Cayman Amateur Band Plan

Important: This page is an interpretation of the Cayman amateur radio band plan for operator guidance. Official OfReg sources and the terms of your licence prevail.

Regulatory sources: OfReg National Frequency Allocation Table (March 2026) | OfReg Spectrum Map | OfReg December 2025 Regulatory Notice (PMR446)

Quick-Reference Frequency Table

* Class B has restricted sub-bands on these HF bands — see detailed sections below.

Detailed Band Interpretations

2200 Metres (135.7–137.8 kHz)

What this means for hams: 2200 m is an experimental VLF band requiring specialised transmitters and very large antennas. Very few Cayman operators are active here. Secondary status — must not interfere with primary services.

630 Metres (472–479 kHz)

What this means for hams: 630 m offers interesting ground-wave propagation for regional communication. Specialised equipment required.

160 Metres (1.8–2.0 MHz)

What this means for hams: 160 m is the lowest MF band available to Class A operators. Excellent for night-time regional communication. LSB is the conventional voice mode below 10 MHz.

80 Metres (3.5–4.0 MHz)

Class A: Full 3.5–4.0 MHz access.

Class B sub-bands:

• 3.700–3.775 MHz: Telegraphy (CW)
• 3.850–3.950 MHz: Telephony (SSB)

What this means for hams: 80 m is a primary HF band for night-time regional communication. LSB is conventional below 10 MHz. CARS occasionally runs an emergency net on 3.895 MHz LSB.

60 Metres (5.331–5.405 MHz)

Channelised operation: Five USB channels at the following centre frequencies:

What this means for hams: Operation is restricted to these five discrete channels. USB is the expected voice mode. Maximum 50 W ERP — lower than typical HF power levels but consistent with the US channel plan.

Common visitor assumption: Many operators expect the wider US 60 m channels or higher power limits. Cayman follows the same channel plan and 50 W ERP limit as the US.

Local practice: Used for inter-island and regional HF communication.

40 Metres (7.0–7.3 MHz)

Class A: Full 7.0–7.3 MHz access.

Class B sub-bands:

• 7.100–7.160 MHz: Telegraphy (CW) only

What this means for hams: 7.0–7.3 MHz is the full ITU Region 2 40 m amateur allocation. LSB is conventional below 10 MHz.

Common visitor assumption: Some visitors expect 7.2–7.3 MHz to be unavailable (as in older Region 2 plans). The Cayman allocation covers the full 7.0–7.3 MHz range.

30 Metres (10.1–10.15 MHz)

What this means for hams: 30 m is a narrow secondary allocation for CW and digital modes only. No voice operation is permitted. USB is conventional above 10 MHz.

20 Metres (14.0–14.35 MHz)

What this means for hams: 20 m is the most popular HF DX band worldwide. USB is conventional above 10 MHz.

17 Metres (18.068–18.168 MHz)

What this means for hams: 17 m is a WARC band offering excellent DX opportunities. USB is conventional above 10 MHz. CARS runs a weekly HF net on 18.150 MHz USB on Sundays at 4:00 PM local time.

15 Metres (21.0–21.45 MHz)

Class A: Full 21.0–21.45 MHz access.

Class B sub-bands:

• 21.100–21.200 MHz: Telegraphy (CW)
• 21.350–21.450 MHz: Telephony (SSB)

What this means for hams: 15 m is a primary HF band for daytime DX communication. USB is conventional above 10 MHz.

12 Metres (24.89–24.99 MHz)

What this means for hams: 12 m is a WARC band offering good DX during solar maximum. USB is conventional above 10 MHz.

10 Metres (28.0–29.7 MHz)

Class A: Full 28.0–29.7 MHz access.

Class B sub-bands:

• 28.100–28.200 MHz: Telegraphy (CW)
• 28.400–28.500 MHz: Telephony (SSB)

What this means for hams: 10 m is a primary HF band offering both daytime DX (via F-layer propagation) and local communication (via FM simplex in the 29.5–29.7 MHz segment). USB is conventional above 10 MHz.

6 Metres (50–54 MHz)

What this means for hams: 6 m offers sporadic-E and other propagation modes for regional and DX communication. Available to both Class A and Class B operators. USB is conventional on VHF.

8 Metres (40.66–40.70 MHz)

What this means for hams: 8 m is a special Cayman allocation for Class A operators only, at a maximum of 50 W PEP. Non-interference basis — must not cause interference to any service. Not available in most other jurisdictions.

Common visitor assumption: Most visitors from the US, Canada, and Asia have no 8 m experience, as the band is not allocated for amateur use in those regions.

