Shortwave Radio Frequency List and SWL Links

If you’re serious about shortwave, you’ll see these sites:

Hard-Core DX | DXWorld.com | DXing.com | Primetimeshortwave.com Lots of fresh schedules.
Shortwave Radio Listening Resource Center | What’s on Right Now
A Great Hot Shortwave Link List from hfradio.org
Popular Communications Magazine

Shortwave Frequency Guide (All frequencies shown in kHz)
Frequencies	Service	Comments
0535 \| 1705	AM Broadcast	Standard North America AM
1705 \| 1800	Fixed Service	Land/Mobile/Marine
1800 \| 2000	Amateur 160 Meters
2000 \| 2107	Maritime Mobile
2107 \| 2170	Fixed Service	Land/Mobile/Marine
2170 \| 2194	Land Mobile Service
2194 \| 2300	Fixed Service
2300 \| 2495	Shortwave Broadcast	120 Meters
2495 \| 2505	Time Standard
2505 \| 2850	Fixed Service	Land/Mobile/Marine
2850 \| 3155	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
3155 \| 3200	Fixed Service
3200 \| 3400	Shortwave Broadcast	90 Meters
3400 \| 3500	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
3500 \| 4000	Amateur 80/75 Meters
3900 \| 4000	Shortwave Broadcast	75 Meters, Not in Region 2
4000 \| 4000	Time Standard
4000 \| 4063	Fixed Service
4063 \| 4438	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
4438 \| 4650	Fixed Service
4650 \| 4750	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
4750 \| 5060	Shortwave Broadcast	60 Meters
5005 \| 5450	Fixed Service
5450 \| 5730	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
5730 \| 5950	Fixed Service
5950 \| 6200	Shortwave Broadcast	49 Meters
6200 \| 6525	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
6525 \| 6765	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
6765 \| 7000	Fixed Service
7000 \| 7300	Amateur 40 Meters
7100 \| 7300	Shortwave Broadcast	41 Meters, Not in Region 2
7300 \| 8195	Fixed Service
8195 \| 8815	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
8815 \| 9040	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
9040 \| 9500	Fixed Service
9500 \| 9900	Shortwave Broadcast	31 Meters
9775 \| 9995	Fixed Service
10005 \| 10100	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
10100 \| 10150	Amateur 30 Meters	CW/Data Only
10100 \| 11175	Fixed Service
11175 \| 11400	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
11400 \| 11650	Fixed Service
11650 \| 12050	Shortwave Broadcast	25 Meters
12050 \| 12330	Fixed Service
12330 \| 13200	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
13200 \| 13360	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
13360 \| 13600	Fixed Service
13600 \| 13800	Shortwave Broadcast	New WARC Allocation
13800 \| 14000	Fixed Service
14000 \| 14350	Amateur 20 Meters
14350 \| 14995	Fixed Service
15010 \| 15100	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
15100 \| 15600	Shortwave Broadcast	19 Meters
15600 \| 16460	Fixed Service
16460 \| 17360	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
17360 \| 17550	Fixed Service
17550 \| 17900	Shortwave Broadcast	16 Meters
17900 \| 18030	Aeronautical Mobile	Transoceanic Flights
18030 \| 18780	Fixed Service
18068 \| 18168	Amateur 17 Meters
18780 \| 18900	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
18900 \| 19680	Fixed Service
19680 \| 19800	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
19800 \| 21000	Fixed Service
21000 \| 21450	Amateur 15 Meters
21450 \| 21850	Shortwave Broadcast	13 Meters
21850 \| 22000	Aeronautical Mobile
22000 \| 22720	Maritime Mobile	Ship/Shore
22720 \| 23200	Fixed Service
23200 \| 23350	Aeronautical Mobile
23350 \| 24990	Fixed Service
24890 \| 24990	Amateur 12 Meters	Shared with FixedService
25010 \| 25330	Petroleum Industry
25330 \| 25600	Government Frequency
25600 \| 26100	Shortwave Broadcast 1 1 Meters
26100 \| 26480	Land Mobile Service
26480 \| 26950	Government
26950 \| 26960	International Fixed Service
26960 \| 27410	Citizen’s Band	Channels start at 26965 kHz
27410 \| 27540	Land Mobile Service
27540 \| 28000	Government
28000 \| 29700	Amateur 10 Meters
29700 \| 29800	Forestry Service
29800 \| 29890	Fixed Service
29890 \| 29910	Government
29910 \| 30000	Fixed Service

