Frequencies to use

For convenience the radio frequencies are split up into areas called: M.F. (Medium Frequency), H.F. (High Frequencies), V.H.F. (Very High Frequency), U.H.F. (Ultra High Frequency) and Microwave.

Medium and High Frequency Modes of operation for Amateur Radio

VHF modes of operation for Amateur Radio

UHF modes of operation for Amateur Radio

Microwave operation in Amateur Radio

   M.F.

	Medium Frequency.
	From 300KHz (0.3MHz) to 3MHz.
	Local communication.
	VERY large antennas.
	Commonly uses S.S.B. and C.W. sometimes A.M. is still used.
	RTTY (radio teletype), AMTOR, PACTOR, SSTV (Slow Scan Television) and Packet (at 300 Baud) are all used on the M.F. band.
	In Canada, only one band in the Medium Frequency range may be used for Amateur radio. 160 meters (1.8MHz to 2MHz).

H.F.

	High Frequency.
	From 3MHz to 30MHz.
	"Around The World" communications.
	Large antennas required
	Commonly uses S.S.B. and C.W. sometimes A.M. is still used.
	RTTY (radio teletype), AMTOR, PACTOR, SSTV (Slow Scan Television) and Packet (at 300 Baud) are all used on the H.F. bands.
	In Canada, 8 bands can be legally used by Amateur Radio operators in the High Frequency area: 80 meters (3.5MHz to 4.0MHz), 40 meters (3.5MHz to 4.0MHz), 30 meters (10.1MHz to 10.15MHz, C.W.) and Digital modes only), 20 meters (14MHz to 14.350MHz), 17 meters (18.068MHz to 18.168MHz), 15 meters (21.MHz to 21.45MHz), 12 meters (24.89MHz to 24.99MHz), and 10 meters (28MHz to 29.7MHz).
	In general, the lower frequencies (less MHz) are good after dark and the higher frequencies are good during the day.

VHF

	Very High Frequency.
	From 30MHz to 300Mhz.
	"Line Of Sight" (If you can see it you can talk to it!).
	Small antennas, higher up is better.
	Commonly used for local communications with F.M. portable or mobile radios.
	Long distance communications are possible under some conditions. S.S.B. or C.W. (Morse Code) are often used under these circumstances.
	Packet Radio commonly uses F.M. radios (the same as voice communications) at 1200 Baud for computer communications.
	In Canada, there are three bands available for Amateur Radio use in the V.H.F. area. 50MHz to 54MHz, 144MHz to 148MHz and 220MHz to 225 MHz. Most activity will be found on the "two meter" band, 144MHz to 148MHz particularly during morning and evening "rush hours" when Amateur Radio operators are driving to and from work.

UHF

	Ultra High Frequency
	From 300MHz to 3000Mhz (3GHz)
	"VERY Line Of Sight" (If you can see it you can talk to it!)
	Very small antennas (a few inches), higher up is better
	Increasingly used for local communications with F.M. portable or mobile radios.
	Long distance communications (including Moon Bounce are possible under some conditions. S.S.B. or C.W. (Morse Code) are often used under these circumstances.
	Packet Radio commonly uses modified F.M. radios at 1200 Baud and above for computer communications.

Microwave

	Super High Frequency.
	From 3GHz (3,000MHz) to 30Ghz (30,000MHz).
	EXTREMELY Line Of Sight (You must see it to talk to it!).
	Radio waves act more like light waves.
	Very small antennas (a few inches), higher up is better.
	Much experimentation is done with these bands.
	Long distance communications are possible under some conditions by reflecting the radio waves off objects.