Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mgweed.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgweed!rjr From: rjr@mgweed.UUCP (Bob Roehrig) Newsgroups: net.ham-radio Subject: arrl propagation forecast bulletin nr 43 Message-ID: <21300@mgweed.UUCP> Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 14:54:26 EST Article-I.D.: mgweed.21300 Posted: Tue Oct 29 14:54:26 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 30-Oct-85 07:30:54 EST Organization: AT&T Information Systems - Montgomery Illinois Lines: 35 qst de k9eui hr propagation forecast bulletin nr 43 from arrl headquarters newington ct october 28 1985 to all radio amateurs bt since the middle of july the solar flux has been so consistently near the quiet sun level that some observers felt the end of cycle 21 to be imminent. but on october 13 a major new active area came around the east limb of the sun and the solar flux curve turned upward. from 67 the flux rose to 95 by october 22. it was back to 80 by the 27th, but the curve appeared to be flattening out. an active area that produced a slight flux peak on october 3 is returning to view this week. it could keep the flux above minimum levels through november 1 at least. occasional peaks of solar activity had been expected with cycle 21 still less than nine-and-one-half years old. this one came at the right time of year for maximum effect on the higher dx frequencies. worldwide dx brought a rush of activity back to the 21 mhz band and 24 and 28 mhz pulled back from almost total quiet for a few days at least. though solar activity is falling again, conditions will be mostly favorable through october 30 at least. higher geomagnetic activity october 31 through november 4 will tend to restrict dx activity to the lower latitudes and transequatorial circuits. best overall conditions for early november should be with us about the 5th to 7th. american sunspot numbers for october 17 to 23 were between 15 and 53 with a mean of 32.6. ar