QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 4 ARLP004
From Tad Cook, KT7H
Seattle, WA January 26, 1996
To all radio amateurs
SB PROP ARL ARLP004
ARLP004 Propagation de KT7H
Solar activity is still quite low, and only slightly higher than the week before. There were three days of no visible spots, and on every day the solar flux was below the average for the previous 90 days. The most active geomagnetic day was January 20, when the A index was 12 and the K index went briefly to 5.
Over the next week watch for the solar flux to rise above 80 around the end of the month, and then drop down to 70 after February 8. There is a chance of slightly disturbed conditions around February 9 or 10. When the flux rises above 80 there is a chance of better propagation on the higher bands.
A note from K6ZMW points out that while low solar activity is bad for the higher frequencies, this is actually a great time for 80 and 160 meters, especially when the A and K indices point to stable conditions. The hours before local sunrise are a good time to check 160 meters.
Websurfing propagation fans will want to visit Cary Oler's site, http://holly.cc.uleth.ca/solar/. The author of this bulletin can be reached on the internet at tad@ssc.com, or via packet radio at KT7H @ N7DUO.#WWA.WA.US.NOAM.
Sunspot Numbers for January 18 through 24 were 11, 0, 0, 14, 13, 0 and 11, with a mean of 7. 10.7 cm flux was 71, 70.8, 71.4, 71.8, 72.3, 73.3 and 73, with a mean of 71.9.