Ham Radio Bands & Frequencies

Complete reference guide to amateur radio frequency allocations in the United States. Includes HF, VHF, and UHF bands with operating privileges, propagation characteristics, and antenna requirements.

Note: This guide reflects US (FCC Part 97) amateur radio band allocations. International allocations may vary. Always check your local regulations before transmitting.

HF Bands (High Frequency)

3 MHz to 30 MHz - Long-distance communication through sky wave propagation. The traditional shortwave amateur radio bands for worldwide (DX) contacts.

160 meters

160m1.800 - 2.000 MHz

Privileges: General+ (Limited), Extra (Full)

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Ground wave and night sky wave. Excellent for regional and continental contacts at night. Requires large antennas.

Typical Antenna: ~260 ft dipole

Notes: Often called the 'Top Band'. Very noisy in summer. Excellent DX in winter nights.

80 meters

80m / 75m3.500 - 4.000 MHz

Privileges: All license classes

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Primarily night sky wave. Reliable for regional (500-1000 mi) contacts. Good for NVIS during day.

Typical Antenna: ~130 ft dipole

Notes: Shared with international broadcasters. 75m phone, 80m CW. Good ragchew band.

60 meters

60m5.330 - 5.405 MHz

Privileges: General+ (5 channels, 100W PEP)

Modes: Phone, CW, Digital

Propagation: Similar to 80m. Good for regional and some DX. NVIS propagation during day.

Typical Antenna: ~95 ft dipole

Notes: Channelized band with specific frequencies. Shared with government services. USB only above 10 MHz.

40 meters

40m7.000 - 7.300 MHz

Privileges: All license classes

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Day and night propagation. Excellent for continental and worldwide DX. Reliable 24/7.

Typical Antenna: ~65 ft dipole

Notes: One of the most popular ham bands. Good mix of DX and local. Can be crowded.

30 meters

30m10.100 - 10.150 MHz

Privileges: General+ (CW and Digital only, 200W PEP)

Modes: CW, Digital

Propagation: Excellent long-distance propagation. Similar to 40m but quieter.

Typical Antenna: ~48 ft dipole

Notes: No phone transmissions. Popular for digital modes (FT8, PSK31). Shared with fixed services.

20 meters

20m14.000 - 14.350 MHz

Privileges: All license classes

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Premier DX band. Worldwide propagation during day, especially at solar maximum. Opens/closes with sunrise/sunset.

Typical Antenna: ~33 ft dipole

Notes: The most popular DX band. Contesters love it. Can be very crowded during contests.

17 meters

17m18.068 - 18.168 MHz

Privileges: General+ (CW, Phone, Digital, 100W PEP)

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Good DX band with propagation between 20m and 15m. Often overlooked and less crowded.

Typical Antenna: ~27 ft dipole

Notes: WARC band (no contests). Great for casual operating. Often has good propagation when 20m is dead.

15 meters

15m21.000 - 21.450 MHz

Privileges: All license classes

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Excellent DX during solar cycle peaks. Long-distance skip propagation. Often closed at solar minimum.

Typical Antenna: ~22 ft dipole

Notes: Great for compact antennas. Very sensitive to solar cycle. Can have spectacular openings.

12 meters

12m24.890 - 24.990 MHz

Privileges: General+ (CW, Phone, Digital, 100W PEP)

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital

Propagation: Similar to 15m. Good DX when conditions support it. Opens less often than 15m.

Typical Antenna: ~19 ft dipole

Notes: WARC band (no contests). Often missed by operators but can have great openings.

10 meters

10m28.000 - 29.700 MHz

Privileges: All license classes (Technician 28.300-28.500 MHz)

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital, FM

Propagation: Highly dependent on solar activity. Spectacular worldwide DX at solar max. Local FM repeaters at solar min.

Typical Antenna: ~16 ft dipole

Notes: Most Technicians' first HF band. Includes FM simplex and repeaters. Can have E-skip propagation.

VHF/UHF Bands (Very High & Ultra High Frequency)

50 MHz and above - Primarily line-of-sight communication. Popular for local repeaters, FM voice, satellites, and weak-signal work.

