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howto:hambasics:sections:intro [2020/10/09 07:42] – [Ham Bands Overview] va7fi | howto:hambasics:sections:intro [2022/09/13 22:29] – [Table] va7fi |
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* <fc #4682b4>In blue are CB bands, which don't require any qualification but can only be used with unmodified CB radios at relatively low power (for reference).</fc> | * <fc #4682b4>In blue are CB bands, which don't require any qualification but can only be used with unmodified CB radios at relatively low power (for reference).</fc> |
* <fc #ff0000>In red are the AM and FM radio broadcasting bands (for reference).</fc> | * <fc #ff0000>In red are the AM and FM radio broadcasting bands (for reference).</fc> |
* <fc #800000>In maroon are the old VHF (1-12) and UHF (13-50) TV channels (for reference).</fc> | * <fc #800000>In maroon are the old VHF (1-13) and UHF (14-50) TV channels.</fc>((Remember those? ([[https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/431430839273040262/|source]]) \\ {{:howto:hambasics:sections:tvbuttons.jpg}})) |
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We'll explore this in much more detail later, but for now, the important concept is that to transmit a signal, the radio must transmit over a **range** of frequencies, not just one single frequency. This range is called //bandwidth//. | We'll explore this in much more detail later, but for now, the important concept is that to transmit a signal, the radio must transmit over a **range** of frequencies, not just one single frequency. This range is called //bandwidth//. |
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In addition to only being allowed to transmit on specific frequencies, ham operators also have to make sure that they don't transmit over a greater bandwidth than allowed for the specific frequencies. That is, there are restrictions on //where// we transmit on the spectrum as well as //how wide// the transmissions are. | In addition to only being allowed to transmit on specific frequencies, ham operators also have to make sure that they don't transmit over a greater bandwidth than allowed for the specific frequencies. |
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| <WRAP center round tip 80%> |
| That is, there are restrictions on //where// we transmit on the spectrum as well as //how wide// the transmissions are. |
| </WRAP> |
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This is important because different modes have different bandwidth requirements. From lowest to highest: | This is important because different modes have different bandwidth requirements. From lowest to highest: |
|< 300px >| | |< 300px >| |
^Mode ^Required Bandwidth | | ^Mode ^Required Bandwidth | |
|CW |30 Hz | | |CW |~300 Hz | |
|300 Baud Packet |~600 Hz | | |300 Baud Packet |~600 Hz | |
|SSB Voice |2.7 kHz | | |SSB Voice |2.7 kHz | |
</WRAP> | </WRAP> |
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We'll look at that picture in more details soon, but for now, let's just point out how the AM signal is twice as wide as the SSB signal is. | We'll look at that picture in more details soon, but for now, let's just point out how the AM signal is twice as wide as the SSB signal. |
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===== Certificate Qualifications Overview ===== | ===== Certificate Qualifications Overview ===== |
===== Full Frequency List ===== | ===== Full Frequency List ===== |
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Here is the full frequency list. | Here is the full frequency list. <wrap hi>Highlighted information might be on the test.</wrap> |
* The **Band** name is given in meter or cm. You'll need to know them. | * The **Band** name is given in meter or cm. You'll need to know them. |
* The **Maximum Bandwidth** is the maximum width of the radio signal. You'll also need to know these. | * The **Maximum Bandwidth** is the maximum width of the radio signal. You'll also need to know these. |
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<WRAP indent> | <WRAP indent> |
^ ^Band ^ Range (MHz) ^Max \\ Bandwidth ^License ^ <wrap important>Notes</wrap> ^ | ^ ^ Band ^ Range (MHz) ^ Max \\ Bandwidth ^ License ^ Notes ^ |
|LF |2200m | 0.1357 -- 0.1378 | 100 Hz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> |D, 1| | | LF | 2200m | 0.1357 -- 0.1378 | 100 Hz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | <wrap hi>D</wrap>, 1 | |
|MF |160m | 1.8 -- 2.0 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | LF | 630m | 0.472 -- 0.479 | 1 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | FIXME | |
