Friday, November 13, 2026

U.K. Propagation Update

 

RSGB
RadCom Assistant Editor | November 13, 2026
Compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday, 12 November 2026
With a solar flux index in the 130s and autumnal HF conditions, this is probably as good as it will get at this point in the current solar cycle.
So, make sure you’re on the air to make the most of it.
The 10m band has been humming with FT8 signals. While these have not been as loud as we might like, this weak signal mode means stations are still workable.
The KQ2H 10m repeater in New York State on 29.620MHz has been audible at times, although probably not strong enough to hear in FM mode.
Switch to SSB and you will probably hear its signal, especially around lunchtime. Those with a 10m beam may do better.
The solar flux index has climbed into the 130s, although the NOAA forecast is less favourable. New regions 4574 and 4575 are not considered much of a threat for solar flares at the moment.
The Kp index has mostly been below 3, which has helped a lot. There have been seven M-class solar flares over the past week and numerous C-class events, so not too much to worry about.
DX to be worked this week includes E51A on the South Cook Islands; C8K from Mozambique; 3X4U in Guinea and VK9XY on Christmas Island.
Later in the week, look for A31TD from Tonga; 3B9/M0CFW on Rodrigues Island and VK9DS operating from the Cocos Keeling Islands.
A little closer to home, there are still intrepid climbers using QRP equipment and operating mountain summits who would love a call.
It is relatively easy to work the European summits on the 40m and 20m bands. For more information, visit sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may reduce to be in the 90 to 100 range. Geomagnetic disturbances are predicted for 17-19 November, with a maximum Kp index of 5.
Otherwise, we can expect more settled conditions with a Kp index around 2.
There are still occasional problems with data supply for the graphs at propquest.org, although the other pages appear to be working fine. It is believed that the issues are with a server, and work continues to address this.
Meanwhile, start preparing your antennas for the CQ Worldwide CW contest, which takes place on 28-29 November.
 
 VHF and up propagation news:
Compiled by G3YLA and G4BAO
The weather pattern for the coming week will offer a changeable sequence of cold and bright, with milder, cloudier, and wetter weather in between.
It may become quite windy at times, and it appears likely that tropo will not be part of the story in the coming week.
This unsettled weather probably means that rain scatter will feature for the GHz bands at times. The prospects for meteor scatter are once again reasonable, with the Taurids peaking last week and the Leonids due to peak on Wednesday, 18 November.
Both are associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle. This is quite a broad period of activity, so it should sustain meteor scatter operators for the week or longer.
Solar activity has continued to offer some coronal holes and pushed the Kp index up to 3 but it would really need to reach 5 to get some interest in aurora prospects.
Another aspect of unsettled weather can be significant jet stream activity, and this will be the case in the coming week.
In recent weeks there have been a few digital mode Sporadic-E QSOs reported. With such strong jet streams, there is every reason to check the 10m and 6m bands for the occasional surprise out-of-season signal.
Out of the main summer Sporadic-E season, the usual timings are not guaranteed. However, it is worth checking from mid-morning through to midday and the afternoon.
EME now, and we have passed minimum Moon declination and apogee for the month. So path losses are falling again, and Moon window length and peak Moon elevation are increasing.
By midweek, the Moon will be visible for approximately ten hours from around lunchtime onwards. 144MHz sky noise ended last week high but will fall to low as the week progresses.
(Mike Terry, UK/BDXC)
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