Frequencies & Band Plan
This is a quick-reference cheat sheet for the most-used US amateur frequencies: calling frequencies, FM simplex frequencies, and popular digital frequencies. Your operating privileges depend on your license class — a Technician, General, and Amateur Extra do not all have the same access to every band or mode. See Get Licensed and Bands for details on what each class may use.
The amateur "band plan" is a voluntary agreement — a gentleman's agreement among operators about which parts of a band are used for which modes. It is not law, and locally coordinated plans always take precedence. The actual legal limits on frequency, mode, and power come from the FCC rules. This page is a convenience reference, not a legal authority. Always confirm your current privileges against the official sources:
- ARRL Band Plan — the suggested voluntary band usage.
- ARRL US Amateur Radio Frequency Allocations — band charts and privileges by license class.
- ARRL Graphical Band Chart (PDF) — the popular color "at-a-glance" chart of US bands and privileges.
- FCC — the agency whose Part 97 rules actually govern amateur operation.
- FCC Part 97 (eCFR) — the full, current text of the amateur radio service rules, including frequency allocations by license class (see also Part 97 at Cornell LII).
Calling frequencies
A "calling frequency" is a common spot where operators listen for and make initial contact, then typically move ("QSY") to another clear frequency to continue the conversation. All frequencies are in MHz. For the full set of recommended calling frequencies and mode segments, see the ARRL Band Plan.
| Band | Calling frequency (MHz) | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 28.400 | SSB |
| 6 m | 50.125 | SSB |
| 6 m | 50.313 | FT8 (digital) |
| 2 m | 144.200 | SSB |
| 2 m | 146.520 | FM — national simplex calling frequency |
| 1.25 m | 223.500 | FM (national simplex calling frequency) |
| 70 cm | 432.100 | SSB |
| 70 cm | 446.000 | FM (national simplex calling frequency) |
Common FM simplex frequencies
"Simplex" means transmitting and receiving on the same frequency, radio to radio, with no repeater in between. A few points worth memorizing:
- 146.520 MHz is the national 2 m FM simplex calling frequency. Use it to call and make contact, then move to another simplex frequency — please do not tie it up with long ragchews.
- 446.000 MHz is the corresponding national FM simplex calling frequency on 70 cm.
- 223.500 MHz is the national FM simplex calling frequency on 1.25 m.
- Each band has a designated simplex sub-band set aside in the band plan. On 2 m these are commonly around 146.40–146.58 and 147.42–147.57 MHz; on 70 cm, segments such as 446.000–446.175 MHz are widely used for simplex. Pick a frequency within the simplex sub-band that is not the calling frequency, and listen before transmitting.
- For background on how the simplex sub-bands are laid out, see the 2-meter band overview and the ARRL Band Plan, which lists the FM simplex segments for each band.
Popular FT8 / digital frequencies
FT8 is the most popular weak-signal digital mode, and most activity on each band clusters on a standard "watering hole" frequency (your radio's dial / USB carrier frequency). See Digital Modes for how these modes work and what software you need. The standard FT8/FT4 dial frequencies below match the defaults shipped with WSJT-X, the most widely used weak-signal digital software. All frequencies are in MHz.
| Band | FT8 frequency (MHz) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 160 m | 1.840 | USB dial |
| 80 m | 3.573 | USB dial |
| 40 m | 7.074 | USB dial |
| 30 m | 10.136 | USB dial |
| 20 m | 14.074 | USB dial |
| 17 m | 18.100 | USB dial |
| 15 m | 21.074 | USB dial |
| 12 m | 24.915 | USB dial |
| 10 m | 28.074 | USB dial |
| 6 m | 50.313 | USB dial |
| 2 m | 144.174 | USB dial |
Repeaters: offsets and tones
Most FM voice activity on 2 m and 70 cm goes through repeaters, which receive on one frequency (the input) and retransmit on another (the output). You listen on the output frequency and your radio automatically transmits on the input, shifted by a standard offset:
- 2 m: ±600 kHz (0.6 MHz) offset.
- 70 cm: ±5 MHz offset.
Many repeaters also require a sub-audible PL / CTCSS tone (or a digital squelch code) before they will repeat your signal. The correct offset direction and tone are published in repeater directories. See Repeaters for how to look these up and program them.
Operating references
A few handy references that go along with knowing the frequencies:
- NATO phonetic alphabet — "Alfa, Bravo, Charlie…" used to spell callsigns clearly, especially on SSB and during weak conditions.
- Q-code reference — shorthand such as QSY (change frequency), QRM (interference), and QTH (location) used on CW and voice alike.
- Grid square lookup (K7FRY) — click a map to find your Maidenhead grid locator, which you trade on VHF/UHF, FT8, and contests.
- Band conditions / solar data (HamQSL) — a live look at solar flux and HF/VHF propagation so you know which bands are likely open before you tune around.
For more on what each band offers and which license class can use it, see Bands; for working FT8 and other data modes on the frequencies above, see Digital Modes; and for programming offsets and tones, see Repeaters.
Before you transmit
Remember: the band plan above is a voluntary courtesy, while your legal privileges are set by the FCC and depend on your license class. Always confirm your current privileges against the FCC rules and the ARRL references (Band Plan, Frequency Allocations) before operating, and always listen first to make sure a frequency is clear.