People who work in the preparedness field often ask me, “Why is there so much talk about becoming an amateur radio operator? Why should I take the time to learn how to do it? How will it help me plan for emergencies and disasters?” In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common ham radio bands and how they can help you communicate in an emergency.
I have found that many times, us as amateur radio operators fail a marketing. We don’t always explain what amateur radio can do for you. Or sometimes, the explanation is just too technical. That could be better today if we explain the ham band and how it can be used in a simpler way. We won’t be able to talk about all of the amateur frequency bands here, but we will talk about the most important ones that will help you the most.
For over a century, amateur radio operators (hams) have been drawn to the amazing ability to communicate wirelessly over long distances. This thrilling hobby uses various frequency bands allocated by the FCC for recreational noncommercial radio communications. Across the large spectrum available to hams certain bands stand out as the most popular.
The bands hams flock to generally have some key traits in common. These include
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Propagation characteristics that allow for regional or global communication
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Available bandwidth to support popular operating modes
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Active use by a large number of hams worldwide
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Open access for all license classes (not just higher licenses)
Based on these criteria, a few bands on the HF, VHF, and UHF ranges have emerged as where most ham activity takes place. Understanding why these bands are so popular sheds light on the hobby as a whole.
HF Bands: Long Distance Communication
The high frequency (HF) bands from 1.8 MHz to 30 MHz are prized for long distance DX (over 250 miles) contacts. Ionospheric propagation allows signals to travel to the opposite side of the planet. The most popular HF bands are:
20 Meters (14 MHz)
The 20 meter band is the king of HF for popularity and reliability. When propagation conditions are good, worldwide contacts are possible on this band using 100 watts or less. It is open to all license classes with operating modes like SSB voice, CW, and digital. The wide bandwidth and variety of activity make 20 meters a favorite.
40 Meters (7 MHz)
With nighttime and winter propagation across continents, 40 meters is the go-to night band. The lower frequency penetrates darkness better than higher bands. SSB voice and CW dominate this band, which like 20 meters is available to all license holders.
15 Meters (21 MHz)
Similar to 20 meters, the 15 meter band allows for daytime DX when the sunspot cycle is near its peak. The catch is that it is more sensitive to solar conditions. When the sun cooperates, you can work across oceans on 15 meters using lower power. It also occasionally opens for global communication using footprint propagation.
80 Meters (3.5 MHz)
Every ham remembers their first DX contact on the 80 meter band. In the evening and at night during winter, this band can span thousands of miles, especially in the CW and SSB voice modes. The lower frequency is more effective at bouncing off the ionosphere in darkness. 80 meters is a rite of passage for hams seeking long distance QSOs.
VHF/UHF Bands – Local and Regional Contacts
For local ham communications out to a few hundred miles, VHF and UHF frequencies are ideal. Line-of-sight and tropospheric propagation characterize these bands spanning from 50 MHz to 1300 MHz. Favorite VHF/UHF bands are:
2 Meters (144 MHz)
By far the most popular VHF band, 2 meters supports FM, SSB, CW and digital communications. Typical range is 10-150 miles from a base station depending on terrain. Repeaters and equipment availability make this band widely accessible for regional networking and public service events.
70 Centimeters (420 MHz)
The 70 cm band offers a good balance between range, antenna size, and bandwidth. It covers about half the distance of 2 meters under normal conditions. Amateurs use it for local ragchewing, repeater networks, satellite work, and experimentation with fast digital modes.
1.25 Meters (222 MHz)
Sitting between 2 meters and 70 cm, the 1.25 meter band combines the propagation and range advantages of VHF with wider bandwidth for digital modes. It has growing popularity for things like mesh networking and digital voice. Advances in equipment have put this band on the ham roadmap.
33 Centimeters (902 MHz)
The highest UHF ham band, 33 cm is prized for weak signal SSB/CW and high-speed digital communications. It has good antenna gain in a small package and excellent urban penetration. Although allocation varies globally, this band has worldwide utility for experimentation with the latest modulation techniques.
