US Amateur Radio Band Plans

FCC Frequency Allocations for Amateur Radio Service

160 Meter Band (1.8 - 2.0 MHz)

Top Band • Wavelength: ~160 meters • Night-time DX band

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
1.800 - 2.000 MHz General, Extra All Modes General amateur use
1.800 - 1.810 MHz All Digital Digital modes
1.810 - 2.000 MHz All CW Phone Digital CW, Phone, Image

Band Notes:

  • Best propagation at night
  • 1.810 MHz: CW DX calling frequency
  • 1.843-2.000 MHz: SSB operations
  • Large antennas required for good performance

80 Meter Band (3.5 - 4.0 MHz)

75/80 Meters • Wavelength: ~80 meters • Night-time regional and DX

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
3.525 - 3.600 MHz Extra All Modes Extra class privileges
3.600 - 3.700 MHz General, Extra All Modes General/Extra privileges
3.700 - 4.000 MHz All Phone Digital All license classes
3.500 - 3.600 MHz All (CW only) CW Digital CW/Digital segment

Band Notes:

  • 3.590 MHz: RTTY/Data DX
  • 3.790-3.800 MHz: DX window
  • 3.845 MHz: AM calling frequency
  • Excellent for night-time ragchewing

40 Meter Band (7.0 - 7.3 MHz)

Wavelength: ~40 meters • Day and night communications

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
7.000 - 7.125 MHz Extra CW Digital Extra class CW/Digital
7.025 - 7.125 MHz General, Extra CW Digital General/Extra CW/Digital
7.025 - 7.125 MHz Technician CW Technician CW only
7.175 - 7.300 MHz Extra All Modes Extra class phone
7.175 - 7.300 MHz General Phone Digital General class phone

Band Notes:

  • 7.040 MHz: RTTY/Data DX
  • 7.290 MHz: AM calling frequency
  • Best DX band for day and night
  • Popular for ragchewing and nets

30 Meter Band (10.1 - 10.15 MHz)

WARC Band • Wavelength: ~30 meters • CW and Digital only

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
10.100 - 10.150 MHz All CW Digital CW and digital modes only

Band Notes:

  • Maximum power: 200 watts PEP
  • NO phone operations allowed
  • Shared with other services (secondary status)
  • Excellent for DX with low power
  • 10.140 MHz: Digital modes

20 Meter Band (14.0 - 14.35 MHz)

Wavelength: ~20 meters • Premier DX band

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
14.000 - 14.150 MHz Extra CW Digital Extra class CW/Digital
14.025 - 14.150 MHz General, Extra CW Digital General/Extra CW/Digital
14.025 - 14.150 MHz Technician CW Technician CW only
14.225 - 14.350 MHz Extra All Modes Extra class phone
14.225 - 14.350 MHz General Phone Digital General class phone

Band Notes:

  • 14.070 MHz: PSK31 and digital modes
  • 14.074 MHz: FT8 calling frequency
  • 14.230 MHz: SSTV
  • 14.286 MHz: AM calling frequency
  • Most popular DX band worldwide

17 Meter Band (18.068 - 18.168 MHz)

WARC Band • Wavelength: ~17 meters • Excellent DX band

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
18.068 - 18.168 MHz General, Extra All Modes All amateur modes

Band Notes:

  • 18.100 MHz: Digital modes center
  • 18.110 MHz: SSB DX
  • No contests on WARC bands
  • Often overlooked but excellent for DX

15 Meter Band (21.0 - 21.45 MHz)

Wavelength: ~15 meters • Daytime DX band

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
21.000 - 21.200 MHz Extra CW Digital Extra class CW/Digital
21.025 - 21.200 MHz General, Extra CW Digital General/Extra CW/Digital
21.025 - 21.200 MHz Technician CW Technician CW only
21.275 - 21.450 MHz Extra All Modes Extra class phone
21.275 - 21.450 MHz General Phone Digital General class phone

