1 hour ago, hamateur 1953 said:

Well, 10.7 has dropped off for certain and typically Hams really appreciate it being 250 plus like many previous cycles.  I have been also watching TCI and it is not tracking along with 10.7 to any huge degree.  As our F layer theoretically is supposed to be primarily responsive to UV radiation and from what I have been reading the SABER satellite is keeping an eye on UV.  Although 10.7 may fall somewhat TCI remains higher than I have seen it. Around 35 now when last year it was down as low as 17.   I think we may see F2 on six this winter if TCI remains this high.  Just speculation here at this point.  73. Mike. Edit:  I have been watching a Japanese station for a couple of days now making practically unbelievable contacts on 50 mhz around 22:00 utc yesterday they not only worked into Mexico but within an hour worked west into the Mediterranean area!  Which was definitely in total darkness at the time.  I would question this if it were a contest and I was an official.  Haha.  Maybe moonbounce. I dunno. 

I agree with the possible "moonbounce" situation - it does seem to pass through to there

That’s about the only possibility I could see that might work.  Especially with west being under full daylight. Moonbounce works ok on six supposedly but requires circular polarization to be effective and good tracking abilities.  

4 minutes ago, Zhe Yu said:

I agree with the possible "moonbounce" situation - it does seem to pass through to there

 

Just now, hamateur 1953 said:

That’s about the only possibility I could see that might work.  Especially with west being under full daylight. Moonbounce works ok on six supposedly but requires circular polarization to be effective and good tracking abilities.  

 

Of course - moonbounce is not always possible but may be the only logical possible solution. At least some signs are in our favour (daylight to the west etc.)

18 minutes ago, Zhe Yu said:

Of course - moonbounce is not always possible but may be the only logical possible solution. At least some signs are in our favour (daylight to the west etc.)

Typically as I understand it from reading long ago, it is generally most effective when the moon is relatively low on the horizon and both stations are well equipped for it.  It was done a lot during cycle 20 using 1,000 watts and good antennas.  Edit: one really cool thing is hearing your own signal a second or two later!! Haha. Also typically our higher frequencies are used. 144 222 and above. Less aluminum and easier to build alt/azimuth mounts. 

Edited September 28, 20241 yr by hamateur 1953

1 minute ago, hamateur 1953 said:

Typically as I understand it from reading long ago, it is generally most effective when the moon is relatively low on the horizon and both stations are well equipped for it.  It was done a lot during cycle 20 using 1,000 watts and good antennas.  

Wow impressive!

But sometimes it can happen accidentally 

27 minutes ago, Zhe Yu said:

Wow impressive!

But sometimes it can happen accidentally 

I would be amazed if it did. Typically it requires scheduling ( sked) and precise timings typically high speed CW. ( morse code) was the mode used.  Digitally these days I think JT 65 might be employed. But never having had the interest, I never pursued it.  

https://www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php?Lan=E   For anyone interested in Amateur Radio this site allows registered users to post their contacts mode and frequency live.  Most Hams are aware of this site although other sites exist, this seems reliable. Mike 

On 9/28/2024 at 10:13 PM, hamateur 1953 said:

I would be amazed if it did. Typically it requires scheduling ( sked) and precise timings typically high speed CW. ( morse code) was the mode used.  Digitally these days I think JT 65 might be employed. But never having had the interest, I never pursued it.  

https://www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php?Lan=E   For anyone interested in Amateur Radio this site allows registered users to post their contacts mode and frequency live.  Most Hams are aware of this site although other sites exist, this seems reliable. Mike 

Thanks for the website link, I had a play about and it was great!

Finally we are beginning to see it opening up for F2.   I have only seen it on DX maps so far but I saw member @G0OFE note a TE F2 into the Philippines   In another thread this AM. If geomagnetic influence doesn’t wreck everything all winter some six meter history will probably be made in SC 25.  Which makes me think about Aussie Hams ( VK). Not only should it become possible this winter to span the states on F2, It may also become possible to span the land down under on 50 mhz via F2. Say from Perth/Fremantle/ Albany. Up into Townsville or perhaps Brisbane.  

Edited October 5, 20241 yr by hamateur 1953
Typos afterthoughts

2 hours ago, hamateur 1953 said:

Finally we are beginning to see it opening up for F2.   I have only seen it on DX maps so far but I saw member @G0OFE note a TE F2 into the Philippines   In another thread this AM. If geomagnetic influence doesn’t wreck everything all winter some six meter history will probably be made in SC 25.  Which makes me think about Aussie Hams ( VK). Not only should it become possible this winter to span the states on F2, It may also become possible to span the land down under on 50 mhz via F2. Say from Perth/Fremantle/ Albany. Up into Townsville or perhaps Brisbane.  

