The 20-meter or 14-MHz
amateur radio band is a portion of the
shortwave radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 14.000
MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
to 14.350 MHz. The 20-meter band is widely considered among the best for long-distance communication (
DXing
DXing is the hobby of receiving and identifying distant radio or television signals, or making two-way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio, citizens' band radio or other two-way radio communications. Many DXers also attempt to ...
), 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 (especially as compared to antennas for the
40-meter band
The 40-meter or 7-MHz band is an amateur radio frequency band, spanning 7.000-7.300 MHz in ITU Region 2, and 7.000-7.200 MHz in Regions 1 & 3. It is allocated to radio amateurs worldwide on a primary basis; however, only 7.000-7.100 MHz ...
or the
80-meter band The 80-meter or 3.5 MHz band is a band of radio frequencies allocated for amateur radio use, from 3.5 to 4.0 MHz in IARU Region 2 (consisting mostly of North and South America), and generally 3.5 to 3.8 or 3.9 MHz in Regions 1 and 3 ...
) and its good potential for daytime DX operation even in unfavorable
propagation
Propagation can refer to:
* Chain propagation in a chemical reaction mechanism
*Crack propagation, the growth of a crack during the fracture of materials
* Propaganda, non-objective information used to further an agenda
* Reproduction, and other fo ...
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.
)
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, 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.
Band plans
IARU Region 1
Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia
IARU Region 2
The Americas
IARU Region 3
Asia-Pacific
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
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), known in French as Radio Amateurs du Canada, is the national association for Amateur Radio in Canada. It is a not-for-profit membership association with headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, representing the i ...
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.
Key
References
Amateur radio bands
{{Amateur-radio-stub