HF Ham Bands and Frequencies

If you're new to ham radio, these articles contain information that new ham radio operators should keep handy while gathering experience. You'll find these references to be just what you need while learning to navigate the radio bands and make contacts. Bookmarking the websites in your web browser will help while you're online, too.

There is a good variety of ham bands or amateur radio allocations within the HF portion of the short wave spectrum. These ham radio bands or frequency allocations are open to radio hams around the world to use although the actual ham radio allocations do vary slightly from country to country and region to region. However a broad view of the ham radio band allocations can be given, and this is accompanied below with an overview of the properties of the different allocations for radio amateurs.

Technician class frequency privileges in ham radio

When you're getting started, remembering where you’re allowed to operate is important. As a Technician licensee, you have full access to all amateur frequencies above 50 MHz, but what about on the shortwave high-frequency (HF) bands? This chart helps you follow the rules. You can transmit with up to 200 watts PEP A band-by-band plan showing where to find different types of activity is available from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

Band	Frequencies (In MHz)	Modes You Can Use (200 watts PEP maximum power)
80 meters	3.525 – 3.600	CW
40 meters	7.025 – 7.125	CW
15 meters	21.025 – 21.200	CW
10 meters	28.000 – 28.300	CW and RTTY/data
10 meters	28.300 – 28.500	CW and phone
Above 50 MHz		All amateur privileges

General class frequency privileges in ham radio

Soon, if you haven’t done so already, you’ll be thinking about upgrading. You have many more frequencies to use on the high-frequency (HF) bands, as shown in the following table. A complete chart of the U.S. frequency and mode privileges for all license classes is available from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

Band	Frequencies (in MHz)	Mode
160, 60, 30 meters		All amateur privileges
80 meters	3.525–3.600	CW, RTTY, data
80 meters	3.800–4.000	CW, phone, image
40 meters	7.025–7.125	CW, RTTY, data
40 meters	7.175–7.300	CW, phone, image
20 meters	14.025–14.150	CW, RTTY, data
20 meters	14.225–14.350	CW, phone, image
15 meters	21.025–21.200	CW, RTTY, data
15 meters	21.275–21.450	CW, phone, image
17, 12, 10 meters		All amateur privileges
Above 50 MHz		All amateur privileges

Common ham radio Q signals

Hams use three-letter Q signals on every mode and even in face-to-face conversation. Here are the Q signals most commonly used in day-to-day operation. Each signal can be a question or an answer, as shown in the Meaning column. A complete list of ham radio Q signals, including those used on nets and repeaters, is available via the AC6V Operating Aids web page.

Q Signal	Meaning
QRL	Is the frequency busy? The frequency is busy. Please do not interfere.
QRM	Abbreviation for interference from other signals.
QRN	Abbreviation for interference from natural or human-made static.
QRO	Shall I increase power? Increase power.
QRP	Shall I decrease power? Decrease power.
QRQ	Shall I send faster? Send faster (__words per minute [wpm]).
QRS	Shall I send more slowly? Send more slowly (__wpm).
QRT	Shall I stop sending or transmitting? Stop sending or transmitting.
QRU	Have you anything more for me? I have nothing more for you.
QRV	Are you ready? I am ready.
QRX	Stand by.
QRZ	Who is calling me?
QSB	Abbreviation for signal fading.
QSL	Did you receive and understand? Received and understood.
QSO	Abbreviation for a contact.
QST	General call preceding a message addressed to all amateurs.
QSX	I am listening on ___ kHz.
QSY	Change to transmission on another frequency (or to ___ kHz).
QTH	What is your location? My location is ____.

The HF bands are by far the most popular bands in the amateur service. Local contacts and world-wide propagation are all possible at almost anytime with careful selection of the right frequency for the time of day, time of year, and current state of the sunspot cycle. For specific characteristics of each band, click on the links below.

The 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz bands are the bands where contests can be found. The 10, 18 and 24MHz bands, also known as the WARC bands, are kept free of contest activity by international agreement, which now also includes the 5MHz band.

80 metres: 3.500 – 3.800MHz

60 metres: 5MHz

40 metres: 7.000 – 7.200MHz

30 metres: 10.100 – 10.150MHz

20 metres: 14.000 – 14.350MHz

17 metres: 18.068 – 18.168MHz

15 metres: 21.000 – 21.450MHz

12 metres: 24.890 – 24.990MHz

10 metres: 28.000 – 29.700MHz

Summary

There is a variety of different ham radio bands that can be used within the MF and HF portions of the radio spectrum. By choosing the correct amateur band or allocation, it is possible for a radio amateur to maximise his opportunity of making the sort of contacts he or she requires. For those ham radio enthusiasts, a good knowledge of the properties of each of the ham bands is essential, and this should be combined with up to the minute information about the state of the amateur bands and the stations that are active. Using all of this information, along with skill and experience can enable contacts to be made with many rare and interesting ham radio stations.

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