List of amateur radio frequency bands in India

Amateur radio or ham radio is a hobby that is practised by over 16,000 licensed users in India.[1] Licences are granted by the Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC), a branch of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. In addition, the WPC allocates frequency spectrum in India. The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978 lists five licence categories:[2]

Thin, black, straight wires intersecting at various points protruding from a grey building or else from each other with a blue sky in the background
Antennas at a ham operator's station.

To obtain a licence, candidates must pass the Amateur Station Operator's Certificate examination conducted by the WPC.[3] The examination consists of two 50-mark written sections: Radio theory and practice, Regulations; and a practical test consisting of a demonstration of Morse code proficiency in sending and receiving.[4] After passing the examination, the candidate must clear a police interview. After clearance, the WPC grants the licence along with the user-chosen call sign. This procedure can take up to one year.[5] This licence is valid for up to five years.[6]

Each licence category has certain privileges allotted to it, including the allotment of frequencies, output power, and the emission modes. This article list the various frequencies allotted to various classes, and the corresponding emission modes and input DC power.

Allotted spectrum

The following table lists the frequencies that amateur radio operators in India can operate on.

Band[N 1] Frequency (MHz)[N 2] Wavelength[N 3] Type[N 4]
5 0.1357–0.1378 2200 m LF
5 0.472–0.479 630 m MF
6 1.800–1.825 160 m MF
7 3.500–3.700 80 m HF
7 3.890–3.900 80 m HF
7 5.3515–5.3665 60 m HF
7 7.000–7.200 40 m HF
7 10.100–10.150 30 m HF
7 14.000–14.350 20 m HF
7 18.068–18.168 17 m HF
7 21.000–21.450 15 m HF
7 24.890–24.990 12 m HF
7 28.000–29.700 10 m HF
8 50.000–52.000 6 m VHF
8 144–146 2 m VHF
9 434–440 70 cm UHF
9 1260–1300 23 cm UHF
9 2300–2310 13 cm UHF
10 3300–3500 9 cm SHF
10 5650–5850 5 cm SHF
10 10000–10500 3 cm SHF
  1. Band refers to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) radio band designation
  2. Frequency is measured in megahertz
  3. Wavelength is measured in metres and centimetres
  4. Type refers to the radio frequency classification

Emission designations
Main article: Types of radio emissions

The International Telecommunication Union uses an internationally agreed system for classifying radio frequency signals. Each Type of radio emission is classified according to its bandwidth, method of modulation, nature of the modulating signal, and Type of information transmitted on the carrier signal. It is based on characteristics of the signal, not on the transmitter used.

An emission designation is of the form BBBB 123 45, where BBBB is the bandwidth of the signal, 1 is a letter indicating the Type of modulation used, 2 is a digit representing the Type of modulating signal, 3 is a letter corresponding to the Type of information transmitted, 4 is a letter indicating the practical details of the transmitted information, and 5 is a letter that represents the method of multiplexing. The 4 and 5 fields are optional. For example, an emission designation would appear read as 500H A3E, where 500H translates to 500 Hz, and A3E is the emission mode as permitted.

The WPC has authorized the following emission modes:[7]

Emission Details
A1A
A2A
  • Single channel containing digital information, using a subcarrier,
  • Aural telegraphy, intended to be decoded by ear, such as Morse code
A3E
  • Double-sideband amplitude modulation (AM radio),
  • Single channel containing analogue information,
A3X
  • Single channel containing analogue information,
  • None of the other listed types of emission
A3F[nb 1]
F1B
  • Frequency modulation,
  • Single channel containing digital information, no subcarrier,
  • Electronic telegraphy, intended to be decoded by machine (radioteletype and digital modes)
F2B
  • Frequency modulation,
  • Single channel containing digital information, using a subcarrier,
  • Electronic telegraphy, intended to be decoded by machine (radioteletype and digital modes)
F3E
  • Frequency modulation,
  • Single channel containing analogue information,
  • Telephony (audio)
F3C
  • Frequency modulation,
  • Single channel containing analogue information,
  • Facsimile (still images)
H3E
  • Single-sideband with full carrier,
  • Single channel containing analogue information,
  • Telephony (audio)
J3E
R3E
  • Single-sideband with reduced or variable carrier,
  • Single channel containing analogue information,
  • Telephony (audio)

Licence categories
Further information: Amateur radio licence categories in India

Two categories of amateur radio licence exist.

