10-meter band

Amateur radio frequency band the high-frequency radio band lengths on the order of 10 metres 1 decametre The 10-meter band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a primary basis. The band consists of frequencies stretching from 28.000 to 29.700 MHz. History The 10-meter band was allocated on a worldwide basis by the International Radiotelegraph Conference in Washington, DC, on 4 October 1927.International Radiotelegraph Convention, and General and Supplementary Regulations 25 November 1927 1927 International Radiotelegraph Convention of Washington 43-151 1929 London, UK His Majesty's Stationery Office en, fr http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S02010000144002PDFE.pdf dead 28 May 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140308211326/http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S02010000144002PDFE.pdf 2014-03-08 Its frequency allocation was then 28-30 MHz. A 300 kHz segment, from 29.700–30.000 MHz, was removed from the amateur radio allocation in 1947 by the International Radio Conference of Atlantic City.Radio Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunication Convention 1947 International Radio Conference, Atlantic City 1947 en Geneva, CH 1949 International Telecommunication Union http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S020100002B4506PDFE.pdf dead 28 May 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120710090845/http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S020100002B4506PDFE.pdf 2012-07-10 following paragraphs US April 2024 American Novice and Technician class licensees were granted CW and SSB segments on the 10 meter band as of 21 March 1987.FCC 87-36 10 February 1987 FCC Report and Order regulation FCC 87-36 Washington, DC U.S. Federal Communications Commission Adopted: 28 January 1987; released: 10 February 1987 Reprinted in Novice enhancement is a reality! April 1987 Happenings QST Magazine 64–67 With the elimination of Morse code testing requirements for U.S. amateurs in February 2007, Technician-class licensees who have not passed a code test may operate with up to 200 W PEP using CW and SSB modes in a portion of the 10 meter band. Operating 250px|thumb|right|President HR2510A, a mobile 10-meter radio, with a Uniden microphone. Being a very wide band in HF terms, many different transmission modes can be found on 10 meters. Morse code and other narrowband modes are found toward the bottom portion of the band, SSB from 28.300 MHz up, and wideband modes (AM and FM) are found near the upper part of the bottom portion of the band. Digital modes, such as PSK-31, are also allowed in the upper portion of the band, with 28.120 being a popular PSK-31 frequency. Propagation characteristics Radio propagation Due to its unique spot in the spectrum, 10 meters can occasionally be challenging to work. At peak times of the solar cycle when many sunspots appear on the Sun's surface, 10 meters can be alive with extremely long-distance signals, refracting from the F2 layer in the ionosphere. Generally speaking, the most effective and efficient propagation of 10-meter radio waves takes place during local daylight hours. During periods of increased sunspot activity, band openings may begin well before sunrise and continue into the night. Long-distance opportunities via F2 seem to follow the sun across the globe. In North America, for instance, F2 might bring Europe and western Asia in the morning, the Americas during midday, and the Pacific and East Asia in late afternoon and early evening. Even in times of solar minimum, when propagation on 10 meters via F2 is practically nonexistent, the band still has some long distance possibilities. Sporadic E propagation can bring in signals from a hundred to a few thousand miles away. Sporadic E on 10 meters is mainly a seasonal event, with late spring and early summer being prime time for the mode. A shorter, less-intense period occurs during mid-winter, often around the holiday season. Other, off-peak openings may be seen almost anytime. Even during solar minimum, F2 openings often occur on transequatorial paths, for example between Europe and Southern Africa or between Pacific North America and the Eastern Pacific islands. In tropical latitudes 10 meters is open throughout the sunspot cycle, although propagation is often confined to other areas lying along the equator. For example, a good path from West Africa to the Caribbean exists on 10 meters even at solar minimum. 10-meter sub-bands Although 10 meters has a worldwide amateur radio allocation, in some countries the use of portions of 10 meters is allocated by the government by license class, by signal mode or signal bandwidth. Beyond these regulations there is also a general voluntary band plan adhered to by amateurs throughout the world. Worldwide frequency allocations Worldwide 10 meter frequency allocations are specified by the ITU.Amateur HF bands Radio club life.itu.int International Telecommunication Union Geneva, CH http://life.itu.int/radioclub/rr/hfband.htm 28 May 2013 The International Telecommunication Union recommends allowing amateur radio operations in the frequency range from 28.000–29.700 MHz, subject to member nations' individual regulation of radio. IARU Region 1 10 meters IARU Region 1 28.000–28.070 28.070–28.190 28.190–28.225 28.225–29.510 29.510–29.520 29.520–29.700 IARU Region 2 10 meters IARU Region 2 28.000–28.070 28.070–28.190 28.190–28.300 28.300–29.510 29.510–29.520 29.520–29.700 IARU Region 3 10 meters IARU Region 3 28.000-28.050 28.050-28.150 28.150-28.190 28.190-28.200 28.200-28.300 28.300-29.700 United States 10 meters U.S. Novice, Technician license 28.000–28.300 28.300–28.500 28.500–29.700 10 meters General, Advanced, Extra license 28.000–28.300 28.300–29.700 Canadian 10-meter band plan 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. 