Thanks to Bob Padula for sending in his monitoring observations. What are you hearing on shortwave ?
HF propagation into Melbourne continues to be very good in our early to mid-afternoons, on 11 MHz and 13 MHz, with all continents represented.
According to the IPS in Sydney, solar activity is still classified as "low", with the 10.7 cm solar flux hovering around 135, and the daily SSN around 94.
This means that long-haul multi-hop, multi-modal propagation on darkness or semi-darkness path on frequencies over about 15 MHz will continue to be unreliable, but daylight long-haul circuits will be satisfactory.
Malaysia
In recent weeks, there has been no sign of any activity, as observed from Melbourne, for the Voice of Malaysia English or Malay services on 15295, 9750 and 6175 in its scheduled period 0400-1000. It could be assumed that these services have been discontinued. The Indonesian (1200-1400 9750 6175) and Chinese (1000-1200 11885 6175 and 15295) services have not yet been confirmed. The domestic networks continue as before, and are observed on 11665 (War FM) 9835 (Sarawak studio Malay) 5965 (Domestic Malay) and 7295 (Domestic English)
11 MHz research - 0300 to 0400
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11620 INDIA Urdu
" CHINA CNR5 Chinese
11665 MALAYSIA RTM Domestic Malay
11710 ARGENTINA RAE French
11735 INDIA Dari
11795 THAILAND RFE Udorn Tajik
11800 CHINA CNR2
11840 INDIA Hindi *0315
11845 CHINA CNR2
11860 CYPRUS BBC English
11880 PHILIPPINES R. Filipinas English/Filipino to 0330*
11895 ROMANIA RRI English
11905 SRI LANKA SLBC Hindi
11935 N. ANTILLES NHK Bonaire Japanese
11980 MARIANAS RFA Tinian Chinese
12015 SRI LANKA RFE Iranawela Turkmen
12025 THAILAND RFE Udorn Uzbek
22 MHz research 0300-0400
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13600 CHINA CRI Kunming Tamil
13620 CHINA CRI English Xian
13630 ROMANIA RRI Spanish
13655 CHINA CRI Chinese Xian
13665 RUSSIA VOR PK English
13680 N. KOREA KCBS Korean
13700 CHINA CNR13 Mongolian
13735 RUSSIA VOR Vladivostok English
13780 CHINA CRI Kunming Nepali to 0330*
Lots of activity from China!
DAYTIME ASIAN SPECIALIZED MODE
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The December/January midday specialized Asian mode from Asia, historically appearing on 5, 6, 7, and 9 MHz in the late morning and noon periods here in Melbourne, have failed to materialize this summer. This Mode was supported by specialized propagation via reflection off the top of Sporadic-E clouds above Northern Australia with no intermediate ground reflection, with path length up to 11,000 km in broad daylight.
This phenomenon was "discovered" by some of us way back in the 1950s, and its study had long been a target for serious propagation research every summer here in Victoria, particularly during years of low sunspot activity.
There's still three weeks remaining for this "window", and perhaps it may yet appear?!
Regards from Melbourne!
Bob Padula