SW Listening Guide
Frequency Mod Band Feature D/N Notes
This is a "grab bag" of miscellaneous radio communications, mainly beacons
and navigation aids. You may hear several transmitters that sound like chirping
crickets; these are floating beacons used to mark fishing and offshore oil
1700 to 1800 kHz: exploration locations.
1800 to 2000 kHz:
LSB 160 M (H) 📻📻📻 Night
This is the 160-meter ham radio band. Most voice communications will be in
LSB, with best reception at night during the fall and winter months.
This range is used maritime communications, with 2182 kHz reserved for
2000 to 2300 kHz:
USB Night
distress messages and calling. There are also several regularly scheduled
maritime weather broadcasts buy U.S. Coast Guard stations. Most activity will
📾📾
be in USB, and best reception is at night.
This is the 120-meter broadcasting band, mainly used by stations located in the
2300 to 2498 kHz: tropics. However, the FCC has allowed WWCR in Nashville, Tennessee to
AM 120 M (B) broadcast here and others may follow.
2498 to 2850 kHz:
More maritime stations are found here, as well as standard time and frequency
stations WWV and WWVH on 2500 kHz.
This band is used mainly by aeronautical stations in USB. Several stations
2850 to 3150 kHz: broadcasting aeronautical weather bulletins, and you can also hear traffic
between airports and airplanes aloft.
This range is allocated to fixed stations, with most communications in RTTY.
3150 to 3200 kHz:
📾📾
This is a very interesting segment. This us the 90-meter broadcasting band,
used mainly by stations in the tropics. Canadian standard time and frequency
station CHU can be heard on 3330 kHz. Several fixed stations also use this
3200 to 3400 kHz: range, including several associated with various agencies of the U.S.
AM 90 M (B) Night
government. Best reception will be at night.
3400 to 3500 kHz:
USB This range is used for aeronautical communications in USB.
This is the 80-meter ham radio band. The 3500 to 3750 kHz range is used for
CW and RTTY communications, and the rest of the band is used for LSB voice.
3500 to 4000 kHz:
LSB 80 M (H) 📻📻📻 Night
The 3900 to 4000 kHz range is used for broadcasting in Europe and Africa. Best
reception is at night.
This is a fixed station band, mainly used by military forces for SSB traffic.
4000 to 4063 kHz:
4063 to 4438 kHz:
USB This is a band used for maritime communications in USB, with 4125 kHz being
used as a calling frequency.
This range is mainly used for fixed and mobile stations in USB.
4438 to 4650 kHz: USB
📾📾
This is the 60-meter broadcasting band, used mainly by stations in the tropics.
Best reception is in the evening and night hours during the fall and winter. In
winter, stations to the east of you begin to fade in an hour or two before your
4750 to 4995 kHz: local sunset, and stations to the west of you don’t start to fade out until an
AM 60 M (B) Night
hour or so after your local sunrise.
1
SW Listening Guide
Frequency Mod Band Feature D/N Notes
4995 to 5005 kHz: 🕥🕥🕥 This range is allocated internationally to standard time and frequency stations.
In North America, you’ll mainly hear WWV and WWVH on 5000 kHz.
60 M ham band. This range is a real jumble! Several broadcasting stations are
found in the lower part of the segment, and fixed and mobile stations in SSB,
5005 to 5450 kHz:
USB 60 M (H) 📻📻📻 Night
RTTY, and CW are found throughout this band. Best reception is during the
evening and night hours.
5450 to 5730 kHz:
USB This is another band for aeronautical communications in USB.
Another jumble of different stations! For years, this band has been used by
fixed stations of the U.S. government for communications in USB and RTTY.
📾📾
5730 to 5950 kHz: USB However, several broadcasters are also showing up here.
This is the 49-meter broadcasting band, and is loaded with signals from late
5950 to 6200 kHz: afternoon to a couple of hours after your local sunrise.
AM 49 M (B) Night
6200 to 6525 kHz:
USB This is a very busy band for maritime communication in USB and various FSK
modes like AMTOR and FEC.
6525 to 6765 kHz:
USB Night
This is another busy band, this time for aeronautical communications in USB.
Best reception is during the evening and night hours.
This segment is allocated to fixed stations, with signals in SSB, CW, FAX modes,
6765 to 7000 kHz: and miscellaneous digital modes.
