Hi Peter, yes the initial unsettled period when the Kp rose to 4 actually
gave some advantages as it seemed introduce just a little multipath which
led to some higher peaks, but on the 24th Jan the Kp rose to 5. The
conditions seemed to decline from about the 27th /28th onwards, as the
precipiated electrons increase absorption in the D-layer. Conditions have
been steadily "topped up" by a series of minor storms (Kp=5)every day or two
since. Steve's plots have proved very interesting as, being a longer path
than that to Brian, they are in some ways easier to interpret. The increase
in levels for a minor increase in Kp (up to 4 after a prolonged quiet
period) is something I have suspected before but never seen so clearly. I
think this is a "good omen" for continuing DX in the coming quieter (solar)
years.

Cheers de Alan G3NYK
[email protected]