Quick update:

At least an X10 or X11 class flare just occurred, peaking at 2049Z
29-X-2003, adding to the already dead HF conditions due to the CME passage
and the Kp = 7. This one is a short-lived flare. Quick recovery is
expected. I don't know, yet, what CME might be associated, if any.
Details, soon.

At the moment, most of the HF spectrum is "closed" to propagation, not
because of the flare. I'm have not been hearing signals here in the
Pacific Northwest on most of the HF, before the X11 flare. On many e-mail
reflectors, I am reading some folks as saying, "Wow, that X17 flare sure
has shut down the bands." Actually, it is not that solar flare that messed
up the bands, today. Flares tend to cause radio blackouts that might last
from a half hour to a number of hours. On the otherhand, major geomagnetic
storms will cause HF radio propagation degradation because of
"recombination."

Today's general outage is due to the passage of one of the fastest moving
coronal hole mass ejections on record. It caused the highest Kp index - a
level 9 geomagnetic storm. Since it hit us, the Kp index has remained at
or higher than 7. This is a severe geomagnetic storm. During a
geomagnetic storm, the ionosphere experiences "recombination" - much like
what happens at night. The maximum usable frequencies fall - sometime no
HF propagation is possible, because the ionosphere is completely
recombined... this is what is happening at this moment. Most of the HF
spectrum is "shut down."

Now, added to this geomagnetic storm and the general closure of the HF
spectrum, we have this new X11-class flare from 2049Z. I don't yet know if
a CME was associated with this one.

More as details become available...


73 de Tomas, NW7US (AAR0JA/AAM0EWA)
--
: Propagation Editor, CQ/CQ VHF/Popular Communications Magazines :
: http://hfradio.org/ -- http://prop.hfradio.org/ -- Brinnon, WA :
: 122.93W 47.67N - CW / SSB / DIGITAL / DX-Hunting / Propagation :
: A creator of solutions -- http://accessnow.com/ -- Perl Rules! :
: Washington State MARS Emergency Operations Officer - (AAM0EWA) :
: WA State Army MARS Webmaster for http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/ :
: 10x56526, FISTS 7055, FISTS NW 57, A.R. Lighthouse Society 144 :

Yes but a great TV DX opening here in Winnipeg Canada...both channels 2 and 4
opening up

Shawn

Tomas wrote:

Quick update:

At least an X10 or X11 class flare just occurred, peaking at 2049Z
29-X-2003, adding to the already dead HF conditions due to the CME passage
and the Kp = 7. This one is a short-lived flare. Quick recovery is
expected. I don't know, yet, what CME might be associated, if any.
Details, soon.

At the moment, most of the HF spectrum is "closed" to propagation, not
because of the flare. I'm have not been hearing signals here in the
Pacific Northwest on most of the HF, before the X11 flare. On many e-mail
reflectors, I am reading some folks as saying, "Wow, that X17 flare sure
has shut down the bands." Actually, it is not that solar flare that messed
up the bands, today. Flares tend to cause radio blackouts that might last
from a half hour to a number of hours. On the otherhand, major geomagnetic
storms will cause HF radio propagation degradation because of
"recombination."

Today's general outage is due to the passage of one of the fastest moving
coronal hole mass ejections on record. It caused the highest Kp index - a
level 9 geomagnetic storm. Since it hit us, the Kp index has remained at
or higher than 7. This is a severe geomagnetic storm. During a
geomagnetic storm, the ionosphere experiences "recombination" - much like
what happens at night. The maximum usable frequencies fall - sometime no
HF propagation is possible, because the ionosphere is completely
recombined... this is what is happening at this moment. Most of the HF
spectrum is "shut down."

Now, added to this geomagnetic storm and the general closure of the HF
spectrum, we have this new X11-class flare from 2049Z. I don't yet know if
a CME was associated with this one.

More as details become available...

