Space Weather and HF Propagation
- Date:
August 6, 2021 - Time:
07:00 PM Pacific Time - Topic:
Space Weather and HF Propagation - Presenter:
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA
Details
The presentation will begin with a review of the layers of the ionosphere. We will go over several websites that offer space weather information, and which parameters are important for HF propagation. We will then tie space weather parameters to propagation on the various HF bands.
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, started his radio career as a short wave listener in the late 1950s. He received his Novice license (WN9AVT) in October 1961, and selected K9LA in 1977. Carl is an electrical engineering graduate of Purdue University and was an RF design engineer until his retirement in 2013. Carl enjoys propagation research, DXing (he’s at the Top of the Honor Roll), contesting (he was NCJ Editor from 2002-2007), experimenting with antennas and restoring/using vintage equipment.
He and his wife Vicky AE9YL enjoy traveling, which has included DXpeditions to Syria (YK9A in 2001), to Market Reef (OJ0/AE9YL and OJ0/K9LA in 2002) and numerous trips to ZF (Vicky is ZF2YL and Carl is ZF2LA). He has received the Bill Orr W6SAI Technical Writing Award, the YASME Foundation Excellence Award and the Indiana Radio Club Council Technical Excellence Award.
Presentation materials
Notes on using zoom
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YouTube recordings
Around 2021 (during the COVID pandemic), we started recording our monthly presentations, which you can find either under the individual meetings below, or in our YouTube channel.
Past Meetings
2025
- 202507 To be announced :
July Monthly Meeting - 202506 Richard Dillman (W6AWO) :
The Legacy of Trans-Pacific Radio - 202505 Carlos Felix, K9OL :
The software defined radio and why it belongs in your shack - 202504 Mike McClary, N6MO :
Stealth HF Antennas - 202503 Many, not just one :
Home Brew Night - 202502 Ben Eadie, VE6SFX :
From Rookie to Innovator: Experimenting with (Slot) Antennas on a Budget(with video) - 202501 Connie Stillinger, W6EFI :
Instant Tuning for a Manual Tuner(with video)
2024
- 202412 Wayne Burdick, N6KR :
Four Feet and Five Watts from Six-Land, A Search for Peak Experience(with video) - 202411 Katrina Barnett, MD :
Service, Emotional Support, and Therapy Dogs(with video) - 202410 Geoff Abreu K6ERA, The USS Hornet Radio Club NB6GC :
Amateur Radio aboard the USS Hornet(with video) - 202409 George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU :
Introduction to the Adventure Radio Protocol(with video) - 202408 Leigh Ann Weiland, K6WXO :
Nodes - Internet-mediated gateways - 202407 Andreas Junge, N6NU :
TX5S - DX Expedition to Clipperton Island(with video) - 202406 Benjamin Faershtein, KO6CNT :
What's so fantastic about Meshtastic(with video) - 202405 Darryl Presley, KI6LDM :
Emergency Communications in Cupertino and Santa Clara County ARES / RACES - 202404 Many, not just one :
HOMEBREW NIGHT(with video) - 202403 Joshua Edwards, KO6ASM :
Rescued Thanks to Radio: Rescue Beacons and how Search and Rescue Forces Find Them - 202402 Kristen McIntyre, K6WX :
Bonaire to Connecticut(with video) - 202401 Chuck Leader, NA6XX, and Russ Bentson, K6KLY :
6M DX-ing from Northern California
2023
- 202312 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
Elecraft updates with Q&A(with video) - 202311 Rachel Kinoshita, KK6DAC :
Bay Area Mesh Network for Emergency Communication(with video) - 202310 Bryan St Clair, K6CBR :
Direction Finding with the Kraken SDR(with video) - 202309 JEFF K1NSS :
JEFF K1NSS CONFIDENTIAL(with video) - 202308 Craig Thompson, K9CT :
Building and Maintaining a Contest/DXing Station(with video) - 202307 Steve Stearns, K6OIK :
