US hams share nearly 30 bands, from 135.7 kHz to above 275 GHz. A Technician may transmit on every band from 6 meters (50 MHz) up, plus small slices of 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters. General and Extra add most of HF.
The charts below come from the FCC's amateur rules, 47 CFR 97.301 (who may transmit where) and 97.305 (which modes), read on October 13, 2026, for ITU Region 2, which covers the US. The calling frequencies come from the ARRL band plan.
How we built this chart
We copied the band edges from the current eCFR text of Part 97 (up to date as of October 9, 2026, including the January 2026 amendment that changed 60 meters) and the power limits from 97.313. Where the ARRL band plan adds voluntary detail, we say so. The exam cross-references are from the NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician question pool, valid July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030. How we research.
Technician privileges at a glance
In practice, most new Technicians spend their time on 2 meters and 70 centimeters with a handheld or mobile. The 10-meter voice slice is the one HF place a Technician can talk on SSB, and it opens up for long-distance contacts when the sun is active. See ham radio license levels for what General adds.
The full US amateur band chart
"T", "G" and "E" mean Technician, General and Amateur Extra. A dash means no transmit privileges for that class. Ranges are in MHz unless marked.
| Band | Frequencies | Technician | General | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2200 m | 135.7-137.8 kHz | - | All | All |
| 630 m | 472-479 kHz | - | All | All |
| 160 m | 1.800-2.000 | - | All | All |
| 80/75 m | 3.500-4.000 | 3.525-3.600 CW | 3.525-3.600 CW/data; 3.800-4.000 voice | All; voice from 3.600 |
| 60 m | 5.3515-5.3665 plus 4 channels | - | Yes | Yes |
| 40 m | 7.000-7.300 | 7.025-7.125 CW | 7.025-7.125 CW/data; 7.175-7.300 voice | All; voice from 7.125 |
| 30 m | 10.100-10.150 | - | CW/data only | CW/data only |
| 20 m | 14.000-14.350 | - | 14.025-14.150 CW/data; 14.225-14.350 voice | All; voice from 14.150 |
| 17 m | 18.068-18.168 | - | All | All |
| 15 m | 21.000-21.450 | 21.025-21.200 CW | 21.025-21.200 CW/data; 21.275-21.450 voice | All; voice from 21.200 |
| 12 m | 24.890-24.990 | - | All | All |
| 10 m | 28.000-29.700 | 28.0-28.3 CW/data; 28.3-28.5 voice | All | All |
| 6 m | 50-54 | All | All | All |
| 2 m | 144-148 | All | All | All |
| 1.25 m | 222-225 (219-220 data links only) | All | All | All |
| 70 cm | 420-450 | All | All | All |
| 33 cm | 902-928 | All | All | All |
| 23 cm | 1240-1300 | All | All | All |
| 13 cm | 2300-2310 and 2390-2450 | All | All | All |
| Microwave and up | 5.650-5.925, 10.0-10.5, 24.00-24.25, 47.0-47.2, 76-81, 122.25-123, 134-141, 241-250 GHz, above 275 GHz | All | All | All |
Region 2 edges from 97.301; voice and data sub-bands from 97.305. CW is allowed anywhere your class may transmit. On 6 m and 2 m, the bottom 100 kHz (50.0-50.1 and 144.0-144.1) is CW only. 2200 m and 630 m need advance notice to the Utilities Telecom Council at least 30 days before you transmit, and fixed stations only (97.303). Novice and Advanced licenses are no longer issued; existing holders keep their own privileges.
Power limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Anywhere, any class | 1,500 W PEP, and only the minimum power needed |
| Technician HF slices (80, 40, 15, 10 m) | 200 W PEP |
| 30 m, every class | 200 W PEP |
| 60 m channels 5.332, 5.348, 5.373, 5.405 MHz | 100 W ERP |
| 60 m band 5.3515-5.3665 MHz | 9.15 W ERP |
| 2200 m | 1 W EIRP |
| 630 m | 5 W EIRP (1 W EIRP in Alaska within 800 km of Russia) |
From 97.313, which also sets local limits near some military sites on 70 cm and 33 cm.