10 meters Canadian license classes Basic(+), Advanced0–30 MHz band plan Radio Amateurs of Canada rac.ca http://wp.rac.ca/wp-content/uploads/files/pdf/RAC%20Bandplan%20December%201%202015.pdf 1 December 2015 28.000–28.070 28.070–28.1895 Bcn 28.2005–28.300 28.300–28.320 28.320–28.680 28.680–28.683 28.683–29.300 29.300–29.510 GB 29.520–29.690 Bcn = Beacons, 28.1895–28.2005 MHz GB = Guard band, 29.510–29.520 MHz, no transmissions Japan Refer to the following URL. https://www.jarl.org/English/6_Band_Plan/JARL%20Band%20Plan20230925(E).pdf Key = FM, digital voice = CW, phone, beacons = CW only = October 2024 = CW, RTTY and data (US: < 1 kHz bandwidth) = CW, narrowband digital (<= 500 Hz), phone = CW, narrowband digital (<= 500 Hz) = CW, narrowband digital (<= 500 Hz), wideband digital = Beacons = phone only = CW, phone = CW, beacons = TV only = CW, phone, SSTV, fax = CW, phone and imageFebruary 2024 = Satellite = Guard band – no transmissions allowed Novice sub-bands Named for the segment of 10 meters granted for use to American Novice Class Amateur Radio license holders. The Novice sub-bands consist of two frequency ranges; one for CW and Data operation, and the other for SSB phone operation. Novice/Technician phone The most active part of the 10 meter band is probably 28.300–28.500 MHz.October 2024 Worldwide, operation in this band segment is almost exclusively SSB.October 2024 Beacons Because the propagation on 10 meters can vary drastically throughout the day, propagation beacons are very important to gauge the current conditions of the band. With some differences in each ITU Region and also from country to country, the beacon sub-bands fall between 28.100–28.300 MHz. ITU Region 1 is generally 28.190-28.225 MHz and ITU Region 2 is generally 28.200–28.300 MHz. A list of 10 meter propagation beacons is available.Hays W.H. 10 metre propagation beacons qsl.net http://www.qsl.net/wj5o/bcn.htm Alt. src. (¿out of date?): Hays W.H. 10-metre propagation beacons http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/bcn.htm dead 28 May 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120205121353/http://userpages.troycable.net/~wj5o/bcn.htm 2012-02-05 AM sub-band From 29.000 to 29.200 MHz. Formerly-common practice was to use the band in 10 kHz steps: e.g. 29.010, 29.020, 29.030,... etc. This has not been the case since the 1970s, which saw an influx of surplus 23-channel CB equipment modified for use on the 10-meter amateur band. The surplus equipment would land in 10 kHz steps on the 5 kHz step such as: 29.015, 29.025, 29.035, etc. Users of the surplus equipment also inherited those radios' odd channel spacing, which on CB skipped channels that were not used there, because they were set aside for remote control operations. Satellite sub-band From 29.300 to 29.510 MHz the satellite sub band allows amateur radio operators to communicate with orbiting OSCARs. Satellite operation Many amateur radio satellites have either an uplink or a downlink in the 29 MHz range. Information about particular satellites and operational modes is available from AMSAT.AMSAT-NA main page AMSAT.org http://ww2.amsat.org/ dead 28 May 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130528231659/http://ww2.amsat.org/ 2013-05-28 As of the current writing, only AO-7's 10 m downlink is active.Operational satellite status summary OSCAR amsat.org http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130115132508/http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php 2013-01-15 28 May 2013 FM sub-band From 29.000 MHz to 29.700, The FM sub-band is usually channelized into repeater and simplex frequencies. The channels are commonly grouped into repeater inputs, simplex, and repeater output frequencies. Repeater input frequencies: 29.510, 29.520, 29.530, 29.540, 29.550, 29.560, 29.570, 29.580 and 29.590 MHz. Simplex channel, worldwide calling FM: 29.600 MHz Secondary simplex is 29.500 Japan and others use 29.00 to 29.40 FM simplex. 10kHz steps from 29.0 to 29.1 and 20kHz steps 29.2 to 29.40 with 29.30 a national simplex channel in Japan. Repeater output frequencies: 29.610, 29.620, 29.630, 29.640, 29.650, 29.660, 29.670, 29.680 and 29.690 MHz. Repeater operation Common practice for 10-meter repeaters is to use a 100 kHz negative offset for repeater operation. Due to the very few available repeater channels, "odd-splits" (offsets differing from 100 kHz) and non-standard frequencies are rare and uncommon. Since 10 meters can frequently open up to propagate globally, most 10-meter repeaters use a CTCSS sub-audible access tone. 16 kHz-wide signals with 5 kHz deviation is normal in this band. 8 kHz-wide signals with 2.5 kHz deviation can also be found. 2.5kHz deviation is mandated by FCC rules below 29.0 MHz. FM simplex channels 29.300 MHz is a common frequency to find JA hams on. British hams commonly use the 29.400 to 29.500 MHz band for FM as well with 29.400, 29.450, and 29.500 MHz being common. USA hams can be found on FM anywhere above 29.000 MHz, commonly on the above frequencies talking to overseas hams. 29.200 to 29.300 MHz is set aside in some area band plans for FM simplex use. Organizations and enthusiasts Ten-Ten International The Breeze Shooters Amateur Radio Club Due to its unique nature, 10 meters has a large following of hobbyists who spend most of their time on this frequency band. The major group of enthusiasts is Ten-Ten which has been organized since the 1960s.10-10 International ten-ten.org main page http://www.ten-ten.org/ 28 May 2013 Analog frequency modulation (FM) radio relay stations (repeaters) are used by radio operators to contact each other around the world, while relaying through an intermediate relay site.January 2026 References FCC Table of Frequency Allocations 2 June 2011 online 47 C.F.R. U.S. Federal Communications Commission regulations 28 May 2013 http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/spectrum/table/fcctable.pdf Category:Amateur radio bands