[Lowfer] Excellent LF Propagation

[Andy - KU4XR]

--- On Sun, 3/29/09, Warren Ziegler <wd2xgj at gmail.com> wrote:
> The LF band is in some of the best shape I've ever seen!

Or probably will again for years to come !! We are at a Solar Minima
right now. Cycle 23 has been one of the longest on record, with one
of the longest low periods recently recorded. " Propagation " is the
most common term radio Ops. use to describe " the moving of an
electrical radio wave thru free space. " In reference to free space only,
propagation, if you will; is directly related to Solar activity, or the
lack there-of, and its effect on the layers of the Ionesphere. We all
understand that. Next: It's pretty common knowledge that whatever is
happening on the higher HF bands is the Inverse on the lower bands.
Even as a CB-er in the 70's ( and a 14 year old kid ), I learned that
the " skip " follows the sun. I didn't understand it, I just knew it
did. Europe in the morning, States in midday, Australia in the evening.
The longer the day - summer, the longer the skip would stay in. The shorter the day - winter, the skip dropped out earlier.
Now; my opionated point: Every frequency range depends on a particular
layer of the ionesphere to move that signal from one point to another.
Common Knowledge again; lower layers, closer in point A to B, Higher
layers, farther out point A to B. 
I must say that we are experiencing some very extraordinary Propagation.
My made up analogy, ( correct or incorrect ), We like to talk about
capacitors alot, Well the Sun is the power source, the ionesphere is
one plate of the capacitor, the Earth, the other. Darkness is the 
switch that turns on, or off the power source. This giant capacitor is
charged, and discharged in 24 hour cycles. During the charging process,
each layer receives its potential, then passes it on to the next layer,
until maximum charge can be had. Think about it, longer charge times,
ie: summer, more potential, and inverse for the winter. Each frequency
that is dependent on a particular layer to move the signal, will be
directly affected by the amount of charge that layer received. The 
discharge period ( night time ), darkness turns off the switch to the
power source, and the ionespheric layers start to discharge. Again,
during the process all dependent frequencies are affected. The process
continues until minumum potential is reached ( discharged ).
My nutshell summary: Our signals are still going out there, however 
they are being affected by the current Solar activity, and its effect
on the ionesphere. My final note is this: Radiated signal strength,
and I do mean Power Output from the antenna; WILL !! make all the
difference in the world. Definitely 100 watts will in most circumstances
propagate easier than 1 watt. PLUS ::: add to radiated output strength,
the manmade, or natures noise factor at the receiving end, that can also
make the difference in getting that signal or not for a given XMTR
output level. This fall into the catagory of what Andy Melia termed as,
" comfortable listening ". Add the extra power, overcome the noise,
and there's the signal now, bringing about Bills reference to actual
uV/m at point B. But to say it again; It's all relative to the current
Solar activity, and its effect on the layers of the ionesphere.
If I remember correct; I believe that HAARP tried an experiment awhile
back in which they tried to generate artificial propagation, by 
bombarding the Ionesphere with Super power RF ( 3 Megawatts ?? ), in 
hopes of temporarily charging the ionesphere and generate the temporary
propagation period. I just seem to remember seeing something about that 
on the net somewhere. I'm not referring to the Moon bounce experiment.

To all those who have read this far, thanks for reading my 2 cents worth.

73 :::


Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 184.322 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates:  N:  35* 43' 54" - W:  84* 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr