WARC bands
The World Administrative Radio Conference bands are three portions of the shortwave radio spectrum used by licensed and/or certified amateur radio operators. They consist of 30 meters, 17 meters, and 12 meters. They were named after the World Administrative Radio Conference, which in 1979 created a worldwide allocation of these bands for amateur use. The bands were opened for use in the early 1980s. Due to their relatively small bandwidth of 100 kHz or less, there is a gentlemen's agreement that the WARC bands may not be used for general contesting. This agreement has been codified in official recommendations, such as the IARU Region 1 HF Manager's Handbook, which states: "Contest activity shall not take place on the 5, 10, 18, and 24 MHz bands."
Non-contesting radio amateurs are recommended to use the contest-free HF bands during the largest international contests.
12-meter band plan
IARU Region 1
IARU Region 2
Canada
Canada 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.| License class | 24.89–24.92 | 24.920-24.925 | 24.925-24.94 | 24.94-24.975 | 24.975-24.978 | 24.978-24.99 |
| Basic, Advanced | CW only | Digital only | CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital | Phone only | TV only | Phone only |
United States
| License class | 24.89–24.93 | 24.93-24.99 |
| Extra, Advanced, General | CW, narrow-band digital | CW, phone, image |
IARU Region 3
Japan
17-meter band plan
IARU Region 1
IARU Region 2
Canada
Canada 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.| License class | 18.068-18.095 | 18.095-18.1 | 18.1-18.11 | 18.11-18.168 |
| Basic, Advanced | CW only | CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital | Digital only | Phone only |
United States
| License class | 18.068-18.11 | 18.11-18.168 |
| Extra, Advanced, General | CW, narrow-band digital | CW, phone |
IARU Region 3
Japan
30-meter band plan
IARU Region 1
Throughout most of the world, the 30-meter band generally cannot be used for "phone" communications. SSB may be used during emergencies involving the immediate safety of life and property and only by stations actually involved in the handling of emergency traffic.However, a part of Region 1 is permitted to use phone at certain times. The band segment 10.12 to 10.14 may only be used for SSB transmissions in the area of Africa south of the equator during local daylight hours.
IARU Region 2
Canada
Source:Canada 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.
| License class | 10.1-10.13 | 10.13-10.14 | 10.14-10.15 |
| Basic, Advanced | CW only | Digital only | CW, narrow-band digital, wide band digital |