Band Notes:

  • 21.070 MHz: Digital modes
  • 21.074 MHz: FT8
  • 21.340 MHz: SSTV
  • Band opens during solar cycle peaks

12 Meter Band (24.89 - 24.99 MHz)

WARC Band • Wavelength: ~12 meters • Daytime DX

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
24.890 - 24.990 MHz General, Extra All Modes All amateur modes

Band Notes:

  • 24.915 MHz: Digital modes
  • 24.920 MHz: SSB DX
  • No contests allowed
  • Great for low-power DX

10 Meter Band (28.0 - 29.7 MHz)

Wavelength: ~10 meters • Solar cycle dependent DX

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
28.000 - 28.300 MHz All CW Digital CW, RTTY, Digital
28.300 - 29.700 MHz All All Modes Phone and image

Band Notes:

  • 28.074 MHz: FT8
  • 28.300 MHz: SSB DX calling
  • 28.680 MHz: SSTV
  • 29.600 MHz: FM simplex calling
  • Popular for local FM and worldwide SSB DX
  • Technician class has full privileges!

6 Meter Band (50 - 54 MHz)

The Magic Band • Wavelength: ~6 meters • VHF DX

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
50.0 - 54.0 MHz All All Modes All amateur privileges
50.0 - 50.1 MHz All CW CW only segment
50.1 - 50.3 MHz All CW SSB CW, SSB weak signal
50.3 - 50.6 MHz All All Modes All mode beacons and propagation
50.6 - 51.0 MHz All All Modes Non-voice communications
51.0 - 54.0 MHz All All Modes FM simplex, repeaters

Band Notes:

  • 50.060-50.080 MHz: Beacon sub-band
  • 50.125 MHz: SSB DX calling frequency
  • 50.313 MHz: FT8 calling frequency
  • 52.525 MHz: FM simplex calling frequency
  • Sporadic E propagation in summer
  • Technician class has full privileges!

2 Meter Band (144 - 148 MHz)

Wavelength: ~2 meters • Most popular VHF band

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
144.0 - 148.0 MHz All All Modes All amateur privileges
144.0 - 144.1 MHz All CW CW only (EME)
144.1 - 144.3 MHz All CW SSB CW and SSB weak signal
144.3 - 145.0 MHz All All Modes All mode weak signal, beacons
145.0 - 145.5 MHz All All Modes All modes, satellite
145.5 - 146.0 MHz All All Modes All modes, simplex
146.0 - 147.0 MHz All FM FM repeater outputs
147.0 - 147.4 MHz All FM FM simplex
147.4 - 148.0 MHz All FM FM repeater inputs

Band Notes:

  • 144.200 MHz: SSB/CW calling frequency
  • 144.390 MHz: APRS network
  • 146.520 MHz: National FM simplex calling frequency
  • 147.420 MHz: First simplex channel
  • Most popular band for local FM communications
  • Technician class has full privileges!

70 Centimeter Band (420 - 450 MHz)

UHF • Wavelength: ~70 centimeters • Popular for repeaters

Frequency License Class Modes Usage
420.0 - 450.0 MHz All All Modes All amateur privileges
420.0 - 426.0 MHz All All Modes ATV, digital, all modes
426.0 - 432.0 MHz All All Modes ATV, satellite
432.0 - 433.0 MHz All CW SSB CW, SSB weak signal (EME)
433.0 - 435.0 MHz All All Modes Auxiliary, repeater links
435.0 - 438.0 MHz All All Modes Satellite downlink
438.0 - 444.0 MHz All All Modes Auxiliary, repeater links
444.0 - 450.0 MHz All FM FM repeater inputs/outputs

Band Notes:

  • 432.100 MHz: SSB/CW calling frequency
  • 446.000 MHz: National FM simplex calling frequency
  • Shared with government radiolocation (radar) in some areas
  • Popular for FM repeaters, digital voice, ATV
  • Technician class has full privileges!