17 meters band
“WARC band”
17 meters is a quieter, contest-free WARC band offering 20-meter-like DX with much less crowding — a civil, pleasant place to work the world.
Propagation & character
Largely a daytime DX band that opens with decent solar flux and follows the sun. It is more forgiving and far less congested than 20 meters.
What 17 meters is used for
CW, SSB, and digital for DX and casual operating. Contests are not held here.
Operating tips
- Because contesting is off-limits, the band stays calm and open even on busy weekends.
- It needs reasonable solar flux to open well.
- A 17 m dipole is about 26 ft.
Antennas for 17 meters
A half-wave dipole for 17 meters is about 25.8 ft (7.9 m) end to end. Work out an exact starting length with the antenna calculator, then trim for lowest SWR.
17 meters band FAQ
What frequencies is the 17 meters band?
The 17 meters band covers 18.068–18.168 MHz — part of the high frequency (HF) spectrum. Common modes are CW, SSB, digital.
What is the 17 meters band used for?
CW, SSB, and digital for DX and casual operating. Contests are not held here.
What license do you need to use 17 meters?
General, Advanced, and Extra.
How long is a dipole for 17 meters?
A half-wave dipole for 17 meters is about 25.8 ft (7.9 m) end to end, with each leg half that. Use the HamDaily antenna calculator for an exact starting length, then trim to resonance.