Quick Look at Current Cycle 25 Conditions:
(Data rounded to nearest whole number)
Sunspots:
Observed Monthly, August 2022: 70
12-month smoothed, February 2022: 64
10.7-cm Flux:
Observed Monthly, August 2022: 118
12-month smoothed, February 2022: 109
Last month’s column contained a detailed review of conditions expected during October. Let’s look at what we can expect this month.
Expect an increase in DX openings on this band during the local hours of darkness, starting at dusk and lasting into the sunrise period. This season will mostly have stable conditions on this band and other medium-wave bands like 120 meters (for the SWLs among us). This winter will be reasonably quiet, though conditions may at times be marginal if the geomagnetic field activity becomes stormy. The combined effect of the decreased static levels and longer hours of darkness in the northern latitudes will make 160 meters a pleasurable band during winter. During this month’s CQWW CW contest, participants should experience fair to good scores on this band. Look for openings toward Europe and toward the south from the eastern half of the U.S. and toward the south, the Far East,
