Propagation today was different today possibly due to a C class flare that occurred earlier in the day.  Signals on the less than 200 mile paths between WA4LDU, KP2AE, WA4PGI, KW4DE and W4DEX had slow very deep QSB fades.  WW8II on CW was 519 copy at W4DEX. 

A solid CW QSO was made on the 443 mile path between KGØVL and WW8II:

17:32 WW8II-BRUCE: Good solid contact Jeff 559 

17:33 WW8II-BRUCE: was the best I have heard signals in the last week..

17:34 KG0VL-JEFF: Same here Bruce, I didn't even have time to get the headphones on. Heard you off the inverted L 

W4DEX was able to copy most of the above contact. A few minutes later a solid CW QSO was made between KGØVL and W4DEX

Region		Start	Maximum	End
2734	C1.3	03:06	03:18	03:58

Space Weather Message Code: ALTEF3
Serial Number: 2919
Issue Time: 2019 Mar 08 1426 UTC
CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu
Continuation of Serial Number: 2918
Begin Time: 2019 Feb 28 1710 UTC
Yesterday Maximum 2MeV Flux: 4472 pfu

AB4AM was copied Q5 by WA4LDU, WA1AC, KP2AE and W4DEX*  WA4LDU's signal did rise above AB4AM's noise long enough to complete a QSO.  WA1AC reported good copy of WA4LDU but commented signals were weaker than yesterday.  WA4LDU at W4DEX* was S5 most of the time but had slow fades down close to the noise level.  No significant fades were noticed on KP2AE and WA1AC at W4DEX*  WW8II on CW was heard 519 at W4DEX*   WB4EZ was heard S2 at W4DEX*  Also heard at W4DEX* was someone calling another station.  Can anyone make out the calls on this recording:

N2*** de K2***

KGØVL detected CW from WW8II but no QSO was made. 

W4DEX* indicates report from recording.

Today there was a change in propagation but not in the positive direction.  Signals between WA4LDU, KP2AE and W4DEX were fair but down from normal with some fast deep QSB.  WB4EZ was a bit better copy today at W4DEX and KP2AE but still way below what has been normal.

AB4AM was Q5 SSB copy at WA4LDU, KP2AE and W4DEX but no QSO due to noise at his location. 

WW8II on CW peaked at 529 at W4DEX but was only 519 on other transmissions.  There was no CW QSO between WW8II and KGØVL today although on one transmission KGØVL reported WW8II's signal was strong on a peak.

Space Weather Message Code: ALTEF3
Serial Number: 2917
Issue Time: 2019 Mar 06 0900 UTC
CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu
Continuation of Serial Number: 2916
Begin Time: 2019 Feb 28 1710 UTC
Yesterday Maximum 2MeV Flux: 14711 pfu  

The band conditions today between WA4LDU, KP2AE, KW4DE and W4DEX were fair to good.  Just an occasional fast QSB fade observed.  WB4EZ was again weak but readable at W4DEX but much better copy at KW4DE at nearly the same distance.  WW8II on CW was 529 at W4DEX but not heard by the others in Carolinas.  KGØVL and WW8II again were able to complete at solid QSO at 443 miles.  


                                     

Today was almost another repeat of propagation we experienced the past several days. Close range signals were fair with fast deep QSB fades. AMBAM on SSB was S3 at W4DEX, 216 miles. KP2AE and WA1AC was S7 most of the time with fast fades. WW8II on CW was S3 initially fading down to S1 at W4DEX.

KGØVL and WW8II completed a CW contact at 443 miles. KGØVL was able to detect CW from W4DEX at 808 miles.

Space Weather Message Code: ALTEF3

Serial Number: 2915
Issue Time: 2019 Mar 04 0859 UTC
CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu
Continuation of Serial Number: 2914
Begin Time: 2019 Feb 28 1710 UTC
Yesterday Maximum 2MeV Flux: 45516 pfu

Propagation today was just a repeat of yesterday.  WA4PGI was Q5 but only averaging about S3 with deep QSB fades at W4DEX.  About the same for the WA4LDU to W4DEX path.  There was no copy between WA4PGI and WA4LDU

AB4AM on SSB was heard prior to 1730 UT by WA4LDU.  AB4AM had to QRT just after 1730 UT due to close lightning.

