FAQ for HF Radio
Don’t just talk with your friends across town – ham radio can give you the opportunity to talk with others worldwide. Here are answers to some of the questions that you may have.
-
What does “HF” mean?
-
What is “Shortwave?”
-
Who can I contact?
-
How far away can I reach?
-
Do I need a license?
-
How much does it cost?
-
How much room do I need for antennas? Do I need to put up a tower?
-
How will I understand people in other countries, do they speak English?
-
Do I need to learn Morse code?
-
How do I get started?
What does “HF” mean?
HF stands for “High Frequency,” specifically the range of 3 to 30 MHz – as opposed to “VHF” or “UHF,” which are in the hundreds of MHz. You can think of it as “from just above AM, to just below FM.”
HF is very popular with hams, who take advantage of direct, long-distance (often inter-continental) communications, and enjoy the “thrill factor” resulting from making contacts in variable conditions.
The “HF bands” are:
80 meters – 3.5-4 MHz – Best at night, with significant daytime signal absorption. Works best in winter due to atmospheric noise in summer. In the US and Canada the upper end of the sub-band from 3600-4000 kHz, permits use of single-sideband voice; often referred to as 75 meters.
60 meters – 5 MHz region – A relatively new allocation and only available in a small number of countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. In most countries, the allocation is channelized and may require special application, and in the USA it is mandatory to operate in upper sideband mode.
40 meters – 7.0-7.3 MHz – Considered the most reliable all-season DX band. Popular for DX at night, 40 meters is also reliable for medium distance (1500KM) contacts during the day. Much of this band is shared with broadcasters, and in most countries only the bottom 100 kHz or 200 kHz are available to amateurs. However, due to the high cost of running high power commercial broadcasting facilities; decreased listener-ship and increasing competition from net based international broadcast services, many ‘short wave’ services are being shut down leaving the 40 meter band free of interference for amateur radio use.
30 meters – 10.1-10.15 MHz – a very narrow band, which is shared with non-amateur services. It is recommended that only Morse Code and data transmissions be used here, and in some countries amateur voice transmission is actually prohibited. Not released for amateur use in a small number of countries. Due to its location in the center of the shortwave spectrum, this band provides significant opportunities for long-distance communication at all points of the solar cycle. 30 meters is a WARC band. “WARC” bands are so called due to the special World Administrative Radio Conference allocation of these newer bands to amateur radio use. Amateur radio contests are not run on the WARC bands.
20 meters – 14.0-14.35 MHz – Considered the most popular DX band; usually most popular during daytime. QRP operators recognize 14.060 MHz as their primary calling frequency in that band. Users of the PSK31 data mode tend to congregate around 14.071 MHz. Analog SSTV activity is centered around 14.230 MHz.
17 meters – 18.068-18.168 MHz – Similar to 20m, but more sensitive to solar propagation minima and maxima. 17 meters is a WARC band.
15 meters – 21-21.45 MHz – Most useful during solar maximum, and generally a daytime band. Daytime sporadic-E propagation (1500 km) occasionally occurs on this band.
12 meters – 24.89-24.99 MHz – Mostly useful during daytime, but opens up for DX activity at night during solar maximum. 12 meters is one of the new WARC bands.
10 meters – 28-29.7 MHz – Best long distance (e.g., across oceans) activity is during solar maximum; during periods of moderate solar activity the best activity is found at low latitudes. The band offers useful short to medium range groundwave propagation, day or night. During the late spring and most of the summer, regardless of sunspot numbers, afternoon short band openings into small geographic areas of up to 1500 km occur due to Sporadic-E propagation. “Sporadic-E” is caused by areas of intense ionization in the E layer of the ionosphere. The causes of Sporadic-E are not fully understood, but these “clouds” of ionization can provide short term propagation from 17 meters all the way up to occasional 2 meter openings.
Shortwave is synonymous with “HF,” referring to 3-30 MHz. However, in popular usage, the term tends to refer to Shortwave Broadcasting. It is the primary medium for applications such as marine communication, international broadcasting, and worldwide amateur radio activity, because it takes advantage of ionospheric skip propagation to send data around the world. The bands are conventionally stated in wavelength, measured in meters. Propagation behavior in the shortwave bands depends on the time of day, the season, and the level of solar activity. Most remaining English language broadcasters are located in the US, with a few major countries (China, Spain, Italy, Russia) continuing to offer short transmissions in English aimed at the US. The government-sponsored Voice of America also maintains transmitters around the world, directing some broadcasts in English to other countries. Shortwave broadcasts can best be compared to “National Public Radio” in the USA.
The Shortwave broadcast bands are:
90m band – 3200-3400 kHz- Mostly used locally in tropical regions, with limited long-distance reception at night.
75m band – 3900-4000 kHz- Mostly used in Eastern Hemisphere, not widely received in North and South America.
60m band – 4750-5060 kHz- Mostly used locally in tropical regions, though usable at night. Time stations use 5000 kHz.
49m band – 5900-6200 kHz- Good year-round night band; daytime reception is poor.
41m band – 7200-7450 kHz- Reception varies by region – reasonably good night reception, but few transmitters in this band are targeted to North America.
31m band – 9400-9900 kHz- Good year-round night band; seasonal during the day, with best reception in winter. Time stations are clustered around 10 MHz.
25m band – 11,600-12,100 kHz- Generally best during summer; said to be ideal during the period before and after sunset.
22m band – 13,570-13,870 kHz- Similar to the 19m band; best in summer.
19m band – 15,100-15,800 kHz- Day reception good, night reception variable, best during summer. Time stations such as WWV use 15 MHz.
16m band – 17,480-17,900 kHz- Day reception good, night reception varies seasonally, with summer being the best.
13m band – 21,450-21,850 kHz- Somewhat shaky day reception, very little night reception. Similar case to 11 metres, but long distance daytime broadcasting keeps this band active in the Asia-Pacific region.
11m band – 25,600-26,100 kHz- This band is seldom used. Day reception tends to be poor when the solar cycle is low, but potentially excellent when the solar cycle (generally indicated by number of sun spots) is high. Night reception is nonexistent except for local ground wave propagation. The Citizens’ Band allocation in most countries is within this band.
Amateur radio operators use their stations to make contacts with individuals, as well as participating in round table discussion groups or “rag chew sessions” on the air. Some join in regularly scheduled on-air meetings with other amateur radio operators, called “nets” (as in “networks”) which are moderated by a station referred to as “Net Control”. Nets can allow operators to learn procedures for emergencies, be an informal round table or be topical, covering specific interests shared by a group.
It is very easy to contact other US states, as well as anywhere else in the world. There is actually a “minimum skip distance” – about 200 miles – because of the fact that the signal needs to “bounce” off the ionosphere, at a certain angle. This means that it is quite often easier to contact say, Australia – than it is to contact someone only 100 miles away.
All Amateur radio communications require a license. Three sequential levels of licensing exams (Technician Class, General Class and Amateur Extra Class) are currently offered, which allow operators who pass them access to larger portions of the Amateur Radio spectrum and more desirable call signs. Although the entry-level technician license grants limited HF radio privileges, those interested in long-distance communication usually obtain the General and Extra licenses.
Basic study materials for passing the FCC test and getting your initial license usually cost less than $40. There are also classes held by many local groups for people who want more interaction. If possible, taking part in one of these classes is the best way to go, but there’s even an online course you can take if your personal schedule is too hectic. Once you have your first license, most hams find it best to start with simple equipment and grow over time. It usually costs less than $300 to get your own first radio and start operating on HF. Many ham radio flea markets are held all over the country that sell good used equipment for even less.
How much room do I need for antennas?
The length of an HF dipole (the most popular type) antenna is directly related to the “wavelength” (or “meter band”) it needs to be used on. Usually, it is half the “meter band” length. Therefore, an antenna for 10 meters is usually about 5 meters, or 16 feet long. At the other end of the spectrum (160 meters) that jumps to 262 feet. Antennas should also be up in the air at least the same height as their length. However, there are MANY schemes for fitting HF antennas into limited space, such as an attic or rooftop – and many books are available on the subject. Many consider this to be one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby.
How will I understand people in other countries, do they speak English?
Although English may be a “second language” for many hams around the world, there is a universal structure for radio contacts that allows a few common items, such as signal strength, location, and the operator’s names, to be exchanged. Nearly all hams, regardless of their location, will use English for this.
Also remember that when you are contacting a relatively “rare” country, there are likely to be MANY other hams waiting to make a contact with that station, so it helps to keep the information exchange brief.
Do I need to learn Morse code?
Demonstrating a proficiency in Morse code was for many years a requirement to obtain amateur licenses for the HF bands. Following changes in international regulations in 2003, countries are no longer required to demand proficiency. The FCC, for example, phased out this requirement for all license classes in 2007. However, more hams than ever are learning code, as it is very popular worldwide in radio contesting, DXing (contacting other countries,) and QRP (low power) operation.
Many people start their involvement in amateur radio by finding a local club. We often provide information about licensing, local operating practices, and technical advice. Newcomers also often study independently by purchasing books or other materials, sometimes with the help of a mentor, teacher, or friend. Established amateurs who help newcomers are often referred to as “Elmers” within the ham community.