Antenna Potpouri(with video) - 202306 Jeff Stupartis, W4DD :
Locating Power Line Noise (and other RFI)(with video) - 202305 Jeri Ellsworth, AI6TK, and Amy Herndon, AI6ZU :
Ham Radio and Gaming?(with video) - 202304 Many, not just one :
HOMEBREW NIGHT - 202303 Michael Walker, VA3MW :
So what is FlexRadio all about?(with video) - 202302 Corey Ruth, KD3CR :
All Bands From An HOA: The Broadband Butterfly Terminated Dipole(with video) - 202301 :
Falling from the Sky: Chasing WX Balloon Transmitters(with video)
2022
- 202212 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
Elecraft update with Q&A - 202211 Mikko Sannala AB6RF :
Remote Control of HF Rig(with video) - 202210 Vince d’Eon, AI7LK :
Go-Kit Building Design(with video) - 202209 Kevin Zanjani :
Bioenno batteries and specifications(with video) - 202208 OES Chief Ken Dueker, KB6BPM :
Community Hazards and Emergency Planning(with video) - 202207 Fred Cirera, W6BSD :
Software Antenna Modeling(with video) - 202206 Cindy Bertsch, KG6IMU :
Caldor Fire Animal Evacuations: Western El Dorado County(with video) - 202205 George Zafiropoulos, KJ6VU :
Think Like A Backpacker(with video) - 202204 Brian Basura, N6CVO :
Pico-Ballooning and Ham Radio(with video) - 202203 Rob Orr, K9RST :
Ham Radio: Serving Large public events(with video) - 202202 n/a :
HF Propagation with a Twist(with video) - 202201 Many, not just one :
Home Brew Night(with video)
2021
- 202112 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
23 Years of Elecraft - 202111 Kristen, K6WX :
Sausage-Making at the ARRL - 202110 Michael T Workman :
Alpha Hotel Six Charlie Yankee: Ham Radio documentary(with video) - 202109 Andreas Junge, N6NU :
Node-RED. What Is It?(with video) - 202108 Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA :
Space Weather and HF Propagation(with video) - 202107 Dave Minster, NA2AA :
Spend time with Dave Minster, NA2AA(with video) - 202106 Steve Galchutt, WGØAT :
Ham Radio Adventures(with video) - 202105 Rob French, AC6GO :
Radio Waves in Planetary Research(with video) - 202104 Bob Heil, KN9EID :
Bob Heil from Heil Sound(with video) - 202103 Rick Ferranti, W6NIR :
Early Digital Communications: 176 Years of Telegraph Apparatus(with video) - 202102 Lucian Ploias, VA7LDT :
A portable magnetic loop antenna covering 80 through 20m ham bands(with video) - 202101 Mark Meltzer, AF6IM :
DB Cooper Skyjack. Cold Case Revisited(with video)
2020
- 202012 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
22 Years of Elecraft - 202011 Fred Cunha, K6FVC :
An Introduction to Amateur Radio Satellite Communications - 202010 James Armstrong, NV6W :
SCV Section Manager Responsibilities - 202009 Rob, KC6TYD; Rachel, KKC6DAC; Frank, AF0XX; and Karen, KK6NGA :
A week-long ham radio, camping, learning, and living event - 202008 Rob Sherwood, NC0B :
Transceiver Performance for the HF - DX Operator - 202007 __PRESENTER__ :
__TITLE__ - 202006 Ed Muns, WØYK :
Operating from Aruba and the contests you work from down there - 202005 __PRESENTER__ :
__TITLE__ - 202004 __PRESENTER__ :
__TITLE__ - 202003 __PRESENTER__ :
__TITLE__ - 202002 Joel Wilhite - KD6W :
3D Printing For Ham Radio - 202001 Many presenters :
Homebrew Night
2019
- 201912 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
An Overview Of New Elecraft K4 Direct Sampling SDR HF Transceiver - 201911 Jim Brown, K9YC :
An Overview Of Station Interference - 201910 Shrikumar, KA6Q :
Knowledge, sufficiently forgotten, is indistinguishable from Magic - 201909 Alan Thompson, W6WN :
Amateur Radio Communications During Disasters - 201908 Mark Kemp :
Using piezoelectric material as a radiating element for VLF communications - 201907 Ken Dueker - KB6BPM :
Hazards, Risks & Emergency Operations in the Palo Alto Area - 201906 Alan Thompson - W6WN :
The Camp Fire - Phones, Fires and Failures - 201905 Ed Fong, WB6IQN :
