Hi all,

I've got a script that downloads the HF Conditions information from
hamsql.com, and displays it on the screen in ANSI color... pretty basic
but effective. (the chart is the Good, Fair, Poor chart for the bands)

First, I'll share the script with anyone who might want it (it's in PowerShell).

Second, if I can figure out how to send an echo message from the command
line, does anything (moderator?) think there is any benefit to posting
it once a day here? We do have the detailed space weather message.

Thanks for any thoughts....

-m
KB0TNG
Minneapolis, MN
--- The Major BBS v10
* Origin: The Noise Forest (1:154/120)

Hi Matt,

First, I'll share the script with anyone who might want it (it's in PowerShell)

You can share it in here, but perhaps a link to it at the bottom of your
daily HF conditions post would be good also. I'd like to convert it to a
bash script since my BBS runa under Slackware Linux.

Second, if I can figure out how to send an echo message from the command line, does anything (moderator?) think there is any benefit to posting
it once a day here? We do have the detailed space weather message.

I'm the moderator and I post the space weather every three days using a
special bash script I wrote. I don't mind having the daily HF conditions posted in here at all and thank you for asking!

73 DE KS4TD/WSBW961,
Sean
HAM Moderator

--- MBSE BBS v1.1.7.2 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Hello Matt,

Tuesday August 11 2026 19:36, you wrote to All:

Second, if I can figure out how to send an echo message from the
command line, does anything (moderator?) think there is any benefit to posting it once a day here? We do have the detailed space weather message.

You can use some tool like that one comes with the husky:

txt2pkt -nf "Daily Reports" -xf "2:203/910" -xt "2:203/910" -t "tearline" -o "origin" -s "subj" -e "rabarber.robots" -d local-inbound-path report-file.txt

Mvh,
Alex.
---
* Origin: Rabarber > Skelleftea > Sweden (2:203/910)

Re: HF conditions update
By: Matt Jurcich to All on Tue Aug 11 2026 19:36:30

I've got a script that downloads the HF Conditions information from hamsql.com...

Is this URL correct? I get an "IP address could not be reached" error.

...any benefit to posting it once a day here?

Is the chart global? Also, since conditions change throughout the day, it would be a good idea to post it every 12 hours.
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Re: HF conditions update
By: Matt Jurcich to All on Tue Aug 11 2026 19:36:30

I've got a script that downloads the HF Conditions information from hamsql.com...

Is this URL correct? I get an "IP address could not be reached" error.

...any benefit to posting it once a day here?

Is the chart global? Also, since conditions change throughout the day, it w

Ha, no that url is incorrect.. I've read it wrong for years I guess.
It's https://hamqsl.com dyslexia apparently!

The chart is global and is actually updated hourly. That too frequent
to post though, IMHO. Twice a day could be good. Just don't want it to
become spam to people...

Thanks.

-m
--- The Major BBS v10
* Origin: The Noise Forest (1:154/120)

Hi Matt,

First, I'll share the script with anyone who might want it (it's in SD>MJ> PowerShell)

You can share it in here, but perhaps a link to it at the bottom of your SD>daily HF conditions post would be good also. I'd like to convert it to a SD>bash script since my BBS runa under Slackware Linux.

Second, if I can figure out how to send an echo message from the command SD>MJ> line, does anything (moderator?) think there is any benefit to posting SD>MJ> it once a day here? We do have the detailed space weather message.

I'm the moderator and I post the space weather every three days using a SD>special bash script I wrote. I don't mind having the daily HF conditions SD>posted in here at all and thank you for asking!

73 DE KS4TD/WSBW961,
Sean
HAM Moderator

Hi Sean,

Thanks for the info.... Someone else suggested posting more then once a
day as condition change (and the prediction data is updated hourly) but
hourly is too frequent IMHO. Maybe twice a day?

The site is https://hamqsl.com and the guy who runs it is Paul N0NBH.

My chart looks like this:

Solar Band Conditions as of 08-13-2026 09:06 local (08-13-2026 14:06
UTC)

--------------------------------------
Band Day Night
--------------------------------------
12m-10m Poor Poor
30m-20m Good Good
17m-15m Fair Fair
80m-40m Fair Good

Data courtesy of www.hamsql.com


Thanks for any feedback.

-m
KB0TNG
--- The Major BBS v10
* Origin: The Noise Forest (1:154/120)

Hello Matt,

Tuesday August 11 2026 19:36, you wrote to All:

Second, if I can figure out how to send an echo message from the command line, does anything (moderator?) think there is any benefit to posting it once a day here? We do have the detailed space weather message.

