17 Meters

18 MHz behaves like 20 meters with better manners. It opens a little later in the morning, closes a little earlier at night, and in between it does most of what 20 does — but with a fraction of the crowd.

WHY A CALMER 20 METERS

18 MHz behaves like 20 meters with better manners. It opens a little later in the morning, closes a little earlier at night, and in between it does most of what 20 does — but with a fraction of the crowd.

It is a WARC band: no contesting allowed. That single rule is why 17 has a reputation as the friendliest band on HF. On a contest weekend it is often the only civil place left.

It is also forgiving of a modest antenna. A simple dipole on 17 gets out far better than the same effort on 40, because the wavelength is short enough that a normal backyard can actually support a real antenna at a useful height.

WHEN IT WORKS

WHO MAY TRANSMIT WHERE · 47 CFR §97.301

EVERY BAND