15-meter band

This article is about the amateur radio band. For the international shortwave radio band, seeshortwave bands.

Right aHB9XBG-vertical-Antennafor the 15m-Band. (Left a HB9XBG-Antenne for the20m-Band)

The15-meter band(also called the21-MHz bandor15 meters) is anamateur radiofrequency band spanning theshortwavespectrum from 21 to 21.45 MHz. The band is suitable foramateur long-distance communications,and such use is permitted in nearly all countries.

Because 15-meter waves propagate primarily via reflection off of theF-2 layer of the ionosphere,the band is most useful for intercontinental communication during daylight hours, especially in years close tosolar maxima,but the band permits long-distance without high-power station equipment outside such ideal windows. The 15-meter wavelength isharmonicallyrelated to that of the40-meter band,so it is often possible to use anantennadesigned for 40 meters.

History

The 15-meter band was designated by the 1947 International Radio Conference of Atlantic City in part to compensate for the loss of the 160-meter band to amateurs by the introduction ofLORANduring World War II.The 15-meter band opened to amateurs for CW operation only in the United States on May 1, 1952, and telephony operations were authorized above 21.25 MHz and Novice CW operations between 21.100 and 21.250 MHz on March 28, 1953.

Frequency allocation

United States

Megahertz	21.000–21.025	21.025–21.200	21.200–21.225	21.225–21.275	21.275–21.450
Novice / Technician
General
Advanced
Extra

Key

	=CW,RTTYand data (US: < 1 kHz bandwidth)
	=CW,phone and image
	=CWonly (US Novice/Technician: 200 W PEP maximum TPO)

Canada

Canada is part of region 2 and as such is subject to the IARU band plan.Radio Amateurs of Canadaoffers 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	21.000-21.070	21.070-21.080	21.080-21.083	21.083-21.090	21.090-21.125	21.125-21.150	21.150-21.340	21.340-21.343	21.343-21.450
Basic(+), Advanced

Japan

Changed on September 25, 2023.

License class	21.000–21.070	21.070–21.150	21.150–21.450
All Class			narrow-band All modes

Key

	=CWonly
	=CW,narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz )
	=CW,narrow band digital ( <= 500 Hz ), wide band digital
	= Beacons
	=CW,phone
	=CW,phone, image ( <= 2700 Hz )
	= Digital only
	= Phone only
	= TV only

See also

• Shortwave bands

References

• "ARRLWeb: US Amateur Bands".Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2005.RetrievedAugust 3,2005.
• "ARRLWeb: ARRL Band Plans".Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2005.RetrievedAugust 3,2005.
• "UK Amateur Radio Bandplans Band Plans".RetrievedAugust 3,2005.Click the 15 Meter button at the bottom of the page
• "Ham Radio QRP".Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2005.RetrievedAugust 3,2005.
• "IARU Region 1 Bandplan"(PDF).RetrievedJanuary 1,2006.
• "IARU Region 2 Bandplan"(PDF).RetrievedJanuary 1,2008.
• "IARU Region 3 Bandplan".Archived fromthe originalon 2005-05-13.RetrievedAugust 3,2005.