WW8II on CW was heard 529 by W4DEX at 510 miles.  A long CW transmission by W4DEX was not heard by either WW8II or KGØVL.  

A complete 443 mile CW QSO was made between WW8II and KGØVL

The geomagnetic activity was back down to a Kp index of 2 but propagation today was about the same as the several previous days.   Signals at less than 100 miles were fair with slightly less noticeable QSB than yesterday.  This was noticed by KW4DE, WA1AC, KM4GBM and W4DEX.  WB4EZ was still very weak at W4DEX, 202 miles.  WA4PGI at 175 miles was Q5 but somewhat weaker than normal.

WW8II on CW was heard 529 by KW4DE and W4DEX.  Both WW8II and KGØVL reported detecting SSB at times but it never was determined who they may have been hearing.  WW8II and KGØVL was able to complete a QSO at 443 miles.   

Propagation today was very unsettled just like the geomagnetic field.  Out to 100 miles signals were much weaker than normal with quick deep QSB reported by WA4LDU, KP2AE, W4NUS and W4DEX.  Initial contact between WA4PGI and W4DEX was fairly good at about S5 at 175 miles.  Within less than a minute there was no detectable signal then rebounding to S5. 

The most distant QSO made was between K1RZ and WW8II at 384 miles.  K1RZ also competed a QSO with WA4PGI.  WW8II was also heard by W4DEX at 510 miles and KGØVL at 443 miles. 

The 1700 kHz carrier from KGBB in Des Moines, Iowa received at W4DEX, remained at noise level from 1700UT until at least 1930UT.  On most days the carrier would cycle above and into the noise peaking about 5 to 10 dB above.

Interesting propagation on 1900 kHz between 1730 and 1800 UT.  The geomagnetic field was unsettled with a Kp index of 5.  Propagation between KP2AE, W2AZQ, WA4LDU, WB4EZ and W4DEX exhibited fast QSB with ocean wave type distortion.   WB4EZ was very weak but Q5 copy most of the time at W4DEX.  

The real surprise was the CW from WW8II being good copy with no noticeable QSB at W4DEX a distance of 510 miles.  Also CW from KGØVL was detectable at W4DEX, 808 miles.

KGØVL and WW8II completed a solid QSO with WW8II at 443 miles

Click here for MP3 of WW8II-KGØVL CW QSO

The 1700 kHz carrier from KGBB in Des Moines, Iowa received at W4DEX, was above the noise during the above QSO.  See the plot at the bottom of this page.

Space Weather Message Code: ALTEF3
Serial Number: 2911
Issue Time: 2019 Feb 28 1726 UTC
ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu
Threshold Reached: 2019 Feb 28 1710 UTC
Station: GOES15

Only one short path to report on today.  Signals between KP2AE and W4DEX were down somewhat from normal.  

WW8II on CW was heard Q5 by KGØVL at 443 miles and W4DEX at 510 miles.  Noise at WW8II prevented a QSO with W4DEX.  KGØVL had ice on antennas so that station was in receive mode only.  W4DEX on CW was not heard at KGØVL.

Today the Kp Index was 3 and the solar wind speed was higher than on the past several days.

Not much to report today.  In the NC/SC area signals between KP2AE, W2AZQ and W4DEX were mostly good with some deep QSB dips.  CW from WW8II was detected by W4DEX at 510 miles but not copyable.  KGØVL also heard WW8II on CW but no QSO was made.

Very fast and deep QSB fades today on 1900 kHz.  On today in the NC and SC area was WA1AC, WA4LDU, KP2AE, KW4DE and W4DEX.  All reported strong signals on peaks with fast fades.

WW8II was detectable on CW at KW4DE, WA4LDU and W4DEX.  After several tries a complete exchange was made between WW8II and W4DEX at 510 miles.

KGØVL on CW was detected by KW4DE and W4DEX at over 800 miles but not copyable. 

A brief solar X-ray burst occurred at approximately 1145 UT.  An hour later MWBC station KGBB on 1700 kHz did an unusual dip at W4DEX.  See the graphs below.  Click for larger image.

