20-meter band
The 20-meter or 14-MHz amateur radio band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 14.000 MHz to 14.350 MHz.[1] The 20-meter band is widely considered among the best for long-distance communication (DXing), and is one of the most popular—and crowded—during contests.[2] Several factors contribute to this, including the band's large size, the relatively small size of antennas tuned to it (especially as compared to antennas for the 40-meter band or the 80-meter band) and its good potential for daytime DX operation even in unfavorable propagation conditions.[3]
History
The 20-meter band was first made available to amateurs in the United States by the Third National Radio Conference[4] on October 10, 1924. The band was allocated on a worldwide basis by the International Radiotelegraph Conference[5] in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 1927. Its frequency allocation was then 14000–14400 kHz. The allocation was reduced to 14000–14350 kHz. by the International Radio Conference of Atlantic City, New Jersey 1947.[6]
Band plans
IARU Region 1
Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia[7]
| 20 meters | 14000-14070 | 14070-14099 | 14099-14101 | 14101-14350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IARU Region 1 | ||||
IARU Region 2
The Americas[7]
| 20 meters | 14000-14070 | 14070-14099 | 14099-14101 | 14101-14350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IARU Region 2 | ||||
IARU Region 3
Asia-Pacific[7]
| 20 meters | 14000-14070 | 14070-14099 | 14099-14101 | 14101-14112 | 14112-14350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IARU Region 3 | |||||
United States
Effective 12:01 a.m. EST, February 23, 2007
| 20 m | 14000 - 14350 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States |
14000 14025 | 14025 14150 | 14150 14175 | 14175 14225 | 14225 14350 |
| General | |||||
| Advanced | |||||
| Extra | |||||
Canada
Canada[8] is part of region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan. Radio Amateurs of Canada offers the bandplan below as a recommendation for use by radio amateurs in that country but it does not have the force of law and should only be considered a suggestion or guideline.
| License class | 14.000–14.070 | 14.070-14.095 | 14.095-14.0995 | 14.0995-14.1005 | 14.1005-14.112 | 14.112-14.350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic(+), Advanced |
Key
| = CW only | |
| = CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ) | |
| = CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), wide band digital | |
| = CW, RTTY and data (US: < 1 kHz Bandwidth) | |
| = Beacons | |
| = CW, phone | |
| = CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), phone | |
| = CW, phone and image |
References
- ↑ "Frequency Allocations". Arrl.org. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
- ↑ Picking a band. The ARRL Operating Manual, 8th Edition (Steve Ford, Ed.):1-15.
- ↑ "Propagation of RF Signals". The ARRL Handbook For Radio Communications (82nd ed.). American Radio Relay League. 2005. p. 20.4. ISBN 0-87259-928-0.
- ↑ "Recommendations for Regulation of Radio: October 6-10, 1924". Earlyradiohistory.us. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
- ↑ http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S02010000144002PDFE.pdf
- ↑ http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S020100002B4002PDFE.pdf
- 1 2 3 "IARU Regions". www.iaru.org. International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
| Range | Band | ITU Region 1 | ITU Region 2 | ITU Region 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF | 2200 m | 135.7 kHz – 137.8 kHz | ||
| MF | 600 m | 472 kHz – 479 kHz | ||
| 160 m | 1.810 MHz – 1.850 MHz | 1.800 MHz – 2.000 MHz | ||
| HF | 80 / 75 m | 3.500 MHz – 3.800 MHz | 3.500 MHz – 4.000 MHz | 3.500 MHz – 3.900 MHz |
| 60 m | 5.3515 MHz – 5.3665 MHz | |||
| 40 m | 7.000 MHz – 7.200 MHz | 7.000 MHz – 7.300 MHz | 7.000 MHz – 7.200 MHz | |
| 30 m2 | 10.100 MHz – 10.150 MHz | |||
| 20 m | 14.000 MHz – 14.350 MHz | |||
| 17 m2 | 18.068 MHz – 18.168 MHz | |||
| 15 m | 21.000 MHz – 21.450 MHz | |||
| 12 m2 | 24.890 MHz – 24.990 MHz | |||
| 10 m | 28.000 MHz – 29.700 MHz | |||
| VHF | 6 m | 50.000 MHz – 52.000 MHz1 | 50.000 MHz – 54.000 MHz | |
| 4 m1 | 70.000 MHz – 70.500 MHz | N/A | ||
| 2 m | 144.000 MHz – 146.000 MHz | 144.000 MHz – 148.000 MHz | ||
| 1.25 m | N/A | 220.000 MHz – 225.000 MHz | N/A | |
| UHF | 70 cm | 430.000 MHz – 440.000 MHz | 430.000 – 440.000 MHz (420.000 – 450.000 MHz)3 | |
| 33 cm | N/A | 902.000 MHz – 928.000 MHz | N/A | |
| 23 cm | 1.240 GHz – 1.300 GHz | |||
| 13 cm | 2.300 GHz – 2.450 GHz | |||
| SHF | 9 cm | 3.400 GHz – 3.475 GHz3 | 3.300 GHz – 3.500 GHz | |
| 5 cm | 5.650 GHz – 5.850 GHz | 5.650 GHz – 5.925 GHz | 5.650 GHz – 5.850 GHz | |
| 3 cm | 10.000 GHz – 10.500 GHz | |||
| 1.2 cm | 24.000 GHz – 24.250 GHz | |||
| EHF | 6 mm | 47.000 GHz – 47.200 GHz | ||
| 4 mm3 | 75.500 GHz1 – 81.500 GHz | 76.000 GHz – 81.500 GHz | ||
| 2.5 mm | 122.250 GHz – 123.000 GHz | |||
| 2 mm | 134.000 GHz – 141.000 GHz | |||
| 1 mm | 241.000 GHz – 250.000 GHz | |||
| THF | Sub-mm | Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region. | ||
|
1 This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but individual administrations may make allocations under Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations. See the appropriate Wiki page for further information. | ||||
| See also: Radio spectrum · Electromagnetic spectrum | ||||