Sunspot Cycle Predictions

[Wrightwood]

Couldn't be much lower right now 




http://www.smeter.net/propagation/sunspots/sunspot-cycle-forecasts.php

[kew]

I was in the Navy during cycle #19. The effect it had on radio communication was absolutely unbelievable.

[Wrightwood]

Ken - at the bottom - top or the full cycle?

[kew]

At peak activity.

I was stationed at Port Hueneme in a small boat group. The boat house was about 50' from the dock. When the sunspots were at their peak we couldn't make contact with any of our boats, even the ones tied up to the dock. But, we were able to make good contact with a small boat group at Norfolk Naval Yard, Va, who used the same frequency. They also weren't able to communicate with their boats. We relayed messages back and forth for 3 or 4 days, even during daylight hours. Talk about "Skip." If I recall correctly we were operating in the 70 meter range.

[Toolman]

Fine time to buy an HF rig huh....

Gives you plenty of time to operate when propagation conditions are good. When 2010 comes around....whoo boy....yer gonna have some fun.

 But alas....it will be time to buy another rig....as your's will be out dated.


Sorry could resist.....

[clint]

Look at the bright side, no pun intended, it keeps the illegal 11 meter guys off the band.

[Toolman]

Look at the bright side, no pun intended, it keeps the illegal 11 meter guys off the band.

 Wow....you haven't heard the bottom end of 10mtrs. lately have you. For years, and I blame the flee market sales activity and lack of self governing by Ham sellers, the illegals have been buying up used HF radios and amplifiers. Between 27.600-28.300 it is littered with non licensed operators. It is monitored but with so few field agents taking care of hotter issues, not much has been done. They don't wander up above 28.500 that I've ever heard in the last 12yrs. or other bands such as 15 or 20. 27.405- 28.00 is allocated for Govt. use but it's been laying dormant for ever, so I guess that's a goof place for them to hang out.