Why no 350MHz Band in the U.S.?

[TNFrank]

So why don't we use the 350MHz band here in the U.S. ?  Can we use some frequencies in that band or are they all allocated to things so we can't use them legally? Seems like an entire spectrum of frequencies that could be used that we're not taking part in.  I know the 1.25M band isn't used much here in the U.S. even though we legally can use it but the 350MHz band seems like it'd be more frequencies to use to give us more choice. 

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

So why don't we use the 350MHz band here in the U.S. ?  Can we use some frequencies in that band or are they all allocated to things so we can't use them legally? Seems like an entire spectrum of frequencies that could be used that we're not taking part in.  I know the 1.25M band isn't used much here in the U.S. even though we legally can use it but the 350MHz band seems like it'd be more frequencies to use to give us more choice. 

What makes you think the 350 MHz band isn’t used?

[SteveShannon]

“225 - 380 Mhz Military UHF Aircraft - mostly AM mode 25 Khz steps
380 - 406 Mhz Military UHF Trunking - FM Narrow Band 12.5 Khz steps”

[TNFrank]

17 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

What makes you think the 350 MHz band isn’t used?

Not used by Amateur Radio Operators. As you stated, the Military uses part of the spectrum but I don't think anyone with a HAM License uses any part of it. Could we legally use part of it? Could I program my radio for 350.550MHz Simplex and talk with other folks on that frequency without getting into hot water with the FCC? What about programming 350.550MHz as a Digital Channel in Simplex and using it. Would the FCC try to Fine me over that or is it something that's just overlooked by the FCC here in the U.S.?   

The main reason I'm asking about this is to find other frequencies that are License Free like FRS/MURS/900MHz that can be used to communicate with folks who don't have a GMRS/HAM License and aren't used much for better privacy/less traffic. 

[SteveShannon]

4 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Not used by Amateur Radio Operators. As you stated, the Military uses part of the spectrum but I don't think anyone with a HAM License uses any part of it. Could we legally use part of it? Could I program my radio for 350.550MHz Simplex and talk with other folks on that frequency without getting into hot water with the FCC? What about programming 350.550MHz as a Digital Channel in Simplex and using it. Would the FCC try to Fine me over that or is it something that's just overlooked by the FCC here in the U.S.?   

No, you may not use it unless the FCC has identified it as being available for amateur use. 
Yes, if you used it and the FCC found out you could be fined. For violating FCC regulations you would probably receive a letter the first time. I don’t know if there are other rules or possibly even laws regarding interference with military frequencies. Would the FCC overlook it?  Not if you interfere with military signals. Otherwise, who knows. They’re not aggressive against many things but if the military complains I bet they would be. 
There are some bands that are shared with amateurs and military. Military is usually primary and amateur use is secondary. Study the band plans. 

[SteveShannon]

Wavelength band	ITU Region 1	ITU Region 2	ITU Region 3	Sharing requirements see § 97.303 (paragraph)
VHF	MHz	MHz	MHz
6 m		50-54	50-54	(a).
2 m	144-146	144-148	144-148	(a), (k).
1.25 m		219-220		(l).
Do		222-225		(a).
UHF	MHz	MHz	MHz
70 cm	430-440	420-450	430-440	(a), (b), (m).
33 cm		902-928		(a), (b), (e), (n).
23 cm	1240-1300	1240-1300	1240-1300	(b), (d), (o).
13 cm	2300-2310	2300-2310	2300-2310	(d), (p).
Do	2390-2450	2390-2450	2390-2450	(d), (e), (p).
SHF	GHz	GHz	GHz
5 cm	5.650-5.850	5.650-5.925	5.650-5.850	(a), (b), (e), (r).
3 cm	10.0-10.5	10.0-10.5	10.0-10.5	(a), (b), (k).
1.2 cm	24.00-24.25	24.00-24.25	24.00-24.25	(b), (d), (e).
EHF	GHz	GHz	GHz
6 mm	47.0-47.2	47.0-47.2	47.0-47.2
4 mm	76-81	76-81	76-81	(c), (f), (s).
2.5 mm	122.25-123.00	122.25-123.00	122.25-123.00	(e), (t).
2 mm	134-141	134-141	134-141	(c), (f).
1 mm	241-250	241-250	241-250	(c), (e), (f).
	Above 275	Above 275	Above 275	(f).

 

[TNFrank]

So would 350MHz be the 1M band since it falls between the 1.25 and 70cm(.7M)band?

I noticed 350MHz is used in India like our FRS band is used here in the U.S.

[BoxCar]

1 minute ago, TNFrank said:

So would 350MHz be the 1M band since it falls between the 1.25 and 70cm(.7M)band?

300/350 = 86cm 

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

So why don't we use the 350MHz band here in the U.S. ?  Can we use some frequencies in that band or are they all allocated to things so we can't use them legally? Seems like an entire spectrum of frequencies that could be used that we're not taking part in.  I know the 1.25M band isn't used much here in the U.S. even though we legally can use it but the 350MHz band seems like it'd be more frequencies to use to give us more choice. 

I think frequencies in that range are reserved for military aircraft use.

https://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtMilVHF.html

What Hams did try was getting an allocation on 4M, 70MHz, like they have in the UK. The FCC shot that down quickly.

[SteveShannon]

31 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

So would 350MHz be the 1M band since it falls between the 1.25 and 70cm(.7M)band?

I noticed 350MHz is used in India like our FRS band is used here in the U.S.

