Tools / 2m and 70cm band plans

2m and 70cm band plans

Where to find FM, SSB, repeaters, satellites and data on the two most popular VHF and UHF bands, for the UK and the US. Search to jump to a frequency or mode.

VHF and UHF band plans: UK and USA · Europe · Australia

Country

2m FM calling145.500

2m SSB calling144.300

70cm FM calling433.500

2m repeater offset−600 kHzYour transmit offset. 70cm: +1.6 MHz, or +7.6 MHz on RU66–RU78

UK 2m: 144 to 146 MHz

MHz	Use	Max bandwidth	Notes
144.000–144.025	All modes, shared with satellite downlinks	2.7 kHz
144.025–144.100	CW only	500 Hz	144.050 CW centre of activity
144.100–144.150	CW and narrow data modes, EME	500 Hz
144.150–144.400	CW, SSB and data modes. Main DX and weak-signal segment	2.7 kHz	144.300 SSB calling. Meteor scatter around 144.370
144.400–144.490	Propagation beacons only	–	Don't transmit here. Guard band to 144.500
144.500–144.794	All modes, including AM, SSTV and digital voice	12 kHz	AM often on 144.550
144.794–144.990	Data modes: APRS, packet, digital voice gateways	12 kHz	Some stations unattended
144.990–145.194	FM and DV repeater inputs, RV48 to RV63	12.5 kHz	Outputs are 600 kHz higher
145.200–145.594	FM and DV simplex, V16 to V45	12.5 kHz	145.500 FM calling. 145.200 is the ISS uplink
145.594–145.794	FM and DV repeater outputs, RV48 to RV63	12.5 kHz
145.806–146.000	Amateur satellites only, all modes	–	145.800 ISS downlink

UK 70cm: 430 to 440 MHz

MHz	Use	Max bandwidth	Notes
430.000–432.000	All modes: internet gateways, digital links and repeaters	20 kHz	40 W ERP limit. 431–432 not available within 100 km of central London
432.000–432.100	CW and data modes, EME	500 Hz
432.100–432.400	CW, SSB and data modes, terrestrial DX	2.7 kHz
432.400–432.500	Propagation beacons only	–	Don't transmit here
432.500–432.994	All modes, non-channelised	25 kHz
432.994–433.381	FM and DV repeater outputs, RU240 to RU270	–	Inputs are 1.6 MHz higher
433.394–433.600	FM and DV simplex, U272 to U288	–	433.500 FM calling
433.600–434.600	All modes: gateways and digital links	25 kHz	433.700 emergency priority channel
434.594–434.981	FM and DV repeater inputs, RU240 to RU270	–
435.000–438.000	Amateur satellites, and digital TV (DATV) around 437	–	Satellite uplinks and downlinks
438.000–440.000	All modes, repeater inputs RU66 to RU78	25 kHz	438.6125 digital voice calling. Outputs are 7.6 MHz lower

Based on the RSGB band plans. 70cm is shared with other users in the UK, with amateurs as secondary users, so some segments carry extra licence conditions.

US 2m: 144 to 148 MHz

MHz	Use	Notes
144.00–144.05	EME (CW)
144.05–144.10	General CW and weak signals
144.10–144.20	EME and weak-signal SSB
144.20–144.275	General SSB	144.200 SSB calling
144.275–144.30	Propagation beacons
144.30–144.50	Satellites	144.390 is widely used for APRS
144.50–144.60	Linear translator inputs
144.60–144.90	FM repeater inputs
144.90–145.10	Weak signal and FM simplex	145.01, .03, .05, .07, .09 often packet
145.10–145.20	Linear translator outputs
145.20–145.50	FM repeater outputs
145.50–145.80	Miscellaneous and experimental modes
145.80–146.00	Satellites
146.01–146.37	Repeater inputs
146.40–146.58	Simplex	146.520 national simplex calling
146.61–147.39	Repeater outputs
147.42–147.57	Simplex
147.60–147.99	Repeater inputs

US 70cm: 420 to 450 MHz

MHz	Use	Notes
420.00–426.00	ATV repeater or simplex, control links and experimental
426.00–432.00	ATV simplex	427.250 video carrier
432.00–432.07	EME
432.07–432.10	Weak-signal CW
432.10–432.30	Mixed mode and weak signal	432.100 calling frequency
432.30–432.40	Propagation beacons
432.40–433.00	Mixed mode and weak signal
433.00–435.00	Auxiliary and repeater links
435.00–438.00	Satellites only
438.00–444.00	ATV repeater input and repeater links	439.250 video carrier
442.00–445.00	Repeater inputs and outputs (local option)
445.00–447.00	Links, repeaters and simplex (local option)	446.000 national simplex calling
447.00–450.00	Repeater inputs and outputs (local option)

Based on the ARRL band plans. Local frequency coordinators set repeater channels and some segments differ by region.

What a band plan is

A band plan divides an amateur band into segments for different modes, so that weak-signal CW and SSB operators aren't swamped by strong FM signals, and beacons and satellites can be heard clearly. In the UK the plan comes from the RSGB, based on the IARU Region 1 plan. In the US it comes from the ARRL. Band plans are a voluntary agreement among amateurs, separate from the legal limits in your licence, but following them keeps the bands usable for everyone.

Calling frequencies

Calling frequencies are for making a first contact. Once you've made contact, move to a free simplex frequency nearby so others can use the calling channel. In the UK, 145.500 is the 2m FM calling channel and 433.500 the 70cm one. In the US they're 146.520 and 446.000.

Repeaters

A repeater listens on one frequency and retransmits on another, usually from a high site, which greatly extends the range of handhelds and mobiles. The gap between the two is the shift or offset. In the UK, 2m repeaters transmit 600 kHz above their input. On 70cm most UK repeaters transmit 1.6 MHz below their input, and some use a 7.6 MHz shift. Most repeaters also need a CTCSS access tone, which varies by repeater.

Satellites and the ISS

Amateur satellites use 145.800 to 146.000 MHz on 2m and 435 to 438 MHz on 70cm, worldwide. The International Space Station's amateur radio station often uses 145.800 MHz for its downlink, so on a good pass you can hear astronauts or the ISS's digital repeater with a handheld and a simple antenna.

Questions

What is the 2m calling frequency in the UK?

145.500 MHz for FM, and 144.300 MHz for SSB. On 70cm the FM calling channel is 433.500 MHz.

What is the national simplex frequency in the US?

146.520 MHz on 2m and 446.000 MHz on 70cm.

What's the repeater offset on 2m?

600 kHz. In the UK repeater outputs are 600 kHz above the input. In the US the offset is either 600 kHz up or down depending on the part of the band.

Can a UK Foundation licence use 70cm?

Yes. All UK licence classes can use 2m and 70cm, within the power limit for their licence and any band-specific conditions. Check the schedule in your licence for restrictions such as 431 to 432 MHz near London.