K4ZAD’s Shortwave Voice Utility Sampler
2182	Marine Emergency Calling Channel
2598	Canadian CG Marine Information Broadcasts
2670	USCG Marine Information Broadcasts
3413	Aero Weather \| Shannon Ireland
3485	Aero WX \| New York, NY and Gander, Newfoundland
4065	Inland River Towboats \| WCM \| Cincinnati
4125	Marine Ship Calling
4149	Marine Simplex Utility Channel 4B
4372	US Navy
4381	Great Lakes Ore Boats \| WLC \| Rogers City, MI \| Ships on 4089
4582	Civil Air Patrol \| Emergency Channel
4722	RAF Aero Weather \| Continuous
4725	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
4742	RAF \| Architect
5015	US Army Corps of Engineers \| Net at 8:00 AM ET, M-F
5211	Federal Emergency Management Agency \| Primary Night Channel
5505	Aero Weather \| Shannon Ireland \| Continuous
5598	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Gander, Shanwick
5616	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| Gander, Shanwick
5680	Search & Rescue Channel \| Worldwide
5692	US Coast Guard \| Chopper Ops.
5696	US Coast Guard \| Air Ops.
5841	US Anti-Drug Agents
6215	Marine Ship Calling / Utility Channel (Ch. 606)
6230	Marine Simplex Utility Channel 6C
6510	River Towboats \| WCM \| Cincinnati
6577	Air Traffic Control \| Caribbean \| NY
6604	Aero WX \| New York, NY and Gander, Newfoundland
6628	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Santa Maria
6676	Aero WX \| Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Bombay
6679	Aero WX \| Honolulu, Tokyo, Auckland, Hong Kong
6697	US Navy
6720	US Navy
6738	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
6753	Canadian Military WX \| Edmonton, Trenton, St. Johns
6812	USAF \| A prime frequency for Air Force One
7527	US Anti-Drug Agents
7535	US Navy Shanwick
7635	CAP \| Nationwide Freq (Command Net Weekdays at 1600 UTC)
8125	FAA \| Eastern Net (Wednesdays at 10:45 AM ET)
8176	Sydney, Australia. Marine Radio \| VIS \| (early mornings)
8213	River Towboats \| WCM \| Cincinnati
8255	Marine Ship Calling (Ch. 821)
8297	Marine Simplex Utility Channel 8B
8794	Great Lakes Ore Boats \| WLC \| Rogers City, MI \| Ships on 8270
8825	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Gander, Shanwick
8828	Aero WX \| Honolulu, Tokyo, Auckland, Hong Kong
8846	Air Traffic Control \| Caribbean \| NY
8864	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| Gander, Shanwick
8867	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney, Nandi
8903	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific & Africa
8906	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Santa Maria
8912	US Anti-Drug Agents
8957	Aero Weather \| Shannon Ireland \| Continuous
8967	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
8980	US Coast Guard \| Chopper Ops.
8984	US Coast Guard \| Air Ops.
8993	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
9023	Canadian Military & USAF NORAD
9032	RAF \| Architect
10051	Aero WX \| New York, NY and Gander, Newfoundland
10493	Federal Emergency Management Agency \| Primary Day Channel
10780	USAF \| NASA Support \| Cape Radio \| Primary Day Channel
11176	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
11191	US Navy \| Air Operations \| Hershey at Key West, FL
11195	US Coast Guard \| Air Ops.
11198	US Coast Guard \| Chopper Ops.
11200	RAF Aero Weather \| Continuous
11205	US Navy
11233	Canadian Military
11234	RAF \| Architect
11255	US Navy
11267	US Navy
11279	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Gander, Shanwick
11282	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| San Francisco, Honolulu
11309	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Santa Maria
11384	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| Honolulu, Tokyo, Hong Kong
11387	Aero WX \| Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Bombay
11396	Air Traffic Control \| Caribbean \| NY
11494	US Anti-Drug Agents \| Shore on 6516
12290	Marine Ship Calling Ch. (Ch. 1221) \| Shore Stations on 13137
12359	Marine Simplex Utility Channel 12C (Skeds at 14:30 \| 15:00 ET)
13201	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
13257	Canadian Military
13261	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney, Nandi
13264	Aero Weather \| Shannon Ireland \| Continuops
13270	Aero WX \| New York, NY and Gander, Newfoundiand
13282	Aero WX \| Honolulu, Tokyo, Auckland, Hono Kong
13288	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| San Francisco, Honolulu
13297	Air Traffic Control \| Caribbean \| NY
13300	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| Honolulu, Tokyo, Hong Kong
13306	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Gander,
13312	Anti-Drug Agents and FAA and Commercial Flight Tests
13330	Air \| Long Distance Operational Control \| NY, Houston
13354	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| San Francisco, Honolulu
13457	FAA \| Western Net (Wednesdays at 10:30 AM MT) (Skeds at 13:00 \| 14:00 ET)
15015	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
15867	US Anti-Drug Agents \| Shore Stations on 8779
16420	Marine Ship Calling Channel (Ch. 1621) \| Shore Stations on 17302
16534	Marine Simplex Utility Channel 16C
17904	Air Traffic Control \| Pacific \| Honolulu, Tokyo, Hong Kong
17946	Air Traffic Control \| North Atlantic \| NY, Gander, Shanwick
17975	US Air Force \| Global High Frequency System
18009	US Navy
22060	Marine Ship Calling Channel (Ch 2221) \| Shore Stations on 22756
22171	Marine Simplex Utility Channel 22E
23287	US Navy

Utility Frequencies courtesy of Tom McKee, K4ZAD, from his book,
The Other Shortwave (Key Research, PO Box 846G, Cary, NC 27512).

