HAM BANDS

Amateur radio operators use frequency bands as assigned by each individual country. Many parts of the bands are common to all so that global communications can take place between operators in different countries.

The bands fall into ranges of frequencies that have specific names such as mid frequencies (MF) in the range of kilohertz (kHz), but below 3 megahertz (MHz), high frequencies (HF) in the range of 3 to 30 MHz, very-high frequencies (VHF) in the range of 30 to 300 MHz, ultra-high frequencies (UHF) in the range of 300 MHz to 3 gigahertz (GHz), super-high frequencies (SHF) in the range of 3 to 30 GHz, extra-high frequencies (EHF) in the range of 30 to 300 GHz. There are even higher frequencies dedicated to hams, including light frequencies.

MF BANDS

• 160 to 190 kHz (also known as the 1750 m band for "lowfers")
• 1800 to 2000 kHz (160 m band)

HF BANDS

• 3.5 to 4 MHz (80 m band)
• 7 to 7.3 MHz (40 m band)
• 10.10 to 10.15 MHz (30 m band; opened 24 hours a day)
• 14.0 to 14.35 MHz (20 m band)


• 18.068 to 18.168 MHz (17 m band)
• 21.0 to 21.45 MHz (15 m band)
• 24.89 to 24.99 MHz (13 m band)
• 28.0 to 29.7 MHz (10 m band)

VHF BANDS

• 50 to 54 MHz (6 m band;, TV starts above this and)
• 144 to 148 MHz (2 m band)
• 22 to 225 MHz (1.25 m band)

UHF BANDS

• 430 to 450 MHz (70 cm band, high-speed TV starts here)
• 902 to 928 MHz (33 cm band)
• 1.24 to 1.3 GHz (23 cm band)
• 2.3 to 2.45 GHz (13 cm band)

SHF BANDS

• 5.650 to 5.925 GHz (5 cm band)
• 10.000 to 10.500 GHz (3 cm band)
• 24.000 to 24.250 GHZ (1.25 cm band)

EHF BANDS

• 47 to 47.2 GHz (6 mm band)
• 75.5 to 81 GHZ (4 mm band)
• 142 to 149 GHz (2 mm band)
• 241 to 250 GHz (1 mm band)

KEY LIMITATION

These band constitute an enormous treasure given to hams for which we do not have to pay. The fundamental limitation of the use of this treasure is that no business can be conducted over these bands. Commercial stations must pay for the use of other frequenices.

SELF POLICING

The ham radio community is very serious about any misuse of the bands, and will help Canadian officials capture any offenders.