222 MHz Band Guide: The 1.25 Meter Band Plan and Its Uses

Between the busy 2 meter band and the crowded 70 centimeter band sits a stretch of spectrum that many VHF operators never use: the 222 MHz band, also known as the 1.25 meter band. It covers 222 to 225 MHz in the ARRL band plan, only three megahertz wide, and it has a character of its own: less crowded than 2 meters, with a well-defined weak-signal segment, FM repeaters on a standard split, and a place for packet and links. This guide walks through the ARRL band plan segment by segment, explains what each part is for, and shows how the band connects with VHF contesting and moonbounce. The band plan details come from the ARRL’s published band plan page.

Where the Band Sits and Who Can Use It

The 1.25 meter band is a Region 2 allocation in the international scheme, meaning the Americas. In many other parts of the world there is no amateur allocation at 222 MHz, so the band is mainly relevant to operators in the United States, Canada and some other countries of the Americas. Always check the allocation and licence conditions of your own country. In the United States, the band is open to Technician licensees and above, according to the FCC rules, but verify the current rules if you plan to operate. The Wikipedia article on the 1.25-meter band gives the general background.

The ARRL band plan page notes that the 222 MHz band plan was adopted by the ARRL Board of Directors in July 1991, and the ARRL band plan is the reference this guide follows. Band plans are voluntary agreements, not law, but they work because most operators follow them. If you operate on a frequency that the plan reserves for repeater inputs, you may interfere with a repeater and with people you never hear.

The ARRL 1.25 Meter Band Plan

The plan divides 222 to 225 MHz into functional blocks. The table summarizes them from the lowest frequency to the highest.

The pattern is easy to remember. The bottom 150 kHz is for weak-signal work, the middle of the band is a block of FM simplex, digital and control channels, and the top is divided between repeater inputs, in the lower half, and repeater outputs, in the upper half. If you compare the FM input block (222.25 to 223.38 MHz) with the output block (223.85 to 224.98 MHz), the two are separated by 1.6 MHz, which is the standard repeater offset on this band; this follows simply from the arithmetic of the plan.

The Weak-Signal Segment

Like other VHF and UHF bands, 222 MHz keeps its lowest portion for CW and SSB. The plan marks 222.0 to 222.025 MHz for EME, 222.05 to 222.06 MHz for propagation beacons and 222.1 MHz as the SSB and CW calling frequency. Calling frequencies work the same way as on 2 meters and 70 centimeters: you call on the calling frequency, agree on a QSY frequency within the weak-signal range, and move off so that others can use the calling channel. If you are used to the layout of the 2 meter weak-signal range, the 2 meter band guide shows the equivalent segments.

Weak-signal operating on 222 MHz is usually done with horizontal polarization and a Yagi, as on 2 meters, and it benefits from the same propagation modes: tropospheric ducting, meteor scatter, aurora and sporadic-E on rare occasions. Our guide to tropospheric ducting explains the mode that carries most long-distance VHF contacts in summer and autumn. Because the band is so lightly used, a station that calls CQ on the calling frequency with a good antenna may find that nobody is listening, so most contacts are arranged in advance on a regional chat or at a scheduled time.

FM Repeaters and Simplex

The FM portion of the band is where most casual operators will find activity. Repeater inputs sit between 222.25 and 223.38 MHz, and outputs between 223.85 and 224.98 MHz, with the 1.6 MHz offset between them. FM simplex lives between 223.40 and 223.52 MHz, and the segment from 223.71 to 223.85 MHz is left to the local frequency coordinator, who can decide whether it hosts simplex, packet or repeater outputs. Because of the local option segments, always check with your regional coordinator or your local club before programming a radio.

Operating on a 222 MHz repeater is just like operating on a 2 meter or 70 centimeter repeater. You need the output frequency, the offset direction and the CTCSS tone, if used. Our guides to VHF and UHF simplex and repeater operating and to CTCSS tones explain the programming steps. Radios that cover this band are less common than 2 meter and 70 centimeter radios, so be sure that your radio covers 222 to 225 MHz before you rely on it.

Digital, Packet and Links

The plan sets aside 223.52 to 223.64 MHz for digital and packet use, and 223.64 to 223.70 MHz for links and control. Packet activity is much lower than in the past, and many of these frequencies are now used for experiments or for point-to-point data links. Links and control channels are used to connect repeaters and to control remote bases, so they should be treated with special care. Do not transmit on a link frequency unless you are the coordinator’s assigned user.

The 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest

The band has its own contest. The ARRL’s 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest takes place on the first full weekend of August; the page lists August 1-2, 2026. It begins at 1800 UTC Saturday and ends at 1759 UTC Sunday. The objective is to work as many stations as possible on the 222 MHz through 241 GHz bands using any allowable mode. A station in a specific grid locator may be contacted from the same location only once on each band, regardless of mode, so the contest rewards variety of grids and bands rather than repeat contacts with the same station.

