from contemporaneous notes on my raw (Big Chief Tablet) 6-m log sheets all times are in CST (GMT-6) Radio Shack Patrolman (30-50 MHz) with whip Utica 650A to 5-el Cushcraft Yagi c. 23' AGL SX-110 for h.f. Dec 31, 1967 ============ 1530-1630 44 MHz (US 40 MHz) With WWV "N4" it appears as though a magnetic storm stiring up the MUF. The 44 MHz MUF F2 is the highest @ this time of day since early November 1967. The MUF over the U.S. proper from this location rose to >41 MHz. On 10 mtrs ~1900, KH6 reports of 50 MHz "out of its mind" today in the southern latitudes. MUF to Central or South America still ~27 MHz @ 2200! On 80 mtr VHF net some stations reported an aurora in progress or completed (2000-2100). Some possible 27 MHz Es over Gulf @ 2300. There is little doubt in my mind that 6 mtr F2 was worked transcontinentally today. Also, some areas of the country are bound to have experienced TE/F2 into South America. It is unfortunate that I can not have as yet the full "picture" of what happened today. The high F2 over the U.S. seems to have been concentrated n.e. of here. High (35 MHz) F2 into eastern Pennsylvania was noted as early as 1100. @1400, F2 of ~39 MHz from Spanish- speaking stations was noted. (The "N6" of WWV for the morning forecast was a "tipoff" of something in the mill.) F2 MUF may have ~46 MHz for a time around 1600. Nothing of suspicion was noted on 50 MHz from this location, however. Sudden dropout of 35 MHz, KPC 482 (sic), Concord, NH @ 1700 - ~1730 fade in of WWA335, San Juan, P.R. was noted with slight flutter. No west coast (S.F., Fresno, Santa Cruz, or even Portland) 35 MHz paging was noted all day. The dense F2 was not homogeneously spread over the country. ~1900-->2200, Spanish (TE ?/F2) speaking 27 MHz. Jan 01, 1968 ============ 1030 F2 45 MHz 1100 U.S. to 46 MHz some F.D. (in Ore. or Wash ?) At ~1100-1120, a fire department at ~46 MHz (from Oregon or Washington) was stabily in. KMD 342, Fresno, 35 MHz, was in with considerable strength. - (Later Scranton, Pa. & Rochester, N.Y. in @ 35 MHz) ~ 45 MHz Spanish speaking in 1030 - ~ 1050, 50.450 MHz Spanish speaking - probably an image response (as signal appeared to be very "sharp") WA5RRL reported that the 10 mtr-VHF net gave information that "6's" & "2's" were experiencing a MUF of 50 MHz F2 - Also that W5SFW had 50 MHz F2 - Occassional signal bursts on 50 MHz were noted by each WA5SPN and WA5RRL. We came indeed close to a 6 mtr F2 opening here today. Again we lack the information to obtain a complete "picture" of today's F2. It would appear the MUF did rise a few MHz higher today than yesterday with an earlier peak (before noon). If the magnetic storm is still in progress, we can explain today's outburst. - However, something still very good may occur tomorrow - WA5IYX (2030) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Such was the state of information flow 45+ years ago. I wouldn't get my "full picture" of what had occurred on these two days until a copy of QST arrived weeks later (things like 6m F2 from parts of the US into Belize and Mexico). WWV GEOALERT info was in a cumbersome form (see http://qsl.net/w/wa5iyx/ms030870.htm, which, of all things, was modified, unbeknownst to me at the time, on Jan 1, 1968 !) For those now used to spotting sites/maps for 50-MHz prop paths and live solar terrestrial data/graphs this must look like the "dark ages". With just a Tech license, I could only listen to the VHF-info nets on h.f. and not probe those on there for any additional details. Another striking remembrance of Jan 1, 1968 was glancing at the telecast of the Rose Parade from Pasadena, CA and wondering about all those east coast 6m F2 signals that were then possibly smashing down out there!