Band plan Comparison

50 MHz Bandplan Comparison

RSGB / IARU Region 1 / IARU Region 2 / IARU Region 3

Bandplan Comparison

The 50 MHz band is used throughout the world for a wide variety of amateur radio activities, including CW, SSB, digital modes, weak-signal work, meteor scatter, EME, FM, repeaters and propagation beacons.

This table compares the principal 50 MHz bandplan recommendations of the RSGB, IARU Region 1, IARU Region 2 and IARU Region 3. It is intended to show where the four plans are aligned and where regional differences exist.

Important: IARU bandplans are recommendations for good operating practice. National regulations and licence conditions take precedence where they differ from an IARU bandplan. The RSGB plan is the UK national plan and incorporates UK-specific requirements and variations.

How to Read the Table

RSGB — United Kingdom
R1 — Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia
R2 — The Americas
R3 — Asia-Pacific

50 MHz Bandplan Comparison

Frequency RSGB / UK IARU Region 1 IARU Region 2 IARU Region 3
50.000–50.030 Synchronised Beacon Project Synchronised Beacon Project Beacon activity International beacon section begins at 50.020 MHz
50.000–50.100 Telegraphy / CW
Maximum 500 Hz		 Telegraphy / CW
Beacon Project excepted		 CW / Beacons CW / Beacons
50.050 CW Future International Centre of Activity CW activity CW activity
50.090 CW Intercontinental Centre of Activity CW CW
50.100–50.125 SSB / CW
International section		 Intercontinental section DX window
CW / SSB		 CW / Phone / Narrowband / Digital
50.110 Intercontinental Calling Frequency Intercontinental Calling Frequency Intercontinental Calling Frequency Intercontinental Calling Frequency
50.125–50.200 SSB / CW International section CW / SSB / Digital CW / Phone / Narrowband / Digital
50.150 SSB Centre of Activity International Centre of Activity SSB activity General activity
50.150–50.200 SSB / CW International section CW / SSB / Digital General activity
50.200–50.300 SSB / CW
General usage		 General usage CW / SSB / Digital General activity
50.285 Crossband Centre of Activity Crossband Centre of Activity — —
50.300–50.400 MGM / Narrowband / CW MGM / Narrowband / Telegraphy CW / SSB / Digital CW / Phone / Narrowband / Digital
50.305 PSK Centre of Activity PSK Centre of Activity PSK Centre of Activity —
50.310–50.320 EME EME Centre of Activity Weak-signal / EME Digital / weak signal
50.313 FT8 FT8 activity FT8 activity FT8
50.320–50.380 Meteor Scatter Meteor Scatter Centre of Activity Meteor Scatter / weak signal Digital / weak signal
50.400–50.500 Beacons / MGM / CW MGM / Telegraphy / Beacons All modes / Beacons / ACDS All modes
50.500–50.600 All modes All modes All modes / ACDS All modes / wideband
50.600–50.700 Digital communications All modes / digital All modes / ACDS All modes / wideband
50.630 Digital Voice calling Digital Voice Digital activity Digital activity
50.700–50.900 FM / DV FM / DV FM / DV
12 kHz		 All modes / wideband
51.000–51.100 All modes / general usage All modes DX window All modes
51.100–51.400 FM / DV / Repeater inputs FM / DV FM / DV repeater inputs All modes
51.410–51.590 FM / DV simplex FM / DV simplex FM / DV simplex All modes
51.510 FM Calling Frequency FM calling — —
51.600–52.000 FM / DV / Repeaters / Digital FM / DV / Digital experiments FM / DV repeater outputs All modes
52.000–54.000 All modes where allocated All modes All modes All modes / wideband

50.110 MHz — Intercontinental Calling Frequency

50.110 MHz is the internationally recognised intercontinental calling frequency on 6 metres.

It should be used to establish intercontinental contacts and, once contact has been established, operators should move to another frequency to continue the QSO.

In IARU Region 1, the bandplan specifically states that 50.110 MHz should not be used for calling within the European part of Region 1.

Key Differences Between the Four Plans

RSGB / UK The UK plan follows IARU Region 1 closely but contains UK-specific frequency allocations and repeater arrangements. The current RSGB plan is the January 2026 edition.
IARU Region 1 Provides the international framework used across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and northern parts of Asia. It contains detailed recommendations for weak-signal, beacon, digital and repeater activity.
IARU Region 2 Covers the Americas and uses a number of different frequency segments and channel arrangements from Region 1, particularly for FM/DV and repeater operation.
IARU Region 3 Covers the Asia-Pacific area. Its current 6 m plan has a relatively simple division between CW/beacons, narrowband activity and all-mode/wideband operation.

Six Metre International Quick Reference

50.110 MHz
Intercontinental Calling Frequency
50.150 MHz
SSB / International Centre of Activity
50.305 MHz
PSK Centre of Activity
50.313 MHz
FT8
50.310–50.320 MHz
EME / Weak Signal
50.320–50.380 MHz
Meteor Scatter
50.400–50.500 MHz
Beacon Activity
51.510 MHz
FM Calling Frequency

Sources & Further Information

Disclaimer: This comparison is provided as an operating reference. Bandplans can change and national licence conditions always take precedence over IARU recommendations. Operators should consult the current published bandplan and licence conditions applicable to their location before transmitting.
UK Six Metre Group — 50 MHz Bandplan Comparison