Technical Support
Nebraska Section Technical Specialists

Operating Aids

RF Exposure Guidelines for Amateur Radio

Solar Cycle 25

The solar cycle is the cycle that the Sun's magnetic field goes through approximately every 11 years. Our Sun is a huge ball of electrically-charged hot gas. This charged gas moves, generating a powerful magnetic field. The Sun's magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle. NASA SCIENCE SPACE PLACE

The Sun is in the rising part of its 11-year cycle of activity. NOAA recently confirmed that Cycle 25 is outperforming the official forecast. As of January 2022, actual sunspot counts to date are stronger than predicted.  almanac

 Space weather impacts radio communication in a number of ways. At frequencies in the 1 to 30 mega Hertz range (known as “High Frequency” or HF radio), the changes in ionospheric density and structure modify the transmission path and even block transmission of HF radio signals completely. These frequencies are used by amateur (ham) radio operators and many industries such as commercial airlines. They are also used by a number of government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Defense. NOAA HF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS



NOAA Space Weather SCIJINKS 

NOAA Solar Cycle Progression

ARRL 'Here Comes the Sun'

ARRL  'What the Numbers Mean, and Propagation Predictions--a brief introduction to propagation and the major factors affecting it.'  By Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA 

ARRL ' Propagation of RF Signals' and links to a cornucopia of QST articles and other resources.

You Tube Video: Something Unusual is Happening on the Sun and It's Already Affecting Us.

VOACAP

Handy Reference: US Amateur Radio Operating Bands and Frequencies

Band Chart Vertical.pdf