Topband: meteors aiding 160m?

[K1FZ]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: meteors aiding 160m?
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:51:49 -0500
From: Carl Luetzelschwab <carlluetzelschwab at gmail.com>
To: Bruce <k1fz at myfairpoint.net>


Bruce,

> Been wondering what is going on with 160 meters.
> I expected meteor showers to add ionization that would be beneficial for
propagation.

In general what drives the low bands (especially 160m) is not more
ionization. There's usually enough ionization to refract low angle 1.8 MHz
RF back to Earth even during the winter at midnight at solar minimum.

Absorption is the key on the low bands. With absorption proportional to the
electron density, in general we want less ionization - especially in the
lower ionosphere.

Carl K9LA