Reserved part of radio spectrum
Amateur radio frequency allocation
is done by national telecommunication authorities. Globally, the
International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) oversees how much
radio spectrum
is set aside for
amateur radio
transmissions. Individual amateur stations are free to use any frequency within authorized frequency ranges; authorized bands may vary by the class of the station license.
Radio amateurs use a variety of transmission modes, including
Morse code
,
radioteletype
, data, and voice. Specific
frequency allocations
vary from country to country and between
ITU regions
as specified in the current ITU HF frequency allocations for amateur radio.
[1]
The list of frequency ranges is called a
band allocation
, which may be set by international agreements, and national regulations. The modes and types of allocations within each frequency band is called a
bandplan
; it may be determined by regulation, but most typically is set by agreements between amateur radio operators.
National authorities regulate amateur usage of radio bands. Some bands may not be available or may have restrictions on usage in certain countries or regions. International agreements assign amateur radio bands which differ by region.
[2]
[3]
Band characteristics
[
edit
]
Low frequency
[
edit
]
- Just below the
Asian and European
longwave broadcast band
and
far
below the
commercial AM broadcast band
.
Medium frequency
[
edit
]
- Just
below
the
commercial AM broadcast band
and the
maritime radio band
.
- Just
above
the
commercial AM broadcast band
. Allocations in this band vary widely from country to country; it was formerly shared with the largely defunct
Loran-A
radionavigation system.
- This band is often taken up as a technical challenge, since long distance (DX) propagation tends to be more difficult due to higher
D layer
ionospheric absorption. Long-distance propagation tends to occur only at night, and the band can be notoriously noisy particularly in the summer months.
- 160 metres is also known as the
"top band"
. For many years it was the longest-wavelength amateur band; although often included among the
shortwaves
, it is located near the top end of the
medium frequency
band.
High frequency
[
edit
]
- Most of the customary band names given below are only
nominal
wavelengths, not
actual
wavelengths. For example:
- In the western hemisphere the nominal 80 m band actually ranges between about 85.7?74.9 m, and the international portion from 85.7?83.3 m.
- The nominal "17 m" band actually covers 16.6?16.5 m.
- The nominal "15 m" band actually ranges from 14.28?13.98 m. By common sense, "15 m" band ought to be called "14 m", but that name has been in longtime use for a
shortwave broadcast
band.
- 80 metres
or
80 / 75 meters
?
3 500?4 000 kHz
? 85.65?74.95 m actual
- Best at night, with significant daytime signal absorption. Works best in winter, due to atmospheric noise from hemispheric thunder storms during summer. Only countries in the Americas and few others have access to all of this band; in other parts of the world amateurs are limited to the bottom 300 kHz (or less) (85.65?83.28 m).
- In the US and Canada the portion of the band from 3.600?4.000 MHz, regulation permits use of single-sideband voice as well as
AM
voice; this sub-band is often referred to as "the 75 metre band", in part to distinguish it from the internationally available frequencies below it.
- A relatively new allocation and originally only available in a small number of countries such as the United States,
United Kingdom
,
Ireland
,
Norway
,
Denmark
, and
Iceland
, but now continuing to expand. In most (but not all) countries, the allocation is broken into channels and may require a special licensing request.
- Five 2.8 kHz-wide channels are available in the U.S., centered on 5.332, 5.348, 5.368, 5.373, and 5.405 MHz. Since most radios in
SSB
mode display the (suppressed) carrier frequency, in
USB
mode the dial frequencies would all need to be set 1.5 kHz
lower
. Voice operation is generally in
upper sideband
mode, which is mandatory in the U.S. . The U.S. and Canada allow 100 Watts in the currently available channels.
- The 2015
ITU
World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-15) approved a new worldwide frequency allocation of 5.351.5?5.366.5 MHz to the amateurs on a secondary basis. The allocation limits amateur stations to 15 watts
effective isotropic radiated power
(EIRP); however some locations will be permit up to 25 W
EIRP
.
