F2

Much higher in the ionosphere than the E layer, you will find the F2 layer allowing you to reach any corner of the world by utilizing multiple jumps. Unfortunately, the F2 layer is only useful and active around the maximum of the solar peak, which is every 11th year if we talk 50 MHz. The peaks intensity varies and the wise men predict both the time for the expected maximum and the expected SFI (solar flux index = intensity). Let's say, that they this time, fortunately, were too pessimistic. The present max is, probably, close to culmination in the southern solar hemisphere (2024 Nov 5th), while the northern hemisphere is expected to culminate later.

Today I had my, so far, longest F2 QSO with VK7EA (QE37LM). The distance between us is 16387 kms!

Due to the high activity, very few has seen a crazy band as we now see it and there is more to come. We will probably look forward to two more years of very good condx on 6m.