New Band Allocation
Contiguous Segment
Frequency Range: 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz (15 kHz bandwidth)
Power Limit: 15W EIRP (~9W ERP)
Important: You must calculate your own line losses and antenna gain to determine the appropriate transmitter power setting
Example: With 250 feet of RG-8 to a 160m inverted vee, a TS-590SG must be limited to approximately 10-11 watts
Legacy Channels (100W ERP Allowed)
Channel
Dial Freq (USB)
Center Freq
Power Limit
Channel 1
5330.5 kHz
5332.0 kHz
100W ERP (160W EIRP)
Channel 2
5346.5 kHz
5348.0 kHz
100W ERP (160W EIRP)
Channel 4
5371.5 kHz
5373.0 kHz
100W ERP (160W EIRP)
Channel 5
5403.5 kHz
5405.0 kHz
100W ERP (160W EIRP)
Important Change: Channel 3
Channel 3 (5357.0 kHz dial frequency) - the current FT-8 standard - will no longer be permitted as a 100W channel. It falls within the new contiguous band and must be limited to 15W EIRP. No official guidance has been provided on which channel will become the new FT-8/digital standard.
Secondary User Status and Interference Requirements
Critical: The Federal Government is the Primary User of the entire 5 MHz spectrum. Amateur Radio operators are Secondary Users.
If you hear any non-amateur traffic on these frequencies, you must cease transmitting immediately.
Primary Users You Are Protecting
The "Big Three"
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / FEMA - Heaviest user; cross-agency emergency coordination
Department of Defense (DoD) - US Navy, Army, and Air Force tactical communications and data links
US Coast Guard (USCG) - Ship-to-shore communication and cutter coordination (often digital modes sounding like "chirps" or "hissing")
SHARES Program (Shared Resources)
Managed by DHS for national security and emergency preparedness
Connects critical infrastructure entities (power companies, telecom providers, hospitals, Red Cross) with Federal agencies
Uses USB voice with unusual callsigns (e.g., "NNA4AC", "AAR3MC")
Do not transmit if you hear SHARES traffic
Other Federal Users
Department of State - Embassy and consular traffic (usually encrypted digital bursts)
ALE (Automatic Link Establishment) Networks - Rapid "warbling" sounds lasting 1-2 seconds; government radios testing propagation
Why Channel 3 Was Demoted
The 5357.0 kHz frequency sits in a segment heavily used for federal ALE sounding. Transmitting 100W here can disrupt automated federal networks attempting to synchronize.
International Coordination
United Kingdom
The UK has 11 operating segments rather than discrete channels:
Segment Range (kHz)
Width
Common USB Dial (kHz)
Notes
5258.5 – 5264.0
5.5 kHz
5262.5
5276.0 – 5284.0
8.0 kHz
5278.5
5288.5 – 5292.0
3.5 kHz
5289.5
5298.0 – 5307.0
9.0 kHz
5301.0
5313.0 – 5323.0
10.0 kHz
5317.0
5333.0 – 5338.0
5.0 kHz
5335.0
Close to US 5332.0
5354.0 – 5358.0
4.0 kHz
5357.0
FT8 / WRC-15 Block
5362.0 – 5374.5
12.5 kHz
5363.0
Includes US 5373.0
5378.0 – 5382.0
4.0 kHz
5379.0
5395.0 – 5401.5
6.5 kHz
5398.5
5403.5 – 5406.5
3.0 kHz
5403.5
Primary US/UK DX Window
Power Limit: UK Full licensees can use up to 100W PEP (200W EIRP)
Key Coordination Points:
5403.5 kHz is the sweet spot for transatlantic DX; perfect overlap between US Channel 5 and UK segment
5357 kHz is the standardized FT8 frequency (remember: 15W EIRP limit under new US rules)
UK stations can run higher power than most EU stations, making them easier to hear
European Union
Most EU countries follow the WRC-15 standard (5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz at 15W EIRP), but notable exceptions exist:
Country
Frequencies
Power Limit
Notes
Norway
5260 – 5410 kHz (contiguous)
100W PEP
Very liberal 150 kHz allocation
Denmark
5250 – 5450 kHz (contiguous)
100W PEP (up to 1 kW for experimental permits)
Massive 200 kHz block
Ireland
5275 – 5450 kHz (various segments)
200W PEP (Irish residents with special authorization); 15W EIRP for others
Requires Notice of Variation (NoV)
Portugal
WRC-15: 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz; Domestic: 5371.5 & 5403.5 kHz
15W EIRP
Domestic channels restricted to Portuguese nationals
Note: The Netherlands rescinded its 100 kHz/100W allocation in 2017 to harmonize with WRC-15. Older charts may show outdated information.
Japan
Japanese amateur radio operators currently have no authorization to operate on 60 meters.
Operating Strategy for US Hams
Digital Modes (FT8, etc.)
Use the 15 kHz contiguous block (5351.5–5366.5 kHz)
Standard FT8 frequency: 5357 kHz (15W EIRP limit)
Awaiting community guidance on potential frequency changes
SSB Voice
Use Legacy Channels (especially 5405 kHz) for DX
Target UK, Norway, and Denmark stations that can run higher power
5403.5 kHz is the primary US/UK DX window
Power Calculations
Always calculate your EIRP/ERP based on:
Feedline losses
Antenna gain
Distance to antenna
Your transmitter power setting will vary based on your specific station configuration.
Additional Resources
Important Reminders
⚠️ After 13 February 2026: DO NOT use 100W on old Channel 3 (5357.0 kHz)
⚠️ Always monitor before transmitting and cease immediately if you hear federal traffic
73, Don AD0K
Buda, TX (EM10bc)
Written by
Donald Inbody
Author, political scientist, naval historian, and amateur radio operator (ADØK).