Hi folks, I hear that   this maximum that is coming up is supposed to be 
real strong.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 10:05 PM
Subject: Re: Solar flare & VHF UHF


> Keep an ear pealed on the VHF and UHF bands, too, for possible contacts
> during the results of the C M E that is just now striking the Ionosphere 
> of
> the earth.
>
> Phil.
> K0NX
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lloyd Rasmussen" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 7:10 PM
> Subject: Re: Solar flare
>
>
>> Nobody knows what will happen to the bands the next few days.  I will be
>> trying to burn up the CW bands this weekend in the ARRL DX contest,
>> working
>> whatever is open.  Japan was fairly loud and stable here yesterday on 15
>> CW.
>> We might work Europe from W3 on ten meters, although we're most likely to
>> work it on a skew path, where we and the Europeans aim their antennas at
>> the
>> equatorial Atlantic.  Conditions are expected to be better on Sunday than
>> they would be tomorrow night and Saturday.  But nobody knows anything for
>> sure until the coronal mass ejections start hitting the earth's magnetic
>> field.
>> 73,
>> Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, Maryland
>> Home:  http://lras.home.sprynet.com
>> Work:  http://www.loc.gov/nls
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> On Behalf Of Martin McCormick
>>> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 11:38 AM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: Solar flare
>>>
>>> Solar flares give us the best and worst propagation
>>> conditions.
>>> They can spew out X-rays which seem to strengthen the ionosphere
>>> and also throw out sub-atomic particles like protons that ruin
>>> the ionosphere for a short period of time. The
>>> positively-charged protons neutralize the F layers of the
>>> ionosphere and cause it to stop reflecting signals. That is a
>>> radio blackout and you should hear one, some time. Sometimes,
>>> you will hear 20 meters, for example, just fade to noise over a
>>> period of a couple of minutes. All that is left is hiss.
>>>
>>> Eventually, the ionosphere comes back but some people
>>> have even thought their antenna was disconnected or that their
>>> receiver had failed.
>>>
>>> I am glad to see the Solar Flux up to 113 and 114, but I
>>> have yet to hear anything exciting. On ten, I hear my electronic
>>> thermostat, some computers in my house and the neighbors'
>>> houses, and that madening arc-welder buzz from our local power
>>> company. I don't hear any DX, yet.
>>>
>>> The X-rays travel at the speed of light so we get them
>>> about 8 minutes after the Sun blows its top. Those X-rays don't
>>> hurt us on the ground because the atmosphere absorbs them but
>>> they certainly strengthen the F layers to give us F2 propagation
>>> on ten and six and sometimes, even higher.
>>>
>>> If the flare shot us with protons, they get here between
>>> 18 hours and 36 hours after the event and can destroy
>>> satellites. When we have a big proton event, some communications
>>> satellites actually batton their hatches, so to speak and shut
>>> down until the spray passes. Space walks and maybe even space
>>> flights are canceled and unshielded electronic equipment in
>>> space can malfunction or be destroyed. It's like sub-atomic sand
>>> blasting.
>>>
>>> I have heard that the European 4-meter ham band around
>>> 70 MHZ has made it across the pond a couple of times but I don't
>>> know if that was F2 or multi-hop Sporadic E. You'll just have to
>>> wait and see over the next few days what this flare brought us.
>>> Not all Solar flares blast protons or give us free X-rays. Some
>>> just mess up the Earth's magnetic field and make everything on
>>> HF sound like it was under water.
>>>
>>> Last Fall, I did hear a brief opening on ten one Sunday
>>> morning so this increased Solar activity should give us a few
>>> more. Exactly when is hard to say.
>>>
>>>
>>> Martin McCormick WB5AGZ  Stillwater, OK
>>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.449 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3433 - Release Date: 02/09/11 
19:34:00




No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.449 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3433 - Release Date: 02/09/11 19:34:00