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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mgweed.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgweed!rjr
From: rjr@mgweed.UUCP (Bob Roehrig)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: arrl propagation forecast bulletin nr 8
Message-ID: <15630@mgweed.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Feb-85 22:42:14 EST
Article-I.D.: mgweed.15630
Posted: Mon Feb 25 22:42:14 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 20:31:00 EST
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products - Montgomery Illinois
Lines: 33


qst de k9eui
hr propagation forecast bulletin nr 8    from arrl headquarters
newington ct   february 24, 1985
to all radio amateurs bt

the solar flux reached its february high, 78, on the 19th.   it
then dropped back steadily, to the months low, 72, on the 24th.
the flux is expected  to  drop  to  about  70  by  the  end  of
february.   a  mild  rise  is  likely  in the first few days of
march.

qst prediction charts covering late february  and  early  march
continue  to  be  on  the  optimistic side as to maximum usable
frequencies.  the february qst charts are based on a solar flux
of  89.   those  in  the march issue are based on a flux of 88.
experience this winter has confirmed that solar flux numbers in
the  high  seventies or higher are needed if the 21 mhz band is
to be useful for dx work on anything  but  the  most  favorable
north south paths.  flux values consistently in the eighties or
higher are needed to do the same for 28 mhz.  with the  current
flux readings even 14 mhz is mainly a daytime band.

low ionization density generated by  such  low  solar  activity
will  continue  to  turn  our  lower frequencies into long skip
territory, often hampering their use for reliable communication
over  distances  under  a  few  hundred miles.  this is bad for
traffic handlers but it helps to spur interest in  working  for
multiband dx awards.

american sunspot numbers for february 14 to 20 were between  25
and 0 with a mean of 10.1   ar