Grid KA42 Band Conditions
Localized HF conditions for Maidenhead locator KA42. Coordinating at -87.50°, 29.00°. Updated with real-time telemetry from NOAA and DX cluster reports.
KA42 currently has elevated aurora risk (Kp: 4). High-latitude paths may be degraded.
From the KA42 operating area, work the no sunrise — polar night and no sunset — polar night grayline windows: probe 20m, 30m, and 40m in the 15 minutes either side while the terminator crosses KA42.
Night operation should keep 20m on watch and move to 40m as the path darkens.
This square sits in a mixed-region footprint and is best used as a planning center for portable, field-day, and home-station band decisions.
- Latitude zone
- high-latitude
- Local phase
- Darkness
- Aurora exposure
- elevated — auroral absorption likely (Kp 4)
- Grayline
- no sunrise — polar night / no sunset — polar night
- Best high band
- 10m
- Nearest city
- the KA42 operating area
● Local Band Quality Scorings
Use this local score for KA42, then compare the global live ranking oncurrent ham band conditionsbefore changing bands.
● Best DX Windows from KA42 — the KA42 operating area
Great-circle distance, short-path beam heading, the bands most likely open right now from KA42 to each DX region at SFI 148 / Kp 4, and a current verdict. "Open now" means a suitable band is scoring well on that path; "Try ~HH:MM" points at the next far-end grayline. Band picks and status are a planning heuristic, not a measurement.
| Target | Distance | Beam | Bands to try | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceania | 4,236 mi | 122° | 10m, 15m, 20m | Open now |
| Southern Africa | 4,250 mi | 357° | 40m, 20m | Try ~05:00 UTC |
| South America | 5,174 mi | 272° | 40m, 20m | Marginal now |
| South Asia | 7,624 mi | 48° | 10m, 15m, 20m | Open now |
| East Asia / Japan | 8,760 mi | 107° | 10m, 15m, 20m | Open now |
| North America | 9,015 mi | 235° | 40m, 20m | Marginal now |
| Europe | 9,509 mi | 342° | 40m, 20m | Marginal now |
● Band-by-Time Plan for KA42
A planning heuristic for the local day at KA42, built from sunrise no sunrise — polar night, sunset no sunset — polar night, SFI 148, and Kp 4. Not a measurement — a starting point for where to listen as the day turns.
Grayline enhancement — low bands reach long distances as the terminator passes.
High bands rising with the sun; check 10m for DX.
Peak high-band window — 10m and 15m open widest.
Second grayline peak — 20m holds, then hands off to 40m.
Low bands own the darkness — 40m for DX, 80m regional.
Recent local activity
Spots touching KA42 and the adjacent squares
These are the newest 10m, 15m, and 20m reports where one side of the path sits in KA42, KA43, KA41, KA52, KA32. This gives the page unique, local context instead of a generic solar snapshot.
Top DX targets
Where this grid is reaching right now
Contest preview
Next major contest outlook
No contest event is currently loaded. For planning from KA42, start with 10m POOR, 15m POOR, 20m POOR and keep 20m available as the safest all-around fallback.
Open contest calendarNearby grids
Four adjacent squares for internal path checking
Regional hub links