A handheld puts out 5 to 10 watts, so the 1,500-watt ceiling only matters to HF base stations with amplifiers. The rule that applies to everyone is the first one: use the least power that gets the job done.
Frequencies new hams actually use
These come from the ARRL's voluntary band plan. They aren't FCC rules, but everyone follows them, and the Technician exam asks about several.
| Frequency | Band | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| 146.520 MHz | 2 m | National FM simplex calling frequency (exam question T2A02) |
| 146.40-146.58 MHz | 2 m | FM simplex |
| 144.200 MHz | 2 m | SSB calling |
| 145.80-146.00 MHz | 2 m | Satellite subband |
| 446.000 MHz | 70 cm | National FM simplex frequency |
| 432.100 MHz | 70 cm | Weak-signal calling |
| 52.525 MHz | 6 m | Primary FM simplex |
| 50.125 MHz | 6 m | SSB calling |
| 223.40-223.52 MHz | 1.25 m | FM simplex |
| 29.600 MHz | 10 m | FM simplex |
Repeaters use an offset: you transmit on one frequency and listen on another. The common split is plus or minus 600 kHz on 2 meters and plus or minus 5 MHz on 70 centimeters, both Technician exam questions (T2A01, T2A03). Repeater outputs on 2 m sit in 145.20-145.50, 146.61-146.97 and 147.00-147.39 MHz under the ARRL plan, though local coordinators set the details.
Finding ham frequencies near you
"Ham radio frequencies near me" almost always means local repeaters. Search a directory such as RepeaterBook by city or ZIP code, or your state's frequency coordinator, and note four things for each repeater: output frequency, offset direction, CTCSS tone and any access notes. Local clubs post their repeaters and weekly net times, and a net is the friendliest place to make a first contact.
Just want to listen? Program 146.520 and your nearest repeaters into a dual-band handheld like the Baofeng UV-5R, whose listing gives transmit ranges of 144-148 and 420-450 MHz, and scan. For an IP67 radio with GPS and APRS, the BTECH UV-PRO is a step up. Our beginner handheld guide compares the options.
Which band for what
| You want to | Try | License |
|---|---|---|
| Talk around town, join local nets | 2 m and 70 cm, through repeaters | Technician |
| Talk car to car on a trip | 146.520 or another 2 m simplex frequency | Technician |
| Reach other states on voice | 10 m SSB when it's open; 20 m and 40 m with General | Technician (10 m) or General |
| Work satellites | 2 m and 70 cm satellite subbands | Technician |
| Regional nets in the evening | 75 m and 40 m voice | General |
| Digital modes like FT8 on HF | Data segments of 80-10 m | General (Technicians: 10 m only) |
Outdated charts to watch for
- 60 meters: older charts show five fixed channels. Since the January 2026 amendment, Part 97 lists a 5.3515-5.3665 MHz band at 9.15 W ERP plus four channels at 100 W ERP, for General and Extra.
- 3.3-3.5 GHz: the ARRL's printable Technician chart (revised 2012) still shows it. The current 97.301 doesn't list that band.
- 2200 and 630 meters: charts printed before 2017 leave them out.
A waterproof pocket set like these ham band plan reference cards is handy in a go-bag, but check its print date against the list above.
GMRS and FRS aren't ham bands
GMRS and FRS live at 462 and 467 MHz under Part 95, between the 70 cm ham band and the 900 MHz band. A ham license doesn't let you use them, and a GMRS license doesn't let you use ham bands. If you're coming from GMRS, our GMRS channel chart and GMRS with a ham license explain the overlap.
Next step
If you're studying, this chart covers several exam questions on its own. Our guide to passing the Technician exam picks up from here, and the ham radio Q-codes list covers what you'll hear on the air.
Checked October 13, 2026 against eCFR 47 CFR Part 97 (current to October 9, 2026): 97.301 · 97.305 · 97.313; ARRL band plan; NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician pool. How we research · Affiliate disclosure