Introduction to Ham HF Bands

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Ask Dave Episode #29 looks at the amateur radio high frequency (HF) bands and describes each. This helps hams new to HF to understand what bands will work best for them.

The Ask Dave series answers your questions about ham radio. Thank you for watching these videos! His channel, “Ham Radio Answers,” is here to help you become an active, on-the-air amateur radio operator!

Dave is unique in that he provides the only set of YouTube training videos that accompany the ARRL license manuals, section for section.

 

The video below is targeted at new HF operators and covers the 20 and 80 meter bands.

 

31 thoughts on “Introduction to Ham HF Bands”

  1. Good video, What are you using for an HF rig ?  I have been off the air for 20+ years and getting ready to start up again.  I have notice things have change lol. Looking for ideas as to what to buy.?

  2. I know im not a ham operator but im a cb operator from England (30 miles east of london).on our bands on f.m 4 watts (our legal modulation) on hot days can get out to Italy,Cornwall,Sweden and Ireland.I was wondering can this be done on 10 meters ? our channel 40 is 27.995125 its close to that band?

  5. What the hell is it with these guys that they lose their identities when they get their licence and become numbers and letters like a walking bar code? If your name is Jeff, say it's Jeff. The letters and numbers refer to your STATION not your person. FFS!?

  6. If I got an old Yaesu 101 rig which I think runs on AM would I still be able to talk to the majority of ham operators??

  9. Thank you for taking YOUR time to provide FREE information to the rest of YT.  Up to you, but suggest you ignore non-productive criticism. ?

  10. Does this operator think that technical/Foundation licence holders are complete morons? – M3KAO ?

  13. hi, what happens if a band at your end is good at nighttime transmission but at the other of the world it is daytime, will both transmissions be still successful? say you in america while the other ham is here the philippines? what will then be a good compromise so that both can hear each other?  thanx and 73

    emil, dv1vge?

  14. When a typical 20 meter channel is open, what is the typical range in miles a person can talk with? Meaning… 100 miles (closest) to 500 miles (longest range). I just made those numbers up… what are the real numbers? What about for 15 meters band? I am looking to get my technician license in the near future. Thanks!?

  15. I just have a measly cb in my mobile. Something called a Galaxy 33 hml radio with a stock mic, that's 'tuned and modged out'. 1 watt swinging 30. Whatever that means. Along with a Texas Star 667v amplifier thingy behind it, blasting through a Wilson 2000 antenna. It's keying up 20 watts and swinging 650 watts. Thousands of percent modulation and I think it gets out because whenever I talk on it, every truck driver within a hundred miles threatens to find me and kill me because I guess I bleed over all 40 channels and they cant hear anybody ever.. lol.?

  16. What is this circular device to the left of your transciever? I have seen it in many shacks, but really dk what it is. It looks like a airplane ADF or other direction finder.?

  18. Hi Tyler, You are an excellent instructor, and put out great videos. Thank you for your time and videos!! 73, KE8EUG Livonia, MI.?

  22. Thanks Dave. It's hard not to like 40m and 20m. Some great activity on those. I'm hooked on a Net called the Spiderweb Net which is hosted around the Gulf of Mexico, and I'm able to interact with people of that area very well. One of the NCOs is in Panama and we talk almost daily with fantastic signals on our 100w rigs. A while ago I made 20m delta loop antenna using specs given to me by one of the Spiderweb people. By adding a bit of 75 ohm coax at the feedpoint it tunes nicely on 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m and supposedly 6m. That's amazing and I'm starting to look at 17m and 15m more. 20m on the delta loop is fantastic! Unfortunately it's pretty directional plus I had to take down my G5RV for 40m, though I'm able to use the odd wire up in the tree that was put there for 75m for getting 40m and it works well. I strongly recommend a delta loop though, especially for those of us who don't have much space for antenna's. Cheers and 73. -kc1diw?

  23. Why is there an unwritten international convention that says that you can't say "Swar" but you can say "Ritty" ?
    Two faced I think.?

  24. You should do a follow up on this video for the different types of allocation modes around the world. Region 1 has some lesser bands and bandwidth so it could be interesting for amateurs as to why some signals are on certain parts of the bands and not on others.?

  26. Dave,
    Really have enjoyed your work. It is great for those of us learning. Hope to catch you on the air.

    73,
    KD8WVY?

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