WARC bands
The World Administrative Radio Conference bands are three portions of the shortwave radio spectrum used by licensed and/or certified amateur radio operators. They consist of 30 meters, 17 meters and 12 meters. They were named after the World Administrative Radio Conference, which in 1979 created a worldwide allocation of these bands for amateur use. The bands were opened for use in the early 1980s. Due to their relatively small bandwidth of 100 kHz or less, there is a gentlemen's agreement that the WARC bands may not be used for general contesting. This agreement has been codified in official recommendations, such as the IARU Region 1 HF Manager's Handbook, which states: "Contest activity shall not take place on the 10, 18, and 24 MHz bands."
Non-contesting radio amateurs are recommended to use the contest-free HF bands during the largest international contests.
12 metre band plan
IARU Region 1IARU Region 1 band plan http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=175&Itemid=127 accessed 12 January 2011
IARU Region 2IARU Region 2 band plan http://www.iaru-r2.org/wp-content/uploads/region-2-mf-hf-bandplan-e.pdf accessed 12 January 2011
CanadaRadio Amateurs of Canada HF/MF band plan accessed 1 December 2015
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 class | 24.890–24.920 | 24.920-24.925 | 24.925-24.940 | 24.940-24.975 | 24.975-24.978 | 24.978-24.990 |
| Basic, Advanced | CW Only | Digital only | CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital | Phone only | TV only | Phone only |
United States
The United States is part of ITU Region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan. The Amateur Radio Relay League 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 | 24.890–24.930 | 24.930-24.990 |
| Extra, Advanced, General | CW, narrow-band digital | CW, phone |
IARU Region 3IARU Region 3 band plan http://www.iaru-r3.org/r3bandplan.doc accessed 12 January 2011
17 metre band plan
IARU Region 1
IARU Region 2
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 class | 18.068-18.095 | 18.095-18.100 | 18.100-18.110 | 18.110-18.168 |
| Basic, Advanced | CW Only | CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital | Digital only | Phone only |
United States
The United States is part of ITU Region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan. The Amateur Radio Relay League 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 | 18.068-18.110 | 18.110-18.168 |
| Extra, Advanced, General | CW, narrow-band digital | CW, phone |
IARU Region 3
30 metre band plan
IARU Region 1
Throughout most of the world, the 30 meter band generally cannot be used for "phone" communications. SSB may be used during emergencies involving the immediate safety of life and property and only by stations actually involved in the handling of emergency traffic.However, a part of Region 1 is permitted to use phone at certain times. The band segment 10.120 to 10.140 may only be used for SSB transmissions in the area of Africa south of the equator during local daylight hours.
IARU Region 2
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 class | 10.100-10.130 | 10.130-10.140 | 10.140-10.150 |
| Basic, Advanced | CW Only | Digital only | CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital |