Most new operators start on 2 metres (144–148 MHz) and 70 centimetres (430–450 MHz). Two documents matter: the class licence, which is the law, and the WIA band plan, which is a voluntary agreement about where each activity goes. This guide covers both, using the WIA Band Plan Rev 2026-1.
1The legal limits
Schedule 2 of the class licence sets these limits on 144.000–148.000 MHz and 430.000–450.000 MHz:
Foundation: 10 W pX.
Standard: 100 W pX for J3E or R3E (SSB); 30 W pY for anything else, such as FM.
Advanced: 400 W pX for C3F, J3E or R3E; 120 W pY for anything else.
pX and pY take their meaning from the ITU Radio Regulations (Interpretation Determination 2025): peak envelope power and mean power respectively.
2Who shares the bands
On 2m, amateurs have exclusive use and the amateur-satellite service is primary. On 70cm, amateurs are secondary: Radiolocation (Defence) is primary, so you must not cause it interference. The amateur-satellite service is secondary on 435–438 MHz, and 433.050–434.790 MHz is shared with low-interference potential devices (LIPDs) and gets no protection (WIA band plan).
The band plan describes itself as "A voluntary agreement based on mutual respect". It isn't law, but following it is how everyone avoids treading on satellites, beacons and repeaters.
3The 2m band plan at a glance
144.000–144.025: satellite (exclusive)
144.025–144.100: CW
144.100–144.400: narrowband voice (SSB), data, CW
144.400–144.600: beacons (exclusive)
144.600–144.700: all modes
144.700–144.8875: data; digital-only voice simplex (hotspot sub-band)
144.8875–145.0625: digital-only voice repeater outputs (Block C)
145.0625–145.2125: digital-only voice simplex, data
145.2125–145.4125: analogue voice simplex
145.4125–145.4875: analogue simplex (Block E1 inputs, special cases)
145.4875–145.6625: digital repeater inputs (Block C)
145.6625–145.800: analogue simplex (Block E2 inputs, special cases)
145.800–146.000: satellite (exclusive)
146.000–146.4125: repeater inputs, Block A
146.4125–146.6125: analogue simplex
146.6125–147.0125: repeater outputs, Block A
147.0125–147.3875: repeater outputs, Block B
147.3875–147.5625: analogue simplex
147.5625–147.6125: data / simplex
147.6125–148.000: repeater inputs, Block B
Key spot frequencies on 2m include 144.100 (national SSB calling), 145.175 (national AX.25 APRS), 145.200 (national WICEN APRS) and 146.500 (national FM simplex call channel).
4The 70cm band plan at a glance
430.0–431.0: repeater links (Block A)
431.0–431.9375: repeater inputs, Block A (−7 MHz)
431.9375–432.100: CW
432.100–432.300: narrowband voice
432.300–432.400: narrowband data
432.400–432.600: beacons (exclusive)
432.600–433.050: repeater inputs, Block B (−7 MHz)
433.050–434.000: all modes (LIPD band, no protection)
434.000–434.500: repeater links (Block D)
434.500–434.790: digital low-power hotspot input
434.790–435.000: repeater inputs, Block B alt (−5 MHz)
435.000–438.000: amateur satellite (exclusive)
438.000–438.9375: repeater outputs, Block A
438.9375–439.0375: analogue simplex
439.0375–439.2375: digital simplex
439.2375–439.6125: analogue simplex
439.6125–439.790: repeater outputs, Block B (−7 MHz)
439.790–440.000: repeater outputs, Block B (−7 or −5 MHz)
440.0–441.0: repeater links (Block B)
441.0–441.5: all modes
441.500–441.790: digital low-power hotspot output
441.800–442.000: digital low-power hotspot simplex
442.0–449.0: DVB-T ATV
449.0–450.0: repeater links (Block C)
Bandwidth is under 16 kHz throughout 70cm, except ATV. Key spot frequencies are 432.100 (SSB call), 438.950 (WICEN FM), 439.000 (national FM call channel), 439.100 (national 70cm APRS) and 439.200 (digital voice call channel).
5Repeater offsets
Working from the band plan's block pairings, 2m Block A repeaters listen 600 kHz below their output (−600 kHz), Block B repeaters listen 600 kHz above (+600 kHz), and Block C digital repeaters also use +600 kHz. On 70cm the current standard offset is −7 MHz; −5 MHz applies only to the legacy 439.79–440.0 output and 434.79–435.0 input pairs.
You'll often see the rule of thumb "−600 kHz below 147 MHz, +600 kHz above". It works for Blocks A and B, but not for Block C digital repeaters (outputs near 145 MHz, +600 kHz) or the occasional 1.6 MHz pair. Older plans and many websites also still call −5 MHz the 70cm standard. Existing repeaters vary, so always take the input from the repeater's own directory entry.