Operating Rules and Procedures

Region 1 Band Plan – HF

Note: the data shown here has been simplified for exam purposes.  Also see notes here

kHz Preferred Mode and Usage
1.8 MHz (160 metres) Band – Contests Permitted
1810-1850 CW
1850-2000 All modes
 
3.5 MHz (80 metres) Band – Contests Permitted
3500-3510 CW, priority for intercontinental operation
3510-3560 CW, contest preferred
3560-3580 CW
3580-3600 Narrow band modes / digimodes
3600-3650 All modes, SSB contest preferred
3650-3700 All modes
3700-3800 All modes, SSB contest preferred
3775-3800 All modes, priority for intercontinental operation
Lowest dial setting for LSB voice mode is 3603
 
7 MHz (40 metres) Band – Contests Permitted
7000-7040 CW
7040-7050 Narrow band modes / digimodes
7050-7060 All modes
7060-7100 All modes, SSB contest preferred
7100-7130 All modes
7130-7200 All modes, SSB contest preferred
7175-7200 All modes, priority for intercontinental operation
Lowest dial setting for LSB voice mode is 7053
 
10 MHz (30 metres) Band – Contests Not Permitted
10100-10130 CW
10130-10150 Narrow band modes / digimodes
 
14 MHz (20 metres) Band – Contests Permitted
14000-14060 CW, contest preferred
14060-14070 CW
14070-14099 Narrow band modes / digimodes
14099-14101 Beacons only
14101-14125 All modes
14125-14300 All modes, SSB contest preferred
14300-14350 All modes
14300 Global emergency centre of activity
 
18 MHz (17 metres) Band – Contests Not Permitted
18068-18095 CW
18095-18109 Narrow band modes / digimodes
18109-18111 Beacons only
18111-18168 All modes
18160 Global emergency centre of activity
 
21 MHz (15 metres) Band – Contests Permitted
21000-21070 CW
21070-21149 Narrow band modes / digimodes
21149-21151 Beacons only
21151-21450 All modes
21360 Global emergency centre of activity
 
24 MHz (12 metres) Band – Contests Not Permitted
24890-24915 CW
24915-24929 Narrow band modes / digimodes
24929-24931 Beacons only
24931-24990 All modes
 
28 MHz (10 metres) Band – Contests Permitted
28000-28070 CW
28070-28190 Narrow band modes / digimodes
28190-28225 Beacons only
28225-29100 All modes
29100-29700 All modes – FM
Note: 29100 to 29700 is the only segment of the HF bands where the wide bandwidth required by FM transmissions is permitted; on all other bands, the bandwidth limits mean that "All modes" would exclude FM
 
“Narrow band modes” in the above table refer to modes with a maximum bandwidth of 500 Hz
Below 10 MHz use lower sideband (LSB), above 10 MHz use upper sideband (USB)