Amateur radio frequency allocations
National and international rules govern which frequencies amateurs may use.
Amateur radio frequency allocation is the process by which national telecommunication authorities designate portions of the radio spectrum for use by amateur radio operators. Globally, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) oversees how much spectrum is set aside for amateur transmissions, while individual stations may use any frequency within authorized ranges, which can vary by license class. The list of frequency ranges is called a band allocation, set by international agreements and national regulations; the modes and types of allocations within each band form a bandplan, typically determined by agreements between amateur operators.
- Low frequency band
- 2200 metres – 135.7–137.8 kHz
- Medium frequency band 160m
- 160 metres – 1 800–2 000 kHz (1.800–2.000 MHz)
- High frequency band 40m
- 40 metres – 7.000–7.300 MHz
- Wrc 15 allocation
- 2015 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference approved 5.351.5–5.366.5 MHz on secondary basis
- Us 60m channels
- Five 2.8 kHz-wide channels centered on 5.332, 5.348, 5.368, 5.373, and 5.405 MHz
- Us 30m power limit
- Maximum 200 W peak envelope power (PEP) output on 30 metres in the US
Lore & Background
Amateur radio frequency allocation has evolved through international agreements and national regulations. The ITU divides the world into regions, and specific frequency allocations vary by country and region. For example, the 160 metre band, known as the 'top band,' was for many years the longest-wavelength amateur band and is located near the top of the medium frequency band. It was formerly shared with the largely defunct Loran-A radionavigation system. The 60 metre band is a relatively new allocation, originally available only 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 countries, the allocation is broken into channels and may require a special licensing request.
Reader's Guide
The significance of amateur radio frequency allocations lies in their structured yet flexible framework, enabling global communication across diverse bands. The 40 metre band is considered the most reliable all-season long distance (DX) band, popular for DX at night and reliable for medium distance contacts during the day. The 20 metre band is considered the most popular DX band, usually most active during daytime. The 30 metre band, a WARC band allocated at the 1979 special World Administrative Radio Conference, provides significant opportunities for long-distance communication at all points of the solar cycle. The 10 metre band offers useful short to medium range groundwave propagation day or night, and during solar maximum enables best long distance activity. The VHF and UHF bands, with allocations many megahertz wide, allow for high-fidelity audio and very fast data transmission modes unfeasible on the kilohertz-wide HF bands. While line-of-sight propagation is primary, interest in these bands comes from other propagation modes such as sporadic E, which can provide short-term propagation from 17 metres up to occasional 2 metre openings.
Did You Know?
- The 160 metre band is also known as the 'top band' and was for many years the longest-wavelength amateur band.
- The 60 metre band was originally only available in a small number of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
- The 30 metre band is a WARC band, so named due to the 1979 special World Administrative Radio Conference allocation.
- In the US and Canada, the portion of the 80 metre band from 3.600–4.000 MHz is often referred to as 'the 75 metre band'.
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