The 17m band: frequencies, band plan and propagation
The 17 metre band: a WARC band with 20 metre reach and a fraction of the crowd.
Band plan
| CW | 18.068–18.095 MHz |
| Digital modes | 18.095–18.109 MHz |
| Beacons | 18.109–18.111 MHz |
| Phone (SSB) | 18.111–18.168 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)
17 metres behaves much like 20 but is narrower, quieter and, as a WARC band, free of contests. When the sun is active it is open to long distance for most of the day.
It is a favourite of portable operators and DXpeditions: less noise, polite operating and a good chance to be heard with low power.
Watch it when 20 metres is crowded: the same paths are often open here, with half the competition.
WARC band: no contests, by IARU agreement.