M9-class Long-Duration Solar X-ray Flare (2012-Jan-23 0359 UTC)

According to NASA and NOAA Spaceweather Radio Propagation sources, this is NOT going to continue as a minor occurrence and has so far affected 20 meters through 6 meters, and 2 Meters through 1.2Ghz. (14Mhz and up to 29.995Mhz,50.00Mhz through 54.00Mhz, 144.00 to 148.00Mhz, 223.00 to 225.000Mhz, 420 - 450Mhz, and higher)

Amateur repeaters on the VHF and UHF bands have become almost deaf across the nation early this morning, and will see difficulties in operations until this storm is over. The band conditions for the listed frequencies will range from useless to minimally useful. This goes to say that the Minimum Useful Frequency and Maximum Useful Frequency (MUF) will be affected for sure.

Occupy Shortwave Movement Starts With Success

Early on in the evening of November 6th, 2011, after watching a fast decline in amateur radio use, shortwave broadcast, and growing fatigue by members of the radio community on both ends of the spectrum, hastag #OccupyShortwave started showing up on twitter. Before a complete hour could elapse, pirate operators started showing up on 6945Khz and then the famed NW7US almost immediately joined the quickly growing movement.

Why occupy shortwave? To bring about a new growth, awareness, and popularity to both the amateur radio and shortwave / HF radio communities. Members of the movement want to get the message through that there is more than just studying a license manual and going to class, and earning a license. There is more than being an SWL who sits at the radio receiver spinning a dial, chasing QSL cards and free swag from shortwave stations and amateur operators.

#OccupyShortwave members are the 1% trying to reach the 99% who are not yet amateur operators or SWL's. There is a whole lot of science and learning involved in radio. There is truly something for everyone, whether it be those of you who are math geniuses who love electronic component level work, those of you who like to enjoy the science of antenna feedlines, antennas, power supplies, and radio propagation which in turn gets you into space weather, or those of you who like to engineer sound, learn about geography and culture, radio / satellite communications, maritime radio operations, etc.

Yes, WE are the 1% who also want those 99% folks, the "contest only" operators, to get back in the shack and make REAL contacts without needing a contest to do it. We want the 99% out here in the community to get involved with radio and discover the magic they have been missing for so long!

Communicate outside the establishment, become a convert from the 99% to the 1% who educate and enable people to become involved in radio. Radio involvement could be an avocation for you, or a career. It could be a volunteer experience on the weekends or during times of distress, it could be whatever experience you are looking to have; but you have to actually take that initiative. Together, if we all get "radio active", we CAN be the 99% instead of the 1% who are hardly noticed or cared about anymore.

Together, we can put radio on the map again! #OccupyShortwave on FACEBOOK and twitter. The internet is only a tool, a promotion medium. The internet relies upon an infrastructure that can always have the plug pulled. Occupying shortwave and amateur radio lawfully, means that we all get behind the mic in the studio or in our shacks and fire up the bands according to license class privilege to make a difference!

WE WILL Occupy!  

Solar Activity, World Radio Magazine 2011

World Radio Magazine has it's January 2011 edition on-line now!