Watching an M-Class Solar Flare on the HF Clock
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- #hamradio #propagation #hfclock #solarflare #solar #flare
I happened to be performing some tests for Veritium, the makers of the HF Clock, after a weekend of updates. Just as I was about to disable the Space WX pane, I noticed an M-class solar flare indication in the X-Ray portion of the Space WX pane. I tapped the X-Ray indicator to display it on one of the larger, dedicated, panes. I was able to monitor the intensity of the flare as it reached M1.7. M is a medium flare. It can adversely affect HF communications for 10-60 minutes.
If you are interested in purchasing the HF Clock, here is a link: www.veritiumhfclock.com.
If you only want the software, it is called Ham Clock. It is a free download. Here is a link that shows how to install it on a PC: w4cae.com/wait...
If you can supply a monitor, there is an inexpensive Inovato Quadra computer bundle that comes with the software installed. As I write this, the bundle only costs $50. It is available from: www.inovato.com
Note: Ham Clock version 3.03 included significant changes related to the DX clusters. Prior to 3.03, every single spot from the cluster to the clock resulted in the clock sending a show/heading command which a very vocal minority of dxcluster sysops objected to. From 3.03 onwards, the heading calculations are done locally to take the stress off of the remote cluster. For versions after 3.03, the clock puts no more load on the dxcluster network than any other user does which is a good thing. However, the local CPU load is now very high for the ESP version of the HF Clock. Users of the ESP version of the HF Clock will notice a loss of the ability to tap a callsign in the DX cluster and see the short path plot, beam heading, DX WX, and VOACAP data for the station you clicked on. The processor in the HF Clock is just not powerful enough to keep up with the new programming that was required to minimize the load on the DX cluster servers.
Below is a list of some DX cluster hosts I have found to be reliable and stable:
Note: If you leave the Login field blank, it will use the callsign you entered in the setup menu. If you have more than one instance of Ham Clock running, use your callsign-1, callsign-2, callsign-3, etc., so the clusters don’t block you for logging in too many times with the same callsign.
port: 7300
host: mayodx.ath.cx
login:
or
port: 7300
host: g6nhu.getmyip.com
login:
or
port: 7300
host: dxc.w1nr.net
login:
Note: G6NHU created a new node that is optimized for Ham Clock version 3.03 or newer. I will post it below. For more information click this link: qso365.co.uk/g...
port: 7300
host: dxspider.co.uk
login:
At the end of this video, you will be able to see a listing of some of the supporters of this channel who made this video possible. These are people who have supported the channel via Patreon membership, as what I call long-haulers. Long-haulers have supported the channel on a long-term basis. There are 4 levels of Patreon membership, including S5 (Associate), S7 (Executive), S9 (VIP), and S9+ (VIP+). S9+ (VIP+) denotes an S9 (VIP) member who voluntarily chooses to give over and above the amount for S9 (VIP) membership. They help me continue to produce videos even though most people do not contribute toward the cost of my mission. Without their support, I cannot bring my viewers uncensored content.
I hope you enjoy this video and find it helpful. If you find my channel informative and entertaining, I hope you will consider joining my support group by clicking on: www.patreon.com/N4HNH There are 3 levels of support, including exclusive content. Visibility of premium content is determined by the level of membership you choose. The higher the membership level, the more content you have access to. VIP members are invited to participate in periodic Zoom meetings.
Most videos are visible to the Patreon team members long before they are released for public viewing. Some videos are never released for public viewing. Yearly S7 (Executive) and S9 (VIP) members have access to the menu optimizations PDFs I’ve written for the FT-891, FT-991A, FTdx5000MP, FTdx101D/MP, FTdx10, and FT-710 AESS. Yearly S7 (Executive) members can receive one menu optimizations PDF while yearly S9 (VIP) members can receive multiple menu optimizations documents, plus my FT8 configuration guide for either the FTdx10 or the FT-710 AESS. Future radios might be added. The documents are copyrighted. They shall not be divulged to anyone else without written permission from Doug McAlexander, callsign N4HNH.
N4HNH Radio has a Web site where you can purchase T-shirts with some of the sayings you might hear in the videos. Some of the more prominent videos are featured there as well as a page geared toward ham radio training. Go to: www.n4hnhradio...
Another great way to help support this channel is to click like and subscribe.
73, de N4HNH
UPDATE: 16:00 UTC on April 22, 2024. The X-Ray value had dropped to C9.9 just as my video completed uploading. It is now at M1.9.
UPDATE: 16:05 UTC on April 22, 2024. The X-Ray value had dropped to C9.9 just as my video completed uploading, approximately an hour ago. It is now at M2.8.
UPDATE: 16:15 UTC on April 22, 2024. The X-Ray value had dropped to C9.9 just as my video completed uploading, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes ago. It has now dropped from the peak of M2.8, at 16:05 UTC, to M2.3.
Great video Doug. I’d love to see a white paper with all the details mentioned here and maybe even a few more.
There are many sources. Here is one from the ARRL: www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/0209038.pdf
Great explanation video ! Conditions have been not so great over the last few days due to all the solar conditions.
Tell me about it, Doug! I was able to make a contact with a California station while the intensity was M1.7. Signals were weak though.
It’s back up to M1.1 as of 15:20 UTC.
@@n4hnhradio I just might have to look into this clock you’re using , very helpful and right in front of you while at the rig.
Yes, it’s the best thing for ham radio since the RF Gain and DSP. Read my video notes where I explain the various ways to acquire it.
20M was great this morning, I was doing a POTA activation this morning.
Most excellent.
I’m glad you liked it. I posted updates the comments. It reached M2.8.
10 meters is really bad. WB9VVH. Rockford TN
The sunspot number and SFI look great, but the solar flare works against it.
LoL I was watching this and when it went to 1.7 I was urgently talking to you to get your attention on here like you could hear me. 😂
Ha! I was filming and editing. Just as the upload completed, it went back to C9.9.
It’s back up to M1.1 as of 15:20 UTC.
Superb run thru of the ham clock, thank you.... very helpful.
Glad you liked it. 73
UPDATE: 15:39 UTC on April 22, 2024. The X-Ray value had dropped to C9.9 just as my video completed uploading. It is now back at M1.7.
UPDATE: 15:20 UTC on April 22, 2024. The X-Ray value had dropped to C9.9 just as my video completed uploading. It is now back at M1.1.