The 7000 to 7100 kHz (40 M) range is allocated exclusively to ham radio
worldwide, although an occasional broadcaster will show up here. The 7100 to
7300 kHz range is allocated exclusively to ham radio in North and South
America, but is used for broadcasting in the rest of the world. Several station
transmit programs intended for reception in North and South America in this
range. As a result, interference is often very heavy here during the night and
evening hours. Hams use CW and RTTY from 7000 to 7150 kHz, and mainly LSB
7000 to 7300 kHz:
LSB 40 M (H) 📻📻📻 Night
from 7150 to 7300 kHz. Best reception is from the late afternoon to early
morning, although some hams can usually be heard here around the clock.
🕥🕥🕥
This segment is mainly used by fixed stations, such as Canadian standard time
7300 to 8195 kHz: and frequency station CHU on 7335 kHz, although several broadcasters can be
found in the lower reaches. Various FSK (RTTY) and digital modes are used.
8195 to 8815 kHz: USB Night
This is a busy maritime band from the late afternoon until early morning, with
most traffic in USB and FSK modes.
8815 to 9040 kHz:
USB This is another aeronautical communications band, with traffic in USB. Several
stations hear broadcast aeronautical weather reports.
This range is used mainly by fixed station in various FSK and digital modes, but
📾📾
9040 to 9500 kHz: it is also used by several international broadcasters.
This is the 31-meter international broadcasting band, and is packed with
stations from around the world. Best reception is usually from mid-afternoon
9500 to 9900 kHz: to around mid-morning, although some stations can be heard here throughout
AM 31 M (B) D/N
the day, especially in winter.
2
SW Listening Guide
Frequency Mod Band Feature D/N Notes
Several international broadcasters use this range along with fixed stations
9900 to 9995 kHz: using FSK modes.
9995 to 10005 kHz:
🕥🕥🕥 This is set aside for standard time and frequency stations, like WWV and
WWVH on 10000 kHz.
10005 to 10100 kHz:
This range is used for aeronautical communications.
10100 to 10150 kHz:
30 M (H) 📻📻📻 This is the 30-meter ham radio band. Because it is so narrow, operation here is
restricted to CW and RTTY.
This segment is used by fixed stations. In addition to various FSK and digital
modes, you may hear several international broadcast stations being relayed in
SSB. These "feeder" stations are used to send programming to relay sites not
10150 to 11175 kHz: served by satellite downlinks.
11175 to 11400 kHz:
USB This range is used for aeronautical communications in USB.
This segment is mainly used by fixed stations in FSK and digital modes, but
📾📾
11400 to 11650 kHz: some international broadcasters also operate here.
This is the 25-meter international broadcasting band. You can usually hear
11650 to 11975 kHz: several stations here no matter what time of day you listen.
AM 25 M (B) D/N
This band is primarily used by fixed stations in FSK and digital modes, although
11975 to 12330 kHz: several international broadcasters are found in the lower area.
12330 to 13200 kHz:
USB D/N
This is a busy maritime communications band during the day and evening
hours, with traffic in USB and various FSK modes.
13200 to 13360 kHz:
USB D/N
Aeronautical communications in USB are heard here during the day and
evening.
This range is used by fixed stations, mainly in FSK and digital modes.
📾📾
13360 to 13600 kHz:
This is the 22-meter international broadcasting band, with best reception
13600 to 13800 kHz: generally during the daytime and early evening.
AM 22 M (B) Day
This is used by fixed stations, with most communications in FSK modes.
13800 to 14000 kHz:
This is the 20-meter ham radio band. The lowest 100 kHz is reserved for CW
and RTTY use, with USB popular in the rest of the band (although U.S. hams
14000 to 14350 kHz:
USB 20 M (H) 📻📻📻 Day
cannot transmit in SSB below 14150 kHz). Best reception is during the daytime
and early evening.
14350 to 14990 kHz:
🕥🕥🕥 This segment is used by fixed stations, primarily in FSK and digital modes.
Canadian standard time station CHU is also found here, on 14670 kHz.
3
SW Listening Guide
Frequency Mod Band Feature D/N Notes
14990 to 15010 kHz:
🕥🕥🕥 This sliver is reserved for standard time and frequency stations, with the best
heard being WWV and WWVH on 15000 kHz.
15010 to 15100 kHz:
USB This range is for aeronautical communications in USB, although a few
international broadcasters do show up here.
