Marius Lubbe ZS1ML
The world of amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a fascinating realm that spans a variety of frequency bands within the Medium Frequency (MF) and High Frequency (HF) portions of the radio spectrum. These bands, each with their unique characteristics, are accessible to radio enthusiasts globally, although the specific allocations may slightly differ from country to country.
There are nine distinct bands within the HF portion of the radio spectrum allocated for ham radio use globally. These bands are generally consistent worldwide, with minor variations depending on the specific country or region. Here’s a brief overview of these bands:
- 160 metres (Top Band): This band, located just above the Medium Wave broadcast band, is the lowest frequency ham radio allocation. Its frequency ranges between 1.8 and 2.0 MHz. It is used for relatively local contacts during the day, but at night, it can reach stations several hundreds of miles away.
- 80 metres (75 metres): This band is within the HF part of the spectrum and is ideal for medium distance contacts. Its frequency ranges between 3.5 and 4.0 MHz. During the day, it can reach stations up to a few hundred miles away, and at night, it can reach stations from further away.
- 40 metres: This band provides an interesting mix of short-haul DX by day and worldwide communications at night. Its frequency ranges between 7.0 and 7.3 MHz. It is a favourite band for many during the low part of the sunspot cycle.
- 30 metres: This band is very similar to 40 Metres and is capable of giving DX contacts for most of the day. Its frequency ranges between 10.1 and 10.15 MHz. Although it is generally better at night, enabling ham radio contacts to be made around the globe.
- 20 metres: This band is the main long-haul band for radio amateurs, reliably giving the possibility of long-distance contacts during all phases of the sunspot cycle. Its frequency ranges between 14.0 and 14.35 MHz.
- 17 metres: This band is very much a half-way house between 15 and 20m. Its frequency ranges between 18.068 and 18.168 MHz. Although rather narrow, it is still very popular and well worth investigating when conditions look promising.
- 15 metres: The conditions experienced on this amateur band are more variable than for the 20-metre band, being affected more by the state of the sunspot cycle. Its frequency ranges between 21.0 and 21.45 MHz.
- 12 metres: This band is the highest of the bands released for ham radio operation at WARC 79. Its frequency ranges between 24.89 and 24.99 MHz. It is not as widely used as the traditional bands including 20 metres, 15 metres and 10 metres, but it is still capable of providing some good results.
- 10 metres: This is the highest-frequency amateur radio band in the short-wave (HF) portion of the spectrum. Its frequency ranges between 28.0 and 29.7 MHz. During the peak of the sunspot cycle, it gives excellent possibilities for long-distance contacts, producing very strong signals.
| Amateur Radio Band (metres) | UK Allocation MHz | USA Allocation MHz |
| 160 | 1.810 – 2.000 | 1.800 – 2.000 |
| 80 | 3.500 – 3.800 | 3.500 – 4.000 |
| 40 | 7.000 – 7.200 | 7.000 – 7.300 |
| 30 | 10.100 – 10.150 | 10.100 – 10.150 |
| 20 | 14.100 – 14.350 | 14.100 – 14.350 |
| 17 | 18.068 -18.168 | 18.068 -18.168 |
| 15 | 21.000 – 21.450 | 21.000 – 21.450 |
| 12 | 24.890 – 24.990 | 24.890 – 24.990 |
| 10 | 28.000 – 29.700 | 28.000 – 29.700 |
In conclusion, the MF and HF portions of the radio spectrum offer a variety of ham radio bands. By selecting the appropriate band, radio amateurs can maximize their chances of making the type of contacts they desire. For those interested in DXing, a thorough understanding of each band’s properties is crucial, and this knowledge should be combined with up-to-date information about the state of the amateur bands and the active stations. With this information, skill, and experience, contacts can be made with many rare and interesting ham radio stations.
Sources:
- HF Amateur Frequencies.” Electronics Notes. Link
- “Frequency Bands.” American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Link
- “Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations.” National Association for Amateur Radio. Link
- “Ham Radio For Dummies Cheat Sheet.” Dummies.com. Link
- “Understanding Amateur Radio Frequencies.” Ham Radio School. Link
- “Amateur Radio Band Plans.” Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB). Link
- “Amateur Radio Bands.” Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Link