- 40 metres
? 7.000?7.300 MHz ? 42.83?41.51 m actual
- Considered the most reliable all-season long distance (
DX
) band. Popular for DX at night, 40 metres is also reliable for medium distance (1,500 km / 1,000 miles) contacts during the day. Much of this band was shared with broadcasters, and in most countries the bottom 100 kHz or 200 kHz are available to amateurs. However, due to the high cost of running high-power commercial broadcasting facilities, decreased listenership, and increasing competition from Internet-based international broadcast services, many
shortwave broadcasting
services are being shut down, leaving the 40 metre band free of other users for amateur radio use.
- 30 metres
? 10.100?10.150 MHz ? 29.68?29.54 m actual
- A very narrow band, which is shared with non-amateur services. It is recommended that only
Morse code
and data transmissions be used here, and in some countries amateur voice transmission is actually prohibited.
- For example, in the US, data,
RTTY
, and
CW
are the only modes allowed at a maximum 200 W
peak envelope power
(PEP) output. Not released for amateur use in a small number of countries.
- Due to its location in the centre of the shortwave spectrum, this band provides significant opportunities for long-distance communication at all points of the solar cycle. 30 metres is a
WARC band
. "WARC" bands are so called due to the 1979 special
World Administrative Radio Conference
allocation of these newer bands to amateur radio use. Amateur radio contests are not run on the WARC bands.
- 20 metres
? 14.000?14.350 MHz ? 21.41?20.89 m actual
- Considered the most popular
DX
band; usually most popular during daytime.
QRP
operators recognize 14.060 MHz as their primary calling frequency within the band. Users of the
PSK31
data mode tend to congregate around 14.070 MHz. Analog
SSTV
activity centers on 14.230 MHz.
- 17 metres
? 18.068?18.168 MHz ? 16.6?16.5 m actual
- Similar to 20 metres, but more sensitive to solar propagation minima and maxima. 17 metres is a
WARC band
.
- 15 metres
? 21.000?21.450 MHz ? 14.28?13.98 m actual
- Most useful during solar maximum, and generally a daytime band. Daytime
sporadic E propagation
(1,500 km / 1,000 miles) occasionally occurs on this band.
- 12 metres
? 24.890?24.990 MHz ? 12.04?12.00 m actual
- Mostly useful during daytime, but opens up for
DX
activity at night, during solar maximum. 12 metres is one of the
WARC bands
. Propagates via
sporadic E
and by
F2 propagation
.
- 10 metres
? 28.000?29.700 MHz ? 10.71?10.08 m actual
- Best long distance (e.g., across oceans) activity is during
solar maximum
; during periods of moderate solar activity the best activity is found at low latitudes. The band offers useful short to medium range
groundwave propagation
, day or night.
- Due to
Sporadic E propagation
during the late spring and most of the summer, regardless of sunspot numbers, afternoon short band openings into small geographic areas of up to 1,500 km (1,000 miles) occur.
Sporadic E
is caused by areas of intense ionization in the E layer of the ionosphere. The causes of sporadic E are not fully understood, but these "clouds" of ionization can provide short-term propagation from 17 metres all the way up to occasional 2 metre openings. FM operations are normally found at the high end of the band (Also repeaters are in the 29.500?29.700 MHz segment in many countries).
Very-high frequencies and ultra-high frequencies
[
edit
]
Frequencies above 30 MHz are referred to as
Very High Frequency
(VHF) region and those above 300 MHz are called
Ultra High Frequency
(UHF). The allocated bands for amateurs are many
megahertz
wide, allowing for high-fidelity audio transmission modes (
FM
) and very fast data transmission modes that are unfeasible for the
kilohertz
-wide allocations in the
HF
bands.
While
"line of sight" propagation
is a primary factor for range calculation, much of the interest in the bands above HF comes from use of other propagation modes. A signal transmitted on VHF from a hand-held portable will typically travel about
5?10 km
(3?6 miles) depending on terrain. With a low power home station and a simple antenna, range would be around
50 km
(30 miles).
With a large antenna system like a long
yagi
, and higher power (typically 100 watts or more) contacts of around
1?000 km
(600 miles) using the Morse code (CW) and single-sideband (SSB) modes are common. Ham operators seek to exploit the limits of the frequencies usual characteristics looking to learn, understand, and experiment with the possibilities of these enhanced propagation modes.
Sporadic band openings
[
edit
]
Occasionally, several different ionospheric conditions allow signals to travel beyond the ordinary line-of-sight limits. Some amateurs on VHF seek to take advantage of "band openings" where natural occurrences in the atmosphere and ionosphere extend radio transmission distances well over their normal range. Many hams listen for hours hoping to take advantage of these occasional extended propagation "openings".
