Fw: Propagation and Monitoring from Melbourne

Solar activity continues to remain a very low level - the latest info
from the IPS Dept of Space Services in Sydney, NSW, is that the 10.7 cm
solar flux has dropped to 91, and the SSN has fallen to 36.

We are in the early phase of Sunspot Cycle 24, and it is predicted that this
may peak some five years from now, at a level of 59.

Discussions across the communications industry are now suggesting that
"sunspots", as we have come to understand them, may now be a thing of the
past, and long-distance, multi-hop propagation over darkness, or
partial-darkness paths, on frequencies above about 13 MHz will only be
possible on about 5% of occasions.

Here in Melbourne, long-haul multi-hop shortpath propagation from Africa,
Europe and the Middle East over darkness paths is virtually non-existent
above 12 MHz, but the bands below 12 MHz are reliable on most occasions.

From a personal viewpoint, my professional spectrum research is now confined
to much narrower "frequency windows", with my monitoring and propagation
reports reflecting this changed emphasis.

9 MHz activity

This band is intensely populated during the period 1900 to 2100, dominated
by shortpath transmissions from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Due to the decline in solar activity, and the need to minimise interference,
many international broadcasters have made, and will continue to make,
frequency and schedule changes.

Here are some selected entries from my 9 MHz band research on February 11,
for the 1930 to 2000 window:

9305 EGYPT R. Cairo, Arabic
9325 N. KOREA VOK, German
9365 FRANCE RTI, Issoudin, French
9390 FRANCE R. Algeria, Issoudin, Arabic
9405 ENGLAND RL-Woofferton Russian
9425 INDIA Nat net
9445 INDIA English to 1945*
9470 INDIA Nat net
9490 ENGLAND Polish Radio, Rampisham, Ukrainian
9510 ENGLAND RCI-Skelton, French
9550 RWANDA FEBA, Kigali, Arabic
9555 S. ARABIA BSKSA Arabic
9585 GERMANY VOA-Biblis English
9625 AUSTRIA AWR-Moosbrunn French
9635 SRI LANKA DW-Trincomalee Russian
9685 ABU DHABI WYFR-Dhabbaya Hausa
9695 GERMANY WYFR-Wertachtal French
9715 PORTUGAL DW-Sines Russian
9965 SRI LANKA R. Farda, Iranawela, Farsi

Regards from Melbourne!

Bob Padula