73 de Tomas, NW7US (AAR0JA/AAM0EWA)
--
: Propagation Editor, CQ/CQ VHF/Popular Communications Magazines :
: http://hfradio.org/ -- http://prop.hfradio.org/ -- Brinnon, WA :
: 122.93W 47.67N - CW / SSB / DIGITAL / DX-Hunting / Propagation :
: A creator of solutions -- http://accessnow.com/ -- Perl Rules! :
: Washington State MARS Emergency Operations Officer - (AAM0EWA) :
: WA State Army MARS Webmaster for http://wa.mars.hfradio.org/ :
: 10x56526, FISTS 7055, FISTS NW 57, A.R. Lighthouse Society 144 :

--
73 and Best of DX
Shawn Axelrod

Visit the AMANDX DX site with info for the new or experienced listener:

http://www.angelfire.com/mb/amandx/index.html

REMEMBER ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN HEAR FOREVER

I have been trying to listen to my "usual" HF spots tonight, but I have
noticed nothing on the HF bands-- where I am listening from, even WWV on 10
MHz is totally shut down by static.

I am watching a DX cluster, http://www.dxer.org/, and I've noticed that most
of the DX spots on the cluster today have been reported on the
otherwise-capricious 6 meter band, due to auroral propagation. If I had a
six meter capable rig, I'd be on it right now. The wavelengths of the lower
VHF frequencies are apparently bouncing off the massive aurorae caused by
the solar storm. I've also noticed numerous spots posted via contacts on
the 2 meter band.

A solar storm of this magnitude right now is really a weird thing, being
that we're just a few years shy of the solar minimum. Just goes to show that
our neighborhood star isn't as predictable as we may have thought. I bet
that I would be able to see wonderful displays of the northern lights where
I am situated, if it weren't for these persistent rainclouds (Minnesota).

Jackie

"Jackie" wrote in message news:8u%nb.42165$mZ5.242915@attbi_s54...
I have been trying to listen to my "usual" HF spots tonight, but I have
noticed nothing on the HF bands-- where I am listening from, even WWV on 10
MHz is totally shut down by static.

I am watching a DX cluster, http://www.dxer.org/, and I've noticed that most
of the DX spots on the cluster today have been reported on the
otherwise-capricious 6 meter band, due to auroral propagation. If I had a
six meter capable rig, I'd be on it right now. The wavelengths of the lower
VHF frequencies are apparently bouncing off the massive aurorae caused by
the solar storm. I've also noticed numerous spots posted via contacts on
the 2 meter band.



Weird...I've been checking 6m for the last three days. Been fairly
dead here in Houston. I heard someone early the other morning , and
thats been about it. I roll around checking for beacons every once in
a while, and hear nothing. I'm hoping it will kick in down here sooner
or later. I'm running 100w and a three el NBS yagi. Been pointing it
n-n/e for starters. I've tried calling to see if I can wake anyone up,
but no go. I'm hanging on 50.125 "USB" most of the time as a "monitor"
freq. The beacons are down in the lower end. 50.000 to 50.1. MK

All I can hear at 00:00 Zulu is 6275
(DW, Location unknown) and 5.975 ( BBC, Antigua faint..)
All else is staticy hisss..

s Subject: X11-class flare and major geomagnetic storm 29-X-2003
From: "Jackie"
Date: 10/29/2003 10:22 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: 8u%nb.42165$mZ5.242915@attbi_s54

I have been trying to listen to my "usual" HF spots tonight, but I have
noticed nothing on the HF bands-- where I am listening from, even WWV on 10
MHz is totally shut down by static.

I am watching a DX cluster, http://www.dxer.org/, and I've noticed that most
of the DX spots on the cluster today have been reported on the
otherwise-capricious 6 meter band, due to auroral propagation. If I had a
six meter capable rig, I'd be on it right now. The wavelengths of the lower
VHF frequencies are apparently bouncing off the massive aurorae caused by
the solar storm. I've also noticed numerous spots posted via contacts on
the 2 meter band.

A solar storm of this magnitude right now is really a weird thing, being
that we're just a few years shy of the solar minimum. Just goes to show that
our neighborhood star isn't as predictable as we may have thought. I bet
that I would be able to see wonderful displays of the northern lights where
I am situated, if it weren't for these persistent rainclouds (Minnesota).

Jackie

I here you, Jackie. I haven't seen blue skies in
days and days, here in Burnsville. Just imagine
the auroral displays we're missing (and nary an
HF signal, to make matters worse).