|HF |80m | 3.5 -- 4.0 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | MF | <wrap hi>160m</wrap> | <wrap hi>1.8 -- 2.0</wrap> | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|HF |60m | 5.332, 5.348, 5.3585, \\ 5.373, 5.405 | 2.8 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> |2| | | HF | <wrap hi>80m</wrap> | <wrap hi>3.5 -- 4.0</wrap> | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|HF |40m | 7.0 -- 7.3 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> |3| | | HF | 60m | 5.332, 5.348, 5.3515 -- 5.3665, \\ 5.373, 5.405 | 2.8 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | 2 | |
|HF |30m | 10.10 -- 10.15 | 1 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> |D, 4| | | HF | <wrap hi>40m</wrap> | <wrap hi>7.0 -- 7.3</wrap> | <wrap hi>6 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | 3 | |
|HF |20m | 14.00 -- 14.35 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | HF | 30m | 10.10 -- 10.15 | <wrap hi>1 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | <wrap hi>D</wrap>, 4 | |
|HF |17m | 18.068 -- 18.168 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | HF | <wrap hi>20m</wrap> | <wrap hi>14.00 -- 14.35</wrap> | <wrap hi>6 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|HF |15m | 21.00 -- 21.45 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | HF | 17m | 18.068 -- 18.168 | <wrap hi>6 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|HF |12m | 24.89 -- 24.99 | 6 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | HF | <wrap hi>15m</wrap> | <wrap hi>21.00 -- 21.45</wrap> | <wrap hi>6 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|HF |10m | 28.00 -- 29.7 | 20 kHz | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | | HF | 12m | 24.89 -- 24.99 | <wrap hi>6 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|VHF |6m | 50 -- 54 | 30 kHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | | HF | <wrap hi>10m</wrap> | <wrap hi>28.00 -- 29.7</wrap> | <wrap hi>20 kHz</wrap> | <fc #ffa500>B +</fc> | | |
|VHF |2m | 144 -- 148 | 30 kHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | | VHF | 6m | 50 -- 54 | <wrap hi>30 kHz</wrap> | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | |
|VHF |135cm | 219 -- 225 | 100 kHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> |5| | | VHF | 2m | 144 -- 148 | <wrap hi>30 kHz <sup>¥</sup></wrap> | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | |
|UHF |70cm | 430 -- 450 | 12 MHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | | VHF | 135cm | 219 -- 225 | 100 kHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> | 5 | |
|UHF |35cm | 902 -- 928 | 12 MHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | | UHF | 70cm | <wrap hi>430 -- 450</wrap> | 12 MHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> | <wrap hi>☆</wrap> | |
^ ^ ^ Range (GHz) ^ ^ ^ ^ | | UHF | 35cm | <wrap hi>902 -- 928 <sup>§</sup></wrap> | 12 MHz | <fc #008000>B</fc> | <wrap hi>☆</wrap> | |
|UHF | | 1.24 -- 1.30 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | ^ ^ ^ Range (GHz) ^ ^ ^ ^ |
|UHF | | 2.30 -- 2.45 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | | UHF | | 1.24 -- 1.30 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|SHF | | 3.3 -- 3.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | | UHF | | <wrap hi>2.30 -- 2.45 <sup>‡</sup></wrap> | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | <wrap hi>☆</wrap> | |
|SHF | | 5.650 -- 5.925 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | | SHF | | 3.3 -- 3.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|SHF | | 10.0 -- 10.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆| | | SHF | | 5.650 -- 5.925 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|SHF | | 24.00 -- 24.05 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | | | SHF | | 10.0 -- 10.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|SHF | | 24.05 -- 24.25 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | SHF | | 24.00 -- 24.05 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | |
|EHF | | 47.0 -- 47.2 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | SHF | | 24.05 -- 24.25 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|EHF | | 76.0 -- 77.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | EHF | | 47.0 -- 47.2 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|EHF | | 77.5 -- 78.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | | | EHF | | 76.0 -- 77.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|EHF | | 78.0 -- 81.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | EHF | | 77.5 -- 78.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | |
|EHF | | 81.0 -- 81.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |6 | | | EHF | | 78.0 -- 81.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|EHF | | 122.25 -- 123.00 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | EHF | | 81.0 -- 81.5 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | 6 | |
|EHF | | 134.0 -- 136.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | | | EHF | | 122.25 -- 123.00 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|EHF | | 136.0 -- 141.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | EHF | | 134.0 -- 136.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | |
