In the world of amateur radio, operators often use the term “meter bands” to refer to specific ranges of frequencies.
This tool converts from meter to frequency in Hertz, kHz, MHz or GHz
Calculator
- Enter the length and use the drop down menu to select the units
Formula
Frequency f is given by the formula
f = c/λ
where, c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength. As the wavelength increases the frequency decreases.
In a vacuum, the speed of light is c = 299,792,458 meters/second. It is slower in other media such as in glass for instance where the speed is 200,000,000 meters/second. Change the value of c in the calculator above to calculate the frequency in this case.
For a fixed value of wavelength, as c increases, so does f.
The picture below shows the wavelength (λ) of a sine wave
What Are Meter Bands?
Meter bands are a way to describe the wavelength of radio waves in meters. This terminology comes from the early days of radio when wavelengths were more commonly used than frequencies. Today, both wavelength and frequency are used interchangeably, but knowing how to convert between them is essential.
Meter band to Frequency Table
Using the calculator above, meters can be converted to frequency. Here’s a quick reference table for some common amateur radio bands:
| Meter Band | Frequency Range (MHz) |
|---|---|
| 160 meters | 1.8 – 2.0 MHz |
| 80 meters | 3.5 – 4.0 MHz |
| 40 meters | 7.0 – 7.3 MHz |
| 30 meters | 10.1 – 10.15 MHz |
| 20 meters | 14.0 – 14.35 MHz |
| 17 meters | 18.068 – 18.168 MHz |
| 15 meters | 21.0 – 21.45 MHz |
| 12 meters | 24.89 – 24.99 MHz |
| 10 meters | 28.0 – 29.7 MHz |
| 6 meters | 50.0 – 54.0 MHz |
| 2 meters | 144 – 148 MHz |
| 1.25 meters | 222 – 225 MHz |
| 70 centimeters | 420 – 450 MHz |
Practical Application
When setting up your radio, knowing how to convert meter bands to frequencies helps you tune to the correct range for your desired communication band. This is especially useful when programming frequencies into your radio or selecting antennas, as different antennas are optimized for different wavelength ranges.