What is with 11m lately?

[Kage]

Anyone else notice that even though we are on the low end of the 11 year cycle the CB band is picking up big at times I never recall? Yet lower frequencies are completely dead. It seems 10+MHz is doing swell but anything lower is worse than ever! I tuned in 80m last night and heard two hams and that was it, yet at the same time I heard hundreds of people on CB 11m.
Right now as I post this, 6:55AM EST I am hearing skip from all over, that's not normal. Even at night lately and last night I heard people talking skip into the moon hours.
What is up with the sun? I thought when we are on the cycle low we are working local only but I am hearing stuff that reminds me of years ago when the solar cycle was high.
What gives? Am I going nuts?
Meanwhile I can't even tune in coast to coast am at night, how will I sleep w/o george snoory telling me bedtime stories?

[R4002]

A lot of the DX heard on 11 meters lately is likely due to sporadic-E propagation (this also happens on 6 meters and the VHF low band region from 30-50 MHz when it really gets going).  That's why you'll suddenly hear crazy DX on the 11 meter band but frequencies from 10-20 MHz or so are still quiet.

If the CB band is really going, check these frequencies:

25.000 MHz 25000 kHz - WWV 25 MHz transmitter AM mode
25.910 MHz 25910 kHz - Remote Broadcast Pickup - Studio Transmitter Link STL (FM mode)
25.950 MHz 25950 kHz - Remote Broadcast Pickup - Studio Transmitter Link STL (FM mode)
25.990 MHz 25990 kHz - Remote Broadcast Pickup - Studio Transmitter Link STL (FM mode)

If you can hear WWV on 25 MHz and the STLs on 25910, 25950 and 25990, then you're looking at a considerable opening...

[ChrisSmolinski]

Quite a bit of activity in the CB band as I type this (1609z) but nothing outside.

[MDK2]

Just to be clear, sporadic E isn't affected by the solar cycle. At least, that's what I heard Arnie Coro say the other day.

[refmo]

Also, sporadic E is typically best in late May through June.

[Pigmeat]

It's trying to trick Fansome into buying that CB. The day he does, "Bam!" the MUF falls to 2.5 kHz.

[Josh]

Poor Al.

Also, summer in America Nord means winter in America Sud, as well as Autraliaer and points south, meaning they're getting the best propagashuns at this time.

[ThaDood]

Well, 12M, 11M, 10M, and 6M, are pretty much about all that I've monitored and QSO'ed on for the last month. Since May 7th, it's been +80-some degree everyday with thunderstorms. So, when I tune to 160M, 75-80M, 60M, and 40M, all I hear is S+10/9 of lightning crashes on SSB and CW, and S+20/9 in AM mode. So, trying to have a QSO with someone with that much QRN just sucks. So, trolling for Sporadic E activities and even Tropo on 2M, 222MHz, and 432MHz as well, since the warmer heat wave seems to bring up morning Tropo DX in VHF / UHF.  Just my take.