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Amateur Radio: The Radio Frontier
These are the voyages of amateur radio operators.
Their ten year licenses:
To explore strange new bands,
To seek out new QSOs and new hamfests,
To boldly transmit where no ham has transmitted before.
(cue the Alexander Courage music)
Adapted from the Star Trek preamble by AK4OO





INTERPRETATION OF SOLAR DATA

A-INDEX 1-6 Best 7-10 Fair 11+ Bad: This represents the global level of ionospheric geomagnetic disturbance over the previous 24-hour period.
K-INDEX 0-1 Best 2 Okay 3-4 Bad 5+ Very Bad: This is the level of geomagnetic ionospheric disturbance averaged around the planet over the past 3 hours. Values >4 indicate the presence of geomagnetic storms and noise levels on all HF bands increase appreciably. With values >6 overall HF conditions degrade significantly. Generally, HF conditions are best when the the A-Index is 10 or lower and the K-Index is 3 or lower.
SFI (SOLAR FLUX INDEX) 70 Not Good 80 Good 90 Better 100+ Best: This is a measure of the total radio emissions from the sun. A higher SFI generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands. It rarely affects the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter bands. When it is >70 then 20M opens and when it is >90 then 15M opens.
SN (SUNSPOT NUMBER): The higher the SN, the higher the level of UV and X-ray radiation that is striking our atmosphere and producing ionization in the D, E and F layers. As ionization increases, the MUF goes up. The higher bands (15M, 12M, 10M and 6M) become active with good propagation when there is a high SN.  
X-RAY: Strong solar X-Ray emissions will cause shortwave fadeouts and radio blackouts. Classification from weak to strong X-Ray emissions is A, B, C, M, X.
SOLAR FLARES: For most solar flares, the main effect felt on Earth is an increase in the level of solar radiation which covers the whole electromagnetic spectrum. Elements such as ultra-violet, X-rays and the like will affect the levels of ionization in the ionosphere. Often an enhancement in ionospheric HF propagation is noticed as the higher layers of the ionosphere have increased levels of ionization. However, if the levels of ionization in the lower layers of the ionosphere start to rise then this can result in higher amounts of absorption and attenuation of radio communications signals and poor conditions may be experienced.