The ionospheric conditions are called
sporadic E
and
anomalous enhancement
. Less frequently used anomalous modes are
tropospheric scatter
and
Aurora Borealis
(Northern Lights).
Moon bounce
and
satellite relay
are also possible.
Sporadic E
[
edit
]
Some openings are caused by islands of intense ionization of the upper atmosphere, known as the E Layer
ionosphere
. These islands of intense ionization are called "
sporadic E
" and result in erratic but often strong propagation characteristics on the "low[er] band" VHF radio frequencies.
The 6 metre amateur band falls into this category, often called "the magic band", will often "open up" from one small area into another small geographic area
1 000?1 700 km
(600?1 000 miles)
away during the spring and early summer months. This phenomenon occurs during the fall months, although not as often.
Tropospheric refraction
[
edit
]
Band openings are sometimes caused by a
weather
phenomenon known as a
tropospheric "inversion"
, where a stagnant high pressure area causes alternating stratified layers of warm and cold air generally trapping the colder air beneath. This may make for smoggy or foggy days, but it also causes VHF and UHF radio transmissions to travel or duct along the boundaries of these warm/cold atmospheric layers. Radio signals have been known to travel hundreds, even thousands of kilometres (miles) due to these unique weather conditions.
For example: The longest distance reported contact due to tropospheric refraction on 2 metres is
4 754 km
(2 954 miles)
between
Hawaii
and a ship south of
Mexico
. There were reports of the reception of one way signals from
Reunion
to
Western Australia
, a distance of more than
6 000 km
(4 000 miles).
[4]
Tropo-scatter
happens when water droplets and dust particles refract a VHF or UHF signal over the horizon. Using relatively high power and a high gain antenna, this propagation will give marginal enhanced over-the-horizon VHF and UHF communications up to several hundred kilometres (miles). During the 1970s commercial "scatter site" operators using huge parabolic antennas and high power used this mode successfully for telephone communications services into northern remote Alaska and Canadian communities.
Satellite, buried fibre optic, and terrestrial microwave access have relegated commercial use of tropo-scatter to the history books. Because of high cost and complexity this mode is usually out of reach for the average amateur radio operator.
Anomalous trans-equatorial enhancement
[
edit
]
F2 and TE band openings from other ionospheric reflection/refraction modes, or
sky-wave
propagation as it is known can also occasionally occur on the low band VHF frequencies of 6 or 4 metres, and very rarely on 2 metres (high band VHF) during extreme peaks in the 11 year sunspot cycle.
The longest terrestrial contact ever reported on 2 metres (146 MHz) was between a station in Italy and a station in South Africa, a distance of 7?784 km (4?837 miles), using trans-equatorial anomalous enhancement (TE) of the ionosphere over the geomagnetic equator. This enhancement is known as TE, or trans-equatorial propagation and (usually) occurs at latitudes 2?500?3?000 km (1500?1900 miles) within either side of the equator.
[5]
Auroral backscatter
[
edit
]
An intense solar storm causing aurora borealis (northern lights) will also provide occasional
propagation enhancement
to HF-low (6-metre) band radio waves. Aurorae only occasionally affect signals on the
2 metre band
. Signals are often distorted and on the lower frequencies give a curious "watery sound" to normally propagated HF signals. Peak signals usually come from the north, even if the signal originates from a station to the east or west of the receiver. This effect is most significant in the latitudes north of 45 degrees.
Moon bounce (Earth-Moon-Earth)
[
edit
]
Amateurs do successfully communicate by bouncing their signals off the surface of the Moon, called
Earth-Moon-Earth (EME)
transmission.
The mode requires moderately high power (more than 500 watts) and a fairly large,
high-gain antenna
because round-trip path loss is on the order of 270 dB for 70 cm signals. Return signals are weak and distorted because of the relative velocities of the transmitting station, Moon and the receiving station. The Moon's surface is also very rocky and irregular.
Because of the weak, distorted return signals,
Moon bounce communications
use digital modes. For example, old-fashioned
Morse code
or modern
JT65
, designed for working with weak signals.
