FISTS Frequencies
This page gives details of the FISTS frequencies that you can use to monitor and contact members.
The recommended areas are the following calling frequencies plus or minus 10 kHz. If you are not using QRP (5 Watts output or less), please use the 10 kHz that avoids the QRP areas per the table.
| Band | Frequency |
To avoid QRP, extend |
|---|---|---|
| 160m | 1.818 MHz | |
| 80m | 3.558 MHz | Down |
| 40m | 7.028 MHz | Down |
| 30m | 10.118 MHz | Up |
| 20m | 14.058 MHz | Down |
| 17m | 18.085 MHz | Down |
| 15m | 21.058 MHz | Down |
| 12m | 24.918 MHz | |
| 10m | 28.058 MHz | Down |
| 6m | Any CW frequency | |
| 4m | Any CW frequency | |
| 2m | 144.058 MHz |
If you're a member or not, call on these frequencies at whatever speed you're happy at, be it 5 wpm or 35 wpm, and you will most likely get a reply from one of our members. We pride ourselves on having a friendly, helpful membership that is always ready to assist the newcomer as well as veteran operators.
Notes
- When calling CQ, please alternate "CQ FISTS DE ..." with plain "CQ DE ..." calls; FISTS encourages contacts between members and non-members.
- When replying to a CQ, please send no faster than the caller. Don't assume if it's a G3/G2 station coming back to your call they will be comfortable at 25 wpm.
- If you are asked to QRS ("send more slowly"), please do so.
- It's helpful to call CQ at different speeds. Experience has shown that we have many members that are key-shy due to only high speeds being used, so you may get more replies to your CQ call if you drop your speed to below 12 wpm. Give it a try!
- If taking part in a FISTS Challenge such as the Ladder, please vacate or pass on the FISTS calling frequency after 5 continuous QSO's.
- Due to IARU band plan changes, the 12m frequency is now outside the recommended CW area.
- Due to the IARU Region 3 band plan, FISTS Down Under (Australia and New Zealand) use 3.528 MHz. They also use 1.808 MHz, but in Europe this frequency is outside the CW band plan area and illegal in some countries, including the UK.
Chart
We have available a handy A4 chart of FISTS frequencies, IARU Region 1 CW band plan areas and QRP frequencies, making it easy to visualise the layout of the CW areas. You can download or print the PDF version or the Microsoft Word version.