Rather than explain about such things as Sun Spots, 11 Year Cycles, A & K Indexs, etc. I'm just going to outline general propagation characteristics for each of our newly designated pirate bands.
185, 87 and 74 Meters - During the hours of daylight, reception should be possible up to 200 miles. During the hours of darkness, reception should be possible up to 1000 or more miles. During years of low solar activity, long distance reception at night is not uncommon. High static levels make reception difficult during late spring, summer and early fall.
48, 44 and 41 Meters - During the hours of daylight, reception should be possible up to 1000 miles. During the hours of darkness, reception should be possible up to several thousand miles or more. During the Winter Dawn and Dusk periods it is possible to have reception from the other side of the world, as signals follow the darkness path. Late spring, summer and early fall will contribute to higher static levels.
32 and 30 Meters - During the hours of daylight, reception should be possible up to 400 to 1500 miles. During the spring, summer and fall seasons reception during the hours of darkness should be possible up to several thousand miles. During the winter months in the hours of darkness should produce only marginal reception.
26 Meters - During the hours of daylight reception should be possible up to 500 and 2000 miles during the entire year. Longer distances should be possible for a hour or two after local sunrise and during late afternoon and early evening. During the spring and summer reception should also be good during the hours of darkness.
22 Meters - During the hours of daylight reception should be possible up to 600 and 1800 miles and increasingly further during the winter season. During late afternoon, early evening and for several hours around the sunrise period, reception should be possible from 1000 miles to HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD! During the summer months reception of very long distance can be expected during the hours of darkness. During the peak years of solar activity, this band will be "open" almost on a 24 hour basis. During low solar activity, this band will be "open" mainly during daylight hours and is especially good in the dawn and dusk periods.
20 Meters - The best reception will occur for an hour or two after local sunrise and again during the late afternoon and early evening. Medium and short distance reception should be possible during the daylight hours. During the summer season excellent reception conditions may also extend well into the hours of darkness. This band shows highly variable propagation depending on the solar activity levels. During high sunspot years, this band will be favorable to long distance reception almost 24 hours a day. At mid levels, this band will produce the most favorable reception during the daylight hours. Sporadic E type skip, single hop up to 1300 miles and double hop up to 2600 miles, is common during early summer and mid-winter.
14 Meters - Primarily a daytime band. Conditions should be optimal for long distance reception during the fall, winter and spring seasons. During the summer season, reception will favor North-South paths. Because of decreasing solar activity, conditions on this band will be marginal.
11 Meters - Primarily a daytime band. Conditions are more dependent on high solar activity than any other band. Long distance reception during the daylight hours should be possible up to several thousand miles during the fall, winter and early spring seasons. During equinoctial seasons, reception will favor North-South paths. During the winter season, reception will favor East-West paths. During the summer season, reception should be possible from 800 to 1200 miles.
Sources of Up to Date Propagation Information:
Geological Survey of Canada, Geophysics Division in Ottawa. For a 72 Hour Forecast call (613) 992-1299
WWV & WWVH. 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and sometimes on 20.0 Mhz. or you can call (303) 499-7111 Geophysical Reports are issued during the 18th minute of each hour. Geophysical Alerts are issued during the 46th minute of each hour.
"What do the Numbers mean that I hear in the Reports?"
SOLAR FLUX - A relative indication of Sunspot Activity. The Range is 0 to 200. The Higher the Number, the increased likelihood of Band Openings in the Higher Parts of the Spectrum.
A INDEX - A relative indication of Geomagnetic Activity averaged over the last 24 Hours. The Range is 0 to 400. The lower the number, the better propagation conditions should be.
K INDEX - The same as A Index except averaged over the last 3 Hours. The Range is 0 to 5. Lower is Better! Also note that QUIET = 0 or 1, UNSETTLED = 1 to 3 and ACTIVE = 4 to 5.
Use "Beacon Stations". If India on 7412Khz or Botswana on 7415Khz is booming in, you can be pretty sure that the band is open somewhere! Time Stations make suitable beacon stations as well!
Selected list of Amateur Beacon Stations: 10.144 DK0WCY Germany 30 Watts Dipole 14.100 4U1UN New York 100 Watts Ground Plane 14.100 W6WX California 100 Watts Turnstile 14.100 KH6HO Hawaii 100 Watts Ground Plane 14.100 JA2IGY Japan 100 Watts Vertical 14.100 4X4TU Israel 100 Watts Ground Plane 14.100 OH2B Finland 100 Watts Ground Plane 14.100 CT3B Portugal 100 Watts Vertical 14.100 ZS6DN South Africa 100 Watts Ground Plane 14.100 LU4AA Argentina 100 Watts ??? 18.080 PY2AMI Brazil ??? ??? 24.901 PY2AMI Brazil ??? ???This should be enough for you to start getting a handle on the fundamentals of propagation. The best way to learn, is to Listen, Listen, Listen and Read, Read, Read!