Hi Steve, We are indeed in the doldrums of Solar Cycle 25 from a Topband perspective.
From an HF perspective we're still enjoying many of the benefits of solar maximum. but that's likely to gradually come to its natural end by late next year. There's a very slight chance of a second Solar Cycle 25 peak but its extremely unlikely. Every double peaked cycle since Cycle 1 has reached the maximum of their second peak earlier in every solar cycle than where we are right now in Cycle 25. CMEs continue to occur frequently through about the 24th month after each solar maximum. CMEs will gradually occur less frequently after about 2027. Solar flares are almost always associated with -- but are not caused by -- CMEs. CMEs and hence solar flares will occur less frequently after about 2027. Geoeffective coronal holes begin to occur more frequently after solar maximum and continue to occur frequently for most of the declining phase of each solar cycle but gradually become less common as we approach solar minimum circa 2030. Coronal holes will become much less common when we begin to enter the rising phase of solar Cycle 26 circa 2031/2032 73 Frank W3LPL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve" <[email protected]> To: "Paul Christensen" <[email protected]> Cc: "topband" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2025 10:03:53 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Topband Conditions I agree Paul. I’ve never seen topband as poor as this, ever. It looks like Cycle 25 is on the downward slope, failing a second peak this fall. Double peaks are the norm it seems and if it happens, should make the 6m guys happy. Unfortunately, the downward slide produces more flares, CMEs and coronal holes than the climb up, all of which makes for continued terribleness on 160 … I hope I’m wrong but, either way the Sun goes, we may be in for a few more years of this. 73, Steve WEB - "The VE7SL Radio Notebook": http://qsl.net/ve7sl/ VE7SL BLOG - "Homebrewing and Operating Adventures From 2200m to Nanowaves": http://ve7sl.blogspot.ca/ -----Original Message----- From: Paul <[email protected]> To: topband <[email protected]> Date: Friday, 25 July 2025 8:16 AM PDT Subject: Topband: Topband Conditions Does anyone have an idea as to 160m DX conditions for the fall and winter? Conditions have been terrible for the last two DX seasons in North Florida. Each year, I deploy 100 radials for a "T" top in October, then take them up in April as the farmer who owns the land tedders the tall field grass into hay bales. Frankly, I'm loath to do it again this year if conditions remain the same. Paul, W9AC _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector WEB - "The VE7SL Radio Notebook": http://qsl.net/ve7sl/ VE7SL BLOG - "Homebrewing and Operating Adventures From 2200m to Nanowaves": http://ve7sl.blogspot.ca/ _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
