CQ Propagation Editor Tomas Hood, NW7US,
updates us on expected propagation conditions during both the SSB and CW
weekends of the 2017 CQ World Wide DX Contest…
CQ
WW DX SSB Contest conditions look poor to fair, and somewhat unstable
Poor
to Fair Conditions Expected
Here is an updated forecast made a week in
advance for the general propagation conditions expected during the 2017 CQ
World Wide DX SSB Contest weekend of October 28-29. Based on the 27-day recurrence tendencies of
solar and geomagnetic conditions, we predict poor to fair conditions on both days.
Expect the contest to start weak, but to improve slightly as Sunday dawns.
Daily 10.7cm solar flux levels are expected
to be around 85 during the contest weekend, so the higher HF bands will be barely productive, with our workhorse remaining 20
meters. The geomagnetic Planetary
A-index is expected to be variable between 10 and 15. The lower frequencies
will be more productive, and will allow for weak signals to be heard on higher frequencies when an opening exists on some given path.
Remember that at any time during the contest,
if there are sunspots present, a flare may occur. When flares erupt, it could cause a radio
blackout on the Sun-facing side of the Earth.
These last between ten to sixty minutes, depending on the strength and
location of the flare. We don’t expect
much solar flare activity. However, as we witnessed recently, a sunspot region
may still suddenly develop, and unleash a flare or two (or more).
We're
still a month-plus away from the CQWW CW Weekend, but here's how things are
looking as of now…
CQ
WW DX CW Contest conditions look fair, and stable
Fair
Conditions Expected
Here is an updated forecast in late October for
the general propagation conditions expected during the 2017 CQ World Wide DX CW
Contest weekend of November 25-26. Based
on the 27-day recurrence tendencies of solar and geomagnetic conditions, we
predict fair conditions on both days. Expect the contest to start fair, but to
improve slightly on Sunday.
As with the SSB weekend, daily 10.7cm solar
flux levels are expected to be around 85 during the contest weekend, so the
higher HF bands will be barely productive, with
our workhorse remaining 20 and 40 meters. The geomagnetic Planetary A-index is expected
to be between 5 and 8; stable. The lower frequencies will be more productive,
and will allow for weak signals to be heard
on higher frequencies when an opening
exists on some given path.
Remember that at any time during the contest,
if there are sunspots present, a flare may occur. When flares erupt, it could cause a radio
blackout on the Sun-facing side of the Earth.
These last between ten to sixty minutes, depending on the strength and
location of the flare.
For very last-minute updates, visit NW7US's Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio and his propagation website at: http://SunSpotWatch.com
