INTRODUCTION TO SHORTWAVE
SIMPLIFIED SHORTWAVE BAND CHART
The table below shows the bands used for shortwave broadcasting.
For more detailed band information enter 'shortwave broadcast band
allocations' at an Internet search site.
BAND
MEGAHERTZ (MHz)
120 m
2,300 - 2,495 MHz
90 m
3,20 - 3,40 MHz
75 m
3,90 - 4,05 MHz
60 m
4,750 - 5,1 MHz
49 m
5,73 - 6,3 MHz
41 m
6,89 - 7,60 MHz
31 m
9,25 - 9,95 MHz
25 m
11,5 - 12,2 MHz
22 m
13,57 - 13,87 MHz
19 m
15,005 - 15,825 MHz
16 m
17,48 - 17,9 MHz
15 m
18,9 - 19,02 MHz
13 m
21,45 - 21,85 MHz
11 m
25,67 - 26,1 MHz
36
continued
KILOHERTZ (kHz)
2300 - 2495 kHz
3200 - 3400 kHz
3900 - 4050 kHz
4750 - 5100 kHz
5730 - 6300 kHz
6890 - 7600 kHz
9250 - 9995 kHz
11500 - 12200 kHz
13570 - 13870 kHz
15005 - 15825 kHz
17480 - 17900 kHz
18900 - 19020 kHz
21450 - 21850 kHz
25670 - 26100 kHz
INTRODUCTION TO SHORTWAVE
SOME BASIC RULES OF THUMB
• In general, the bands with frequencies below 13 mHz (13000 kHz)
are better at night and the bands with frequencies above 13 mHz
(13000 kHz) are best during the day. The best daytime shortwave
bands are 13, 15, 16, 19, and 22 meters; 16 and 19 usually the
best. At night, the best bands are 25, 31, 41 and 49 meters, with
31 and 49 usually best.
• Around sunset and sunrise, both the day and night bands may be
exceptionally good.
• Shortwave reception is usually better in the winter than at other
times of year.
• Because the construction materials of some buildings severely block
shortwave signals, it may be best to hold the radio in your hands
and get very close to a window or use an external antenna mount-
ed next to the window or outside.
SHORTWAVE TIME STATIONS
These stations broadcast Universal Time (GMT), usually 24 hours per day.
CHU-time(Canada)
3330
CHU-time(Canada)
7335
CHU-time(Canada)
14670
WWV-time/weather(US)
2500
WWV-time/weather(US)
5000
WWV-time/weather(US)
10000
WWV-time/weather(US)
15000
WWV-time/weather(US)
20000
E5
OPERATION MANUAL
continued
Best at night
Day/Night
Best during daylight
Best at night
Best at night
Day/Night
Best during daylight
Best during daylight
37