Band plan

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

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, we lump it in with the HF bands for simplicity.)

VHF/UHF/Microwave Bands

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, and 3 centimetres.

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 (for example, SSB, FM, Digital, ...).

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 can be downloaded in pdf from the Wireless Institute of Australia

• The New Zealand Band Plan can be found at NZART

• United States Band Plan

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	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 2m, 6m ham bands
1m 3GHz	Very High Frequency – VHF	FM broadcast stations VHF marine 2m, 6m ham bands
1m 3GHz	Ultra High Frequency - UHF	UHF CB, Mobile phones UHF TV, Microwave ovens 1.25m, 70cm, 23cm ham bands
10cm 30GHz	Super High Frequency – SHF
1cm 300GHz	Extra High Frequency – EHF
1mm 300THz	Infrared
1um	Visible light
	Ultra Violet