πŸ“‘ Australian Amateur Radio Quick Reference

Quick guide to Australian amateur bands, licence levels, common modes and on-air basics.

Updated May 2026
⚠️ This page is a quick reference guide only and may contain errors or become outdated. Amateur radio operation in Australia is regulated by ACMA. Always refer to the current ACMA licence conditions before transmitting.

🧭 High-level overview

A compact reference for Australian amateur band access, licence power levels, common emission modes and basic operating concepts.

Licence levelFoundation, Standard and Advanced each have different permitted bands and power limits.
Band segmentThe legal band edge is not enough. Use the band plan to choose voice, CW, data, repeater or satellite segments.
Mode & powerJ3E/SSB-style voice often has a different power category to FM, CW and data modes.

πŸ“‘ Band access by minimum qualification i

Choose a licence level to show what that level can generally access. The coloured buttons show the cumulative licence path: Standard includes Foundation bands; Advanced includes Foundation and Standard bands.

BandFrequency rangeMinimumOperating notes
2200 m
135.7–137.8 kHzAdvanced
〰️ LF; special limits
630 m
472–479 kHzAdvanced
〰️ MF; special limits
160 m
1.800–1.875 MHzAdvanced
🌏 Advanced HF band
80 m
3.500–3.700 MHzFoundation
🌏 All classes; HF bandwidth limits
80 m DX window
3.776–3.800 MHzAdvanced
🌏 Advanced-only segment
40 m
7.000–7.300 MHzFoundation
🌏 All classes; split conditions
30 m
10.100–10.150 MHzAdvanced
⌁ Advanced; ≀8 kHz bandwidth
20 m
14.000–14.350 MHzStandard
🌏 Standard+; HF bandwidth limits
17 m
18.068–18.168 MHzAdvanced
🌏 Advanced; HF bandwidth limits
15 m
21.000–21.450 MHzFoundation
🌏 All classes; HF bandwidth limits
12 m
24.890–24.990 MHzAdvanced
🌏 Advanced; HF bandwidth limits
10 m
28.000–29.700 MHzFoundation
πŸ“‘ All classes; wider HF/VHF-style use
6 m
50.000–54.000 MHzStandard
πŸ“‘ Standard+; mixed conditions
2 m
144.000–148.000 MHzFoundation
πŸ“‘ All classes; no specific mode limit
70 cm
430.000–450.000 MHzFoundation
πŸ“‘ All classes; secondary
23 cm
1.240–1.300 GHzStandard
πŸ“Ά Standard+; secondary
13 cm
2.300–2.302 GHzAdvanced
🌏 Advanced narrow segment
13 cm
2.400–2.450 GHzStandard
πŸ“Ά Standard+; secondary
9 cm
3.300–3.600 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced; location restrictions
6 cm
5.650–5.850 GHzStandard
πŸ“Ά Standard+; secondary
3 cm
10.000–10.500 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced microwave
1.2 cm
24.000–24.250 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced microwave
6 mm
47.000–47.200 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced microwave
4 mm
76.000–81.000 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced microwave
2.4 mm
122.250–123.000 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced mm-wave
2 mm
134.000–141.000 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced mm-wave
1.2 mm
241.000–250.000 GHzAdvanced
πŸ“Ά Advanced mm-wave
βš–οΈ ACMA vs WIA:ACMA is the legal source for access, power and emission limits. WIA band-plan segments are practical guidance for where CW, data, voice, satellite, repeater and beacon activity normally belongs. Use the chevron in Operating notes for band-specific notes, including J3E/SSB voice context where useful.

πŸ”Š Common emission codes i

The code describes the type of transmitted signal. The most useful practical shortcut: J3E is normal SSB voice.

Reading codes like J3E
ITU emission codes are shorthand: 1st character = modulation type Β· 2nd character = signal type Β· 3rd character = information type.
JSSB, suppressed carrier
3One analogue channel
ETelephony / voice
Example: J3E = normal USB/LSB SSB voice. R3E is SSB voice with a reduced/vestigial carrier; F3E is FM voice; A1A is CW Morse.
πŸ—£οΈ A3E Β· AM voiceCarrier plus two sidebands.Amplitude changes with voice.
πŸŽ™οΈ J3E Β· SSB voiceSuppressed carrier; one sideband.Normal HF USB/LSB voice.
πŸŽ™οΈ R3E Β· SSB voiceReduced or vestigial carrier.Less common than J3E.
πŸ“» F3E Β· FM voiceAmplitude mostly steady.Frequency shifts with audio.
‒– A1A Β· CW MorseOn/off keyed carrier.Used for Morse code.
πŸ–ΌοΈ C3F Β· Image/videoAnalogue television-style emission.Not normal voice operation.

πŸ“Ά Signal reports i

A signal report is a short way to tell another station how readable and strong they are.

5/9β€œFive and nine” β€” perfectly readable and very strong.
5/5Perfectly readable, but only medium strength.
3/3Readable with difficulty and weak.
πŸŽ™οΈ What you might say: β€œVK4ABC, you are five and seven.” That means readability 5, signal strength 7.

For normal voice contacts you usually give two numbers: Readability and Strength. For CW/Morse, RST adds a third number for Tone, for example 599.

🧰 Handy operating basics

↔️ SimplexStation-to-station on one frequency.
πŸ” RepeaterTransmit on the repeater input and listen on its output.
🎚️ CTCSS toneA sub-audible repeater access tone. Not privacy or encryption.
πŸ“£ Calling frequencyA recognised place to make initial contact, then move if the contact continues.
πŸ—ΊοΈ Band planA voluntary operating map for voice, CW, data, repeaters, satellites and beacons.
βš–οΈ Primary / secondary iSecondary amateur operation must not cause harmful interference to primary users.

πŸ—£οΈ Common things you may hear on air

CQGeneral call: β€œI am calling any station.”
QTHLocation. Example: β€œMy QTH is Brisbane.”
QSYChange frequency.
73Friendly sign-off meaning best regards.
Signal reportA short report of readability and signal strength. β€œFive and nine” means readability 5 and strength 9.
NetA scheduled or organised on-air group contact.

πŸ”— Official references

ACMA Amateur Class Licence page
ACMA amateur class licence conditions and Schedule 2 guidance
ACMA operating procedures and emission examples
WIA Australian Amateur Radio Band Plan 2026

Disclaimer: this page is a quick reference only, not legal advice. ACMA licence conditions take precedence over summaries and voluntary band plans. Check the current licence before transmitting.