6 meters

6m50.000 - 54.000 MHz

Privileges: General+ (50.0-50.1 MHz CW only), Technician+ (50.1-54.0 MHz)

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital, FM

Propagation: Line of sight, tropospheric, sporadic E-skip, F2 propagation at solar peaks, meteor scatter.

Typical Antenna: ~9 ft dipole

Notes: 'Magic Band' - can have surprising long-distance openings. Good for experimentation.

2 meters

2m144.000 - 148.000 MHz

Privileges: All license classes

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital, FM

Propagation: Primarily line of sight. FM repeaters extend range. Occasional tropospheric and E-skip propagation.

Typical Antenna: ~3.3 ft dipole

Notes: Most popular VHF band. Lots of repeaters. Great for local communication and emergency nets.

1.25 meters

1.25m222.000 - 225.000 MHz

Privileges: Technician+ (US allocation)

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital, FM

Propagation: Line of sight. Fewer repeaters than 2m. Good for point-to-point links.

Typical Antenna: ~2.1 ft dipole

Notes: Underutilized band in the US. Not available in many countries. Good for low-noise work.

70 centimeters

70cm420.000 - 450.000 MHz

Privileges: All license classes

Modes: CW, Phone, Digital, FM, ATV

Propagation: Line of sight. Better building penetration than 2m. Popular for FM repeaters and satellites.

Typical Antenna: ~1.1 ft dipole

Notes: Shared with military radiolocation. Good for compact antennas and mobile operation. Popular for digital modes.

33 centimeters

33cm902.000 - 928.000 MHz

Privileges: Technician+ (Shared with ISM devices)

Modes: All modes

Propagation: Line of sight. Highly absorbed by foliage and buildings.

Typical Antenna: ~4.5 in dipole

Notes: Shared with ISM devices (WiFi, cordless phones). Can have significant QRM. Good for microwave experimentation.

23 centimeters

23cm1240 - 1300 MHz

Privileges: Technician+

Modes: All modes

Propagation: Line of sight. Limited by buildings and terrain. Good for ATV and high-speed data.

Typical Antenna: ~3.5 in dipole

Notes: Popular for amateur television (ATV). Experimenting with high-speed digital modes. Microwave ham activity.

US Amateur Radio License Classes

Understanding amateur radio band privileges by license class

Technician Class

Entry level license. Full privileges on all VHF/UHF bands (6m and up). Limited HF privileges on 10m, 15m, 40m, and 80m bands (CW only for most HF privileges).

General Class

Most popular license. Provides voice, CW, and digital privileges on all amateur bands. Some frequency restrictions on 80m, 40m, 20m, and 15m (Extra class has full band access). Full VHF/UHF privileges.

Amateur Extra Class

Highest license class. Full operating privileges on all amateur bands and modes. Access to exclusive Extra-only frequency segments including prime DX frequencies.

Choosing a Band for Your Antenna

Factors to consider when selecting an amateur radio band

By Available Space

Very limited space: 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m, or magnetic loop antennas on any band
Moderate space (50-100 ft): 40m dipole, 30m dipole, or multiband wire antennas
Large space (150+ ft): 80m or 160m dipoles, full-size verticals, or phased arrays
Portable/mobile: VHF/UHF with whip or small directional antennas, 10m mobile antennas

By Communication Goal

Local/Regional (0-500 mi): 80m, 40m at night, VHF/UHF via repeaters or NVIS
Continental (500-2000 mi): 80m, 40m, 20m (day), 30m
Worldwide DX: 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m (solar cycle dependent)
Emergency/ARES: 2m/70cm for local nets, 40m or 80m for wider coverage
Digital modes: 30m, 20m, 17m, or 40m are popular for FT8, PSK31, RTTY

Solar Cycle Considerations

Higher bands (10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m) are more productive during solar cycle peaks with high solar flux. Lower bands (80m, 160m) work well regardless of solar activity. During solar minimum, focus on 40m, 30m, and 20m for reliable DX.

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References:

FCC Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service Rules and Regulations
ARRL Operating Manual and Band Plans
ARRL Antenna Book - Propagation and frequency characteristics
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Band Plan