|EHF | | 241.0 -- 248.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> |☆ | | | EHF | | 136.0 -- 141.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
|EHF | | 248.0 -- 250.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | | | EHF | | 241.0 -- 248.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | ☆ | |
| | EHF | | 248.0 -- 250.0 | | <fc #008000>B</fc> | | |
</WRAP> | </WRAP> |
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| * <wrap hi><sup>¥</sup></wrap> Since Fast Scan TV requires 6 MHz of bandwidth, it can't be transmitted below the 70cm band. |
| * <wrap hi><sup>§</sup></wrap> The 902 -- 928 MHz band may be heavily occupied by licence exempt devices, which are lower power devices that don't require a license but can't be interered with (like cordless phones) |
| * <wrap hi><sup>‡</sup></wrap> The 2.30 -- 2.45 GHz band is shared with Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) licence exempt devices. |
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Non-ham frequencies for comparison: | Non-ham frequencies for comparison: |
===== Important Notes ===== | ===== Important Notes ===== |
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Information quoted here was taken from the [[http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01226.html#t1 |ISEDC]] website. | Information quoted here was taken from ISED's [[https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10650.html|RBR-4]]. |
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^D | For the 2200m and 30m bands, the maximum bandwidth allowed is too narrow for phone (voice) transmissions. Therefore, only digital or CW modes are allowed. | | |
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^☆ | Secondary User "means that transmissions shall not cause interference nor be protected from interference from stations licensed in other services operating in that band. Operating provisions defined below are excerpts from the [[http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf01678.html | Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations]], which is amended from time to time." \\ \\ Basically, this means that the Amateur Radio Service is secondary to some other service and that we must yield the frequency when they need it. We must not cause interference to these other services, and we must accept that they have first priority and may interfere with us at anytime.| | |
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| ^<wrap hi>D</wrap> | For the 2200m and 30m bands, the maximum bandwidth allowed is too narrow for phone (voice) transmissions. Therefore, only digital or CW modes are allowed. | |
| ^<wrap hi>☆</wrap> | Secondary User "means that transmissions shall not cause interference nor be protected from interference from stations licensed in other services operating in that band. Operating provisions defined below are excerpts from the [[http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf01678.html | Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations]], which is amended from time to time." \\ \\ Basically, this means that the Amateur Radio Service is secondary to some other service and that we must yield the frequency when they need it. We must not cause interference to these other services, and we must accept that they have first priority and may interfere with us at anytime.| |
^1 | "Stations in the amateur service using frequencies in the band 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz shall not exceed a maximum radiated power of 1 W (e.i.r.p.) and shall not cause harmful interference to stations of the radionavigation service." \\ \\ This is the 2200m band referred to in **Note D**. It is mostly used for experimental purposes and transmissions must be at very low power and can't cause interference. | | ^1 | "Stations in the amateur service using frequencies in the band 135.7 -- 137.8 kHz shall not exceed a maximum radiated power of 1 W (e.i.r.p.) and shall not cause harmful interference to stations of the radionavigation service." \\ \\ This is the 2200m band referred to in **Note D**. It is mostly used for experimental purposes and transmissions must be at very low power and can't cause interference. | |
