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 160 metres, 80 metres, 60 metres, 40 metres, 30 metres, 20 metres, 17 metres, 15 metres, and 10 metres. (Although 160 meters is often considered 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

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

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

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

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

3MHz Medium frequency - MF AM  broadcast radio stations 1km

30MHz High Frequency - HF  AM CB at 27MHz

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

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

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

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

300GHz Extra High Frequency – EHF 1mm

300THz Infrared 1um Visible light Ultra Violet