Restricted Grade

The Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Restricted licence requires the same scores as the old term Grade II.The minimum age is 12 years.[8] The licence allows the user to make radiotelegraphy (Morse code) and radiotelephony transmission in 12 frequency bands. The maximum power allowed is 100 W.

A Restricted Grade licence holder was previously authorized the use of radio telephony emission on frequency bands below 30 MHz on submission of proof that 100 contacts have been made with other amateur operators using CW (Morse code).[2] This has now since changed with restricted license holders being allowed phone (SSB) bands with the only restriction being the PEP(peak envelope power) limited to 50 W. Now Morse Code is not necessary for this exam

Band Frequency (MHz) Wavelength Type Emission Power (W)
6 1.800–1.825[nb 2] 160 m MF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 3.500–3.700[nb 2] 80 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 3.890–3.900 80 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 7.000–7.200[9] 40 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 14.000–14.350 20 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 18.068–18.168[nb 3] 17 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 21.000–21.450 15 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 24.890–24.990 12 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
7 28.000–29.700 10 m HF A3E, H3E, J3E, R3E 50
8 50.000–54.000 6 m VHF F1B, F2B, F3C, F3E 10[nb 4]
8 144–146 2 m VHF F1B, F2B, F3C, F3E 10[nb 4]
9 434–438[nb 5] 70 cm UHF F1B, F2B, F3C, F3E 10[nb 4]

General Grade

The Amateur Station Operator's Licence, General Grade, requires a minimum of 50% in each section of the written examination, and 60% overall, and a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at 8 words per minute (without errors for each).[10] The minimum age is 12 years.[8] The licence allows a user to make radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission in 13 frequency bands. The maximum power allowed is 400 W. In addition, satellite communication, facsimile, and television modes are permitted.[2]

Band Frequency (MHz) Wavelength Type Emission Power (W)
6 1.800–1.825[nb 2] 160 m MF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, A3C, A3F 400
7 3.500–3.700[nb 2] 80 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 3.890–3.900 80 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 7.000–7.200 40 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 10.100–10.150 30 m HF A1A, A2A, F1B, F2B, 400
7 14.000–14.350 20 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 18.068–18.168[nb 3] 17 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 21.000–21.450 15 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 24.890–24.990 12 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
7 28.000–29.700 10 m HF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3C, A3F 400
8 50.000–54.000 6 m VHF F1A, F2B, F3C, F3E 25[nb 4]
8 144–146 2 m VHF F1A, F2B, F3C, F3E 25[nb 4]
9 434–438[nb 5] 70 cm UHF F1A, F2B, F3C, F3E 25[nb 4]
9 1260–1300[nb 5][nb 6] 23 cm UHF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3X, A3F (This band rescinded, please verify with WPC) 25[nb 4]
10 3300–3400[nb 5] 9 cm SHF A1A, A2A, A3E, H3E, R3E, J3E, F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C, A3X, A3F (This band rescinded, please verify with WPC) 25[nb 4]
10 5725–5840[nb 5] 5 cm SHF F1A, F2B, F3C, F3E 25[nb 4]

See also

Notes
  1. For A3F emission, the transmission is restricted to call sign of the station, location and other particulars. This is limited to point-to-point test transmission that employs a standard interlace and scanning with a bandwidth not more than 4 kHz.
  2. On primary shared basis as per the regular provisions of radio regulations.
  3. Authorization on non-interference and non-protection basis.
  4. Terrestrial service only
  5. On secondary basis as per the regular provisions of radio regulations. The above authorization is subject to site clearance as per the procedure prescribed by the Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA) as applicable.
  6. Earth to satellite service only. Satellite service is permitted in accordance with radio regulations and in those cases where the maximum output RF power is 30 dbw.

References
  1. Ramchandran, Ramesh (2005-03-03). "Government to promote amateur radio". The Tribune. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
  2. Annexure V "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  3. Appendix II "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  4. Annexure III, Appendix I, Section 2.3 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  5. "Ham operators are a cut above the rest". The Times of India. 2007-05-21. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  6. Section 12 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  7. Verma, Rajesh (1988). ABC of Amateur Radio and Citizen Band. EFY Publications.
  8. Section 5 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  9. Saquib (2022-01-25). "HF NET India on 40 Meters". It's HAM RADIO. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  10. Annexure III, Appendix I "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  • This article incorporates text from the "Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978" in compliance with the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 Section 52 (1)(q)

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