HF Band Characteristics

It should be noted that HF band conditions vary for many reasons and thus all of these bands can at times take on the characteristics of others.  These tables should be considered a general guideline.
160 meters (night)
1.8 - 2.0 MHz
A neighbor to the AM Broadcast band, Very similar conditions to what you hear on AM Broadcast, quite localized during the day, with long distance capability at night. During the summer months the long distances at night can be several hundreds of miles and during the winter it can be several thousand miles.  Sometimes noise created by static crashes hinder communications in the summer months but very nice in the winter!
 
80 meters (night and local during the day)
3.5 - 4.0 MHz
80 Meters is very similar to 160 meters but with greater distances especially at night. 80 tends to be a very reliable band less subject to variations of the sunspot cycle and is used a lot for regular net operations and message handling and "local rag chewing". Again can be very noise prone in the summer static.

60 meters (night and local during the day)
 5.330.5 - 5.403.5 MHz

 40 meters (night and local during the day)
7.0 - 7.3 MHz
This is many ham's favorite band.  It is always open somewhere.  During the summer daytime distances of 300-400 miles and night time distances of 1000 miles are very common. Winter days with 500 miles or more are usual and night time conditions bring DX intercontinental communications.  This band is shared with short-wave broadcast from countries outside of North America. Between these interfering signals a ham with a reasonable station can work stations worldwide if you can find a clear spot!. Not as affected by the sunspot cycle as 20-10 meters.

 30 meters (CW and digital only)
10.100 - 10.150 MHz
A lot like 40 meters but can only be used on CW and RTTY. No broadcast interference and has slightly longer range than 40 meters. Daytime ranges of 1000 miles are quite common.

 20 meters (world-wide day and night)
14.000 - 14.350 MHz
Just about all of the serious DXers hang out on 20 meters!
This can be a VERY exciting band with some of the best DX found on any band. Around the world daytime communications are generally possible and when the sunspot cycle is peaking 20 can be used around the clock! Not likely to be used for short-range communications. The only way to work someone a few hundred miles away would be scatter or possibly "long path". Ground wave signals of about 50-75 miles might be all you would expect. At the bottom of the sunspot cycle, openings to other continents are short, rare and few and far between.
 
17 meters (world-wide day and night)
18.068 - 18.168 MHz
Band conditions are very similar to 20 meters. This seems to be a very popular band when hams go mobile and lots of fun can be expected.

 15 meters (primarily daytime)
21.000 - 21.450 MHz
A lot like 20 meters but a bit more flakey.. More influenced by the sunspot cycle. Much less night time activity than 20 meters but at the peak of the sunspot cycle, 15 can provide much greater distances! On the down side, at the bottom of the cycle, 15 may not open for days.

12 meters (primarily daytime)
24.890 - 24.990 MHz
Very heavily influenced by the sunspot cycle. At the bottom of the cycle it is suitable only for very short distance ground wave communications only for long periods of time. At the peak of the cycle it is capable of communications over thousands of miles with a minimum of equipment. Another nice mobile band when conditions are right.
 
10 meters (daytime during sunspot highs)
28.000 - 29.7000 MHz
This is the HF band most heavily affected by sunspots and the sunspot cycle and it can be erratic and exciting at the same time with lots of Dx for the qsl hunter or just as a fun band. Minimum power and simple antennas can bring you a hundred countries in a short period of time when the sunspot cycle is rising towards the peak. Five watts or even less can work half way around the earth!. Ground wave coverage is 25 miles or so. Lots of beacon stations worldwide for DX hunters.

 

US High Frequency Band Plan

160 Meters (1.8-2.0 MHz):

1.800-1.830 - CW, RTTY and other narrowband modes

1.830-1.840 - CW, RTTY and other narrowband modes, Intercontinental QSOs only

1.840-1.850 - CW, SSB, SSTV, other wideband modes, Intercontinental QSOs only

1.850-2.000 - CW, phone, SSTV and other wideband modes

 

80 Meters (3.5-4.0 MHz):

3.590   - RTTY DX

3.580-3.620 - RTTY

3.620-3.635 - Packet

3.790-3.800 - DX window

3.845   - SSTV

3.885  - AM calling frequency

 

60 Meters (5.330.5-5.403.5 MHz) (50 watts PEP limit)

Channel 1:  5.330.5

Channel 2:  5.346.5

Channel 3:  5.366.5

Channel 4:  5.371.5

Channel 5:  5.403.5

 

40 Meters (7.0-7.3 MHz):

7.040   - RTTY DX

7.080-7.100  - RTTY

7.171   - SSTV

7.290   - calling frequency

 

30 Meters (10.1-10.15 MHz):

10.130-10.140 - RTTY

10.140-10.150 - Packet

 

20 Meters (14.0-14.35 MHz):

14.070-14.095   - RTTY

14.095-14.0995 - Packet

14.100   - NCDXF Beacons

14.1005-14.112 - Packet

14.230  - SSTV

14.286  - AM calling frequency

 

17 Meters (18.068-18.168 MHz):

18.100-18.105   - RTTY

18.105-18.110   - Packet

 

15 Meters (21.0-21.45 MHz):

21.070-21.100   - RTTY

21.100-21.110   - Packet

21.340    - SSTV

 

12 Meters (24.89-24.99 MHz):

24.920-24.925   - RTTY

24.925-24.930   - Packet

 

10 Meters (28-29.7 MHz):

28.000-28.070   - CW

28.070-28.150   - RTTY

28.150-28.190   - CW

28.200-28.300   - Beacons

28.300-29.300   - Phone

28.680  - SSTV

29.000-29.200   - AM

29.300-29.510   - Satellite Downlinks

29.520-29.590   - Repeater Inputs

29.600     - FM Simplex

29.610-29.700   - Repeater Outputs