page_title: 4-meter band
section_title: Allocations
hierarchical_section_title: 4-meter band / Allocations
caption_attribution_description: English: Cropped to focus on VHF area below 100 MHz. Original caption: The VHF radio band, showing usage for television, FM radio, Digital Audio Broadcasting, amateur radio, marine radio and aviation by frequency and location. Legend: Television channels are represented by their frequency blocks. Each colour represents a different TV system: Grey for system A, yellow for systems B, C and F, green for systems D and E, red for system I, magenta for systems K1 and L, and cyan for system M. The yellow and red lines in each channel block represent the main audio frequency. The other radio systems used on VHF are represented as coloured bands: blue for FM radio and Marine VHF radio, aquamarine for amateur radio, and green for DAB.
context_page_description: The 4 metre band is an amateur radio band within the lower part of the very high frequency band.
  The 4 metre band is unusual; very few countries outside of Europe have allocated amateur access. Hence, very little dedicated commercial amateur equipment is available, and most amateurs active on the band are interested in home construction or modification of private mobile radio equipment. As a result, there is a lot of camaraderie on the band, and long 'ragchews' are the norm, as long as there is some local activity.
context_section_description: In addition to the traditional users (United Kingdom, Gibraltar and the British Military Bases in Cyprus), an increasing number of countries in Europe and Africa have also allocated the 4 metre band to radio amateurs as a result of the decline in VHF television broadcasts on the 4 metre band. Movement away from the old Eastern European VHF FM broadcast band and migration of commercial stations to higher frequencies have led to slow but steady growth in the number of countries where 4 metre operation is permitted.
  Whilst not formally allocated at an ITU or Regional level, in Europe CEPT now recognises the increased access to 70 MHz by radio amateurs with footnote 'EU9' which has helped underpin further growth. In July 2015 CEPT updated this footnote to fully  recognise it as a formal secondary allocation:
  "EU9: CEPT administrations may authorise all or parts of the band 69.9-70.5 MHz to the amateur service on a secondary basis."
  In practice this ranges from 70–70.5 MHz in the United Kingdom, with other countries generally having a smaller allocation within this window. In most countries the maximum power permitted on the band is lower than in other allocations to minimise the possibility of interference with non-amateur services, especially in neighbouring countries. A table with national and regional allocations is published and regularly updated on the Four Metres Website.
caption: A chart showing how Television channel frequencies in various countries relate to the 4 metre amateur band.
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