Grid MC18 Band Conditions
Localized HF conditions for Maidenhead locator MC18. Coordinating at -61.50°, 63.00°. Updated with real-time telemetry from NOAA and DX cluster reports.
MC18 conditions are FAIR. Best bands: 10m, 20m, 30m, 40m, 60m. SFI: 137.
From the MC18 operating area, work the 04:35 UTC and 11:15 UTC grayline windows: probe 20m, 30m, and 40m in the 15 minutes either side while the terminator crosses MC18.
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
- watch during geomagnetic storms
- Grayline
- 04:35 UTC / 11:15 UTC
- Best high band
- 10m
- Nearest city
- the MC18 operating area
● Local Band Quality Scorings
Use this local score for MC18, then compare the global live ranking oncurrent ham band conditionsbefore changing bands.
● Best DX Windows from MC18 — the MC18 operating area
Great-circle distance, short-path beam heading, the bands most likely open right now from MC18 to each DX region at SFI 137 / Kp 3, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Africa | 2,992 mi | 308° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
| Oceania | 4,322 mi | 103° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
| South Asia | 5,829 mi | 14° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
| South America | 6,258 mi | 236° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
| East Asia / Japan | 7,920 mi | 59° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
| Europe | 8,240 mi | 324° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
| North America | 10,685 mi | 216° | 40m, 20m, 80m | Open now |
● Band-by-Time Plan for MC18
A planning heuristic for the local day at MC18, built from sunrise 04:35 UTC, sunset 11:15 UTC, SFI 137, and Kp 3. 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 MC18 and the adjacent squares
These are the newest 10m, 15m, and 20m reports where one side of the path sits in MC18, MC19, MC17, MC28, MC08. 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
Worked All Europe - SSB starts Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT. Current forecast from MC18: 10m POOR, 15m POOR, 20m FAIR. Current solar conditions (SFI 137, K 3) favor 10m, 15m, 20m for this contest weekend.
Open contest calendarNearby grids
Four adjacent squares for internal path checking
Regional hub links