Boxcar is exactly right but I like to show the units. I think it helps with the understanding.
300 million meters per second (speed of light) divided by 350 million cycles per second (cycles per second are called Hertz) equals 0.857 meters per cycle. 
So the wavelength of a 350 MHz signal is 85.7 centimeters. 
 

300 MHz is 1 meter wavelength. 

[WRYZ926]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

What Hams did try was getting an allocation on 4M, 70MHz, like they have in the UK. The FCC shot that down quickly.

And the reason that idea got shot down was the simple fact that the 4m band is still within the portion of the Low VHF that is used by the US Military. The SINCGARS radios use 30 MHz to 88 MHz. Even the older analog system used 30 MHz to 70 or 75 MHz.

@TNFrank don't hold your breath waiting for the US military to start allowing amateur radio operators to use frequencies around 350 MHz.

Unless things have changed, there are still restrictions on amateur radio 70cm repeaters near some Air Force bases. And the military can shutdown the amateur bands as needed for operational and/or security reasons.

As far as the 1.25m/220 band goes. Its popularity will depend on what part of the country you are in. The same can be said about System Fusion, D Star and DMR. They are more popular in some areas and see little to no use in other areas.

[tweiss3]

If you really want to "chat" with friends that don't have ham or GMRS, then get your justification together, talk to a frequency coordinator and put up your money for a business band frequency/pair. 

Otherwise, stick within what your amateur license permits for "chats". Every bit of frequency from 2200 meters (135kHz) to exceeding 275GHz is allocated with the US and any other region/nation. There isn't anything "free", and operating in the "350 band" could likely get you a knock on the door from the military, not just the FCC. Heck, the shared 60M band is relatively new, and its secondary operation for only 5 exact frequencies. 

The only reason you are seeing 350-520 show up in Chinese radios is because it was in commercial radios that were sold to the Feds. Don't think because a radio can transmit somewhere, that you can find a justification to use that frequency now.

[TechnoCurmudgeon]

By getting a ham license, you agreed to abide by the frequencies allocated to ham radio. You are free to petition the FCC for additional ham/GMRS/FRS/MURS/ etc. frequencies. Unless you view yourself as a “sovereign citizen,” in which case getting a ham license would be rather hypocritical.

Also, while the FCC may or may not take action for operating around 350MHz, it would likely be secondary to the NTIA. They control all federal & military frequency allocations & enforcement.

[WRQI583]

To try to transmit on 350 MHz is like trying to transmit on the 800 MHz band in between all of your public safety. That whole 300 MHz portion is all military aircraft. The FCC is not going to issue a pass for license free communication in between aircraft frequencies. It leaves too much room open for interference to those big large tin cans flying around in the sky. It is hard enough trying to get 220MHz equipment to legally transmit on, and even, no one is there. I don't know of any radios out there that transmit in the 350 MHz area. Not even your cheapest Baofengs. You have the MURS frequencies, FRS/GMRS frequencies (unlicensed) and you have CB radio if you want to talk to non-licensed operators. Or you can do like I do with my Ham friends - communicate strictly over cell phones. 

[TNFrank]

My Radtel RT-900 and RT-4D do 350MHz. Radtel seems to lead the way in radios that'll do multiple bands from HF/VHF/UHF to FM-CB, MURS and GMRS/FRS. 

As much as I like the Fengs I have I think Radtel just seems to be a better radio. 

[WRTC928]

On 10/26/2025 at 6:53 AM, WRQI583 said:

I don't know of any radios out there that transmit in the 350 MHz area.

The QYT QT-7900d does. At least mine does into a dummy load. Buying that radio led me to research the 350 MHz band and as far as I can tell, in the US it's entirely allocated to military use. 

The dummy load is as far as I took my testing. I used to be a military policeman and I know those guys. I don't want some 19 year old hothead with the latest in lethal hardware and a war-boner showing up at my door.

As an aside, the QT-7900 has some shortcomings, but it's surprisingly capable for a sub-$90 radio. It's one of only two multi-band radios I'm aware of which outputs 25 watts on the 1.25 meter band, the other being the Anytone AT-5888UVIII. The Anytone is a great radio, but it's 3x the price. The QYT has some limitations in scanning and multi-band monitoring that I don't like, but if you are looking for a radio for just the 220 band, you could do worse than the QT-7900d.

 

[WRYZ926]

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

It's one of only two multi-band radios I'm aware of which outputs 25 watts on the 1.25 meter band, the other being the Anytone AT-5888UVIII.

There is also the Wouxun KG-XS20H 20 watt tri-band radio. Mine puts out 18.5-19 watts on the 1.25m band.

1 hour ago, WRTC928 said:

The dummy load is as far as I took my testing. I used to be a military policeman and I know those guys. I don't want some 19 year old hothead with the latest in lethal hardware and a war-boner showing up at my door.

No need to poke the bear. Dealing with the military for interfering with their communications is not something one wants to deal with. 

[TNFrank]

I did notice 350MHz bands are popular in India although I think they use it low power/narrow band like our FRS.

[nokones]

On 10/20/2025 at 9:56 AM, TNFrank said:

So would 350MHz be the 1M band since it falls between the 1.25 and 70cm(.7M)band?

I noticed 350MHz is used in India like our FRS band is used here in the U.S.

No, 350 Megs is .857 meter or 85 cm

[TNFrank]

3 hours ago, nokones said:

No, 350 Megs is .857 meter or 85 cm

Wouldn't that round up to 86cm?

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

Wouldn't that round up to 86cm?

You are right, but typically nobody worries about naming them exactly. For instance, none of the frequencies in the 2 meter band actually measures exactly 2 meters.