My name is Steve Rawlings, holder of the amateur radio callsign 'GW4ALG'.  

This web page has been set up to consider a single issue topic, this being:

Is Ionospheric Propagation In Decline?

All the responses received so far support the view that the ionosphere is not as effective at propagating HF signals as it used to be.  The effectiveness would appear to have declined between the period 1930 and 1970, and  between 1970 and the present day.  However, I have not discovered any quantitative data to support these reported changes.

Come back often to see how things are developing . . . .

Is Ionospheric Propagation In Decline?

In October 2001, a small group of LF experimenters met at the HF Convention held at Old Windsor, Berkshire. This group of old timers comprised: Bill G0AKY; John G3BDQ; Colin G3KMP; Dave G3YMC; and myself.  At some point, the conversation digressed from 73 and 136 kHz topics to our memories of HF band conditions when we were first licensed. There was general agreement that HF radio propagation appears to have been in decline over recent decades, and a number of possible causes were discussed.

Since that meeting, I have taken the opportunity to discuss this matter with other old timers. I was interested to discover that all those asked supported the view that the ionospheric mirror is not as effective as it used to be.  This view is shared by Ron G6RO, and Vic G8IK - both having personal experience of low power HF operation dating back to the 1930s.  Vic has given the matter some thought, and wonders whether a decline in HF radio propagation might be related to long-term changes in the Earth's magnetic field.

I am interested in hearing from others who have a definite view as to whether HF ionospheric propagation has, or has not, been subject to long term decline over several decades, with brief supporting remarks.  I am especially interested in hearing from those having access to relevant signal measurement data.

My email address is:

Further Reading

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