ZS6KVZ QTH - January 2026

January 2026: A Full-Throttle Start to the Year

If there was ever a month that proved the bands were alive and kicking, January 2026 was it. What started as “let’s see what’s open” quickly turned into one of the busiest and most rewarding operating months I’ve ever had.

By the time January signed off, the numbers told an incredible story:

1. 3,568 QSOs logged

2. 103 countries worked

3. 7 brand-new DXCC entities

4. 120 new grid squares confirmed

5. A relentless pace of over 115 QSOs per day

The shack was busy, the waterfall was packed, and the logbook just kept growing.

Seven New Countries – DX Gold 🏆

January delivered DX from every direction, with seven new countries joining the log across multiple bands. Highlights included:

1. Fiji Islands — a beautiful long-haul Pacific catch

2. Chad — Africa showing up loud and clear

3. Benin — another satisfying African addition

4. Nigeria — strong signals and clean decodes

5. Jamaica — classic Caribbean DX

6. Aruba — easy to spot, great to log

7. Montserrat — a rare treat from the Lesser Antilles

What made it even sweeter was that these came in on 20m, 15m, 12m, and 10m, showing just how versatile the conditions were throughout the month.

Grid Explosion: 120 New Squares 🗺️

Grid chasers, this was a dream month.

120 new Maidenhead grid squares dropped into the log — all on HF — with activity spread nicely across:

1. 20m leading the charge

2. 10m wide open and highly productive

3. 15m delivering steady global coverage

4. 12m quietly sneaking in a few gems

From North America and Europe to Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America, the map filled in fast. Watching those new squares stack up session after session was seriously addictive.

Bands, Modes, and Momentum 📡

January was a textbook example of digital-mode efficiency:

1. Mode: 100% FT8 — fast, effective, and relentless

2. Most active band: 20m

3. Runner-up bands: 10m and 15m, both pulling serious weight

4. Continents worked: All six — with North America dominating the count

The sheer volume of unique callsigns (over 3,000) kept every operating session fresh and exciting.

Wrapping It Up

January 2026 set the tone for the year in the best possible way: big numbers, rare DX, massive grid gains, and bands that just wouldn’t quit. It was the kind of month that reminds you why you turn the radio on “just for a few minutes” — and look up hours later with a grin on your face.

If this is how the year starts, the rest of 2026 is going to be very interesting.

73,
ZS6KVZ 📻✨