RigReference HF-Propagation conditions

Solar conditions play a crucial role in HF-propagation conditions. RigReference.com has a widget showing the current conditions based on NOAA data. This data can be used by ham radio operators to determine the best time to make long-range communications on shortwave bands (160 to 10 meters).
But this widget required you to edit your templates and add a little javascript snippet to them.

With this WordPress widget you can now add the solar widget to your blog easy and simple.

1. Upload rigref-solar-widget.php to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress

Installation Instructions

1. Upload rigref-solar-widget.php to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress

What is HF-propagation?

HF-propagation is the way in which radio waves travel through the earth’s atmosphere. Many different factors influence propagation; time of day, temperature, weather and solar activity.

On what data is the widget based?

The widget is based on solar-terrestrial data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They have a wealth of information available for anyone interested. Among others, they measure solar activity and make it available – as raw text – here: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/

What about the widget’s time?

The time in the image indicates the time of the measurement at NOAA. It does not indicate local or server time!

More questions

Please visit our homepage at https://rigreference.com/solar

1. 

   Settings, choose between Tall (160×335 pixels) and Wide (320×100 pixels) layouts. The settings are available at WP Admin >> Appearance >> Widgets.

2. 

   Layout examples. The widget always shows the current solar conditions. The time in the image indicates the measurement time.

1.0

• First public release.

1.1

• Works with modern WordPress releases
• Uses the new RigReference.com solar widget
• We now use https