15100 to 15600 kHz:
AM 19 M (B) 📾📾 Day
This is the 19-meter international broadcasting band, and it is usually packed
with signals during the daytime and early evening.
This band is used by fixed stations in USB, FSK modes, and digital modes.
15600 to 16460 kHz:
16460 to 17360 kHz:
USB Day
This range is shared between maritime and fixed stations using USB, FSK
modes, and digital modes. Best reception here is generally during the daytime.
17360 to 17550 kHz:
USB The range is shared by aeronautical and fixed stations using USB, FSK modes,
and digital modes.
17550 to 17900 kHz: AM 16 M (B) 📾📾 This is the 16-meter international broadcasting band, and best reception is
usually during the daylight hours.
17900 to 18030 kHz: USB This band is used for aeronautical communications in USB.
This range is used by fixed stations, mainly in FSK and digital modes.
18030 to 18068 kHz:
18068 to 18168 kHz:
USB 17 M (H) 📻📻📻 This is the 17-meter ham radio band, where CW, RTTY, and USB are used.
This large band is used by fixed stations, with a few maritime stations also
18168 to 19990 kHz:
Day
found here. Most traffic is in FSK and digital modes. An interesting frequency is
19954 kHz, used for decades as a beacon frequency by Soviet/Russian manned
spacecraft. Reception in this range will usually be limited to daylight hours.
19990 to 20010 kHz:
🕥🕥🕥 Day
This segment is reserved for standard time and frequency stations, like WWV
on 20000 kHz. Reception here is usually possible only in daytime.
20010 to 21000 kHz:
USB This range is mainly used by fixed stations and a few aeronautical stations.
Most traffic is in FSK and digital modes as well as USB.
This is the 15-meter ham radio band. CW and RTTY is mainly found in the first
21000 to 21450 kHz:
USB 15 M (H) 📻📻📻 Day
200 kHz, and USB is used in the rest of the band. Best reception here is in the
📾📾
daytime hours.
This is the 13-meter international broadcasting band, with best reception
21450 to 21850 kHz: during the daytime.
AM 13 M (B) Day
4
SW Listening Guide
Frequency Mod Band Feature D/N Notes
21850 to 22000 kHz:
USB This band is shared by fixed and aeronautical stations in FSK and digital modes
as well as USB.
22000 to 22855 kHz:
USB This range is reserved for maritime communications in USB and FSK modes.
Best reception is in daytime during years of high sunspot activity.
This band is used by fixed stations, mainly in FSK and digital modes.
22855 to 23200 kHz:
23200 to 23350 kHz:
USB Aeronautical communications in USB are found here.
This segment is used by fixed stations in FSK and digital modes.
23350 to 24890 kHz:
This is the 12-meter ham radio band, used for CW, FSK, and USB work.
📻📻📻
Reception is usually limited to the daytime during years of high sunspot
24890 to 24990 kHz: activity.
USB 12 M (H) Day
24990 to 25010 kHz:
🕥🕥🕥 This range is for standard time and frequency stations, although none are
currently operating here.
This band is used by fixed, mobile, and maritime stations, many of them low
powered units in trucks, taxicabs, small boats, etc. USB and AM are mainly
used, along with FM having 5 kHz deviation. Best reception is during daytime in
years of high sunspot activity or during a sporadic-E propagation opening.
25010 to 25550 kHz: USB Day
This region is reserved for radio astronomy and is usually free of stations.
📾📾
25550 to 25670 kHz:
This is the 11-meter international broadcasting band. However, only Radio
25670 to 26100 kHz: France International has any broadcasts scheduled here at this time. Reception
AM 11 M (B) Day is usually possible only in daytime during years of high sunspot activity.
This band is used by fixed, mobile, and maritime stations, many of them low
powered units in trucks, taxicabs, small boats, etc. USB and AM are mainly
used, along with FM having 5 kHz deviation. The citizens band (CB) is found
from 26965 to 27405 kHz. Best reception is during daytime in years of high
sunspot activity or during a sporadic-E propagation opening.
26100 to 28000 kHz: USB
This is the 10-meter ham radio band. Most activity is in USB from 28300 to
28000 to 29700 kHz: USB 10 M (H) 📻📻📻 28600 kHz, with FM used on 29600 kHz. Best reception is during daytime in
years of high sunspot activity or during a sporadic-E propagation opening.
This range is used by low powered fixed and mobile stations, mainly using FM
29700 to 30000 kHz: FM with 5 kHz deviation.