SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP024
ARLP024 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP24
QST de W1AW  
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 24  ARLP024
From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  June 16, 2006
To all radio amateurs 

SB PROP ARL ARLP024
ARLP024 Propagation de K7RA

Solar activity continues at very low levels. Andy Gudas, N7TP of
Nevada (see http://www.n7tp.org/) was wondering about the bottom of
the solar cycle, and noted that we still see solar flux values in
the seventies. We're probably not at the bottom of the cycle yet,
because during long periods of 0 sunspots at solar minima, we
observe solar flux values around 66-67.

Check out the numbers at the bottom of Propagation Forecast Bulletin
ARLP043 from 1996, when there were no sunspots for weeks on end. It
is located at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/1996-arlp043.html.

Five days from now is the longest day of the year in the Northern
Hemisphere. We're moving from spring to summer propagation
conditions. A couple of things you might notice compared to a few
months ago. 80, 60 and 40 meters will be open for shorter hours due
to less hours of darkness. You can also look forward to long
distance 20 meter openings later into the evening.

This becomes more noticeable at northern latitudes, where the days
are longer than down south. For instance, on the summer solstice
next Wednesday, Costa Rica will have about 12 hours and 33 minutes
from sunrise to sunset, but the same day in Vancouver, British
Columbia will be about 16 hours long.

6 meter reports continue to roll in. Chip Margelli, K7JA passed
along a rumor that ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN worked 123
Japanese stations on 6 meters in one evening recently. I've been
unable to confirm this directly.

David Greer, N4KZ of Frankfort, Kentucky writes, "6 meters continues
to dazzle from Frankfort, KY, EM78. I worked 17 stations in
Washington, Oregon and Idaho on SSB between 0025 and 0130z on June
15. Most signals were strong."

David continues, "On June 9 at 2208z, I worked CT3FT, Madeira
Islands, for my first Africa QSO on 6 meters. What a thrill that
was. I even managed to catch a very brief European E-skip opening at
1700z on June 3 and worked IK5MEJ and IW5DHN in Italy, a new country
for me."

On 6 meters Dave runs 100 watts to a 4-element Yagi at 60 feet.
Many other reports for that band came in from the VHF contest last
weekend. Don't forget ARRL Field Day coming up a little over a week
from now.

Nick Elias, N3AIU in Flagstaff, Arizona says that on June 9 on 6
meters he worked P4/W1XP on CW by loading up his full wave 80 meter
horizontal loop.

This weekend is the All Asia DX CW Contest. From the U.S. West
Coast, 20 meters may open all night to the Far East. 40 meters looks
good from 0900-1400z. From Texas, the 20 meter opening should be
much shorter, from about 0630-1400z, and a 40 meter opening may also
be short, around 0930-1200z. From the center of the 48 contiguous
United States, check 20 meters toward the Far East around
0800-1330z, and 40 meters from 0930-1200z.

From Chicago, 20 meters toward Japan looks best 0800-1230z, and
little chance of a 40 meter shot at all, perhaps around 1030-1100z.
From Cleveland no band looks good toward Japan, but 20 meters has
possibilities 0700-1400z.  New York also does not look promising,
but may see some 20 meter Far East propagation around 0700-1300z.
Atlanta shows a possible 40 meter opening around 1030z, and 20
meters 0700-1330z.

If you would like to make a comment or have a tip for our readers,
email the author at, k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .

Sunspot numbers for June 8 through 14 were 67, 42, 46, 46, 32, 23
and 35 with a mean of 41.6. 10.7 cm flux was 80, 77.6, 76.1, 74.4,
74.2, 77.1, and 75.3, with a mean of 76.4. Estimated planetary A
indices were 20, 10, 8, 5, 4, 3 and 7 with a mean of 8.1. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 18, 9, 7, 4, 2, 2 and 6, with a mean of
6.9.
NNNN
/EX