Very interesting, thanks for the detailed research! You must put a lot of effort into this!

Its comparatively easy these days. Huge advances in technology have helped. 

1 minute ago, hamateur 1953 said:

Its comparatively easy these days. Huge advances in technology have helped. 

Yep, of course, modernisation is key these days!

On 10/5/2024 at 4:20 PM, hamateur 1953 said:

Finally we are beginning to see it opening up for F2.   I have only seen it on DX maps so far but I saw member @G0OFE note a TE F2 into the Philippines   In another thread this AM. If geomagnetic influence doesn’t wreck everything all winter some six meter history will probably be made in SC 25.  Which makes me think about Aussie Hams ( VK). Not only should it become possible this winter to span the states on F2, It may also become possible to span the land down under on 50 mhz via F2. Say from Perth/Fremantle/ Albany. Up into Townsville or perhaps Brisbane.  

The difference between October 1989 and this year (so far) is the level of geomagnetic activity. Throughout mid October that year, we had a protracted period of very low A index and the K was frequently 0 or 1. 6M propagation was excellent with the G to VK path opening up amongst others.

 

This time round, we had just the one day with the DU coming in, and also a little South America on a couple of days. More frequent openings to Africa and to ZD9GJ in the south Atlantic. Geomagnetic conditions have been generally rather more disturbed as we know, with a couple of particularly stormy days.

I am watching the FoF2 at Juliusru, IMO we need that value to exceed 13Mhz for east-west paths to open on 6m. has only done so briefly on a couple of occasions so far. Lets see what the next few days brings - hopefully quieter geomagnetic conditions together with continuing seasonal changes will see things opening up properly in north-west Europe.

Unfortunately I wasn’t on six in 1979. Or 1989. Lots of great DX records set then.  Only fighting the stupid woodpecker ( Russian OTH radar) on ten meters which followed the muf all the way to 30 mhz. We were happy to see it leave  possibly before your time 

Very cool.  50 mhz open into Japan at 00.30 utc today.  Washington Oregon making FT-8 contacts.  No CW unfortunately. Or SSB. Too bad! 
wow!! Keeps getting better. DX maps nearly all green right now! Open into VK and ZL now. Excellent.   Btw @G0OFE  The Fø was above 14 mhz.  

Edited November 6, 2024Nov 6 by hamateur 1953
Better every minute. Vert. Ionosonde

Yes, last couple of weeks have been excellent. Good openings to Kazakhstan pretty much every day, often joined by Aus, SE Asia and some Japanese stations for those with decent antennas. Also some very good openings to North America. South America perhaps a bit more sporadic, though that may be down to activity levels. Very little from the Caribbean probably for the same reasons.

It really has felt like going back to 1989 at times. All a bit of a surprise, really, as I was not expecting solar activity to rise this high even a couple of years ago.

2 hours ago, G0OFE said:

Yes, last couple of weeks have been excellent. Good openings to Kazakhstan pretty much every day, often joined by Aus, SE Asia and some Japanese stations for those with decent antennas. Also some very good openings to North America. South America perhaps a bit more sporadic, though that may be down to activity levels. Very little from the Caribbean probably for the same reasons.

It really has felt like going back to 1989 at times. All a bit of a surprise, really, as I was not expecting solar activity to rise this high even a couple of years ago.

It was a pleasant surprise also to see F2 arrive rather abruptly around 00:30 utc for me also!   .  I just took  a peek at DX maps expecting some Es activity coincident with the M flaring as I have observed this on multiple occasions this cycle and the F2 popped up along with Es over the states.  CN 87 ( Seattle) rarely gets action. Typically CA and Southern Oregon.  I am only running 100 watts here.  SSB or CW. Into an inverted v for the time being.   Guessing you’re running a yagi or the like.   73 Mike N7ORL. 

There's a 50 mHz currently going between Hungary and NA near Atlanta in the USA, And the Moon shadow seems to cut this path in half, one in it and one out of it. Could this be another opening?

Zhe Yu IO91VE - G73OQ

1 hour ago, Zhe Yu said:

There's a 50 mHz currently going between Hungary and NA near Atlanta in the USA, And the Moon shadow seems to cut this path in half, one in it and one out of it. Could this be another opening?

