Home Emergency Communications US Amateur Radio Bands: Frequency Charts

US Amateur Radio Bands: Frequency Charts

ARRL Ham Bad Chart

When it comes to go-to radio frequencies to monitor during an emergency, some of the most productive and useful frequencies you are going to find fall within the Ham Radio bands.

Ham Radio bands span the radio spectrum; each band is going to provide a different set of challenges and opportunities for those looking to either transmit or receive vital survival information.

A look at the Amateur Radio (HAM) Bands:

LF Bands: Low Frequency

LF is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) designation for radio frequencies that fall between 30–300 kHz.

2200 Meters

When it comes to Ham Radio, the only official LF band is 2200 meters.
Frequency Range: 135.7-137.8 kHz: CW, Phone, Image, RTTY/Data
License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra licensees

MF Bands: Medium Frequency

630 Meters

The 630 Meter frequencies are just below commercial AM broadcast bands.
Frequency Range: 472–479 kH: CW, Phone, Image, RTTY/Data
License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra licensees

160 Meters

The 160 Meter Band frequencies are just above commercial AM broadcast bands.
Frequency Range: 1.800-2.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, RTTY/Data
License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra licensees

HF Bands: High Frequency

The HF bands are where you are going to find most of your DX or long-distance stations. These frequencies span from 3.5 MH (80 meters) to 29.7 MHz (10 meters).

80 Meters

80 Meters consists of the frequencies from 3.5–4.0 MHz (3500–4000 kHz). The band is best worked at night during the winter.

License Class: Novice and Technician classes
Frequency Range: 3.525-3.600 MHz: CW Only

License Class: General class
Frequency Range: 525-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 3.800-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone,

License Class: Advanced class
Frequency Range: 3.525-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 3.700-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone,

License Class: Amateur Extra
Frequency Range: 3.500-3.600 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 3.600-4.000 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

60 Meters: Five Specific Channels

The FCC has granted hams secondary access on USB only to five discrete 2.8-kHz-wide channels. Amateurs can not cause inference to and must accept interference from the Primary Government users. The NTIA says that hams planning to operate on 60 meters “must assure that their signal is transmitted on the channel center frequency.” This means that amateurs should set their carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than the channel center frequency.

General, Advanced and Amateur Extra classes:

Channel Center Amateur Tuning Frequency
5332 kHz 5330.5 kHz
5348 kHz 5346.5 kHz
5358.5 kHz 5357.0 kHz
5373 kHz 5371.5 kHz
5405 kHz (common US/UK) 5403.5 kHz

Effective March 5, 2012, amateurs are permitted to use CW and phone, as well as 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. They may also use 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, MFSK16, MT63, Contestia, Olivia, DominoEX and others. with a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 W. Radiated power must not exceed the equivalent of 100 W PEP transmitter output power into an antenna with a gain of 0 dBd.

Band Notes: Primarily used in United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.

40 Meters                                             

40 Meters is probably one of the most reliable all-season DX bands.

License Class: Novice and Technician classes
Frequency Range: 7.025-7.125 MHz : CW only

License Class: General
Frequency Range: 7.025-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data – 7.175-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone,

License Class: Advanced
Frequency Range: 7.025-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data – 7.125-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone,

License Class: Amateur Extra
Frequency Range: 7.000-7.125 MHz : CW, RTTY/Data – 7.125-7.300 MHz:: CW, Phone, Image

Band Notes: Phone and Image modes are permitted between 7.075 and 7.100 MHz for FCC licensed stations in ITU Regions 1 and 3 and by FCC licensed stations in ITU Region 2 West of 130 degrees West longitude or South of 20 degrees North latitude. See Sections 97.305(c) and 97.307(f)(11). Novice and Technician licensees outside ITU Region 2 may use CW only between 7.025 and 7.075 MHz and between 7.100 and 7.125 MHz. 7.200 to 7.300 MHz is not available outside ITU Region 2. See Section 97.301(e). These exemptions do not apply to stations in the continental US.

30 Meters

30 Meters is a narrow digital band, which is shared with non-hams that runs from 10.1–10.15 MHz and has a maximum power of 200 watts PEP.

