March 2026: When 10m Came Alive and the Map Filled In

After a strong start to the year, March 2026 kept the momentum going — but with its own unique flavour. This was the month where 10m really stepped into the spotlight, and the higher bands delivered wave after wave of exciting openings.

By the end of the month, the logbook told a very satisfying story:

• 2,562 QSOs logged
• 2,331 unique callsigns worked
• 103 countries reached
• 2 new DXCC entities added
• 46 new grid squares confirmed
• Averaging 82 QSOs per day

Not quite the raw pace of January, but what March lacked in sheer volume, it made up for in variety and quality.

New DXCC: Two Gems in the Log 🌍

Every new country has a story, and March delivered two particularly satisfying additions:

• Guinea-Bissau — a rewarding West African contact that came together beautifully on 20m
• Palau — a classic Pacific catch, always a pleasure to log

Both required patience, timing, and a bit of luck — exactly what makes DXing so addictive.

Band-by-Band Highlights 📡

March was all about band diversity. Nearly every HF band (and even a touch of 6m!) contributed:

• 10m (Most Active):
  Absolutely on fire. With over 1,000 QSOs, it delivered consistent DX and some fantastic openings into North America, Asia, and beyond.
• 15m & 12m:
  These bands were incredibly productive, especially for European and Caribbean paths, and played a major role in grid accumulation.
• 20m:
  Still reliable as ever, delivering key DX including both new countries.
• 17m:
  A real surprise package — smaller numbers, but packed with interesting DX, including Antarctica and maritime mobile contacts.
• Lower bands (40m & 30m):
  Limited activity, but still produced valuable new countries like Chile, Uruguay, Maldives, and Saint Barthelemy.
• 6m:
  Just a hint of magic — one new grid, but always exciting when it opens.

Grid Hunting: Slow Burn, Solid Gains 🗺️

While not the explosive grid month that January was, 46 new grid squares is still a strong showing — and they came from every direction.

Highlights included:

• Dense additions across Europe on 17m and 12m
• Strong North American coverage on 10m and 15m
• Pacific and African grids adding that extra layer of excitement

The spread of grids across so many bands made each operating session feel fresh and unpredictable.

The Bigger Picture

A few standout takeaways from March:

• FT8 remained king — all 2,562 QSOs logged digitally
• 10m dominated — a clear sign of excellent propagation
• Over 2,300 unique stations — keeping every session dynamic
• Global reach intact — 100+ countries worked again

Final Thoughts

March 2026 was a reminder that amateur radio isn’t just about chasing big numbers — it’s about conditions, timing, and variety. From a surprise Antarctic contact to steady European runs and those satisfying new DXCC adds, the month delivered on all fronts.

With the higher bands clearly waking up and still plenty of DX out there, the rest of the year is shaping up to be something special.

73,
ZS6KVZ 📻✨