Satellite relay
[
edit
]
Satellite relay
is not really a propagation mode, but rather an active repeater system. Satellites have been highly successful in providing VHF/UHF/SHF users "propagation" beyond the horizon.
Amateurs have sponsored the launch of dozens of communications satellites since the 1970s. These satellites are usually known as
OSCARs
(Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). Also, the
ISS
has amateur radio repeaters and radio location services on board.
Amateur television
[
edit
]
Amateur television (ATV) is the
hobby
of transmitting
broadcast
-compatible
video
and
audio
by amateur radio. It also includes the study and building of such
transmitters
and
receivers
and the
propagation
between these two.
In
NTSC
countries, ATV operation requires the ability to use a 6 MHz wide channel. All bands at
VHF
or lower are less than 6 MHz wide, so ATV operation is confined to
UHF
and up. Bandwidth requirements will vary from this for
PAL
and
SECAM
transmissions.
ATV operation in the 70 cm band is particularly popular, because the signals can be received on any cable-ready television. Operation in the 33 cm and 23 cm bands is easily augmented by the availability of various varieties of consumer-grade wireless video devices that exist and operate in unlicensed frequencies coincident to these bands.
Repeater ATV operation requires specially-equipped repeaters.
Below the MW broadcast band
[
edit
]
Historically, amateur stations have rarely been allowed to operate on frequencies lower than the
medium-wave
broadcast band
, but in recent times, as the historic users of these low frequencies have been vacating the spectrum, limited space has opened up to allow for new amateur radio allocations and special experimental operations.
Since parts of the 500 kHz band are no longer used for regular maritime communications,
[
citation needed
]
some countries permit amateur radio radiotelegraph operations in that band. Many countries, however, continue to restrict these frequencies which were historically reserved for maritime and aviation distress calls.
[6]
The
2 200 metre
band
is available for use in several countries, and the 2007
World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-07) recommended it as a worldwide amateur allocation. Before the introduction of the
2 200 metre
band in the U.K. in 1998, operation on the even lower frequency of 73 kHz, in the LF
time signal
band, was allowed from 1996?2003.
ITU Region 1
[
edit
]
ITU Region 1 corresponds to Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East. For ITU region 1,
Radio Society of Great Britain
's
band plan
will be more definitive (click on the buttons at the bottom of the page).
- Low Frequency (LF) (30 to 300 kHz)
- Medium Frequency (MF) (300 to 3 MHz)
- High Frequency (HF) (3 to 30 MHz)
- see Table of amateur MF and HF bandplans
- Very High Frequency (VHF) (30 to 300 MHz)
- 8 metres
(39.9 to 40.7 MHz), Republic of Ireland, Slovenia and South Africa. Beacons in UK and Denmark
- 6 metres
(50 to 52/54 MHz)
- 5 metres
(59.5 to 60.1 MHz), Republic of Ireland. The Beacon in UK
- 4 metres
(69.9 to 70.5 MHz), Some ITU Region 1 countries
- 2 metres
(144 to 146 MHz)
- Ultra High Frequency (UHF) (300 MHz to 3 GHz)
- Microwave frequencies
- 9 cm
(3.4 GHz)
- 6 cm (5.7 GHz)
- 3 cm (10 GHz)
- 12 mm (24 GHz)
- 6 mm (47 GHz)
- 4mm (76 GHz)
- <2 mm (134 and 247 GHz)
Table of amateur MF and HF bandplans
[
edit
]
The following charts show the voluntary bandplans used by amateurs in ITU Region 1. Unlike the US, slots for the various transmission modes are not set by the amateur's license but most users do follow these guidelines.
160 metres
[
edit
]
160 metres
|
|
1810 ? 1838
|
1838 ? 1840
|
1840 ? 1843
|
1843 ? 2000
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
80 metres
[
edit
]
80 metres
|
3500 ? 3570
|
3570 ? 3600
|
3600 ? 3620
|
3620 ? 3800
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
60 metres
[
edit
]
60 metres
|
5258.5 ? 5264
|
|
5276 ? 5284
|
|
5288 ? 5292
|
|
5298 ? 5307
|
|
5313 ? 5323
|
|
5333 ? 5338
|
|
5351.5 ? 5366.5, UK 5354 ? 5358
|
|
5362 ? 5374.5
|
|
5378 ? 5382
|
|
5395 ? 5401.5
|
|
5403.5 ? 5406.5
|
IARU R1 (WRC-15) & UK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WRC-15 alloc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also additional channels allocated to WRC-15 Band (or channel) for
Bahrain
*,
North Macedonia
,
[7]
Portugal
,
Republic of Ireland
and
Israel
.