Zhe Yu IO91VE - G73OQ

The moon is an aurora lovers bane. Usually wrecking aurora when our cloud cover fails to obstruct our chances here !  🤣🤣.  Fuggetaboutit.  Lower taxes??!  Sure.  Instead let’s fight for a lower surface albedo!  🐈‍⬛

17 minutes ago, hamateur 1953 said:

The moon is an aurora lovers bane. Usually wrecking aurora when our cloud cover fails to obstruct our chances here !  🤣🤣.  Fuggetaboutit.  Lower taxes??!  Sure.  Instead let’s fight for a lower surface albedo!  🐈‍⬛

Of course - the moon has its advantages and disadvantages! Although I enjoy the aurora, I enjoy HAM radio and the moon. Anyway, when we CAN see the moon in the UK we are not likely to be able to see the aurora either... nevermind! 😂🤣

Great thread.

F2 on 6m so far been good for me starting around 26th October worked in to VK from GM on FT8 several times and then on the 31st Oct also again on SSB. I decided to take a chance and take last week of October and first week of November as a holiday and i was rewarded with many contacts in to Australia India Vietnam(SSB) Sri Lanka Kazakhstan and North and South America.

It starts around 8:30 utc with some weak un or 9k stations and lots of back scatter and peaks around 9am utc opening can last a few mins to a hour till around 11:00 then drops off then around 12:00 utc it swings to the west from GM to VE USA and some central americas taht will last to around sunset at 16:30ish utc.

I see a lot of others calling the dx and somtimes i dont hear it at all then other days i hear it work it before others but thats the 6m Magic.

When working i dont get the chance unless its the weekend and its been patchy last few. Yestarday i was seeing vietnam for a brief period before i had to lower the tower due to wind and snow. Today only seeing Eu

dx worked since F2 started in October i have noted teh following from my log

SFI was ranging from 209 on the first day up to 270 and dropped a few times

A 3 on the first day up to 15  averages around 4

K on first day 2   up to 4

 

Just some of the stuff i see. VK not heard for a few weeks but that can be down to my working hours.

Stu MM0BSM IO86AD

3 hours ago, MM0BSM said:

Great thread.

F2 on 6m so far been good for me starting around 26th October worked in to VK from GM on FT8 several times and then on the 31st Oct also again on SSB. I decided to take a chance and take last week of October and first week of November as a holiday and i was rewarded with many contacts in to Australia India Vietnam(SSB) Sri Lanka Kazakhstan and North and South America.

It starts around 8:30 utc with some weak un or 9k stations and lots of back scatter and peaks around 9am utc opening can last a few mins to a hour till around 11:00 then drops off then around 12:00 utc it swings to the west from GM to VE USA and some central americas taht will last to around sunset at 16:30ish utc.

I see a lot of others calling the dx and somtimes i dont hear it at all then other days i hear it work it before others but thats the 6m Magic.

When working i dont get the chance unless its the weekend and its been patchy last few. Yestarday i was seeing vietnam for a brief period before i had to lower the tower due to wind and snow. Today only seeing Eu

dx worked since F2 started in October i have noted teh following from my log

SFI was ranging from 209 on the first day up to 270 and dropped a few times

A 3 on the first day up to 15  averages around 4

K on first day 2   up to 4

 

Just some of the stuff i see. VK not heard for a few weeks but that can be down to my working hours.

Stu MM0BSM IO86AD

Very cool!  Thanks for posting this!  The second confirmation I have of what I have seen on DX maps live.   73 Mike N7ORL. Maidenhead:  CN 87 

Hey @MM0BSM  Six should be wide open again all weekend SFI over 200 again. Hopefully I can make that contact into W2 land along our eastern seaboard. Id settle for W4 in Florida too. Haha. 73. Mike 

I just took a look at DX maps 16:00 UTC Saturday and see F2 contacts between USA east coast and Spain also Germany modes not listed.  Even below 200 SFI as we are approaching perihelion. This is potentially great news as USAF only predicts a maximum of 210 SFI through  January. Also  SFI isn’t predicted to drop much below 180 which is about where we are presently.   All good news for six meter DX transatlantic! 

Edited December 7, 2024Dec 7 by hamateur 1953
Typo

Well we hit 201 SFI at 20:00 utc ( 194 adjusted) so our Christmas solar flux present is arriving right on time!   😇

36 minutes ago, hamateur 1953 said:

Well we hit 201 SFI at 20:00 utc ( 194 adjusted) so our Christmas solar flux present is arriving right on time!   😇

Yay !!!!! Things just feel so right with the world when the flux is over 200  !!!!