W4EPO ARRLWeb: Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide


The "Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide"

Band Plans

The following frequencies are generally recognized for certain modes or activities (all frequencies are in MHz).

Nothing in the rules recognizes a net's, group's or any individual's special privilege to any specific frequency. Section 97.101(b) of the Rules states that "Each station licensee and each control operator must cooperate in selecting transmitting channels and in making the most effective use of the amateur service frequencies. No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive use of any station." No one "owns" a frequency.

It's good practice--and plain old common sense--for any operator, regardless of mode, to check to see if the frequency is in use prior to engaging operation. If you are there first, other operators should make an effort to protect you from interference to the extent possible, given that 100% interference-free operation is an unrealistic expectation in today's congested bands.

1.800-1.830CW, data and other narrowband modes
1.810QRP CW calling frequency
1.830-1.840CW, data and other narrowband modes, intercontinental QSOs only
1.840-1.850CW; SSB, SSTV and other wideband modes, intercontinental QSOs only
1.850-2.000CW; phone, SSTV and other wideband modes
3.560QRP CW calling frequency
3.590RTTY DX
3.580-3.620Data
3.620-3.635Automatically controlled data stations
3.710QRP Novice/Technician CW calling frequency
3.790-3.800DX window
3.845SSTV
3.885AM calling frequency
3.985QRP SSB calling frequency
7.040RTTY DX QRP CW calling frequency
7.080-7.100Data
7.100-7.105Automatically controlled data stations
7.110QRP Novice/Technician CW calling frequency
7.171SSTV
7.285QRP SSB calling frequency
7.290AM calling frequency
10.106QRP CW calling frequency
10.130-10.140Data
10.140-10.150Automatically controlled data stations
14.060QRP CW calling frequency
14.070-14.095Data
14.095-14.0995Automatically controlled data stations
14.100NCDXF/IARU beacons
14.1005-14.112Automatically controlled data stations
14.230SSTV
14.285QRP SSB calling frequency
14.286AM calling frequency
18.100-18.105Data
18.105-18.110Automatically controlled data stations
21.060QRP CW calling frequency
21.070-21.100Data
21.090-21.100Automatically controlled data stations
21.340SSTV
21.385QRP SSB calling frequency
24.920-24.925Data
24.925-24.930Automatically controlled data stations
28.060QRP CW calling frequency
28.070-28.120Data
28.120-28.189Automatically controlled data stations
28.190-28.225Beacons
28.385QRP SSB calling frequency
28.680SSTV
29.000-29.200AM
29.300-29.510Satellite downlinks
29.520-29.580Repeater inputs
29.600FM simplex
29.620-29.680Repeater outputs