WARC bands
The WARC bands are three portions of the shortwave radio spectrum used by licensed and/or certified amateur radio operators. They consist of 30 meters (10.100–10.150 MHz), 17 meters (18.068–18.168 MHz) and 12 meters (24.890–24.990 MHz).[1][2] They were named after the World Administrative Radio Conference, which in 1979 created a worldwide allocation of these bands for amateur use. The bands were opened for use in the early 1980s. Due to their relatively small bandwidth of 100 kHz or less, there is a sort of gentlemen's agreement that the WARC bands may not be used for general contesting. This agreement has been codified in official recommendations, such as the IARU Region 1 HF Manager's Handbook, which states:
Contest activity shall not take place on the 10, 18 and 24 MHz bands.
Non-contesting radio amateurs are recommended to use the contest-free HF bands (30, 17 and 12m) during the largest international contests. (DV05_C4_Rev_07)[3]
Throughout most of the world, the 30 meter band cannot be used for "phone" (voice) communications except in emergency situations. However, part of Region 1 (Africa, south of the equator, during daylight hours) is permitted to use phone.[4] The USA limits amateur radio users to 200 watts peak envelope power on this band.[5][6]
12 metre band plan
IARU Region 1[7]
License class |
24.890–24.915 |
24.915-24.925 |
24.925-24.929 |
24.929-24.931 |
24.931-24.940 |
24.940-24.990 |
Effective 1 Jan 2008 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, narrow-band digital, unattended stations |
Beacons |
CW, narrow-band digital, unattended stations |
All modes |
IARU Region 2[8]
License class |
24.890–24.915 |
24.915-24.925 |
24.925-24.929 |
24.929-24.931 |
24.931-24.940 |
24.940-24.990 |
Effective 1 Jan 2008 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, narrow-band digital, unattended stations |
Beacons |
CW, narrow-band digital, unattended stations |
All modes |
IARU Region 3[9]
License class |
24.890–24.920 |
24.920-24.9295 |
24.9295-24.9305 |
24.940-24.990 |
Effective as of 2009 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
Beacons |
All modes 2 kHz max BW |
Canada 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 |
24.890–24.920 |
24.920-24.925 |
24.925-24.940 |
24.940-24.975 |
24.975-24.978 |
24.978-24.990 |
Basic(+), Advanced |
CW Only |
Digital only |
CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital |
Phone only |
TV only |
Phone only |
United States[1]
License class |
24.890–24.930 |
24.930-24.990 |
Extra, Advanced, General |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, phone |
17 metre band plan
IARU Region 1
License class |
18.068-18.095 |
18.095-18.105 |
18.105-18.109 |
18.109-18.111 |
18.111-18.120 |
18.120-18.168 |
Effective 1 Jan 2008 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, narrow-band digital, unattended stations |
Beacons |
All modes, unattended stations |
All modes |
IARU Region 2
License class |
18.068-18.095 |
18.095-18.105 |
18.105-18.109 |
18.109-18.111 |
18.111-18.120 |
18.120-18.168 |
Effective 1 Jan 2008 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, narrow-band digital, unattended stations |
Beacons |
All modes, unattended stations |
All modes |
Canada 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 |
18.068-18.095 |
18.095-18.100 |
18.100-18.110 |
18.110-18.168 |
Basic(+), Advanced |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital |
Digital only |
Phone only |
United States[1]
The United States is part of ITU Region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan. The Amateur Radio Relay League offers the bandplan [1]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 |
18.068-18.110 |
18.110-18.168 |
Extra, Advanced, General |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, phone |
IARU Region 3
License class |
18.068-18.095 |
18.095-18.105 |
18.105-18.1095 |
18.1095-18.1105 |
18.1105-18.168 |
Effective as of 2009 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital |
Beacons |
All modes |
30 metre band plan
IARU Region 1
License class |
10.100-10.130 |
10.130-10.150 |
Effective 1 Jun 2016 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
SSB may be used during emergencies involving the immediate safety of life and property and only by stations actually involved in the handling of emergency traffic.
The band segment 10.120 to 10.140 may only be used for SSB transmissions in the area of Africa south of the equator during local daylight hours.
IARU Region 2
License class |
10.100-10.130 |
10.130-10.140 |
10.140-10.150 |
Effective 1 Jan 2008 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
All modes except phone |
IARU Region 3
License class |
10.100-10.140 |
10.140-10.150 |
Effective 2009 |
CW Only |
CW, narrow-band digital |
Canada 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 |
10.100-10.130 |
10.130-10.140 |
10.140-10.150 |
Basic(+), Advanced |
CW Only |
Digital only |
CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital |
United States
License class |
10.100-10.150 |
Ext., Adv., Gen. (200 watts) |
CW, narrow-band digital |
Key for Band Plans
|
= CW only |
|
= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ) |
|
= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), unattended stations |
|
= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), wide band digital |
|
= Beacons |
|
= CW, phone |
|
= All modes, unattended stations |
|
= All modes except phone |
|
= Digital only |
|
= Phone only |
|
= TV only |
|
= All modes |
See also
References
|
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.
2 HF allocation created at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. These are commonly called the "WARC bands".
3 This includes a currently active footnote allocation mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations. These allocations may only apply to a group of countries. |
See also: Radio spectrum · Electromagnetic spectrum |
External links