20-meter band

The 20-meter or 14-MHz amateur radio band is a portion of the shortwave radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 14.000 MHz to 14.350 MHz.^[1] The 20-meter band is widely considered among the best for long-distance communication (DXing), and is one of the most popular—and crowded—during contests.^[2] Several factors contribute to this, including the band's large size, the relatively small size of antennas tuned to it (especially as compared to antennas for the 40-meter band or the 80-meter band) and its good potential for daytime DX operation even in unfavorable propagation conditions.^[3]

A HB9XBG-vertical-Antenna for the 20m-Band on Simplon Pass with view to Mount Galehorn.

History

The Third National Radio Conference was responsible for opening up the 20-meter band to amateur radio operators in the US^[4] on October 10, 1924. The band was allocated on a worldwide basis by the International Radiotelegraph Conference^[5] in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 1927. Its frequency allocation was then 14–14.4 MHz. The allocation was reduced to 14–14.35 MHz by the International Radio Conference of Atlantic City, New Jersey 1947.^[6]

Band plans

IARU Region 1

Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia^[7]

20 meters	14000–14070	14070–14099	14099–14101	14101–14350
IARU Region 1

IARU Region 2

The Americas^[7]

20 meters	14000–14070	14070–14099	14099–14101	14101–14350
IARU Region 2

IARU Region 3

Asia-Pacific^[7]

20 meters	14000–14070	14070–14099	14099–14101	14101–14112	14112–14350
IARU Region 3

United States

Effective 12:01 a.m. EST, February 23, 2007

20 meters	14000–14350
United States	14000–14025	14025–14150	14150–14175	14175–14225	14225–14350
General
Advanced
Extra

Canada

Canada^[8] is part of region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan. Radio Amateurs of Canada offers the bandplan below as a recommendation for use by radio amateurs in that country but it does not have the force of law and should only be considered a suggestion or guideline.

License class	14.000–14.070	14.070–14.095	14.095–14.0995	14.0995–14.1005	14.1005–14.112	14.112–14.350
Basic(+), Advanced

Japan

Changed on September 25, 2023.

License class	14000–14070	14070–14100	14100–14350
1st and 2nd			narrow-band All modes

Key

	= CW only
	= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz )
	= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), wide band digital
	= CW, RTTY and data (US: < 1 kHz Bandwidth)
	= Beacons
	= CW, phone
	= CW, narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), phone
	= CW, phone and image