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HP2DFA > INFO 10.10.26 17:40z 37 Lines 1600 Bytes #196 (0) @ WW
BID : 4028_HP2DFA
Subj: THE SOLAR CYCLE IS CHANGING: OPERATING GUIDANCE & STRATEGIE
Path: HB9ON<HB9ON<PI8ZTM<PA8F<PI8LAP<VE2PKT<PY2BIL<HP2DFA
Sent: 261010/1710Z 4028@HP2DFA.#COL.PAN.CEAM BPQ6.0.24
THE SOLAR CYCLE IS CHANGING: OPERATING GUIDANCE & STRATEGIES
TECHNICAL & PROPAGATION BULLETIN / PORTABLE & QRP OPERATING
SOURCE: THOMAS WITHERSPOON (K4SWL) / QRPER.COM
VALID: 10-OCT-2026 ONWARDS
ISSUED VIA BPQ32 NODE HP2DFA-5
1. SOLAR CYCLE STATUS AND EVALUATION:
- FOLLOWING ITS 2024 PEAK (NASA/NOAA), SOLAR CYCLE 25 IS NOW ENTERING ITS
PROGRESSIVE DECLINING PHASE.
- REACHING THE NEXT SOLAR MINIMUM WILL TAKE YEARS RATHER THAN MONTHS.
- DESPITE GOOD SUNSPOT NUMBERS, THE CYCLE EXHIBITED PERIODIC INSTABILITY
AND GEOMAGNETIC STORMS DURING ITS PEAK.
2. OPERATING STRATEGIES FOR HF BANDS:
- SHIFT TO LOWER BANDS: AS HIGH BANDS (10M-17M) BECOME FLEETING, LOWER BANDS
(40M, 30M, 60M, AND 80M) BECOME ESSENTIAL FOR REGIONAL & NIGHTTIME PATHS.
- FREQUENCY AGILITY: AVOID RELYING EXCLUSIVELY ON 20 METERS. OPERATORS
SHOULD REGULARLY TEST MULTIPLE BANDS IN THE FIELD.
3. ANTENNA OPTIMIZATION & FIELD EFFICIENCY:
- ANTENNA EFFICIENCY MATTERS: SWITCH TO EFFICIENT WIRE ANTENNAS (EFHW,
DIPOLES, RANDOM WIRES) OVER SMALL LOADED VERTICALS TO OFFSET LOWER SNR.
- DEPLOYMENT SKILLS: PRACTICE ARBORIST THROW-LINE TECHNIQUES TO GET WIRES
HIGH INTO TREES, OR UTILIZE STURDY PORTABLE TELESCOPIC MASTS.
4. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS & COMMUNITY:
- THE EXPANDED HUNTER BASE IN POTA/SOTA ENSURES CONTINUED ACTIVITY AND LOG
SUCCESS EVEN WHEN SOLAR FLUX DROPS.
- REFRAME ACTIVATION SUCCESS: FOCUS ON LESSONS LEARNED AND DIFFICULT QSLS,
ADAPTING NATURALLY TO CHANGING IONOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.
FULL ARTICLE & DETAILS: WWW.QRPER.COM
MAIL: HP2DFA@GMAIL.COM / HP2DFA-5@BPQ32
73 DE HP2DFA-5 / BPQ32 NODE PANAMA
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