June 1988 Forecast -- Flux Range 108 - 183

by Roy, AD5Q - Houston, Texas

We are approaching the summer solstice. The sun is low in the sky everywhere north of the Arctic Circle. Propagation across this region is very good, but for the rest of the northern hemisphere the MUF's are higher than optimum and signals across daytime paths are weaker.

HIGH BANDS: We have had fluxes over 140 again. If this were fall, 10 Meters would bust wide open. Much of the southern hemisphere remains accessible on 10, and sporadic E season is peaking. The heavy action remains on 15 & 20, but the best propagation across the northern hemisphere is on paths where it is marginally daytime or night. Daytime paths across the southern hemisphere are also usable. 20 is open all night, so openings are very broad. In the morning starting about an hour after sunrise it is peak time to much of the world at once. The grey line leads to SE Asia and Indonesia, but we also get the rest of eastern Asia, the entire Pacific and VK/ZL, plus the long path to the Indian Ocean and southern Africa. Odds favor something exotic workable during this peak time on any day of the week. On 15 the grey line peak is later: toward noon, with pipeline conditions deep into SE Asia and beyond (Indonesia). In the late afternoon and evening 15 & 20 open best to Europe, Russia and the middle east. During periods of higher flux there are excellent openings of long duration, covering a greater portion of the world.

LOW BANDS: 40 is open to less of the northern hemisphere at night, with more QRN. Low bands are peaking in the southern hemisphere, which will also be workable on 40. Most of the nighttime activity, however, is on 20 & 15. Forget 80.

LONG PATH: Not much activity, but the path is open to the Indian Ocean and Africa in the morning. When fluxes climb above about 170 we will get summer LP on 15 to Europe and Africa in the morning.


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