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Author Topic: Unusual propagation today?  (Read 1629 times)

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Unusual propagation today?
« on: February 14, 2012, 2228 UTC »
While looking at the signal levels of 7850 kHz today, from CHU, I noticed that there seemed to be a larger than usual daytime dip in levels, around 1600-1900 UTC:
http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=7850

Likewise, 3330 CHU also showed this: http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=3330

OTOH, 14670 kHz CHU showed a substantial increase in signal levels: http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=14670

However, WWV didn't show anything out of the ordinary, on either 15000: http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=15000 or 20000: http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=20000

It's difficult to tell with 10000 kHz, as the signal level varies a lot with both WWV and WWVH audible at times: http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=10000

New York and Gander radio on 10051 kHz had some dropouts during that time period, but mostly a normal signal level. Curiously they did not fade out last night, as they usually do: http://www.hfunderground.com/propagation/chart.php?f=10051

The x-ray background flux was unremarkable today:

Anyone else notice odd propagation today?
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Chris Smolinski
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Offline Zoidberg

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Re: Unusual propagation today?
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2012, 1212 UTC »
I wasn't listening on the 14th, but conditions have been extraordinarily poor here the past day.  At the moment (1200z, 2/16/12) none of the CHU frequencies is audible and of the WWV freqs only 5 MHz is audible - and that just barely.  That's very unusual here.  The various aviation and maritime weather freqs I check are also barely audible.  Same with the 75-80m hams - the usual fellows with usually booming signals were barely audible overnight.

AFN on 5446.5 and 7811 are a little worse than usual.

Tuning around, only Radio Australia on 9580 and 9590 sound about normal.
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cmradio

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Re: Unusual propagation today?
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2012, 1136 UTC »
Quote from: Lex on February 16, 2012, 1212 UTC
I wasn't listening on the 14th, but conditions have been extraordinarily poor here the past day.

Same here on the west coast - the band around 1200z yesterday was so dead, I couldn't even hear the normal morning 3715 KHz crowd, which usually come in like gangbusters ???

No WWV and no CHU.

An Alaska plane enroute calling SanFran on 5574 was reporting "no contact" and said they had to relay via YVR on VHF.

Peace!
« Last Edit: February 17, 2012, 1138 UTC by cmradio »
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cmradio

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Re: Unusual propagation today?
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2012, 1222 UTC »
Think I have the answer :)

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/241581-Not-Fully-Understood-Disturbance-Rippled-Through-Earth-s-Magnetic-Field

(site found on a Google, definately NOT my type of thing)

Peace!
« Last Edit: February 17, 2012, 1224 UTC by cmradio »
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Unusual propagation today?
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2012, 1319 UTC »
Quote from: cmradio on February 17, 2012, 1222 UTC
Think I have the answer :)

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/241581-Not-Fully-Understood-Disturbance-Rippled-Through-Earth-s-Magnetic-Field
Peace!

Very interesting! I re-checked my graphs, and the times do seem to coincide. Good find!
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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 hammarhead

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Re: Unusual propagation today?
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2012, 1606 UTC »
Whatever the reason I wish it would stop. Bands have been low in general lately and it just plain sucks!!! At least it isn't snowing.
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