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 - 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 |
Bands | |
HF and MF | 160 metres * 80 metres* 60 metres * 40 metres * 30 metres * 20 metres * 17 metres * 15 metres * 12 metres * 10 metres |
VHF | 6 metres * 4 metres * 2 metres * 1.25 metres |
UHF | 70 centimetres * 33 centimetres * 23 centimetres * 13 centimetres |
Microwave | 9 centimetres * 6 centimetres * 3 centimetres * 1.25 centimetres * Bands above 24GHz |
See also | US bandplan |