15-meter band

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the amateur radio band. For the international shortwave radio band, see shortwave bands.

The 15-meter band (also called the 21-MHz band or 15 meters) is an amateur radio frequency band spanning the shortwave spectrum from 21 to 21.45 MHz. The band is suitable for amateur long-distance communications, and such use is permitted in nearly all countries.[citation needed]

Because 15-meter waves propagate primarily via reflection off of the F-2 layer of the ionosphere, the band is most useful for intercontinental communication during daylight hours, especially in years close to solar maxima, but the band permits long-distance without high-power station equipment outside such ideal windows. The 15-meter wavelength is harmonically related to that of the 40-meter band, so it is often possible to use an antenna designed for 40 meters.

History[]

The 15-meter band was designated by the 1947 International Radio Conference of Atlantic City in part to compensate for the loss of the 160-meter band to amateurs by the introduction of LORAN during World War II. The 15-meter band opened to amateurs for CW operation only in the United States on May 1, 1952, and telephony operations were authorized above 21.25 MHz on March 28, 1953.[1]

Frequency allocation[]

United States[]

Megahertz 21.000–21.025 21.025–21.200 21.200–21.225 21.225–21.275 21.275–21.450
Novice / Technician
General
Advanced
Extra

Key[]

= CW, RTTY and data (US: < 1 kHz bandwidth)
= CW, phone and image
= CW only (US Novice/Technician: 200 W PEP maximum TPO)

Canada[]

Canada is part of region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan. Radio Amateurs of Canada offers the bandplan below as a recommendation for use by radio amateurs in that country but it does not have the force of law and should only be considered a suggestion or guideline.[2]

License class 21.000-21.070 21.070-21.080 21.080-21.083 21.083-21.090 21.090-21.125 21.125-21.150 21.150-21.340 21.340-21.343 21.343-21.450
Basic(+), Advanced

Key[]

= CW only
= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz )
= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), wide band digital
= Beacons
= CW, phone
= CW, phone, image ( <= 2700 Hz )
= Digital only
= Phone only
= TV only

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "We Get 21 Mc." QST, June 1952, p. 29.
  2. ^ Canadian 0-30 MHz Band Plan http://wp.rac.ca/wp-content/uploads/files/pdf/RAC%20Bandplan%20December%201%202015.pdf accessed 1 December 2015
  • "ARRLWeb: US Amateur Bands". Archived from the original on 7 September 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2005.
  • "ARRLWeb: ARRL Band Plans". Archived from the original on 3 August 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2005.
  • "UK Amateur Radio Bandplans Band Plans". Retrieved August 3, 2005. Click the 15 Meter button at the bottom of the page
  • "Ham Radio QRP". Archived from the original on September 24, 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2005.
  • "IARU Region 1 Bandplan" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2006.
  • "IARU Region 2 Bandplan" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  • "IARU Region 3 Bandplan". Archived from the original on 2005-05-13. Retrieved August 3, 2005.
hide
  • v
  • t
International amateur radio frequency allocations[v]
Range Band ITU Region 1 ITU Region 2 ITU Region 3
LF 2200 m 135.7–137.8 kHz
MF 630 m 472–479 kHz
160 m 1.810–1.850 MHz 1.800–2.000 MHz
HF 80 / 75 m 3.500–3.800 MHz 3.500–4.000 MHz 3.500–3.900 MHz
60 m 5.3515–5.3665 MHz
40 m 7.000–7.200 MHz 7.000–7.300 MHz 7.000–7.200 MHz
30 m[w] 10.100–10.150 MHz
20 m 14.000–14.350 MHz
17 m[w] 18.068–18.168 MHz
15 m 21.000–21.450 MHz
12 m[w] 24.890–24.990 MHz
10 m 28.000–29.700 MHz
VHF 6 m 50.000–52.000 MHz
(50.000–54.000 MHz)[y] 		50.000–54.000 MHz
4 m[x] 70.000–70.500 MHz N/A
2 m 144.000–146.000 MHz 144.000–148.000 MHz
1.25 m N/A 220.000–225.000 MHz N/A
UHF 70 cm 430.000–440.000 MHz 430.000–440.000 MHz
(420.000–450.000 MHz)[y]
33 cm N/A 902.000–928.000 MHz N/A
23 cm 1.240–1.300 GHz
13 cm 2.300–2.450 GHz
SHF 9 cm 3.400–3.475 GHz[y] 3.300–3.500 GHz
5 cm 5.650–5.850 GHz 5.650–5.925 GHz 5.650–5.850 GHz
3 cm 10.000–10.500 GHz
1.2 cm 24.000–24.250 GHz
EHF 6 mm 47.000–47.200 GHz
4 mm[y] 75.500 GHz[x] – 81.500 GHz 76.000–81.500 GHz
2.5 mm 122.250–123.000 GHz
2 mm 134.000–141.000 GHz
1 mm 241.000–250.000 GHz
THF Sub-mm Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region;
others have declined to regulate frequencies above 300 GHz.

[v] All allocations are subject to variation by country. For simplicity, only common allocations found internationally are listed. See a band's article for specifics.
[w] HF allocation created at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. These are commonly called the "WARC bands".
[x] This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but many individual administrations have commonly adopted this allocation under "Article 4.4".
[y] This includes a currently active footnote allocation mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations. These allocations may only apply to a group of countries.

See also: Radio spectrum, Electromagnetic spectrum


Stub icon

This article related to amateur radio is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""