|
40 metres
[
edit
]
40 metres
|
7000 ? 7040
|
7040 ? 7050
|
7050 ? 7060
|
7060 ? 7100
|
7100 ? 7200
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: 7000 ? 7300
Somalia
|
30 metres
[
edit
]
30 metres
|
10100 ? 10130
|
10130 ? 10150
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
20 metres
[
edit
]
20 metres
|
14000 ? 14070
|
14070 ? 14099
|
B
|
14101 ? 14350
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
17 metres
[
edit
]
17 metres
|
18068 ? 18095
|
18095 ? 18109
|
B
|
18111 ? 18168
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
15 metres
[
edit
]
15 metres
|
21000 ? 21070
|
21070 ? 21110
|
21110 ? 21120
|
21120 ? 21149
|
B
|
21151 ? 21450
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 metres
[
edit
]
12 metres
|
24890 ? 24915
|
24915 ? 24929
|
B
|
24931 ? 24990
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
10 metres
[
edit
]
10 metres
|
28000 ? 28070
|
28070 ? 28190
|
B
|
28225 ? 29200
|
29200 ? 29300
|
29300 ? 29510
|
29510 ? 29700
|
IARU Region 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CW
and data ( ≤ 200 Hz bandwidth).
CW
,
RTTY
and data ( ≤ 500 Hz bandwidth).
CW
,
RTTY
, data, NO SSB ( ≤ 2.7 kHz).
CW
, phone and image ( ≤ 3 kHz bandwidth) SECONDARY.
CW
, phone and image ( ≤ 3 kHz bandwidth).
CW
, data, packet, FM, phone and image ( ≤ 20 kHz bandwidth).
CW
,
RTTY
, data, test, phone and image.
Reserved for satellite links.
Reserved for beacons.
ITU Region 2
[
edit
]
ITU Region 2 consists of the Americas, including Greenland.
The frequency allocations for hams in ITU Region 2 are:
ITU band
|
Band name
|
Frequencies (kHz/MHz/GHz)
|
Lower end
|
Upper end
|
5,
LF
(kHz)
|
2200 metres
|
135.7 kHz
|
137.8 kHz
|
1750 metres
|
Power restricted, but no license required in
unallocated 160–190 kHz broadcast band.
|
6,
MF
(kHz)
|
630 metres
|
472 kHz
|
479 kHz
|
160 metres
|
1800
|
2000
|
7,
HF
(MHz)
|
80 metres
|
3.5 MHz
|
4.0 MHz
|
60 metres
|
Channelized:
5.332, 5.348, 5.358.5, 5.373, 5.405
or 5.351.5–5.366.5 or 5.250–5.450
|
40 metres
|
7.0
|
7.3
|
30 metres
|
10.1
|
10.15
|
20 metres
|
14.00
|
14.35
|
17 metres
|
18.068
|
18.168
|
15 metres
|
21
|
21.45
|
12 metres
|
24.89
|
24.99
|
10 metres
|
28.0
|
29.7
|
8,
VHF
(MHz)
|
6 metres
|
50 MHz
|
54 MHz
|
2 metres
|
144
|
148
|
1.25 metres
|
219
|
220
|
222
|
225
|
9,
UHF
|
70 centimetres
|
420 MHz
|
450 MHz
|
33 centimetres
|
902
|
928
|
23 centimetres
|
1240
|
1300
|
13 centimetres
|
2300
|
2310
|
2390
|
2450
|
10,
SHF
(GHz)
|
9 centimetres
|
3.3 GHz
|
3.5 GHz
|
5 centimetres
|
5.650
|
5.925
|
3 centimetres
|
10.0
|
10.5
|
1.2 centimetres
|
24.00
|
24.25
|
11,
EHF
|
6 millimetres
|
47.0
|
47.2
|
4 millimetres
|
75.5
|
81.0
|
2.5 millimetres
|
122.5
|
123.0
|
2 millimetres
|
134
|
141
|
1 millimetre
|
241
|
250
|
Special note on the channelled 60 metre band
[
edit
]
- (ARRL 60 meter operations
[1]
)
The primary (first priority) user of the
channelled 60 meter band
is the U.S.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA). Effective 5 March 2012 the FCC permits CW, USB, and certain digital modes on these frequencies by amateurs on a secondary basis.
