Daily solar flux named fs or i or other products aindex. The images below are current views of the sun shown at different wavelengths of light as taken by soho and the yohkoh softxray telescope. Our software features land mobile vhf, uhf 800mhz, microwave, etc. This chart is based on the noaa geophysical alert message updated every three hours. Hf propagation app for windows this program displays solarterrestrial data for radio waves propagation that is provided by the n0nbh webservice. Solar wind has a negative effect on hf radio propagation too by severely interfering with the earths ionosphere. A successful qso depends on the ionosphere and its state. High frequecy and vhf radio propagation data, solar and geomagnetic realtime and. This link is listed in our web site directory since friday nov 19 2004, and till today amateur radio propagation rss xml live feed has been followed for a total of 1947 times. Current sunspot cycle activity, space weather, solar storm. Ionospheric simulator this program simulates a hf link, using sound card and win95 by michael keller, dl6iak.
This page provides basic understanding of the principles of electromagnetic radiation, the structure of the earths atmosphere and solarterrestrial interactions necessary for a working knowledge of radio propagation. Uses openstreetmap tiles or public sattelite imagery as background. Drag is a force exerted on an object moving through a fluid, and it is oriented in the direction of relative fluid flow. Inspiration for this site, along with xml data, is courtesy n0nbh. Usable hf frequencies page refreshed every 20 minutes use the indicated color red, yellow, green, blue, white, etc. Acehf is propagation forecasting and modeling for amateur radio as well as for shortwave radio listening and general hf operation. In this presentation, we only talk about propagation on hf 330 mhz.
Hflink hf automatic link establishment hf ale hf network. The solar and geomagnetic data window displays 5 bargraphs with the next readings. Dx toolbox propagation analysis and prediction program ii. Satellite drag noaa nws space weather prediction center. Understand the charts the following have great effect on propagation. Radio propagation along the grey line is very efficient. You can access realtime and historical date for the critical. Graphs of xray flux readings from the goes satellites may also be displayed.
Receive live updates of propagation information, including solar flux, k index and propagation forecasts display signal path on a mercator or customized azimulthal equidistant map evaluate propagation paths visually, including muf and signal strength, including forecast and printout control a receiver remotely over local area network or internet. Hflink is the international resource for ale automatic link establishment high frequency communications, hf digital messaging, emergency disaster relief, interoperative hf communications, hf network, ham radio. Falling numbers mean improving conditions particularly in northern latitudes. Currently it works on linux and windows 32 bit vista tested. Lowfrequency navigation signals degraded for brief intervals. Now includes calculated propagation conditions using the index and flux numbers obtained. It also contains several propagation forecasting tools. No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. Please send me an email if something doesnt look right.
The solar flux index was in the 60s for months at a time, and all you could read in the dx bulletins was how awful things were. Hf propagation numbers and hf beacon tracking programs. Demystifying hf radio propagation and modeling check out the acehf propagation software the latest is version 2. Radio propagation between locations within the grayline region of the world is often greatly enhanced. Propagation mail list reflectors several to choose from includes subscription info qst hf propagation prediction charts muf, best propagation paths and times pdf files from the arrl. A comprehensive propagation resource compiled by tomas hood, editor of the propagation columns of cq, cq vhf, popular communications, and monitoring times magazines. Does solar wind have an effect on hf radio propagation. Radio propagation prediction software an overview, article, tutorial about the basics of radio propagation prediction software for use on the hf bands for predicting broadcast coverage, as well as the possibility of establishing two way radio communications, maritime mobile radio communications, and for many more applications. Vhf ham radio operators monitor these numbers and others to determine possible openings for other radio propagation modes such as auroraskip. Amateur radio propagation rss xml live feed resource. Awardwinning ham radio author michael burnette, af7kb, takes you on a journey through every form of radio wave propagation, from ground waves to propagation in outer space. Because the best approach for our model is to compare mean values of solar and ionosphairic data. Dx toolbox searches the web for you, gathering information on solar and geomagnetic conditions that affect radio propagation.
Space weather impacts radio communication in a number of ways. Understanding lf and hf propagation radio society of. Continually updated ham radio propagation frequencies, ionograms, and geomagnetic and solar information amateur radio. At frequencies in the 1 to 30 mega hertz range known as high frequency or hf radio, the changes in ionospheric density and structure modify the transmission path and even block transmission of hf radio signals completely.
Weak or minor degradation of hf radio communication on sunlit side, occasional loss of radio contact. However there several packages of radio propagation prediction software that are available. Dx toolbox propagation analysis and prediction program ii solar and geomagnetic data. The report contains a graphical view of the last 2 months solar flux values, sunspot count and planetary a index. The state of the ionosphere varies by hour, by day, by month. High values of sfi cause propagation openings in the higher hf bands. Hf shortwave radio propagation solar flux and sunspots. Higher solar flux generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15. One major reason for this is that the d layer, which absorbs hf signals, disappears rapidly on the sunset side of the grey line, and it has not yet built upon. This chart is based on daily sunspot and solar flux numbers reported by noaa. What the numbers mean, and propagation predictionsa brief introduction to propagation and the major factors affecting it. It provides an indication of the level of radiation that is being received from the sun. Prediction data provided by noaa space weather prediction center last updated may 5 2020 04. The main category is radiowave propagation resources that is about radio wave propagation links for amateur radio.
