A typical tuning range on most HF Communication Receivers 
sold today is from about 100 kHz to 30 MHz.

By international agreement, the radio spectrum has been divided up among various users.

While there are some exceptions, most nations and the stations they authorize do follow the allocations described below:

Signals on these frequencies cannot propagate well via the ionosphere, but are able to penetrate ocean water well. As a result, several military stations used for submarine communications are found here. Most transmissions are in CW and RTTY. You need a specialised antenna to hear much here, and in most locations electrical noise and static will be too high.

This is the European Longwave Amateur radio band. Most used modes in this band is PSK31 and CW and slow CW.

This is the European Longwave Broadcast band. The channel separation is 9kHz.You can hear local stations during daytime and during night you can hear stations as far away as 1500 km or more.

Most stations heard in this range are navigation beacons that continuously repeat their call signs in Morse code. Some RTTY signals are found in the upper end of this band. Marine weather and safety broadcasts, known as NAVTEX, are transmitted on 518 kHz. Your best reception here will be at night, especially during the fall and winter months.

This is the Mediumwave Broadcast band. The channel separation is 9kHz in Europe, Africa and Asia, and 10 kHz in America.

In USA the Mediumwave Broadcast band now ends at 1700 kHz, with 1610 to 1700 kHz being the new "X" or "extended" band. New stations began appearing here in late 1997, and this new "X band" is providing excellent DX listening opportunities. In Europe you can hear medium wave pirate radio stations in this band.

This is a "grab bag" of miscellaneous radio communications, mainly beacons and navigation aids. You may hear several transmitters that sound like chirping crickets; this is floating beacons used to mark fishing and offshore oil exploration locations. In Europe you can hear Coastal Radio stations in this band.

This is the 160-meter ham radio band. Most voice communications will be in LSB, with best reception at night during the fall and winter months.

This range is used maritime communications, with 2182 kHz reserved for distress messages and calling. There are also several regularly scheduled maritime weather broadcasts buy Coastal Radio stations. Most activity will be in USB, and best reception is at night.

This is the 120-meter broadcasting band, mainly used by stations located in the tropics.

More maritime stations are found here, as well as standard time and frequency stations WWV and WWVH on 2500 kHz.

Mainly aeronautical stations in USB use this band. Several stations broadcasts aeronautical weather bulletins, and you can also hear traffic between airports and aero planes aloft.

(2850 - 3025 kHz Civil; 3025 - 3155 kHz Military)

This range is allocated to fixed stations, with most communications in RTTY.

This is a very interesting segment. This is the 90-meter broadcasting band, used mainly by stations in the tropics. Canadian standard time and frequency station CHU can be heard on 3330 kHz. Several fixed stations also use this range, including several associated with various agencies of the U.S. government. Best reception will be at night.

This range is used for civil aeronautical communications in USB.

This is the 80-meter ham radio band. The 3500 to 3600 kHz range is used for CW and RTTY communications, and the rest of the band is used for LSB voice.

3800 to 3950 kHz:

This range is used for civil aeronautical communications in USB. In North America this is a radio amateur band. Best reception is at night.

This is the 75 m broadcasting band in Europe and Africa. In North America this is a radio amateur band. Best reception is at night.

This is a fixed station band, mainly used by military forces for SSB traffic.

This is a band used for maritime communications in USB, with 4125 kHz being used as a calling frequency.

This range is mainly used for fixed and mobile stations in USB.

4650 to 4750 kHz:

This range is used for aeronautical communications in USB.

(4650 - 4700 kHz Civil; 4700 - 4750 kHz Military)

This is the 60-meter broadcasting band, used mainly by stations in the tropics. Best reception is in the evening and night hours during the fall and winter. In winter, stations to the east of you begin to fade in an hour or two before your local sunset, and stations to the west of you don’t start to fade out until an hour or so after your local sunrise. The frequency 5000 kHz is allocated internationally to standard time and frequency stations. In North America, you’ll mainly hear WWV and WWVH on 5000 kHz.

This range is a real jumble! Several broadcasting stations are found in the lower part of the segment, and fixed and mobile stations in SSB, RTTY, and CW are found throughout this band. Best reception is during the evening and night hours.

This range is used for aeronautical communications in USB.

(5450 - 5680 kHz Civil; 5680 - 5730 kHz Military)

Another jumble of different stations! For years, this band has been used by fixed stations of the U.S. government for communications in USB and RTTY. However, several broadcasters are also showing up here.

This is the 49-meter broadcasting band, and is loaded with signals from late afternoon to a couple of hours after your local sunrise.

This is a very busy band for maritime communication in USB and various FSK modes like AMTOR and FEC.

This is another busy band, this time for aeronautical communications in USB. Best reception is during the evening and night hours.

(6525 - 6685 kHz Civil; 6685 - 6765 kHz Military)

This segment is allocated to fixed stations, with signals in SSB, CW, FAX modes, and miscellaneous digital modes.

The 7000 to 7200 kHz range is allocated exclusively to ham radio worldwide, although an occasional broadcaster will show up here. Hams use CW and RTTY from 7000 to7040 kHz, and mainly LSB from 7040 to 7200 kHz. Best reception is from the late afternoon to early morning, although some hams can usually be heard here around the clock.

The 7200 to 7300 kHz range is allocated exclusively to ham radio in North and South America, but is the 41-meter broadcasting band in the rest of the world. Best reception is from the late afternoon to early morning, although some stations can usually be heard here around the clock.

Fixed stations mainly use this segment, although several broadcasters can be found in the lower reaches. Various FSK and digital modes are used.

This is a busy maritime band from the late afternoon until early morning, with most traffic in USB and FSK modes.

This is another aeronautical communications band, with traffic in USB. Several stations broadcast aeronautical weather reports.

