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UK HF band plan

Every segment of the RSGB HF band plan from 160m to 10m, with the maximum bandwidth, what it's used for and the centres of activity. Enter a frequency to see which segment it's in.

HF band plans: UK · Europe · USA · Australia

From (kHz)To (kHz)Max bandwidthUsageCentres of activity

Based on the RSGB HF band plan; check rsgb.org/bandplans for the latest version. Data mode frequencies such as FT8 are included in the centres of activity for convenience. Band plans change from time to time, and your licence sets the legal limits.

What a band plan is

Your licence says which frequencies you can use and at what power. The band plan is a voluntary agreement on how to share them, so CW, data and voice stations don't interfere with each other. It's set by the IARU for Region 1, which covers Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and the RSGB publishes the UK version with UK-specific details such as the 60m segments. Following it is good practice and expected of every operator.

Maximum bandwidth

The band plan limits the width of your signal in each segment: 200 Hz in CW segments, 500 Hz in narrow-band data segments and 2.7 kHz for SSB. Don't set the LSB dial below 1843, 3603 or 7053 kHz, and stay 3 kHz below the top edge on USB.

Contest-free bands

Contests are kept off 60m, 30m, 17m and 12m, so these bands stay usable during big contest weekends.

How to read it

  • CW segments are at the bottom of every band, with narrow-band data modes such as FT8, PSK31 and RTTY above them, and phone (SSB) higher up.
  • Centres of activity are where to look for particular activities, such as QRP (low power), image modes like SSTV, and emergency traffic.
  • Frequencies are transmitted frequencies, not dial settings. On LSB your signal extends about 3 kHz below the dial, and on USB about 3 kHz above it, so keep the whole signal inside the segment and the band.
  • Beacon segments around 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930 and 28.200 MHz are kept clear for the NCDXF beacons.

For the standard data mode frequencies on every band, see the digital mode frequencies page, and for contest weekends, the contest calendar.

Questions

Where is the SSB QRP frequency on 20m?

14.285 MHz. The CW QRP centre of activity is 14.060 MHz.

What are the UK emergency frequencies on HF?

The RSGB band plan lists 3.663 MHz and 5.2785 MHz for UK emergency communications, and 3.760, 7.110, 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz as IARU emergency centres of activity.

Can I use SSB on 30m?

No. 30m is for CW and narrow-band data only, except in a genuine emergency.

What are the UK 60m frequencies?

Eleven segments between 5258.5 and 5406.5 kHz. The table shows each one. Check your licence schedule for access and power.