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. The 20-meter band is widely considered among the best for long-distance communication, and is one of the most popular—and crowded—during contests. Several factors contribute to this, including the band's large size, the relatively small size of antennas tuned to it and its good potential for daytime DX operation even in unfavorable propagation conditions.

History

The 20-meter band was first made available to amateurs in the United States by the Third National Radio Conference on October 10, 1924. The band was allocated on a worldwide basis by the International Radiotelegraph Conference in
Washington, D.C., on October 4, 1927. Its frequency allocation was then 14000–14400 kHz. The allocation was reduced to 14000–14350 kHz. by the International Radio Conference of Atlantic City, New Jersey 1947.

Band plans

IARU Region 1

Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia
20 meters14000–1407014070–1409914099–1410114101–14350
IARU Region 1

IARU Region 2

The Americas
20 meters14000–1407014070–1409914099–1410114101–14350
IARU Region 2

IARU Region 3

Asia-Pacific
20 meters14000–1407014070–1409914099–1410114101–1411214112–14350
IARU Region 3

United States

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

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.
License class14.000–14.07014.070–14.09514.095–14.099514.0995–14.100514.1005–14.11214.112–14.350
Basic, Advanced

Key