[Elecraft] OT - Solar activity article

[Nate Bargmann]

* On 2011 16 Jun 11:42 -0500, Randy Cook wrote:
> A short, but interesting article on solar activity in 'The Economist' magazine's website - article number 18833483, titled 'Sun Down'.  
> 
> Researchers believe we are heading for an extended solar minimum is the bad news. I do not know enough about the subject to have an opinion, but the article is well written. 

If it's so, then we're in for a long period of time where DX will be
found on the lower bands with infrequent, if any, openings beyond Es on
10m.  Reliable DX will require large arrays on 15 and 20m and power.
The days of working the world on a coat hanger on 10m and F2 openings on
6m will be the subject of amateur radio lore for a couple of
generations.  For those who can manage the arrays, 80 and 160m will
offer fabulous DX opportunities during the winter months.  With an SFI
around 64 to 67, 80, and to a lesser extent 160m, will go "long" shortly
after dusk and will not be the reliable NVIS bands we expect them to be.
How do I know this?  Anyone on HF from late 2007 through 2009 has
already experienced it.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic.  A minimum will have
short spurts of solar activity most likely, they will just be weak and
shortlived.  If anything, propagation will become quite predictable.
;-)

73, de Nate, N0NB >>

-- 

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds.  The pessimist fears this is true."

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