Propagation forecasts
 

Is there any place on the Net where I can find daily propagation reports? I
am especially interested in night time propagation forecasts for commercial,
AM broadcast band signals.

Thanks,

Dave Pitzer
AM DX-er

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 05:02:44 GMT, "Dave Pitzer"
wrote:
Is there any place on the Net where I can find daily propagation reports? I
am especially interested in night time propagation forecasts for commercial,
AM broadcast band signals.

Hi Dave,

Possibly, but they are unknown to me, unfortunately (perhaps someone
will clue us both in).

On the other hand (and it won't do MW much) you could reference VOAWin
for HF propagation work (try a search engine). MW propagation
variation seems to have two major variables, Daytime/Nighttime and
Summer/Winter. Beyond that, it is fairly predictable for any of those
four combinations.

I would suggest following the chatter on rec.radio.shortwave. You can
find reports to help hone your prospects, but when I did an impromptu
analysis of some 1500 postings, I found they actually talk about
contacts only about 0.5% of the time.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 05:02:44 GMT, "Dave Pitzer"
wrote:
Is there any place on the Net where I can find daily propagation reports?
I
am especially interested in night time propagation forecasts for
commercial,
AM broadcast band signals.

Hi Dave,

Possibly, but they are unknown to me, unfortunately (perhaps someone
will clue us both in).

On the other hand (and it won't do MW much) you could reference VOAWin
for HF propagation work (try a search engine). MW propagation
variation seems to have two major variables, Daytime/Nighttime and
Summer/Winter. Beyond that, it is fairly predictable for any of those
four combinations.

I would suggest following the chatter on rec.radio.shortwave. You can
find reports to help hone your prospects, but when I did an impromptu
analysis of some 1500 postings, I found they actually talk about
contacts only about 0.5% of the time.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC


Richard,

That's for your reply.

Being an avid MW/ BCB DX-er I have found sporatic "short-term" variations
within the longer Day/Night -- Summer/Winter cycles. For example, I live in
NE Pennsylvania and can regularly listen to WJR in Detroit at night
(slightly better in winter). However, for a three-four night period last
week, the night signal varied from unreadable to extremely noisy to "gone".
I use WJR only as an example. Othe 50,000 watt clear-channel stations around
the east coast suffered the same night-time signal degradation during the
same three-four night period. Short-term sun-spot activity??? Only thing I
can think of. And if so, this activity should be predictable (and
reportable) on a very short-term (24-48 hour) basis. Just a thought on my
part.

Thanks again,

DP
======

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 06:22:45 GMT, "Dave Pitzer"
wrote:
Being an avid MW/ BCB DX-er I have found sporatic "short-term" variations
within the longer Day/Night -- Summer/Winter cycles. For example, I live in
NE Pennsylvania and can regularly listen to WJR in Detroit at night
(slightly better in winter). However, for a three-four night period last
week, the night signal varied from unreadable to extremely noisy to "gone".
I use WJR only as an example. Othe 50,000 watt clear-channel stations around
the east coast suffered the same night-time signal degradation during the
same three-four night period. Short-term sun-spot activity??? Only thing I
can think of. And if so, this activity should be predictable (and
reportable) on a very short-term (24-48 hour) basis. Just a thought on my
part.

Hi Dave,

There've been reports of Auroral activity which is an indicator of
solar emissions that disrupt communication. You might want to include
the solar flux reports at:
http://www.sel.noaa.gov/forecast.html

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 06:22:45 GMT, "Dave Pitzer"
wrote:...
....reportable) on a very short-term (24-48 hour) basis. Just a thought on
my
part.

Hi Dave,

There've been reports of Auroral activity which is an indicator of
solar emissions that disrupt communication. You might want to include
the solar flux reports at:
http://www.sel.noaa.gov/forecast.html

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Some links that may be of interest:

http://elbert.its.bldrdoc.gov/hf.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~helmsman/
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/
http://www.dxlc.com/solar/

Regards,

Frank

Dave:

Unfortunately, there is no commercial value in MW nighttime propagation forecasting, so none is published. You will
have to educate yourself in propagation theory, and then watch the elements which affect it. In the case of last week,
I believe it was a coronal ejection (from the sun) which arrived mid-week. And, I think the National Radio Club, which
is a MW DX club, is still active (until BPL and IBOC shuts them down). Find them (they are on the 'net) and see what
they have to offer. I suspect they have a bulletin board or reflector for real-time updates on propagation, stations
heard, etc.

--
Crazy George
Remove N O and S P A M imbedded in return address
"Dave Pitzer" wrote in message ...


On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 05:02:44 GMT, "Dave Pitzer"
wrote:
Is there any place on the Net where I can find daily propagation reports?
I
am especially interested in night time propagation forecasts for
commercial,
AM broadcast band signals.

Hi Dave,

Possibly, but they are unknown to me, unfortunately (perhaps someone
will clue us both in).

On the other hand (and it won't do MW much) you could reference VOAWin
for HF propagation work (try a search engine). MW propagation
variation seems to have two major variables, Daytime/Nighttime and
Summer/Winter. Beyond that, it is fairly predictable for any of those
four combinations.

I would suggest following the chatter on rec.radio.shortwave. You can
find reports to help hone your prospects, but when I did an impromptu
analysis of some 1500 postings, I found they actually talk about
contacts only about 0.5% of the time.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC


Richard,

That's for your reply.

Being an avid MW/ BCB DX-er I have found sporatic "short-term" variations
within the longer Day/Night -- Summer/Winter cycles. For example, I live in
NE Pennsylvania and can regularly listen to WJR in Detroit at night
(slightly better in winter). However, for a three-four night period last
week, the night signal varied from unreadable to extremely noisy to "gone".
I use WJR only as an example. Othe 50,000 watt clear-channel stations around
the east coast suffered the same night-time signal degradation during the
same three-four night period. Short-term sun-spot activity??? Only thing I
can think of. And if so, this activity should be predictable (and
reportable) on a very short-term (24-48 hour) basis. Just a thought on my
part.

Thanks again,

DP
======

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Propagation/

http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Shortwave_Radio/

Is there any place on the Net where I can find daily propagation reports?
I
am especially interested in night time propagation forecasts for
commercial,
AM broadcast band signals.

73