License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes:
Frequency Range: 10.100-10.150 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data

20 Meters

20 meters is one of the most popular ham bands, especially with DX stations. The band spans from 14.0–14.35 MHz and is most active during the day.

License Class: General class
Range: 14.025 -14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data – 14.225 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

License Class: Advanced class
Range: 14.025 -14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data – 14.175 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

License Class: Extra class
Range: 14.000 – 14.150 MHz CW, RTTY/Data – 14.150 -14.350 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

17 Meters

License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes
Frequency
Range: 18.068-18.110 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 18.110-18.168 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

15 Meters

License Class: Novice and Technician classes
Frequency
Range: 21.025-21.200 MHz: CW Only

License Class: General class
Frequency
Range: 21.025-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 21.275-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

License Class: Advanced class
Frequency
Range: 21.025-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 21.225-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

License Class: Extra class
Frequency
Range: 21.000-21.200 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 21.200-21.450 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

12 Meters

License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes
Frequency
Range: 24.890-24.930 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 24.930-24.990 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

10 Meters

Band Notes: Great activity during solar maximum; otherwise not the best band for DX

License Class: Novice and Technician classes
Frequency
Range: 28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data–Maximum power 200 watts PEP – 28.300-28.500 MHz: CW, Phone–Maximum power 200 watts PEP

License Class: General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes
Frequency
Range: 28.000-28.300 MHz: CW, RTTY/Data – 28.300-29.700 MHz: CW, Phone, Image

VHF/UHF Bands: Very high frequencies and ultra-high frequencies

6 Meters

License Class: All Amateurs except Novices
Frequency
Range: 50.0-50.1 MHz: CW Only – 50.1-54.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data

2 Meters

License Class: All Amateurs except Novices
Frequency
Range: 144.0-144.1 MHz: CW Only – 144.1-148.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data

1.25 Meters

The FCC has allocated 219-220 MHz to amateur use on a secondary basis. This allocation is only for fixed digital message forwarding systems operated by all licensees except Novices. Amateur operations must not cause interference to, and must accept interference from, primary services in this and adjacent bands. Amateur stations are limited to 50 W PEP output and 100 kHz bandwidth. Automated Maritime Telecommunications Systems (AMTS) stations are the primary occupants in this band. Amateur stations within 398 miles of an AMTS station must notify the station in writing at least 30 days prior to beginning operations. Amateur stations within 50 miles of an AMTS station must get permission in writing from the AMTS station before beginning operations. The FCC requires that amateur operators provide written notification including the station’s geographic location to the ARRL for inclusion in a database at least 30 days before beginning operations. See Section 97.303(e) of the FCC Rules.

Novice (Novices are limited to 25 watts PEP output), Technician, General, Advanced, Amateur Extra classes:

222.00-225.00 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data

70 Centimeters

License Class: All Amateurs except Novices
Frequency
Range: 420.0-450.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data

33 Centimeters

License Class: All Amateurs except Novices
Frequency
Range:  902.0-928.0 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data

23 Centimeters

License Class: Novice
Frequency
Range:  1270-1295 MHz: CW, phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data (maximum power, 5 watts PEP)

License Class: All Amateurs except Novices
Frequency
Range:  1240-1300 MHz: CW, Phone, Image, MCW, RTTY/Data

Higher Frequencies:

All modes and licensees (except Novices) are authorized on the following bands [FCC Rules, Part 97.301(a)]:

2300-2310 MHz
2390-2450 MHz
3300-3500 MHz
5650-5925 MHz
10.0-10.5 GHz
24.0-24.25 GHz
47.0-47.2 GHz
76.0-81.0 GHz*
122.25 -123.00 GHz
134-141 GHz
241-250 GHz
All above 300 GHz

* Amateur operation at 76-77 GHz has been suspended till the FCC can determine that interference will not be caused to vehicle radar systems

To operate on 2200 or 630 meters, amateurs must first register with the Utilities Technology Council online at https://utc.org/plc-database-amateur-notification-process/

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