(8815 - 8965 kHz Civil; 8965 - 9040 kHz Military)

This range is used mainly by fixed station in various FSK and digital modes, but several international broadcasters also use it.

This is the 31-meter international broadcasting band, and is packed with stations from around the world. Best reception is usually from mid-afternoon to around mid-morning, although some stations can be heard here throughout the day, especially in winter.

Several international broadcasters use this range along with fixed stations using FSK modes.

This is set aside for standard time and frequency stations, like WWV and WWVH on 10000 kHz.

This range is used for civil aeronautical communications.

This is the 30-meter ham radio band. Because it is so narrow, operation here is restricted to CW and RTTY.

Fixed stations use this segment. In addition to various FSK and digital modes, you may hear several international broadcast stations being relayed in SSB. These "feeder" stations are used to send programming to relay sites not served by satellite downlinks.

This range is used for aeronautical communications in USB.

(11175 - 11275 kHz Military; 11275 - 11400 kHz Civil )

11400 to 11650 kHz:

Fixed stations in FSK and digital modes mainly use this segment, but some international broadcasters also operate here.

This is the 25-meter international broadcasting band. You can usually hear several stations here no matter what time of day you listen.

Fixed stations in FSK and digital modes primarily use this band, although several international broadcasters are found in the lower area.

This is a busy maritime communications band during the day and evening hours, with traffic in USB and various FSK modes.

Aeronautical communications in USB are heard here during the day and evening.

(13200 - 13260 kHz Civil; 13260 - 13360 kHz Military )

Fixed stations, mainly in FSK and digital modes use this range.

This is the 22-meter international broadcasting band, with best reception generally during the daytime and early evening.

Fixed stations use this range, with most communications in FSK modes.

This is the 20-meter ham radio band. The lowest 100 kHz is reserved for CW and RTTY use, with USB popular in the rest of the band. Best reception is during the daytime and early evening.

Fixed stations, primarily in FSK and digital modes use this segment.

This sliver is reserved for standard time and frequency stations; with the best-heard being WWV and WWVH on 15000 kHz.

This range is for military aeronautical communications in USB, although a few international broadcasters do show up here.

This is the 19-meter international broadcasting band, and it is usually packed with signals during the daytime and early evening.

Fixed stations in USB, FSK modes, and digital modes use this band.

This range is shared between maritime and fixed stations using USB, FSK modes, and digital modes. Best reception here is generally during the daytime.

Aeronautical and fixed stations using USB, FSK modes, and digital modes share the range.

This is the 16-meter international broadcasting band, and best reception is usually during the daylight hours.

This band is used for aeronautical communications in USB.

(17900 - 17970 kHz Civil; 17970 - 18030 kHz Military )

Fixed stations, mainly in FSK and digital modes use this range.

This is the 17-meter ham radio band, where CW, RTTY, and USB are used.

Fixed stations, with a few maritime stations also found here use this large band. Most traffic is in FSK and digital modes. Reception in this range will usually be limited to daylight hours.

18900 to 19020 kHz:

This is the 19-meter international broadcast band.

19020 to 19990 kHz

Fixed stations, with a few maritime stations also found here use this large band. Most traffic is in FSK and digital modes. An interesting frequency is 19954 kHz, used for decades as a beacon frequency by Soviet/Russian manned spacecraft. Reception in this range will usually be limited to daylight hours.

This segment is reserved for standard time and frequency stations like WWV on 20000 kHz. Reception here is usually possible only in daytime.

Fixed stations and a few aeronautical stations mainly use this range. Most traffic is in FSK and digital modes as well as USB.

This is the 15-meter amateur band. CW and RTTY is mainly found in the first 200 kHz, and USB is used in the rest of the band. Best reception here is in the daytime hours.

This is the 13-meter international broadcasting band, with best reception during the daytime.

21850 to 21870 kHz:

Fixed service in FSK and digital modes as well as USB use this band..

This band is used for civil aeronautical communications in USB.

This range is reserved for maritime communications in USB and FSK modes. Best reception is in daytime during years of high sunspot activity.

Fixed stations, mainly in FSK and digital modes use this band.

This band is used for civil aeronautical communications in USB.

Fixed stations in FSK and digital modes use this segment.

This is the 12-meter ham radio band, used for CW, FSK, and USB work. Reception is usually limited to the daytime during years of high sunspot activity.

This range is for standard time and frequency stations, although none are currently operating here.

This band is used by fixed, mobile, and maritime stations, many of them low powered units in trucks, taxicabs, small boats, etc. USB and AM are mainly used, along with FM having 5 kHz deviation. Best reception is during daytime in years of high sunspot activity or during a sporadic-E propagation opening.

This region is reserved for radio astronomy and is usually free of stations.

This is the 11-meter international broadcasting band. Reception is usually possible only in daytime during years of high sunspot activity.

This band is used by fixed, mobile, and maritime stations, many of them low powered units in trucks, taxicabs, small boats, etc. USB and AM are mainly used, along with FM having 5 kHz deviation. Best reception is during daytime in years of high sunspot activity or during a sporadic-E propagation opening.

26965 to 27405 kHz:

This is the citizens band, the channel separation is 10 kHz. NFM, AM and USB is used.

27405 to 28000kHz:

Mainly CB pirates in USB, and various fixed and mobile stations in NFM use this band.

This is the 10-meter ham radio band. Most activity is in USB from 28300 to 28600 kHz, with FM used in the range 29510 - 29700 kHz. It is possible to receive amateur radio satellites between 29300 and 29510 kHz. Best reception is during daytime in years of high sunspot activity or during a sporadic-E propagation opening.

Low powered fixed and mobile stations, mainly using FM with 5 kHz deviation use this range.

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This page was last updated 13.05.17 .