April 1989 Forecast -- Flux Range 174 - 209

by Roy, AD5Q - Houston, Texas

March brought us a solar storm severe enough to ruin DX for all of us. The few signals that were on were stateside stations, and even on 40 they had that distorted echo we are used to hearing from exotic places like Mongolia. As I write this, things are back to normal and Russians are coming through S9+ on 20CW. They will continue to do so for many months.

HIGH BANDS: Evening conditions on 10 & 15 (especially 15) are gradually improving. 15 will be at its best in May and early June, with excellent conditions to remote parts of Asia in the evening and during the day. In the evening follow the sunrise peak across Russia and Europe, because 15 will have the characteristics of a nighttime band this time of year. Because 15 is also open in the daytime, a large part of the world is workable just about any time of day. 10 meter openings to Europe will run into the afternoon, with good Asian openings in the evening. Watch for long path openings to Europe around midnight on 10 across a path that is mostly daylight. 20, of course, will be wide open all night. A good time to find African activity is during their "prime time" evening hours. This is mid-afternoon our time, when 20 has a pipeline eastward. After sun-up, long path is routinely open to southern Asia, the Mid-East, Russia, Europe, the Indian Ocean and Africa via the southwest and west. At the same time, you have a short path pipeline via the NNW to SE Asia and sometimes beyond (Antarctica long path.) 20 Meters in the morning is good for exotic DX any day of the week, but Saturdays are best.

LOW BANDS: Activity is down on 40, but the band is good to Europe in the evening and to Asia in the morning. Catch DXpeditions on 80 with the aid of sunrise data.


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