The FCC Report and Order permits the use of digital modes that comply with
emission designator
“60H0J2B”, which includes
PSK31
as well as any
RTTY
signal with a bandwidth of less than 60 Hz. The Report and Order also allows the use of modes that comply with emission designator “2K80J2D”, which includes any digital mode with a bandwidth of 2.8 kHz or less whose technical characteristics have been documented publicly, per Part 97.309(4) of the FCC Rules. Such modes would include
PACTOR
I, II, or III, 300
baud
packet,
MFSK
,
MT63
,
Contestia
,
Olivia
, DominoEX, and others.
On
60 meters
, hams are restricted to only one signal per channel, and automatic operation is not permitted. In addition, the FCC continues to require that all digital transmissions be centred on the channel-centre frequencies, which the Report and Order defines as being 1.5 kHz above the suppressed
carrier frequency
of a transceiver operated in the upper side-band (USB) mode. As amateur radio equipment displays the carrier frequency, it is important for operators to understand correct frequency calculations for digital "sound-card" modes to ensure compliance with the channel-center requirement.
The
ARRL
has a
"detailed band plan"
for US hams showing allocations within each band.
RAC
has a
"chart showing the frequencies available to amateurs in Canada"
.
Table of amateur MF and HF allocations in the United States and Canada
[
edit
]
80 / 75 m
|
3500 ? 4000
|
Canada
|
|
United States
|
3500 ? 3525
|
3525 ? 3600
|
3600 ? 3700
|
3700 ? 3800
|
3800 ? 4000
|
Novice / Technician
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced
|
|
|
|
|
Extra
|
|
|
60 m
|
5330 ? 5406
|
Canada
|
5332.0
|
|
5348.0
|
|
5358.5
|
|
5373.0
|
|
5405.0
|
|
United States
|
5332.0
|
|
5348.0
|
|
5358.5
|
|
5373.0
|
|
5405.0
|
|
General, Advanced, Extra
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic (hon.), Code, Adv.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: US licensees operating 60 m are limited to 100 watts PEP ERP relative to a 1/2 wave dipole.
Canadian operators are restricted to 100 watts PEP.
[8]
|
40 m
|
7000 ? 7300
|
Canada
|
|
United States
|
7000 ? 7025
|
7025 ? 7125
|
7125 ? 7175
|
7175 ? 7300
|
Novice / Technician
|
|
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced
|
|
|
|
Extra
|
|
|
20 m
|
14000 ? 14350
|
Canada
|
|
United States
|
14000-14025
|
14025-14150
|
14150-14175
|
14175-14225
|
14225-14350
|
General
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced
|
|
|
|
|
Extra
|
|
|
15 m
|
21000 ? 21450
|
Canada
|
|
United States
|
21000 ? 21025
|
21025 ? 21200
|
21200 ? 21225
|
21225 ? 21275
|
21275 ? 21450
|
Novice / Technician
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced
|
|
|
|
|
Extra
|
|
|
10 m
|
28000 ? 29700
|
Canada
|
|
United States
|
28000 ? 28300
|
28300 ? 28500
|
28500 ? 29700
|
Novice / Technician
|
|
|
|
General, Advanced, Extra
|
|
|
Note: The 10 metre table is one-third scale, relative to the other tables
|
CW
,
RTTY
and data (US: ≤ 1 kHz bandwidth).
CW
,
RTTY
, data,
MCW
, phone (AM and SSB), and image (narrow band SSTV modes only).
CW
and
SSB
phone (US: Novice & Technician 200 watts
PEP
only).
CW
,
RTTY
, data, phone and image.
CW
(US: Novice & Technician 200 watts
PEP
only).
CW
, Upper sideband suppressed carrier phone, 2.8 kHz bandwidth (2K80J3E) data (60H0J2B and 2K80J2D), 100 watts
ERP
referenced to a
1
⁄
2
wave dipole.