You can use some tool like that one comes with the husky:

txt2pkt -nf "Daily Reports" -xf "2:203/910" -xt "2:203/910" -t "tearline" -

Mvh,
Alex.

Hi!

Ah husky, neat tool, hadn't know of it until now. Thanks for that.

-m
KB0TNG
--- The Major BBS v10
* Origin: The Noise Forest (1:154/120)

Re: HF conditions update
By: Matt Jurcich to Mortar M. on Thu Aug 13 2026 09:15:36

The chart is global and is actually updated hourly.

I don't doubt your claim, but I don't see how that's possible as conditions change from region to region, i.e., what's "bad" in CA is might be "good" in MA, much less the rest of the world. Is the chart averaging the results?

It's https://hamqsl.com dyslexia apparently!

Ah. I've been there before but always through a link, so I never knew the actual URL. Yeah, lot of info there, but the site's in serious need of a face lift.
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Matt Jurcich wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Thanks for the info.... Someone else suggested posting more then once
a day as condition change (and the prediction data is updated hourly)
but hourly is too frequent IMHO. Maybe twice a day?

Twice a day is fine. Even with the delay inherent in store-and-forward mail systems, that'd be accurate enough for us.

If anyone has an issue, they can let me know.

That's pertinent info for this echo so I'm fine with it.

-- Sean KS4TD

... Can a frog jump higher than a house? Of course, a house can't jump.

--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Mortar M. wrote to Matt Jurcich <=-

I don't doubt your claim, but I don't see how that's possible as conditions change from region to region, i.e., what's "bad" in CA is
might be "good" in MA, much less the rest of the world. Is the chart averaging the results?

Most likely it uses VOCAP (Voice of America Coverage Analysis Program) to figure out signal reliability.

If you want an exact propogation signal reliability report, you can go to https://www.voacap.com/swl/ to figure that out.

-- Sean KS4TD

... If at first you don't succeed, transform your data set.

--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Matt Jurcich wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Thanks for the info.... Someone else suggested posting more then once a day as condition change (and the prediction data is updated hourly) but hourly is too frequent IMHO. Maybe twice a day?

Twice a day is fine. Even with the delay inherent in store-and-forward mail SD>systems, that'd be accurate enough for us.

If anyone has an issue, they can let me know.

That's pertinent info for this echo so I'm fine with it.

-- Sean KS4TD

... Can a frog jump higher than a house? Of course, a house can't jump.

Ok. I see you're posting the chart. Ok.

I don't know about the location or other sources of info that hamqsl.com
uses.. I'd e-mail the owner, he does respond to e-mail.

Thanks much.

-m
--- The Major BBS v10
* Origin: The Noise Forest (1:154/120)

Re: Re: HF conditions update
By: Matt Jurcich to Sean Dennis on Tue Aug 18 2026 22:46:56

I don't know about the location or other sources of info that hamqsl.com uses.. I'd e-mail the owner, he does respond to e-mail.

That was my concern as well. There is no such thing as "global" band conditions.
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)

Hello Mortar,

19 Aug 26 11:21, you wrote to Matt Jurcich:

That was my concern as well. There is no such thing as "global" band conditions.

I asked Gemini about your claim:

===
Yes, global HF band conditions exist, but they describe planetary space weather rather than specific paths. They are derived from overarching environmental metrics--such as the Solar Flux Index (SFI), K-index, and A-index--that measure the sun's output and Earth's magnetic field on a global scale.

- What Global Conditions Tell You

Planetary Ionization: Numbers like the SFI show how charged the global ionosphere is, dictating the upper limit of usable frequencies worldwide.

Geomagnetic Storms: Indices like the K-index reveal planet-wide magnetic calm or disturbance, which alters the background noise floor.General Trends: They label broad sectors (such as high, middle, or low latitudes) as "normal" or "disturbed" for a given Universal Time period.

- Why They Aren't Local Realities

Path-Specific MUF: The Maximum Usable Frequency changes constantly depending on the exact sunrise, sunset, and midpoint between two communicating stations.

Local Noise: Man-made interference or local atmospheric static can make a band sound dead at your specific location even when global indices look pristine.

Hemispheric Shifts: Seasonal D-layer absorption behaves completely differently in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere at the same moment. ===

That's why tools like VOACAP exists to figure out HF propagation at your current QTH. What I post in here are general guidelines. Any ham that knows what they're doing knows this.

So yes, Virginia, global HF band conditions erxist even if you think they don't.

-- Sean KS4TD

... I hate peer pressure and so should you.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)