The high frequencies have returned!

There has been some excellent propagation into Melbourne in the 15, 17, and
21 MHz bands around our sunrise period,
for transmissions originating in Western Europe, Africa, the Americas, and
the Middle East.

This is due to Maximum Usable Frequencies, and the derived Optimum Working
Frequencies, rising to 22 MHz on the daylight path across the Pacific.

All bands from 2 MHz to 22 MHz were open on April 2, 2011, in the window
2000-2100.

Baaed on IPS date, observed monthly Sunspot Numbers so far for 2011 were:

Jan 19
Feb 29.4
Mar 56

The predicted Smoothed Sunspot Number for Dec 2011 is 60.4

In reality, the daily SSN during March varied widely from as low as 37, to
over 100.

The vast number of frequency changes introduced for the A-2011 season have
generated many opportunities for systematic study and research into higher
band propagation as we move into Sunspot Cycle 24.

My monitoring notes of April 2, 2011, with some huge signals appearing,
2000-2100:

15110 SPAIN REE
15235 CANADA RCI Sackville
15300 FRANCE RFI Issoudin
15330 CANADA RCI Sackville
15345 MAURITANIA
15360 CUBA RHC
15455 CANADA RCI Sackville *2100
15560 PORTUGAL RDP
15600 USA WYFR
15610 USA WEWN
15630 GREECE VOG
15665 USA WHRI
15695 USA WYFR
15770 WYFR

17715 SPAIN REE
17735 CANADA RCI Sackville
17795 USA WYFR
17845 USA WYFR
17860 CANADA RCI Sackville

21525 USA WYFR
21690 FRENCH GUYANA RFI Montsinery

Regards from Melbourne!

Bob Padula