We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

Author Topic: MAJOR Solar Flare  (Read 2660 times)

Offline atrainradio

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 957
  • Pronouns AM/FM
    • View Profile
MAJOR Solar Flare
« on: February 25, 2014, 2220 UTC »
From 90.9 WHYY (local NPR affiliate)- Heard them mention a major solar flare erupted just recentley, which affects radio. They actually said "Shortwave listeners across the world will be dealing with poor listening conditions for the next few days to a week".

Probably accounts for why the MW dx has been unusally horrible these past few nights. I tuned to the usual bombers, 1030 WBZ always blasts in like a local here, but for the past 2 nights it was so bad I had to go to USB to hear it, and this was at midnight!! 1090 WBAL which is from Baltimore (85 miles south of me) was barley audible. But shortwave hasn't seem to been affected much. Great conditions, at least for me, but Mw is another story.
KD2VEG
QTH, Queens
Tecsun PL-990 w/ outdoor FM omni and 40m dipole, RTL-SDR, Grundig Sat 750

Offline ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 31940
  • Westminster, MD USA
    • View Profile
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2014, 2342 UTC »
The flare was 0050 UTC today, so 7:50 PM EST last night. We were already in darkness here, so it didn't directly affect us on the east coast. Other parts of the world where it was day did have HF blackouts.

The flare was on the limb of the Sun, so any CME impact is likely to be minimal.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline atrainradio

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 957
  • Pronouns AM/FM
    • View Profile
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2014, 2352 UTC »
Thanks Chris! Yes, I did notice it was the worst DX I have ever seen last night. Checking the bands now, it is a major improvment from last night on MW. Shortwave is no different then it was this past week. So the recovery was quick!
KD2VEG
QTH, Queens
Tecsun PL-990 w/ outdoor FM omni and 40m dipole, RTL-SDR, Grundig Sat 750

cmradio

  • Guest
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2014, 1321 UTC »
Hahaha, how odd.... I'm in the mountains at if I'm lucky, I can get a 5MHz WWV at S3 on a good night. The flare somehow has made my radio come alive with NVIS :D

Peace!

Offline Pigmeat

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 6681
    • View Profile
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2014, 1502 UTC »
I told Fansome not to fire those Diet Coke and Mentos rockets at the Sun, but would he listen? Noooo. He started using the rockets to fire pallets of refried beans at it. He said he was "reactivating the sunspot cycle."

Now he's building a rail gun out of old stove pipes. God only knows what he's going to do with that.

Offline SHORTY

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 26
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2014, 2253 UTC »
I hope Homeland Security doesn't get on Fansome's case for this activity.

Offline atrainradio

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 957
  • Pronouns AM/FM
    • View Profile
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2014, 2353 UTC »
Yea shorty for all we know they might consider Fansome's activities to be "less than desiarable". Might seem like he wants to demolish the FCC. Not saying thats a bad idea but.....
KD2VEG
QTH, Queens
Tecsun PL-990 w/ outdoor FM omni and 40m dipole, RTL-SDR, Grundig Sat 750

Offline SHORTY

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 26
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2014, 0013 UTC »
According to some sources Fansome's activities are looked upon with great favor by The Director of Cosmic Forces. Who knows he could become top dog at the FCC with that kind of support.

Offline Pigmeat

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 6681
    • View Profile
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2014, 0020 UTC »
You're starting to see the light.

Did you happen to notice that the solar flare erupted just before Putin's war games? It wasn't coincidence, it was Fansome.

Offline atrainradio

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 957
  • Pronouns AM/FM
    • View Profile
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2014, 0021 UTC »
Great shorty! Maybe he'll legalize pirates and get rid of these corporate wastes of radio stations, espcially ones with the brand names of "More FM, or Jack FM, or dear god help us.. Magic FM"...

Seriously, Magic FM?? How bland and uncreative that is. Like you know what would be frickin magical? Is if a classic rock radio station doesn't play journey's don't stop beliving for just THREE DAYS! That'd be god damn magical.
KD2VEG
QTH, Queens
Tecsun PL-990 w/ outdoor FM omni and 40m dipole, RTL-SDR, Grundig Sat 750

Offline Skipmuck

  • Global Moderator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 12456
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: MAJOR Solar Flare
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2014, 2350 UTC »
I haven't seen the auroral zone this angry in a long time! Should be some nice auroras up north.
I replaced the picture...properly cropped now!
« Last Edit: February 27, 2014, 2359 UTC by Skipmuck »
QSL's to poorbrookking >at< aol.com are greatly appreciated! All reception and postings using My radio, my antenna, and generally in real time(excluding posting of SSTV pics and recordings).
QTH:Springfield, MA
JRC NRD-515 with 43 meter half wave dipole into MFJ 949E Versa Tuner: also Grove SP-200 & SONY 2010's

 

HFUnderground Mug
HFUnderground Mug
by MitchellTimeDesigns