Ham bands and frequencies
Where the ham bands sit, what each is good for, and a lookup to see which service a frequency belongs to.
Which service is this frequency?
FRS and GMRS (462 MHz channels)
US ham bands at a glance
| Band | Frequencies (MHz) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 160 m | 1.8 to 2.0 | Night-time long distance, large antennas |
| 80 m | 3.5 to 4.0 | Evening nets and regional chats |
| 40 m | 7.0 to 7.3 | Day and night, regional to worldwide |
| 20 m | 14.0 to 14.35 | Daytime worldwide contacts |
| 15 m | 21.0 to 21.45 | Long distance when the sun is active |
| 10 m | 28.0 to 29.7 | Local FM and long-distance openings |
| 6 m | 50 to 54 | The magic band, sudden openings |
| 2 m | 144 to 148 | Local repeaters and simplex, the most popular band |
| 70 cm | 420 to 450 | Local repeaters, digital voice, handhelds |
| 23 cm | 1240 to 1300 | Experiments, digital video, linking |
Which parts of each band you may use depends on your license class. Always check the current FCC band plan.
Common calling frequencies
- 146.520 MHz is the national 2 meter FM simplex calling frequency.
- 446.000 MHz is the national 70 centimeter FM simplex calling frequency.
- 144.390 MHz is where APRS position reports run in North America.
How far each band goes
- HF (160 m to 10 m) bounces off the ionosphere and can reach around the world.
- VHF and UHF (2 m, 70 cm and GMRS) mostly travel line of sight, so height matters most.
- Lower frequencies go around obstacles better; higher frequencies fit smaller antennas.
Ham versus GMRS
A ham license lets you build and modify equipment, use higher power and talk worldwide on HF. GMRS needs a license for your family, uses FCC-certified radios and has its own channels around 462 and 467 MHz. Many people hold both.
General information, not legal advice. Check the current FCC rules before you transmit.