There was two 10 dB above noise peaks of the 1700 kHz AMBC Des Moines station received at W4DEX around 1830 and 1845 UT.  Also there was some small solar X-ray energy hitting the earth's ionosphere around the same time.  Probably a coincidence but may be worth noting.  

Good turnout today for the midday test but propagation remains unexciting.  K4DBK activated the Net Logger today.  He made contact with N3ARW, W3BQG and N2CW which was not heard by W4DEX.  K4DBK also had a good signal from WA4PGI and after multiple tries exchanged a report with W4DEX.  K4DBK was S5 at W4DEX ( 308 miles)

In the NC, SC area WA4LDU worked WA1AC, W4NUS, K4CFZ and W4DEX.  WA4LDU also had a partial contact with WA4PGI who lost commercial power during the QSO attempt.  At W4DEX  WA4LDU (103 miles) was S5,  K4CFZ (3.5 miles) S9, WA1AC (73 miles) S7, W4NUS (24 miles) S3 and WA4PGI (176 miles) S5.  QSB was only noticed on the short W4NUS 24 mile path with the signal varying from S2 to S5 quickly.  

KGØVL copied WW8II and was hearing another SSB signal which was not identified.  There was marginal results during a quick CW test with W4DEX (808 miles).  KGØVL had fair copy on W4DEX but the signal was just detectable in the other direction.

The 202 mile path between WB4EZ and W4DEX was marginal again today.  KP2AE at 51 miles was also slightly weaker at W4DEX.  WB4EZ had activity to his north which was not heard at either KP2AE or W4DEX.  AB2UE checked in with also a bit weaker than average signal at W4DEX.  

As has been noted several times before when short distant paths are down the more distant paths have been better.  KGØVL did have some CW copy from W4DEX at 808 miles.  

Propagation out to 200 miles was good with very little QSB today.  At W4DEX WA4PGI was S5, WB4EZ S1, KP2AE S7 and KW4DE S9.  WA4PGI had equal signals from W4DEX and KW4DE with both running about 750 watts.  WB4EZ was copied by KP2AE, the most distant path of approximately 253 miles.  KGØVL was listening but did not hear any of the above over the ~800 mile path.  

Today WB4EZ's signal was weak but readable at W4DEX but the path seems to be better in the reverse direction.  WB4EZ was experiencing some freezing rain at his QTH so it's possible ice on his antenna was the reason for the signal difference.  KP2AE was the usual S8 at W4DEX.  KP2AE checked in after WB4EZ went QRT so there was no report on that path.  K4DBK was heard Q5 at both KP2AE and W4DEX but K4DBK did not appear to copy calls to him.  

W4RTT checked in on NetLogger from Covington, KY.  He was able to hear CW from W4DEX at 339 miles but W4DEX did not hear his SSB transmissions.  

KGØVL was on and several times heard weak carriers but did now hear any CW transmissions made by W4DEX.  AMBC station KGBB's carrier was at the noise level at W4DEX.

Good signals today out to about 250 miles.  The 202 mile path between WB4EZ and W4DEX was much better today than it has been recently.  Some QSB was noticed but signals averaged about S4.  The short path between KP2AE and W4DEX was good with KP2AE averaging S8 at W4DEX.  Even thought this is only a 51 mile path there has been times that SSB was unusable.  KP2AE also had good copy on WB4EZ at 250+ miles.

Propagation on the 808 mile path between KGØVL and W4DEX was poor.  After multiple CW transmission KGØVL was able to only copy a few letters of his call just after 1745UT.

Several times now when local propagation was good there was no or weak DX propagation.  And when local signal are down we experienced the best DX propagation.     

The 1700kc plot at W4DEX shows how the Des Moines AMBC station, KGBB, suddenly dropped into the noise at 1700UT. 

On today for the test was KP2AE, WA4PGI, KGØVL and W4DEX.  The path between KP2AE and W4DEX was about normal running S7 with little noticeable QSB.  Signals between WA4PGI and W4DEX were stable at about S5.  KP2AE also copied WA4PGI at S5.  

KGØVL had some CW copy on W4DEX and at times could hear some SSB so that path was slightly better the past few days.  KGØVL's CW was detectable at W4DEX but not copyable.