ARRL Band Plan Explained for Beginners Ham Radio

In this video, we take a look at how to read the ARRL Band Plan.

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[briansavage]

The hardest part for me is just the pure memorization of band names vs their respective frequencies.

[vonzigle]

Thanks ‘Smokin’ this was good stuff even for a 80 year old guy like me! My fav bands are 40 and 30 meters…….

[ThePhotodd]

It might help to explain the difference between the FCC test questions involving minimum and maximum transmission limits and the UTC band plan. IE: a current general question involves the lowest frequency you can transmit on 20m which is 3MHz above 14.225 which is 14.228 however the FCC test isn't the band plan. the FCC lists 20m as AM which is a carrier wave (300Hz above and below your frequency and side bands, 2700Hz above and below your carrier(frequency). However using the band plan you can transmit on 14.225 as a general because your radio on SSB is transmitting on 14.225.3 - 14.338 because your only transmitting the upper sideband of 2700Hz ( your radio is effectively eliminating the carrier frequency and the lower side band in this case.(0+300Hz carrier and the LSB -300Hz to 3000Hz) which puts you inside the limits of the FCC. This also means the highest frequency you can transmit on 20 meters is 14.347MHz. A lot of people seem to misunderstand the difference between the FCC regulations and the band plan that we use. A good example is the 60m band... as you look at the band plan, SSB is required to center on a frequency that is below the allow transmission frequency because your USB transmission is inside the allowed band. (IE: the first channel is 5332 @ 2.8MHz wide however you have to center your voice SSB signal at 5330.5, which is outside the band plan so your transmission is within the allow MHz) Your radio then recreates the Carrier signal and the lower sideband so you understand the transmission ( That's why the side band your receiving always has a more base tone when listening off and the missing sideband always has a more treble tone.) I know I simplified all of this but have heard the misunderstanding enough that I would mention it. You have great info on your Channel!! Todd N9CS

[michaell]

Thanks for the info. I just got my license this week and am still trying to figure all this out.

[ZachMFPorter]

Just passed my Tech and General exams, waiting on the FCC to update CORES. Thank you for this reference- I knew something like this had to be published. Thanks for showing me where to find it!

[renegade]

Thanks so much for this breakdown. New ham here no callsign yet. Hopefully Tuesday

[wrenchmonkey]

I lile Icom's band plan chart from their website. New hams should tune thru the whole spectrum, especially with usb sdr.

[JackFalltrades]

I got my Extra so I wouldn't have to worry about where in the bands I could operate! 😀

[paulamoors]

How do you know on a hand held what your power level is and how do you change it?

[paulamoors]

So the repeater I use is 146.910 does that mean I’m on the 2 meter band? Sorry I’m super new. Got my general but haven’t done much with my hand held yet. I’ve concentrating on studying. I need to take a break from studying for my extra and learn my Handheld.

[plummjk]

I find that this is the most complicated part of amateur or Ham radio. I find it very confusing! Is there any easy method to learning and understanding the bands and frequencies for specific license?

[abegalan]

Thanks for explaining. I noticed that North Carolina had been urgently calling for available hams to help determine the urgent needs in the field due to flooding, washed out roads, bridges etc. Their EOC operating frequency was 14.325 Mhz. I see this is 20 Meters and NOT available to Technicians. I’m studying for Tech license. Hypothetical question- How would a technician licensed ham be of benefit or fit in, if technicians aren’t allowed to operate in 20 meters? Is it because the EOC is the operating station? If so, what brand or model of hand held radio allows for this?

[jjrgj]

ITU region 2 w and n of the lat and long given on the 40 meter band is the middle of the Pacific Ocean. FCC region 2 is New York and nowhere near that lat and long so I am assuming by "FCC region 2" they mean the same as ITU region 2. ??

[paulamoors]

Does your frequency determine the meter?

[Tinkering]

I have an advanced license. Do I take the same test as a general license to move up to Extra class?

[KSJD]

Some people use modulated cw on the FM 2M and 70cm. They use this for practice of cw alot. 73

[KDQQF]

I'd like to see this chart modified, to include the actual US band plan, rather than just the legal limits. Having to refer to 2 different charts to figure out what frequencies of a band are for what gets confusing.

[stevenpeterson]

what is “advanced”? is that a ceremonial designation or something outside of traditional licensing?

[Alpha]

I never understood "phone", does that mean radio? Like FM/AM or something other than the SSB/LSB/USB/CW?

[thomasmoore]

The one glaring omission in the ARRL's band plan is: where can you use voice?