The TBJ-1: A Tri-Band Base Antenna - 201904 Sarah Mitchell, NF2S; Natalie King, KO2V :
Making Waves at UCSC: From Ham Radio to SlugSats - 201903 Bob, K4UEE and Ed, W4ZSB :
The 2009 K5D DXpedition to Desecheo Island - 201902 ** Bob Allphin, Jr.; K4UEE** :
The 2014 FT5ZM Amsterdam Island DXpedition - 201901 Many :
HOMEBREW NIGHT
2018
- 201812 Eric Swartz (WA6HHQ) :
Elecraft Today & Tomorrow - 201811 Kathy Balistreri :
From Farady To Hertz: The Birth Of Wireless - 201810 William Borucki :
The Kepler Mission, in Search of Exoplanets - 201809 John Miller, K6MM :
The KH1/KH7Z DXpedition to Baker Island - 201808 Joe Pistritto, N3CKF :
Hams In Puerto Rico - 201807 Joel, KD6W :
Surprise Topic - 201806 Rogelio Bernal Andreo :
Astrophotography - 201805 Bob Vallio, W6RGG :
9K2HN, Abdali, Kuwait 2014 DXpedition - 201804 Ralph Simpson :
The Race To Crack The Nazi Code - 201803 Parachute Mobile: Past - Present - Future :
Rob Fenn, KC6TYD - 201802 Rachel Kinoshita, KK6DAC :
Solar 101 - 201801 Many :
Homebrew Night
2017
- 201712 Wayne Burdick, N6KR :
Elecraft Today & Tomorrow - 201711 Misa Siemons, Pacificon 2017 Chair :
Pacificon 2017: Facts & Figures - 201710 Ken Dueker :
Hazards, Risks & Emergency Operations in the Palo Alto Area - 201709 Rachel Kinoshita, KK6DAC :
Alternative Emergency Power Methods - 201708 Clayton Hall, NF1R :
Summits On The Air(with video) - 201707 Dave Crocker, W6VYC :
National Parks On The Air - 201706 John Miller, K6MM :
The Lighter Side Of Ham Radio: Why We Do...What We Do - 201705 Bob Vallio, W6RGG & Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT :
A Tour Through The ARRL Headquarters - 201704 Don Anastasia, AA6W :
ARRL 100 year celebration, in year 2014 - 201703 __PRESENTER__ :
The Original "Ham's Wide World" - Aired in 1959 on ABC TV - 201702 Karl Kappler :
"QuakeFinder" - Using Magnetometer Data To Predict Earthquakes - 201701 Many :
Homebrew Night
2016
- 201612 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
PAARA "Dream to Reality Raffle XIII" + Elecraft KX-3: Features & Developments - 201611 Kurt Kiesow III, KF6QNC :
Wave Gliders - 201610 Michael Wimble, KM6WP :
A Journey Into The Field Of Robotics - 201609 Ross Forbes, K6GFJ :
TX3X DXpedition to Chesterfield Island - 201608 Stu Phillips, K6TU :
HF Antennas & Ground Effects - 201607 Lodema Epperson, KI6UGV :
World without the - 201606 Joel Wilhite, KD6W :
Introducing the PAARA Repeater - W6OTX - 201605 Bob Vallio, W6RGG :
2014 Trip To 9K2HN (Kuwait) - 201604 John Miller, K6MM :
K5P DXpedition To Palmyra Atoll - 201603 Kevin Rowett, K6TD :
History, Use, & Description of NCDXF/IARU Beacon Program - 201602 Vitaly Dubilet, AB6VD :
Design and Construction a Magnetic Loop Antenna (MLA) for 3.5 to 24 MHz - 201601 Many :
Home-Brew Night
2015
- 201512 ERIC SWARTZ, WA6HHQ :
"PAARA "Dream to Reality Raffle XII" + ELECRAFT KX-3 Features & Developments - 201511 Ed Lafargue, W6ELA :
APRS For All. It's Easier Than You Think - 201510 Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH :
Amateur Enforcement — Very Much Alive - 201509 Paul Ewing, N6PSE :
The E30FB DXpedition And A Sneak Preview Of The Upcoming VP8STI/VP8SGI DXpeditions - 201508 Professor W. E. Moerner, WN6I, Nobel Laureate :
FM Radio at 560 THz Enables Single-Molecule Detection and Spectroscopy, Paving the Way to the Nobel Prize - 201507 Paul Wesling, KM6LH :
The Origins of Silicon Valley: Roots in Ham Radio - 201506 John Miller, K6MM :
The K1N DXpedition To Navassa Island - 201505 Richard Webber, WR6J :
An Experimental 630M WSPR Station - 201504 Joel Wilhite, KD6W :
Fusion, DMR, and DStar Compared - 201503 Dr. Len Shustek, Chairman of the Board of Trustees :
The Computer History Museum - 201502 Rob Brownstein, K6RB :
C82DX DXpedition To Mozambique - 201501 Many :
Annual Home Brew Night !!