◄— Shortwave Antennas Page 16 — Texas 2-Meter Band Plan —►

17 thoughts on “Shortwave Frequencies”

ray Lazar on December 7, 2019 at 8:25 AM said:

Thank you so much for your practical info on basic radio theory,frequency guides,types of antennas,and the article on the 80 meter doublet.I was a ham (general) in the 1970’s and let my license lapse.Now I am retired and listen to ham bands 80 & 40 m.Don’t know if you respond to questions but here is one.I listen with a Hammarlund hq-145 which is so much better than the hw-101 I had back when.(gave it away)For dx I put up an 80 meter half square and I am very pleased with it. (I use an 80 m windom for local listening.)you said the best swl antenna is a horizontal with individual wires for each band.Would this be better for dx than the half square? I know it would be easy for me to get my general again and it is on my mind.Thanks for your attention and your efforts.You are a very effective teacher!-Ray Lazar 234-417-7054

Reply ↓
- KV5R on December 7, 2019 at 6:02 PM said:
  
  Hi Ray,
  No, the half-square should be much better for DX, since it’s 2 phased verticals and has a low angle of radiation.
  The multi-wire “fan” dipole is a good all-around multi-bander, simply because it’ll provide SWR dips at desired places, and thus keep coax losses low. But it’s high-angle on the bands where it’s under half-wave high.
  73, –kv5r
  
  Reply ↓
Bad Brad on October 3, 2019 at 4:44 PM said:

0535 Khz to 1705 Khz are not shortwave frequencies.
There is where you find the commercial American AM band.
Those would be classified as Medium wave length.
Smaller than 0535 Khz moves into the Long wave bands.
Some receivers are able to get those frequencies. LW stations
still operate out of Europe but they are very few.

Reply ↓
- KV5R on October 4, 2019 at 7:10 AM said:
  
  Actually, shortwave (HF) is 3-30 MHz; medium wave (MF) is 300 kHz to 3 MHz; and long wave (LF) is 30-300 kHz. Most of what’s around 300 kHz is airport beacons.
  Yes, the AM broadcast band (and the amateur 160 band) are MF. Are you saying I shouldn’t list them in in a general list of “shortwave” frequencies? Most people that have a decent “shortwave” radio (including all amateur HF radios) can go done to 100, or even 30 kHz…
  
  Reply ↓
- Tom Smith on April 15, 2020 at 11:56 AM said:
  
  What are the LW frequencies actually used for?
  
  Reply ↓
- Tom on May 26, 2021 at 10:21 PM said:
  
  Trees are the best choice.
  
  Reply ↓
Layne Labaume on December 30, 2018 at 9:29 AM said:

Primetime shortwave has gone commercial! (They used to have free Excel spreadsheets for English broadcasts but no more!)

Reply ↓
Cygnus Rider on December 30, 2018 at 7:28 AM said:

Thank you for posting this listing. Handy and useful.

Reply ↓
swapnali on October 3, 2018 at 2:18 PM said:

Great Information,it has lot for stuff which is informative.I will share the post with my friends.

Reply ↓
Mark on January 10, 2018 at 3:00 PM said:

Can you suggest a really good comprehensive book for WE listening ? I want to know more about the hobby. Many thanks. Mark

Reply ↓
PERRY COULOUFACOS on August 5, 2016 at 6:09 PM said:

Thank you for all the sw frequencies.I am new to sw and bought a tecsun pl660 radio and thanks to you I can access all the frequencies.

Reply ↓
jed martin on June 25, 2016 at 10:28 PM said:

using GQRX, (a SDR application) and have been filling in band assignments in the bookmarks list, so i can see on-screen what a section of spectrum is used for. this list will help a lot. also, being a ham (N4TKO) i have set bookmarks with various portions of the ham bands delineated… i’ll send you a copy when i get it finished.

Reply ↓
Bob foster in the north west of the UK on June 16, 2016 at 10:01 AM said:

Been a swl for many years,but I am always looking for frequency lists.I find this one is just brilliant,everything in one easy list. Thanks bob

Reply ↓
Bill Buchsbaum on April 24, 2016 at 11:12 AM said:

Thanks for posting this concise listing. It’s getting difficult for an SWL to find anything on HF . . . .

Reply ↓
joncollins on December 26, 2015 at 10:54 PM said:

Hi im an english swl listen to hf from oo oo utc on my tecsun pl-66o rx in birmingham england uk recently came across your excellent website but any chance of giving out any addresses on receiving a qsl card etc from aero military stations etc ? or is this classified info? 73 joncollins(swl) (birmingham)uk HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Reply ↓
al fritsch on December 17, 2015 at 6:37 AM said:

Great info for the SWL. I am 85 and this info I need to help me. Thanks so much

Al

Reply ↓
Woody Gimbel KJ4UEA on May 30, 2015 at 6:56 PM said:

Thank you for this listing. It is really helpful. I am an active SWL and Ham (tech only) and the HF frequency listing is concise and thorough enough.
Thanks again!
Woody Gimbel
KJ4UEA

Reply ↓

Shortwave Radio Frequency List and SWL Links

If you’re serious about shortwave, you’ll see these sites:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply