The 12m band: frequencies, band plan and propagation
The 12 metre band: a narrow WARC band that rewards a high solar cycle.
Band plan
| CW | 24.890–24.915 MHz |
| Digital modes | 24.915–24.929 MHz |
| Beacons | 24.929–24.931 MHz |
| Phone (SSB) | 24.931–24.990 MHz |
Simplified from the IARU Region 1 band plan. Your national rules and licence class decide what you may use.
- CW
- Digital modes
- Beacons
- Phone (SSB)
12 metres sits between 15 and 10 and follows the sun closely. With high solar flux it gives long distance contacts with small antennas; in the quiet years it is often closed.
Being a WARC band, it has no contests and less traffic. An opening can go unnoticed for a while, which is exactly when spots on the cluster pay off.
If you have an alert on a rare entity, 12 metres is one of the bands where a spot means you can work it before the pile-up forms.
WARC band: no contests, by IARU agreement.