2014
- 201412 ERIC SWARTZ, WA6HHQ :
"PAARA "Dream to Reality Raffle XI" + ELECRAFT K3 Features & Developments - 201411 Matthew Kaufman, KA6SQG :
Building A Wide Coverage Repeater System - 201410 Michael Fox, N6MEF :
Internet Outages: Not Just For Disasters - 201409 Art Lebermann, W6REQ :
The The Life of a Broadcast Engineer - What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been - 201408 Rick Eversole, N6RNO :
CW For The SSB Operator - 201407 Don Anastasia, AA6W :
Show-And-Tell: The Latest & Greatest Ham Gear - 201406 Rob Brownstein, K6RB :
2013 C82DX DXpedition to Xai Xai, Mozambique, Africa - 201405 Jim Brown, K9YC :
A Better Way of Planning for HF Antennas -- Do I Want a Vertical or Horizontal Antenna, and How High Should It Be? - 201404 __PRESENTER__ :
DXpedition Video: 2009 DXpedition to Desecheo Island, K5D - 201403 Leigh Klotz WA5ZNU :
Ham Radio and Modern Micros - 201402 Arthur Lange, W6RXQ :
The Modernized Global Positioning System (GPS III) - 201401 Many :
Home Brew Night
2013
- 201312 John Miller, K6MM :
K9W Commemorative DXpedition To Wake Atoll" - 201311 Joel Wilhite, KD6W :
Operating At Or Near 10GHz - Moving To The Microwave Bands And Beyond - 201310 Russ Bentson, K6KLY :
Meteor Scatter Using FSK441 - 201309 Ken Oyadomari, KK6EIQ :
PhoneSat; NASA's Smartphone Nanosatellite - 201308 Tom Schiller, N6BT :
Next Generation Antenna: The Bravo Series Vertical Antenna - 201307 Bob Vallio, W6RGG, ARRL Pacific Division Director :
ARRL CENTENNIAL CELEBREATION - 201306 Rick, N6XI :
Contesting - 201305 Mark Laubach, K6FJC :
Introduction to Radio Direction Finding - Basic Tools and Techniques - 201304 Steven Olson, KI6MYE :
Youth DX Adventure - 201303 Paul Ewing, N6PSE :
The 3D2C Conway Reef DXpedition - 201302 Captain Stewart Smith :
The PAVE PAWS Radar System at Beale AFB; Merced, CA - 201301 Many :
Annual Home Brew Night
2012
- 201212 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
New products, firmware, sponsored K3 DXpeditions and other topics - 201211 Max Koontz :
Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) - 201210 Brian Day :
Exploring the Lunar Environment with NASA's LADEE mission - 201209 Joel Wilhite, KD6W :
Digital Amateur Television (DATV), A Primer and Use Cases - 201208 Ken Dueker, KB6BPM :
Palo Alto Mobile Emergency Operations Center - 201207 Lance Ginner, K6GSJ :
OSCAR: The First Orbital Satellite Carrrying Amateur Radio - 201206 Dean Straw, N6BV :
How Not To Sound Like a LID on Field Day - 201205 Don Ferguson, AI6RE and Ron Meadows, K6RPT :
California Near Space Project - 201204 Eric Norris, WD6DBM :
Magnetic Loop Antennas: The Best Kept Secret In Amateur Radio - 201203 Rod Stafford, W6ROD :
IARU/ITU Functions - 201202 Jim Peterson, K6EI :
Having Fun on 160M - 201201 Richard Dillman, W6AWO :
FARS / PAARA Winter Banquet : Radio On The High Seas
2011
- 201112 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
Presentation By Elecraft - 201111 Tom Berson, ND2T :
TU VP8ORK UP - 201110 Rick Ferranti, W6NIR :
Radio Communications In The Forest Service - 201109 Stu Phillips, K6TU :
Software Defined Radio - 201108 Kristen McIntyre, K6WX :
Special DVD Presentation - 201107 Richard Barber, KM6SB, Anritsu Corporation :
RF Mixer Design - 201106 Dean Straw, N6BV :
Pursuing and Handling QSOs - 201105 Jim Brown, K9YC :
RF Interference And Ham Radio - 201104 John Miller, K6MM :
PJ7E DXpedition: Putting One Two Three Four New DXCC Entities On The Air - 201103 Ray Mitchell, KI6FYU :
The Ionosphere: Space Weather Monitoring - 201102 Tom Schiller, N6BT :
Unknown Antenna Disorder (UAD): Symptoms & Cures - 201101 Darryl Presley, KI6LDM :
Diving Adventure To Truk Lagoon
2010
- 201012 Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ :
Presentation By Elecraft - 201011 Rob Goodson, N2RAG :
San Bruno PG&E Pipeline Disaster - Amateur Radio Response - 201010 __?__ :
VP8THU DXpedition to the South Sandwich Islands of Southern Thule, in the Antarctic - 201009 __PRESENTER__ :
__TITLE__ - 201008 Mark Laubach, K6FJC; Deputy Chief Radio Officer; SCCOES :
Santa Clara Mutual Aid Communicator (MAC) Program