Band plans, call sign areas, grid squares, CQ zones, and timekeeping references — the essential geographic and frequency references every ham needs.
Band Plans
Know where you can operate and what modes are used on each frequency segment.
- ARRL Band Plan — Complete US amateur band plan for HF through microwave, including mode allocations and footnotes.
- ARRL Graphical Band Chart (PDF) — Downloadable/printable color chart of all US amateur frequency allocations by license class.
- Frequency Allocations Details — Detailed text-based allocation table including 60-meter channels, 2200m, 630m, and microwave bands.
- 60-Meter Channel Guide — Updated 60m privileges — channel frequencies, modes, and operating practices.
Call Areas, CQ Zones, Grid Squares & More
Understand the geographic reference systems used in amateur radio.
- US Call Sign Areas Map — Map of the ten US call districts (0–9) and their geographic boundaries.
- CQ Zone Map — Interactive world map showing all 40 CQ zones used for WAZ (Worked All Zones) awards.
- ARRL Grid Squares — Explanation of the Maidenhead grid locator system and how it’s used in VHF/UHF and contests.
- IOTA — Islands on the Air — The RSGB IOTA programme — reference numbers, island groups, and award tracking for DXers.
- ARRL Sections — List and map of ARRL/RAC sections used in Field Day, Sweepstakes, and section-based contests.
UTC & Timekeeping
All amateur radio logs use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Stay synchronized.
- time.is — Live UTC Clock — Precise real-time UTC display synced to atomic clocks.
- NIST Internet Time Service — Official US time standard — instructions for syncing your PC clock to NIST atomic time servers.
- Time Zone Converter — Convert between UTC and any local time zone — essential for scheduling skeds and contest operations.
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet
When giving your callsign or spelling out information on the air, use the standard NATO phonetic alphabet. This ensures clarity, especially on noisy HF bands.
| A - Alpha | J - Juliet | R - Romeo |
| B - Bravo | K - Kilo | S - Sierra |
| C - Charlie | L - Lima | T - Tango |
| D - Delta | M - Mike | U - Uniform |
| E - Echo | N - November | V - Victor |
| F - Foxtrot | O - Oscar | W - Whiskey |
| G - Golf | P - Papa | X - Xray |
| H - Hotel | Q - Quebec | Y - Yankee |
| I - India | Z - Zulu |
For example, W9AXD would be spoken as: “Whiskey Nine Alpha X-ray Delta.”