This seems to have been seriously mangled by a journalist.
As written it is suggesting that we are at a sunspot
maximum and that the effects of sunspots are detrimental
to HF amateur radio. We are actually at a sunspot minimum
and, whilst sunspots may increase unpredictability they
also enable long range HF propagation and are generally
considered desirable in the amateur radio community.
Some people think sunspots make everything better, but
sunspots really just move the MUF up higher. More sunspots
"enable" higher bands. Propagation over the world is just as
good if your ERP, local noise, and antennas are about the
same on low bands as higher bands.
I never miss the sunspots because I mostly work 40 meters
and lower frequencies. Matter of fact.... I like solar
activity to be low because polar paths on the low bands are
much better at the sunspot minimum. Long live the low
sunspots, unless of course they get high enough for 6
meters!
73 Tom
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