Band plan

Related Wiki pages Records - Distance, Emergency Frequencies, Propagation, Antennas, Electromagnetic Waves

Band Ranges

 * HF 3 MHz to 30 MHz
 * VHF 30 MHz to 300 MHz
 * UHF 300 MHz to 3 000 MHz (3GHz)
 * Microwave and other bands above 3 GHz

ITU Frequency Regions

 * LF 30 - 300 kHz
 * MF 300 kHz - 3 MHz
 * HF 3 - 30 MHz (aka shortwave)
 * VHF 30 - 300 MHz
 * UHF 300 MHz - 3000 MHz (3 GHz)
 * SHF 3,000 - 30,000 MHz

There's a much more comprehensive page at RadioIng.com eEngineer

HF Bands
There are a number of amateur HF bands used worldwide, although the bands and frequencies legally available vary from country to country.

HF bands used today include 80 metres, 60 metres, 40 metres, 30 metres, 20 metres, 17 metres, 15 metres, and 10 metres. (Although 160 metres is a Medium Frequency/MF band, it can be lumped in with the HF bands for simplicity.)

VHF/UHF/Microwave Bands
Related wiki pages: Tropospheric ducting, Meteor scatter, Aurora

VHF, UHF, and Microwave bands and frequencies available to amateurs vary more widely from country to country than HF bands do.

Amateur bands used today include 6 metres, 4 metres, 2 metres, 1.25 metres, 70 centimetres, 33 centimetres, 23 centimetres, 13 centimetres, 9 centimetres, 6 centimetres 3 centimetres, 1.25 centimetres and Bands above 24GHz.

Band Plans
Within three regions around the world, different "plans" are agreed upon by Amateur Radio Operators to divide up the authorized band into sections. Each section is targeted to a specific operating mode (e.g., SSB, FM, Digital, etc).

Region Band Plans
From the IARU website.

Region 1 encompasses Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, and Asiatic Russia


 * IARU Region 1 website

Region 2 encompasses North America, South America, and Greenland


 * IARU Region 2 website

Region 3 encompasses India, Australia, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and Pacific nations.


 * IARU Region 3 website

Country Band Plans (Alphabetical)

 * The Australian band plan (.pdf) from the Wireless Institute of Australia
 * The Canadian band plan (.html) from Radio Amateurs Canada
 * The New Zealand Band Plan can be found at NZART
 * The United Kingdom band plan (.pdf and .html) from the Radio Society of Great Britain
 * The United States Band Plan

Extended Electromagnetic Spectrum Information
Boundary frequency

and wavelength Name Notes 0Hz - 30Hz un-named 10Mm - 1Mm

30-300Hz Extra Low Frequency – ELF Mains power is in this range usually 50Hz or 60Hz 1Mm - 100km

300Hz-3kHz Super Low Frequency - SLF Voice Most useful voice is in this range although frequencies outside may be audible 100km - 10km

3-30kHz Very Low Frequency - VLF Omega navigation system 10kHz and 14kHz 10km - 1km

30-300kHz Low Frequency - LF Some Radio navigation beacons in this band 1km - 100m

300kHz-3MHz Medium frequency - MF AM  broadcast radio stations 160m ham band, marine 100m - 10m

3-30MHz High Frequency - HF  AM CB at 27MHz

10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m, 30m, 40m, 80m ham bands 10m - 1m

30-300MHz Very High Frequency – VHF FM broadcast stations VHF marine, aviation, 2m, 6m ham bands, VHF TV in some countries 1m-10cm

300MHz-3GHz Ultra High Frequency - UHF UHF CB, FRS/GMRS, Mobile phones UHF TV, Microwave ovens 1.25m, 70cm, 23cm ham bands 10cm - 1cm

3-30GHz Super High Frequency – SHF microwave 3 cm, 1.25 cm ham bands 1cm - 1mm

30-300GHz Extra High Frequency – EHF 1mm - 100µm Infrared 1µm

300THz Visible light Ultra Violet