‰  NOW 18 WPM transition file follows‰

Over the past week, on Monday, October 21, 10.7 cm solar flux sunk
to possibly the lowest level in recorded history. Solar flux was 64,
which is even lower than the 64.4 value recorded way back on July 2,
1954 at the start of Solar Cycle 19, by far the biggest solar cycle
ever recorded. I understand that solar flux dipped to 64.2 in 1906.
The average solar flux this past week was lower than the perhaps all
time lowest weekly average reported in this bulletin, which was 66,
back in ARLP035 this past August.  Over the recent reporting week,
October 17 to 23, average daily solar flux was 65.3, two points
lower than last week.  Average daily planetary A index dropped from
6.4 to 4.7, while average daily mid latitude A index declined from
5.1 to 3.1. And of course, there were no sunspots.  Predicted solar
flux for the next 45 days is 65 on October 25 through November 1,
and 66 on November 2 through December 8.  Predicted planetary A
index is 30 and 18 on October 25 and 26, 15 on October 27 and 28, 8
on October 29, 5 on October 30 through November 16, then 15, 8 and 5
on November 17 to 19, then 20 and 24 on November 20 and 21, 15 on
November 22 and 23, then 12 and 8 on November 24 and 25, and 5 on
November 26 through December 8.  But even with such record low solar
activity, HF propagation still exists, occasionally to a surprising
degree. Recently it seems as if most of the HF propagation reports I
receive involve the FT8 mode, which has a remarkable ability to
dredge up signals from what sound like noise to our ears.  But I
received a second hand report from W7WA and K7CW who attended a ham
club meeting a few days ago in Mason County, Washington where WA4ELK
reported working Lithuania and Belarus on 10 meter SSB at 0900 UTC
October 22 using low power and a bazooka antenna.  Certainly an odd
opening at an odd time of the day and I hope to track down more
details.  Jon Jones, N0JK reported from Kansas, an E skip and trans
equatorial opening October 17 and 18 on 6 meters from North America
to South America, I didnt hear or work any South America. I worked
on 6 meter Es NZ3M in FN10, N3BBI in FN20, W5PUF in rare DL99, and
XE2JS in DL78.  CX9AU spotted KF0M EM17 around 0030z October 18.
Today October 24 strong solar wind from a coronal hole arrived in
the afternoon causing Aurora in Alaska. The Kp went to 4 and 10
meters opened. The 5K0K DXpedition was loud on 28.430 MHz SSB into
the Midwest and logged at 2043z. 12 meters was also good, with ZD8SC
59 plus on 24.437 MHz, which I worked at 2039z. I was fixed mobile
with 100 watts and a 1/4 wave vertical on each band. So far no
enhanced conditions on 6 meters.  For Maritime Mobile on merchant
ships, here is one that Francois F5MYK/MM contacted on 7.074 MHZ
FT8, October 19.  F5MYK info is on QRZ.com.  For more information
concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information
Service web page.  A detailed explanation of numbers used in this
bulletin is also available on this site.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is also available.  Monthly propagation charts
between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations can be found
on the ARRL/Propagation web page.  Find better information and
tutorials on propagation on the K9LA web site.  Sunspot numbers were
0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean of 0. 10.7 cm flux was 66.1,
66.1, 66, 65, 64, 65.6, and 64.5, with a mean of 65.3. Estimated
planetary a indices were 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 3, and 2, with a mean of
4.7. Middle latitude A index was 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 2, and 1, with a
mean of 3.1.

‰  END OF 18 WPM transition file ƒ