CW
,
RTTY
and data (US: ≤ 1 kHz bandwidth; Novice & Technician 200 watts
PEP
).
ITU Region 3
[
edit
]
ITU region 3 consists of Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and Asia south of Siberia. The IARU frequency allocations for hams in ITU Region 3
[9]
are:
Bands above 1300 MHz: societies should consult with the amateur satellite community for proposed satellite operating frequencies before deciding local bandplans above 1300 MHz.
Not all Member Unions follow this plan. As an example, the ACMA does not allow Australian Amateurs to use 3.700 MHz to 3.768 MHz and 3.800 MHz to 3.900 MHz, allocating this region to Emergency and Ambulatory services (Allocations can be found conducting a search of the ACMA Radcomms register
[2]
. )
The Wireless Institute of Australia has
charts for Amateur frequencies for Australia
.
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) has
charts for Amateur frequencies for New Zealand
.
The Japanese have charts for Amateur frequencies in Japan
[10]
Space operations
[
edit
]
Radio amateurs may engage in
satellite
and
space craft
communications; however, the frequencies allowed for such activities are allocated separately from more general use radio amateur bands.
Under the
International Telecommunication Union
's rules, all amateur radio operations may only occur within 50 kilometres (31 mi) of the Earth's surface. As such, the
Amateur Radio Service
is not permitted to engage in satellite operations; however, a sister radio service, called the
Amateur Satellite Service
, exists which allows satellite operations for the same purposes as the
Amateur Radio Service
.
In most countries, an amateur radio license conveys operating privileges in both services, and in practice, the legal distinction between the two services is transparent to the average licensee. The primary reason the two services are separate is to limit the frequencies available for satellite operations. Due to the shared nature of the amateur radio allocations internationally, and the nature of satellites to roam worldwide, the ITU does not consider all amateur radio bands appropriate for satellite operations. Being separate from the
Amateur Radio Service
, the
Amateur Satellite Service
receives its own frequency allocations. All the allocations are within amateur radio bands, and with one exception, the allocations are the same in all three
ITU regions
.
Some of the allocations are limited by the ITU in what direction transmissions may be sent (EG: "Earth-to-space" or up-links only). All amateur satellite operations occur within the allocations tabled below, except for
AO-7
, which has an up-link from 432.125 MHz to 432.175 MHz.
International amateur satellite frequency allocations
|
Range
|
Band
|
Letter
[a]
|
Allocation
[11]
|
Preferred sub-bands
[b]
|
User status
[11]
|
Notes
[11]
|
HF
|
40 m
|
|
7.000 ? 7.100 MHz
|
|
Primary
|
|
20 m
|
|
14.000 ? 14.250 MHz
|
|
Primary
|
|
17 m
|
|
18.068 ? 18.168 MHz
|
|
Primary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
15 m
|
H
|
21.000 ? 21.450 MHz
|
|
Primary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
12 m
|
|
24.890 ? 24.990 MHz
|
|
Primary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
10 m
|
A
|
28.000 ? 29.700 MHz
|
29.300 ? 29.510 MHz
|
Primary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
VHF
|
2 m
|
V
|
144.000 ? 146.000 MHz
|
145.800 ? 146.000 MHz
|
Primary
|
|
UHF
|
70 cm
|
U
|
435.000 ? 438.000 MHz
|
|
NIB
|
|
23 cm
|
L
|
1.260 ? 1.270 GHz
|
|
NIB
|
Only uplinks allowed
|
13 cm
|
S
|
2.400 ? 2.450 GHz
|
2.400 ? 2.403 GHz
|
NIB
|
|
SHF
|
9 cm
|
S2
|
3.400 ? 3.410 GHz
|
|
NIB
|
Not available in ITU region 1.
|
5 cm
|
C
|
5.650 ? 5.670 GHz
|
|
NIB
|
Only uplinks allowed
|
5.830 ? 5.850 GHz
|
|
Secondary
|
Only downlinks allowed
|
3 cm
|
X
|
10.450 ? 10.500 GHz
|
|
Secondary
|
|
1.2 cm
|
K
|
24.000 ? 24.050 GHz
|
|
Primary
|
|
EHF
[d]
|
6 mm
|
R
|
47.000 ? 47.200 GHz
|
|
Primary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
4 mm
|
|
76.000 ? 77.500 GHz
|
|
Secondary
|
|
77.500 ? 78.000 GHz
|
Primary
|
78.000 ? 81.000 GHz
|
Secondary
|
2 mm
|
|
134.000 ? 136.000 GHz
|
|
Primary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
136.000 ? 141.000 GHz
|
Secondary
|
1 mm
|
|
241.000 ? 248.000 GHz
|
|
Secondary
|
Entire amateur radio band
|
248.000 ? 250.000 GHz
|
Primary
|
- ^
AMSAT band letters. Not all bands have been assigned a letter by AMSAT.
