Ham Radio Frequencies UK 2026: Bands, Power and Calling Channels

Which ham radio frequencies can each licence use?

These are the main bands and the maximum power for each level, as of October 2026.

Band	Frequencies	Foundation	Intermediate	Full
600 m	0.472-0.479 MHz	No	No	5 W EIRP
160 m	1.810-2.000 MHz	25 W	100 W (32 W above 1.850 MHz)	1,000 W (32 W above 1.850 MHz)
80 m	3.500-3.800 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
60 m	11 segments, 5.2585-5.4065 MHz	No	No	100 W
40 m	7.000-7.200 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
30 m	10.100-10.150 MHz	25 W	100 W	400 W
20 m	14.000-14.350 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
17 m	18.068-18.168 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
15 m	21.000-21.450 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
12 m	24.890-24.990 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
10 m	28.000-29.700 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
6 m	50.000-52.000 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W (100 W above 51 MHz)
4 m	70.000-70.500 MHz	25 W	100 W	160 W
2 m	144.000-146.000 MHz	25 W	100 W	1,000 W
70 cm	430.000-440.000 MHz	25 W	100 W (40 W ERP below 432 MHz)	400 W (40 W ERP below 432 MHz)
23 cm	1,240-1,325 MHz	No	100 W	400 W

Power is peak envelope power from Schedule 1 of the licence, printed in the RSGB’s exam reference booklets for 2026. Foundation also has 135.7-137.8 kHz at 1 W ERP and slices of 2.4, 5.7 and 10 GHz at 1 to 2 W. 431-432 MHz can’t be used within 100 km of Charing Cross in London.

Your own licence’s Schedule 1 is the version that counts.

What each licence level allows →

The UK band plan

The licence says where you may transmit. The band plan says where on each band people use each mode. The RSGB derives it from the IARU Region 1 band plans, publishes it each February in RadCom, and the current version is dated January 2026.

A Centre of Activity in the plan shows where a mode tends to gather, but it doesn’t give those users priority. Narrow modes such as CW and data sit at the low end of most bands. On voice, use lower sideband below 10 MHz and upper sideband above it.

The band plan in the exam booklets is a specimen for exam use. On air, use the live RSGB plan.

RSGB: Band plans ↗RSGB band plan 2026 (PDF) ↗

Calling channels and frequencies to know

Frequency	What it’s for
3.760 MHz and 7.110 MHz	IARU Region 1 emergency Centre of Activity
14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz	Global emergency Centre of Activity
51.510 MHz (6 m)	FM calling
70.450 MHz (4 m)	FM calling
144.250 MHz and 145.525 MHz (2 m)	GB2RS news broadcast
144.300 MHz (2 m)	SSB Centre of Activity
145.500 MHz (2 m)	FM calling. Digital voice users are asked to call on 144.6125 MHz instead.
145.550 MHz (2 m)	Rally and exhibition talk-in
433.500 MHz (70 cm)	FM calling channel (U280)
438.6125 MHz (70 cm)	UK digital voice calling

Once you’ve made contact on a VHF or UHF calling channel, move to another frequency to carry on.

Repeater channels and tones →ISS and satellite frequencies →

Sharing bands with other users

Each band in Schedule 1 is marked primary or secondary for amateurs. On secondary bands, other services also have rights, and some bands are available only on a non-interference basis. At 2.4 GHz and parts of 5.7 GHz you must accept interference from industrial, scientific and medical users.

Bands are allocated to particular services, such as broadcasting, aircraft and shipping, and some amateur bands share space with other users or sit right next to them.

Sources: RSGB and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

UK ham radio frequencies and bands

Which ham radio frequencies can each licence use?

The UK band plan

Calling channels and frequencies to know

Sharing bands with other users

Everything else, in one place