Band Plan at a Glance

The electromagnetic spectrum is broken up into a series of groups, referred to as “bands”. These bands may be named after a purpose, or type of transmission, but are generally named after the approximate wavelength of the particular band in meters.

It should be noted that some bands require an amateur radio (ham) license to operate on; some others may require other licenses. Some bands aren’t allowed to be used at all by the general public.

Distance drives the choice of band before it drives the choice of radio. Low HF bands bend around the curve of the earth and bounce off the ionosphere for hundreds or thousands of miles; VHF and UHF are line-of-sight and local, but small, cheap, and license-light.

High Frequency (HF)

Band Name	Frequency Range	Description
160 m	1.800 - 2.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.
80 m or 75 m	3.525 - 4.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.
60 m	5.330 - 5.405 MHz	Amateur radio band.
40 m	7.025 - 7.300 MHz	Amateur radio band.
30 m	10.100 - 10.150 MHz	Amateur radio band.
20 m	14.025 - 14.350 MHz	Amateur radio band.
17 m	18.068 - 18.110 MHz	Amateur radio band.
15 m	21.025 - 21.450 MHz	Amateur radio band.
12 m	24.890 - 24.990 MHz	Amateur radio band.
11 m	26.965 - 27.991 MHz	European band - not allowed in USA
Citizens Band (CB)	26.965 - 27.405 MHz	License-free band.
10 m	28.000 - 29.700 MHz	Amateur radio band.

Very High Frequency (VHF)

Band Name	Frequency Range	Description
Red Cross	47.420 - 47.500 MHz	Frequencies reserved to the American Red Cross
6 m	50.100 - 54.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.
Aviation	121.500 - 136.000 MHz	Private & commercial aviation.
2 m	144.000 - 148.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.
MURS	151.820 - 154.600	License-free band in the USA.
Business Bands	150.815 - 173.396 MHz	Specific frequencies licensed to businesses.
Marine	156.050 - 157.425 MHz	Band for watercraft.
NOAA Weather	162.400 - 162.550	Weather forecasts & alerts from the US Gov’t.
1.25 m	222.000 - 225.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.

Ultra-High Frequency (UHF)

Band Name	Frequency Range	Description
70 cm	420.000 - 450.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.
FRS/GMRS	462.562 - 467.725 MHz	The “bubble pack” radios you can purchase anywhere.
33 cm	902.000 - 928.000 MHz	Amateur radio band.
Meshtastic	902.000 - 928.000 MHz	Secure digital messaging.

The HF bands (80/40/20m) need a ham license and a bigger antenna, but they’re the ones that still work when the repeaters and the grid are down. That’s why they matter for preparedness.