- ^
For some allocations, satellite operations are predominantly concentrated in a sub-band of the allocation.
- ^
No amateur satellite operations have yet occurred at EHF; however, AMSAT's
P3E
is planned to have an R band down-link.
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
|
---|
Range
|
Band
|
ITU Region 1
|
ITU Region 2
|
ITU Region 3
|
LF
|
2200 m
|
135.7?137.8 kHz
|
MF
|
630 m
|
472?479 kHz
|
160 m
|
1.810?1.850 MHz
|
1.800?2.000 MHz
|
HF
|
80 / 75 m
|
3.500?3.800 MHz
|
3.500?4.000 MHz
|
3.500?3.900 MHz
|
60 m
|
5.3515?5.3665 MHz
|
40 m
|
7.000?7.200 MHz
|
7.000?7.300 MHz
|
7.000?7.200 MHz
|
30 m
[
w
]
|
10.100?10.150 MHz
|
20 m
|
14.000?14.350 MHz
|
17 m
[
w
]
|
18.068?18.168 MHz
|
15 m
|
21.000?21.450 MHz
|
12 m
[
w
]
|
24.890?24.990 MHz
|
10 m
|
28.000?29.700 MHz
|
VHF
|
6 m
|
50.000?52.000 MHz
(50.000?54.000 MHz)
[
y
]
|
50.000?54.000 MHz
|
4 m
[
x
]
|
70.000?70.500 MHz
|
?
|
2 m
|
144.000?146.000 MHz
|
144.000?148.000 MHz
|
1.25 m
|
?
|
220.000?225.000 MHz
|
?
|
UHF
|
70 cm
|
430.000?440.000 MHz
|
430.000?440.000 MHz
(420.000?450.000 MHz)
[
y
]
|
33 cm
|
?
|
902.000?928.000 MHz
|
?
|
23 cm
|
1.240?1.300 GHz
|
13 cm
|
2.300?2.450 GHz
|
SHF
|
9 cm
|
3.400?3.475 GHz
[
y
]
|
3.300?3.500 GHz
|
5 cm
|
5.650?5.850 GHz
|
5.650?5.925 GHz
|
5.650?5.850 GHz
|
3 cm
|
10.000?10.500 GHz
|
1.2 cm
|
24.000?24.250 GHz
|
EHF
|
6 mm
|
47.000?47.200 GHz
|
4 mm
[
y
]
|
75.500 GHz
[
x
]
? 81.500 GHz
|
76.000?81.500 GHz
|
2.5 mm
|
122.250?123.000 GHz
|
2 mm
|
134.000?141.000 GHz
|
1 mm
|
241.000?250.000 GHz
|
THF
|
Sub-mm
|
Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region;
others have declined to regulate frequencies above 300 GHz.
|
[
v
] All allocations are subject to variation by country. For simplicity, only common allocations found internationally are listed. See a band's article for specifics.
[
w
] HF allocation created at the 1979
World Administrative Radio Conference
. These are commonly called the "
WARC bands
".
[
x
] This is not mentioned in the
ITU
's
Table of Frequency Allocations
, but many individual administrations have commonly adopted this allocation under
"Article 4.4"
.
[
y
] This includes a currently active
footnote allocation
mentioned in the ITU's
Table of Frequency Allocations
. These allocations may only apply to a group of countries.
|
See also:
Radio spectrum
,
Electromagnetic spectrum
|
|
|
---|
Activities
| | |
---|
Culture
| |
---|
Governance
| |
---|
Modes of communication
| Voice
| |
---|
Television
| |
---|
Data/Digital
| |
---|
|
---|
Technologies
| |
---|
Related
| |
---|