20-meter band

The 20-meter or 14-MHz amateur radio band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 14.000 MHz to 14.350 MHz.^[1] The 20-meter band is widely considered among the best for long-distance communication (DXing), and is one of the most popular—and crowded—during contests.^[2] Several factors contribute to this, including the band's large size, the relatively small size of antennas tuned to it (especially as compared to antennas for the 40-meter band or the 80-meter band) and its good potential for daytime DX operation even in unfavorable propagation conditions.^[3]

A HB9XBG-vertical-Antenna for the 20m-Band on Simplon Pass with view to Mount Galehorn

History

The Third National Radio Conference was responsible for opening up the 20-meter band to amateur radio operators in the US^[4] on October 10, 1924. The band was allocated on a worldwide basis by the International Radiotelegraph Conference^[5] in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 1927. Its frequency allocation was then 14–14.4 MHz. The allocation was reduced to 14–14.35 MHz by the International Radio Conference of Atlantic City, New Jersey 1947.^[6]

Band plans

IARU Region 1

Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia^[7]

20 meters	14000–14070	14070–14099	14099–14101	14101–14350
IARU Region 1

IARU Region 2

The Americas^[7]

20 meters	14000–14070	14070–14099	14099–14101	14101–14350
IARU Region 2

IARU Region 3

Asia-Pacific^[7]

20 meters	14000–14070	14070–14099	14099–14101	14101–14112	14112–14350
IARU Region 3

United States

Effective 12:01 a.m. EST, February 23, 2007

20 meters	14000–14350
United States	14000–14025	14025–14150	14150–14175	14175–14225	14225–14350
General
Advanced
Extra

Canada

Canada^[8] 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.

License class	14.000–14.070	14.070–14.095	14.095–14.0995	14.0995–14.1005	14.1005–14.112	14.112–14.350
Basic(+), Advanced

Japan

Changed on September 25, 2023.

License class	14000–14070	14070–14100	14100–14350
1st and 2nd			narrow-band All modes

Key

	= CW only
	= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz )
	= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), wide band digital
	= CW, RTTY and data (US: < 1 kHz Bandwidth)
	= Beacons
	= CW, phone
	= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), phone
	= CW, phone and image

References

1. "Frequency Allocations". Arrl.org. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
2. Ford, Steve (ed.). "Picking a band". The ARRL Operating Manual (8th ed.). Newington, CT: American Radio Relay League. p. 1-15.
3. "Propagation of RF Signals". The ARRL Handbook For Radio Communications (82nd ed.). Newington, CT: American Radio Relay League. 2005. p. 20.4. ISBN 0-87259-928-0.
4. "Frequency or wave band allocations". Recommendations for Regulation of Radio Adopted by the Third National Radio Conference. Govt. Print. Off. October 6–10, 1924. p. 15.
5. "INTERNATIONAL RADIOTELEGRAPH CONVENTION AND GENERAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS" (PDF). INTERNATIONAL RADIOTELEGRAPH CONVENTION OF WASHINGTON, 1927. 25 November 1927. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
6. "RADIO REGULATIONS ANNEXED TO THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION CONVENTION (ATLANTIC CITY, 1947)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
7. "IARU Regions". www.iaru.org. International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
8. "RAC MF/HF Band Plan" (PDF). rac.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2008.