Logs are due within fourteen days after the event and must be submitted in Cabrillo format through the ARRL’s web app. Certificates are awarded for top single-operator fixed, multi-operator fixed, rover, club, small team and large team scores in each of the 18 contest regions. The regions are based on groups of US states and Canadian provinces, with region 18 covering DX, Alaska, Hawaii, US possessions and maritime mobile. If you want to take part in the wider VHF contest calendar, our guide to the ARRL VHF contests explains how the January, June and September events are scored by grid squares.

Compared With 2 Meters and 70 Centimeters

The three VHF and UHF bands have a similar structure, which is why the 222 MHz band feels familiar to anyone who has used the others. On 2 meters, the ARRL plan lists EME at 144.00 to 144.05 MHz, a national calling frequency at 144.200 MHz and the national simplex calling frequency at 146.52 MHz. On 70 centimeters, EME is at 432.00 to 432.07 MHz, the calling frequency is 432.100 MHz and the national simplex frequency is 446.00 MHz. On 222 MHz the weak-signal calling frequency is 222.100 MHz. The main differences are practical: far fewer stations and fewer commercial radios on 222 MHz, and a smaller band that fills up quickly in a contest weekend.

The antennas are small and cheap, and a home-built design is a very good first project. A quarter-wave on this band is about 33 centimeters, so even a simple ground plane or a short Yagi is easy to build. For a general introduction to antennas at this size, our article on 2 meter antenna options describes designs that you can scale to 222 MHz by using the shorter wavelength.

Equipment and Station Notes

Equipment is the main hurdle on this band, because the choice is smaller than for 2 meters or 70 centimeters. Some FM mobile radios and a few multimode transceivers cover 222 to 225 MHz, and many operators who are active on the band use a transverter with an HF or 2 meter radio for weak-signal work. A transverter converts between the 222 MHz band and an intermediate frequency in the radio you already own, which lets you reuse its SSB and CW modes. Check the specification of any used radio before you buy; our checklist for buying used ham radio equipment applies here.

Feedline loss matters more at VHF than at HF. At 222 MHz a long run of thin coaxial cable can waste a large part of your power, which is why VHF operators use low-loss cable and keep the run as short as practical. A mast-mounted preamplifier can help a weak-signal station, but only if the feedline loss is large and the receiver is the limiting factor. Antenna height also counts more than power: raising a small Yagi above nearby obstacles often gives a bigger improvement than any amplifier.

Polarization is a simple but important choice. FM repeaters and simplex use vertical polarization, so a vertical antenna such as a ground plane or collinear is the usual choice there. Weak-signal operation on SSB and CW uses horizontal polarization, so a horizontal Yagi is the standard. If you want to do both, some operators install two antennas on the same mast and use a coaxial switch. Whatever you choose, keep the ARRL band plan in mind so that you are using the right antenna for the right part of the band.

Operating Tips for a Quiet Band

• Announce yourself. Because there are so few stations, call on the calling frequency at a time that you have announced on a local chat group or a club net.
• Use schedules. Arrange regular contacts with a friend. Many operators find that regular skeds keep the band alive.
• Take part in contests. The VHF contests and the August 222 and Up weekend bring stations out who are otherwise silent.
• Listen for beacons. The 222.05 to 222.06 MHz propagation beacon segment is a good place to check whether a path is open.
• Ask the coordinator. Local option segments differ between regions, so ask before setting up a net or a repeater.

Getting Started on 222 MHz

1. Check that your licence and country allow operation on 222 to 225 MHz, and read the current rules rather than relying on an older article or a friend’s memory.
2. Find out which repeaters and simplex channels are in use in your area by asking your local club or frequency coordinator.
3. Choose a radio that covers the band. Some multiband mobile radios do, many do not.
4. Build or buy a simple antenna, and check the SWR before transmitting.
5. Listen on 222.100 MHz and the simplex block, and set up a time with a friend to try a first SSB or FM contact.

The Bottom Line

The 222 MHz band is a small and quiet corner of VHF with a clear structure: weak-signal and EME at the bottom, FM repeaters with a 1.6 MHz split at the top, and simplex, digital and control channels in the middle. It rewards operators who like to build antennas and experiment, and it has its own August contest. Follow the ARRL band plan, check your regional coordination before choosing a frequency, and make sure your radio and licence cover the band before you plan your first contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What frequencies does the 222 MHz band cover?

The ARRL band plan covers 222 to 225 MHz, also known as the 1.25 meter band.

Where is the weak-signal calling frequency?

The SSB and CW calling frequency in the ARRL band plan is 222.100 MHz, with weak-signal CW and SSB in 222.10 to 222.15 MHz.

What is the repeater offset?

The plan places repeater inputs at 222.25 to 223.38 MHz and outputs at 223.85 to 224.98 MHz, which is a separation of 1.6 MHz.

Is the band available worldwide?

No. It is an allocation in Region 2, so it is mainly available in the Americas. Check your own country’s rules.

When is the 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest?

On the first full weekend of August, from 1800 UTC Saturday to 1759 UTC Sunday. The ARRL page listed August 1-2 for 2026.

Can I use FM simplex on 222 MHz?

Yes. The plan sets aside 223.40 to 223.52 MHz for FM simplex, plus a local option segment from 223.71 to 223.85 MHz.