be found on the W1AW web site.  Find more good
information and tutorials on propagation on the k9la web site.  My
own archives of the NOAA/USAF daily 45 day forecast for solar flux
and planetary A index are in downloadable spreadsheet format at
//bit.ly/1VOqf9B and //bit.ly/1DcpaC5 .  Sunspot numbers were 50,
95, 68, 68, 61, 48, and 61, with a mean of 64.4. 10.7 cm flux was
98.7, 100.5, 96.2, 95.5, 94.1, 95.5, and 97.4, with a mean of 96.8.
Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 4, 4, 35, 24, 8, and 7, with a
mean of 12.9.  Estimated mid latitude A indices were 7, 2, 3, 19,
17, 6, and 6, with a mean of 8.6.


‰  END OF 18 WPM transition file ƒ