73,

Steve Lawrence
Burnsville, MN


"Jackie" wrote:

| I bet
| that I would be able to see wonderful displays of the northern lights
where
| I am situated, if it weren't for these persistent rainclouds (Minnesota).
|
| Jackie
|
|


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On 29 Oct 2003 22:03:22 -0800, (Mark Keith) wrote:

"Jackie" wrote in message news:8u%nb.42165$mZ5.242915@attbi_s54...
I have been trying to listen to my "usual" HF spots tonight, but I have
noticed nothing on the HF bands-- where I am listening from, even WWV on 10
MHz is totally shut down by static.

I am watching a DX cluster, http://www.dxer.org/, and I've noticed that most
of the DX spots on the cluster today have been reported on the
otherwise-capricious 6 meter band, due to auroral propagation. If I had a
six meter capable rig, I'd be on it right now. The wavelengths of the lower
VHF frequencies are apparently bouncing off the massive aurorae caused by
the solar storm. I've also noticed numerous spots posted via contacts on
the 2 meter band.



Weird...I've been checking 6m for the last three days. Been fairly
dead here in Houston. I heard someone early the other morning , and
thats been about it. I roll around checking for beacons every once in
a while, and hear nothing. I'm hoping it will kick in down here sooner
or later. I'm running 100w and a three el NBS yagi. Been pointing it
n-n/e for starters. I've tried calling to see if I can wake anyone up,
but no go. I'm hanging on 50.125 "USB" most of the time as a "monitor"
freq. The beacons are down in the lower end. 50.000 to 50.1. MK

6m was open tonight here on the Left Coast. From Southern California
to Arizona, Utah, Montanna, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Perhaps
tomorrow will be better - or at least as good.

Weird...I've been checking 6m for the last three days. Been fairly
dead here in Houston. I heard someone early the other morning , and
thats been about it. I roll around checking for beacons every once in
a while, and hear nothing. I'm hoping it will kick in down here sooner
or later. I'm running 100w and a three el NBS yagi. Been pointing it
n-n/e for starters. I've tried calling to see if I can wake anyone up,
but no go. I'm hanging on 50.125 "USB" most of the time as a "monitor"
freq. The beacons are down in the lower end. 50.000 to 50.1. MK

6m was open tonight here on the Left Coast. From Southern California
to Arizona, Utah, Montanna, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Perhaps
tomorrow will be better - or at least as good.

Just thinking about this a bit... perhaps Houston is too far south to take
advantage of auroral propagation. Fear not, however, as those in the more
southerly areas of the US could get their chance to hear signals bounced off
of the aurorae even where they are.

I don't have a 6 meter rig, but am considering getting one (or at least one
with 6 meters built in) for times such as these. I am only hearing of
increased activity on that band vicariously, through watching DX cluster
spots and now, via Howard. Nice to hear that you're getting some 6 meter
activity from where you are, Howard... let us know if you continue to catch
some good action on 6 in the states, or even further out...

73 de Jackie

"Stephen M.H. Lawrence" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I here you, Jackie. I haven't seen blue skies in
days and days, here in Burnsville. Just imagine
the auroral displays we're missing (and nary an
HF signal, to make matters worse).

Oh man, tell me about it. I guess we're finally making up for our extremely
dry summer here. I am both an amateur astronomer and HF fan, and now that
both venues of entertainment are effectively down, I am actually getting to
some projects around the homestead, as well as finishing up books that I
started a couple of months ago. The Sun has conspired to shift my activities
to a small extent. Never mind what the astrologers have to say about such
things. :-)

Jackie

Jackie wrote:

Just thinking about this a bit... perhaps Houston is too far south to take
advantage of auroral propagation. Fear not, however, as those in the more
southerly areas of the US could get their chance to hear signals bounced off
of the aurorae even where they are.

I don't have a 6 meter rig, but am considering getting one (or at least one
with 6 meters built in) for times such as these. I am only hearing of
increased activity on that band vicariously, through watching DX cluster
spots and now, via Howard. Nice to hear that you're getting some 6 meter
activity from where you are, Howard... let us know if you continue to catch
some good action on 6 in the states, or even further out...

73 de Jackie

Since the auroral height can range from about 50 to 200 miles, there
might be an active area on your northern horizon that can be used for
VHF propagation, even though you might not be seeing any aurora higher
up.


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