Other Notable Bands
Beyond the staple bands above, a few other allocations also see frequent use:
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6 Meters (50 MHz) – Sporadic E DX up to 2,000 miles
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10 Meters (28 MHz) – DX during solar peaks
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160 Meters (1.8 MHz) – Regional nighttime “Top Band” operation
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60 Meters (5 MHz) – Five misc. channels with intercontinental DX potential
Discovering All the Bands
While the highlighted frequencies get the most activity, hams certainly utilize the entire spectrum from LF (135 kHz) to UHF (2500 MHz) and above. Part of the appeal is sampling different bands and their unique properties. The popular bands are a great starting point for new hams when exploring the hobby. Understanding propagation along the spectrum takes a lifetime of listening and learning. Hams who master that are equipped to chase DX on any radio frequency allocated to amateur radio.
10 Meter (28MHz – 27 MHz)
The 10m ham radio band is just above the Citizens Band (CB) portion of the radio spectrum. This band is mostly used for Amplitude Modulation (AM), which is similar to CB, and it works best in Single Sideband (SSB) mode. If you used 4-5 watts, which is about the same as CB, you could expect the same range in SSB: 1 to 5 miles in the morning or 5 to 30 miles or more at the right time of day.
However, since you are a licensed ham, you can put out MUCH more power in 10 meters. While
CB can only put out 4 watts, most HF rigs come with a 10 meter antenna that can put out 100 watts, and you can connect an amplifier to get the full 1500 watts of legal power. That said, 1500W is not for the newbie. There are a number of safety factors and increased cost associated with that level of power output.
10 meters is used by amateurs heavily for sporadic propagation caused by the solar cycle. During these cycles, 5-10 watts can reach half-way around the globe with a good antenna. Still, these ranges aren’t reliable for emergency communications, just like 6-meters, since they only show up sometimes.
At the moment, only people with a Technical class license (the lowest level of ham license) can use the 10-meter band for SSB voice and data. It is possible, but only a part of the band can be used with that license class. This is enough to provide a good system for areawide (or longer) simplex communications, especially in rural areas. To use the full band, a general class license or higher is required.
2 Meter and 70cm Bands
2 Meter Frequency Range: 144 MHz – 148 MHz70 Centimeter Frequency Range: 420 MHz – 450 MHz
The 2-Meter and 70cm bands are where it’s at for short range amateur radio. These radios are some of the cheapest you can buy, and repeaters can be used to make calls across cities or even the state.
While a handheld amateur radio can only reach out a few miles in normal conditions,
repeaters allow communications at much farther distances. There are over 21,000 documented amateur repeaters across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
(RepeaterBook.com). It is the largest, free to use, group of repeaters in the country.
These bands operate in FM (frequency modulation) and make it affordable as an entry ham. They also can allow a simple yet redundant method for family or team.
communications across your town for all who have a license.
The 70cm band offers better building penetration than 2-meter and is considered more effective in urban areas. While the 2-meter band carries farther in rural areas and can offer skip or VHF propagation in certain weather conditions such as the passing of frontal boundaries or temperature inversions carrying your signal much farther. See the map here for the current VHF propagation conditions.
There are two bands that a Technician class license can be used on: 2 meters and 70 centimeters. This is the first license you get when you start testing for ham radio.
Ham Radio Frequencies 101 – The Bands You NEED to Be On
What band does a ham radio use?
630 Meter ranges from 472 KHz to 479 KHz. 160 Meter ranges from 1.800 MHz to 2.000 MHz.160 was previously the lowest band used in ham radio and is often called the “top band’ by many hams. HF bands are where the majority of long-distance communications happen in amateur radio. 80 Meter ranges from 3.5 MHz to 4.0 MHz.
Which band is best for hams?
The 40 meter band is most popular and reliable band for use during all seasons. 30 Meters is a narrow digital band spanning from 10.1–10.15 MHz and has a maximum power of 200 watts. 20 meters band spans from 14.0–14.35 MHz. It is the most popular band between Hams and is most busy band during the day.
What MHz is a ham?
18.068-18.168 MHz. Band conditions are very similar to 20 meters. This seems to be a very popular band when hams go mobile and lots of fun can be expected. You will meet some of the finest Hams in the world on 17 meters. A very cordial band! 21.000-21.450 MHz.
What are HF bands in ham radio?
HF (High Frequency) bands are a critical part of the amateur radio spectrum, known for their remarkable ability to enable long-distance communication across the globe. Let’s delve into the unique features and significance of HF bands in the world of ham radio.