The map above was generated using G7RAU’s Live MUF application. The map uses Great Circle projection centred on the UK. The page is automatically refreshed approximately once per minute.

Radio propagation is reported by amateur radio operators via the DX Cluster network. The Live MUF application plots the path on the map with the colour indicating the frequency of transmission according to the colour key. Map paths are plotted via the shortest Great Circle route, even if a contact was made via the “long path”.

Automatic CW Skimmer reports are now being displayed on the maps in addition to standard human-originated reports, so the maps may look more crowded than before.

The normal pattern is for the higher frequencies (above 7 MHz) to be active during daylight, and lower frequencies to be active during the night. Weekends tend to be a lot more active, especially during contest weekends where thousands of amateur operators chase contacts across the globe. The last 100 contacts reported on the DX Cluster can be seen here.

Solar flares can often cause intense bursts of X-rays to be blasted towards Earth. When they strike the atmosphere the ionosphere becomes highly ionized, which can cause radio blackouts due to ionospheric absorption on HF frequencies. Solar noise can also affect VHF, UHF and higher frequencies. Noise above 20 GHz has been observed on occasions.

Contact paths remain visible on the map for 5 minutes before being erased.

*The path plots are reliant on the correct locations existing in various databases for the tens of thousands of radio operators. These are not always correct, and errors do occur, so don’t be surprised by the odd few crazy dx lines appearing on the maps! The map only displays the short path, although radio contacts can sometimes be made via the long path (the other way around the world).