Solar radio data available from the noaa national centers for environmental information and collocated world data center for solarterrestrial physics. Radio propagation is the behavior of radio waves as they travel, or are propagated, from one point to another, or into various parts of the atmosphere. Propagation of rf signals american radio relay league. I write for a number of radio magazines, including the rsgbs radcom and arrls qst. Propfire hf propagation browser bar ham radio resources. How radio waves propagate in other than straightline paths is a complicated subject, but one that need not be a mystery. High frequency and vhf radio propagation data, solar and geomagnetic realtime and historic data, sunspot activity reports, as well as forecasts. If you can hear it from its location you are usually good to go for. Worldwide long distance propagation dx may turn up. Solar activity and hf propagation kansas state university.
Mdsrs propagation monitor is available in realtime on the. Why we must add the mean valued of sunspots number or solar flux and not the dailynumber. When the solar flux numbers are high many sunspots, and the aindex and kindex numbers are low or zero, hf conditions are great for ham radio. Hf shortwave radio propagation solar flux and sunspots sunspots most shortwave radio users know that there is a correlation between sunspots and propagation conditions. It is like the self forfilling prophecy that people check the solar flux and if it states poor they turn off the radio. The issue with solar flux based propagation models is that they do not work when there is no solar activity, but there is still.
Solar flux a k kp index as the radiation from the sun is the major influence on the ionosphere, solar indices including the solar flux, a index, ap index, k index and the kp index are all important in predicting the state of the ionosphere and hf ionospheric radio propagation. The data in this chart reflects the past six months. Solar weather, sunspot activity, geomagnetic, aurora, ionospheric reports via. Review of propagation prediction programs voacapbased. Hf beacons operated by amateur radio operators all over the earth transmit a cw signal varing power levels in all directions. The kindex or boulder k is a gauge of geomagnetic activity relative to an assumed quietday curve for boulder colorado. Higher numbers mean more solar wind is reaching the earth. While listening or planning to work a dx station, the radio amateur would like to know what are the current propagation conditions, know if the propagation is open toward a specific location at a specific time, or at what time the band will be open for a specific pointtopoint circuit. The solar flux remained stubbornly in the 60s in september and, although we can expect a. These take the various indices into account along with the position on. Solar flux ranges from about 65 to 300, and 65 is bad news.
Single hop propagation already starts at 70 in lower latitude areas. If you are using software utilities such as acehf, that require a smoothed sunspot number referred to as the ssn, or the smoothed 10. A rudimentary knowledge of sunspots, solar flares and mass ejections will help the amateur take advantage of these effects to enhance his pleasure, or understand his plight. It is the amount of radio noise or flux emitted at a frequency of 2800 mhz 10. A measure known as the solar flux is used as the basic indicator of solar activity, and to determine the level or radiation being received from the sun. If we have chosen solar flux like primary solar index, her is what we must add in our case is 87. Solar radio flux solar monitoring program space weather canada. Free online software available on the internet for muf calculations using a variety. It also features several propagation forecasting tools, allowing you to quickly and easily estimate current hf shortwave propagation conditions. Higher is the solar flux and the number of sunspots, higher will be the muf maximum usable. Generally, more bright regions on the disk indicates more solar activity, which usually leads to higher flux levels which also often leads to better ham radio and shortwave propagation.
However hf bands seem to open miraculously during contests, only to appear to close again afterwards, as everyone who would normally be on hf tries their. The sun, being the largest engine in our solar system, has a great effect on propagation as its exhaust interacts with our earths magnetic field. This is where i publish a lot of my features and thoughts on hf propagation, antennas and other ham radio topics. One of the major indicators of solar activity used for radio propagation prediction is known as the solar flux and it has a major impact on radio communications propagation conditions. High frequecy and vhf radio propagation data, solar and geomagnetic realtime and historic data, as well as forecasts. Qst hf propagation prediction charts muf, best propagation paths and times pdf. Qradiopredict is an experimental software for vhfuhf propagation prediction and radio coverage analysis. There is no guess work on what the ionosphere does because the rfseismograph measures and logs real activity. As a form of electromagnetic radiation, like light waves, radio waves are affected by the phenomena of reflection, refraction, diffraction, absorption, polarization, and. The grey line is a band around the earth that separates the daylight from darkness. The solar flux index is a gauge of solar particles and magnetic fields reaching our atmosphere. Solar radio flux solar monitoring program information about the program. If youve thought propagation is a lot like the weather you can talk about it, but theres nothing you can do about it. Hf radio signals become absorbed rather than reflected in the highly ionised ionosphere, resulting in fading and even total loss of signal at the receiver.
The fast track to understanding ham radio propagation. Noaa broadcasts geophysical alert messages over wwv at 18 minutes after the hour and from wwvh at 45 minutes after the hour. Audio alerts can be generated when solar flares, aurora, or disturbed geomagnetic conditions exist or are likely. High frequency radio propagation latest smoothed sunspot. Note also that there is a number called radio flux also. Acehf professional propagation software for hf radio operators. The messages are less than 45 seconds in length and are updated every 3 hours typically at 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, and 2100 utc. The solar flux is measured in solar flux units sfu and is the amount of radio noise or flux that is emitted at a. Dx toolbox shortwave ham radio hf radio propagation. Dx toolbox from blackcat systems searches the web for you, gathering information on solar and geomagnetic conditions that affect radio propagation. Solar cycle solar cycle 24 vhf aurora amateur radio.
We are so focused on solar flux that we created all this predictions that basically frustrate hf users and are really bad for the continuation of this hobby. High frequency and vhf radio propagation data, solar and geomagnetic real time and historic data. The sfi is a measure of the solar radio flux per unit frequency at a. Current solar and geophysical information radio society of great. The lowest possible number for this solar flux is 63. Included are the solar flux, kindex, and aindex numbers for the past six months. Solar radio flux solar monitoring program space weather. Alex shovkoplyas ve3nea provides this software program.