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^2 | "Amateur service operators may transmit on the following five centre frequencies: 5332 kHz, 5348 kHz, 5358.5 kHz, 5373 kHz, and 5405 kHz. Amateur stations are allowed to operate with a maximum effective radiated power of 100 W PEP and are restricted to the following emission modes and designators: telephony (2K80J3E), data (2K80J2D), RTTY (60H0J2B) and CW (150HA1A). Transmissions may not occupy more than 2.8 kHz centred on these five frequencies. Such use is **not** in accordance with international frequency allocations. Canadian amateur operations shall not cause interference to fixed and mobile operations in Canada or in other countries and, if such interference occurs, the amateur service may be required to cease operations. The amateur service in Canada may not claim protection from interference by the fixed and mobile operations of other countries" \\ \\ This band is composed of 5 discrete channels and transmission is restricted to these exact frequencies. Other amateurs around the world do not have permission to transmit on these frequencies so Canadian amateurs are secondary users, which mean that they must stop transmitting if they interfere with other users. | | ^2 | "Amateur service operators may transmit on the following five centre frequencies: 5332 kHz, 5348 kHz, 5358.5 kHz, 5373 kHz, and 5405 kHz. Amateur stations are allowed to operate with a maximum effective radiated power of 100 W PEP and are restricted to the following emission modes and designators: telephony (2K80J3E), data (2K80J2D), RTTY (60H0J2B) and CW (150HA1A). Transmissions may not occupy more than 2.8 kHz centred on these five frequencies. Such use is **not** in accordance with international frequency allocations. Canadian amateur operations shall not cause interference to fixed and mobile operations in Canada or in other countries and, if such interference occurs, the amateur service may be required to cease operations. The amateur service in Canada may not claim protection from interference by the fixed and mobile operations of other countries" \\ \\ This band is composed of 5 discrete channels and transmission is restricted to these exact frequencies. Other amateurs around the world do not have permission to transmit on these frequencies so Canadian amateurs are secondary users, which mean that they must stop transmitting if they interfere with other users. | |
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^3| "The use of the band 7.200 -- 7.300 MHz in Region 2 (North America) by the amateur service shall not impose constraints on the broadcasting service intended for use within Region 1 and Region 3 (Europe and Asia)." \\ \\ Although Amateurs are allowed to transmit between 7.200 -- 7.300 MHz in North America, they'll have to work around foreign broadcasting stations who also use this section of the spectrum. | | ^3| "The use of the band 7.200 -- 7.300 MHz in Region 2 (North America) by the amateur service shall not impose constraints on the broadcasting service intended for use within Region 1 and Region 3 (Europe and Asia)." \\ \\ Although Amateurs are allowed to transmit between 7.200 -- 7.300 MHz in North America, they'll have to work around foreign broadcasting stations who also use this section of the spectrum. | |
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^4 | "The use of the band 10.100 -- 10.150 MHz by the amateur service in Canada is not in accordance with the international frequency allocations. Canadian amateur operations shall not cause interference to fixed service operations of other administrations and if such interference should occur, the amateur service may be required to cease operations. The amateur service in Canada may not claim protection from interference by the fixed service operations of other administrations." \\ \\ Other amateurs around the world do not have permission to transmit on these frequencies so Canadian amateurs are secondary users, which mean that they must stop transmitting if they interfere with other users. | | ^4 | "The use of the band 10.100 -- 10.150 MHz by the amateur service in Canada is not in accordance with the international frequency allocations. Canadian amateur operations shall not cause interference to fixed service operations of other administrations and if such interference should occur, the amateur service may be required to cease operations. The amateur service in Canada may not claim protection from interference by the fixed service operations of other administrations." \\ \\ Other amateurs around the world do not have permission to transmit on these frequencies so Canadian amateurs are secondary users, which mean that they must stop transmitting if they interfere with other users. | |
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^5 | "In the band 219 -- 220 MHz, the amateur service is permitted on a secondary basis. In the band 220 -‑ 222 MHz, the amateur service may be permitted in exceptional circumstances on a secondary basis to assist in disaster relief efforts." | | ^5 | "In the band 219 -- 220 MHz, the amateur service is permitted on a secondary basis. In the band 220 -‑ 222 MHz, the amateur service may be permitted in exceptional circumstances on a secondary basis to assist in disaster relief efforts." | |
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^6 | "The 81.0 -- 81.5 GHz band is also allocated to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a secondary basis." | | ^6 | "The 81.0 -- 81.5 GHz band is also allocated to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a secondary basis." | |
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