Posted: 1/18/2017 4:19:15 PM EDT
| The K index is now at 4 which could mean a 6 meter opening via Aurora mode of propagation TODAY and maybe longer. If in the northern hemisphere point your antenna North and look for signals. If you have not heard Aurora before if can sound like talking through a fan or sometimes like a distorted whisper. Aurora may be heard on HF frequencies as well with less distortion. Auroral E is also possible. Working Alaska on six meters is also possible. Other VHF bands may also exhibit Auroral propagation, too. The higher the frequency the more audio distortion and as a result SSB on 2 meters and higher are likely to not exisht. So have your keys plugged in and give CW a try. |
| Worked my first auroral opening two years ago. Completely wild, worked about 20 stations all across northern US (which was awesome since being in Michigan 90% of my 6m openings seem to be to the Gulf Coast). Everyone sounded like they were whispering through a drive thru speaker but no trouble at all making contacts. Craziest one was a friend of mine from local club; I heard him direct through ground wave as well as hearing him through auroral skip. He was the hardest to copy of any. |
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I don't know about 6m, but 40m on JT65 is nuts right now.....crazy propagation....just worked Bahrain from Pennsylvania with a -3dB signal report!!!
Sweet! ETA - Just worked Israel as well....Middle East is loud and clear from the East Coast of the US! 
ETA2 - Just worked Namibia - what a night!!! 
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