The 15m band: frequencies, band plan and propagation
The 15 metre band: a daylight DX band that comes alive with the solar cycle.
Band plan
| CW | 21.000–21.070 MHz |
| Digital modes | 21.070–21.149 MHz |
| Beacons | 21.149–21.151 MHz |
| Phone (SSB) | 21.151–21.450 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)
15 metres is a daytime band. In the good years of the solar cycle it is open to long distance from morning to evening; in the quiet years it opens mainly around midday and towards the equator.
When it is open, signals are strong and antennas are small, which makes it a fine band for portable stations and modest setups.
The propagation dot in the app tells you whether it is worth tuning: when 15 metres shows green, the high bands are open.
Allocation
| Region 1 | 21.000–21.450 MHz |
| Region 2 | 21.000–21.450 MHz |
| Region 3 | 21.000–21.450 MHz |
Region 1 is Europe, Africa, the Middle East and northern Asia; Region 2 the Americas; Region 3 Asia-Pacific.