4 Metres (69.9–70.3 MHz)

What this means for hams: 4 m is a special Cayman allocation for Class A operators only, at a maximum of 50 W PEP. Non-interference basis — must not cause interference to any service. It is not an ITU Region 2 allocation — it is unique to a small number of Caribbean and European jurisdictions. It offers interesting propagation characteristics between 6 m and 2 m.

Common visitor assumption: Most visitors from the US, Canada, and Asia have no 4 m experience, as the band is not allocated for amateur use in those regions.

2 Metres (144.0–148.0 MHz)

What this means for hams: The full 144–148 MHz allocation is available to both Class A and Class B operators. This is the primary VHF band for local communication.

Common visitor assumption: None — 2 m operation in Cayman is broadly similar to other jurisdictions.

Cayman difference: The band is fully available to Class B (foundation) licensees, which is not universal across all jurisdictions.

Local practice:

• Calling frequency: 146.520 MHz FM (standard simplex calling)
• Repeaters: 146.760 MHz (−600 kHz) on Grand Cayman; 147.300 MHz (+600 kHz) on Cayman Brac
• APRS: 144.390 MHz — Red Bay iGate active with digipeater coverage on Grand Cayman
• Daily net: 146.760 MHz at 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM local time
• Simplex net (occasional): 146.520 MHz FM and 144.200 MHz USB on Sundays 2:00–3:00 PM

1.25 Metres (220.0–225.0 MHz)

What this means for hams: 1.25 m is a secondary allocation available to both Class A and Class B operators. The Cayman allocation is 220–225 MHz, which is wider than the US allocation (222–225 MHz). Suitable for local communication, repeaters, and simplex.

70 Centimetres (420.0–440.0 MHz)

What this means for hams: The Cayman amateur 70 cm allocation is 420–440 MHz, available to both Class A and Class B operators. The 420–430 MHz segment is a Cayman-specific addition beyond the standard ITU Region 2 allocation (430–440 MHz), on a Primary basis with the same technical restrictions.

The critical issue — 446.000 MHz and PMR446:

The familiar North American 70 cm FM calling convention at 446.000 MHz does not apply in the Cayman Islands. The entire 446.000–446.200 MHz segment is allocated to PMR446 (license-free personal radio), not amateur radio.

OfReg’s December 2025 Regulatory Notice defines 16 PMR446 channels from 446.00625 to 446.19375 MHz at 0.5 W maximum. These are the same channels used by consumer walkie-talkies sold in Europe and the UK.

Why Cayman should not copy the US calling channel at 446.000 MHz:

1. 446.000–446.200 MHz is legally allocated to PMR446 in the Cayman Islands
2. Amateur operation in this segment would be unlawful
3. PMR446 devices operate at 0.5 W and are not licensed — amateurs must not interfere with them
4. The US amateur calling frequency at 446.000 MHz falls squarely within the PMR446 allocation
5. Visitors expecting to find activity on 446.000 MHz will find none — and should not transmit there

CARS 70 cm calling frequency: 433.500 MHz is the CARS-recommended 70 cm FM simplex calling frequency within the Cayman amateur allocation.

433 MHz ISM overlap: The 433.05–434.79 MHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band overlaps the lower portion of the 70 cm amateur allocation. ISM devices — including key fobs, wireless sensors, and some IoT equipment — operate here on a non-interference basis. Amateur operations above 420 MHz are primary but must accept interference from ISM devices. This is a separate issue from the PMR446 allocation at 446 MHz. The ISM overlap affects the 433–435 MHz region; the PMR446 issue affects 446–446.2 MHz. Both constrain amateur operations, but for different reasons and in different parts of the band.

Local practice:

• 70 cm repeaters and simplex are used for local communication
• 433.500 MHz is the CARS-recommended 70 cm simplex calling frequency
• Visitors may use 433.500 MHz for UHF simplex calling, or 146.520 MHz (2 m) for VHF calling

33 Centimetres (902–928 MHz)

What this means for hams: 33 cm is a secondary allocation for digital modes and experimental operations. Overlaps the 915 MHz ISM band. Limited local activity.

23 Centimetres (1240–1300 MHz)

What this means for hams: 23 cm is a secondary allocation for digital modes, ATV, and experimental operations. Overlaps GNSS and other services. Limited local activity.

13 Centimetres (2300–2450 MHz)

What this means for hams: 13 cm is secondary throughout 2300–2450 MHz. DIGICEL is the primary user in 2300–2400 MHz. ITU footnotes 5.393 and 5.394 apply. Overlaps the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi/RLAN band. Limited local activity.

9 Centimetres (3300–3500 MHz)

What this means for hams: 9 cm is a secondary allocation for digital modes and experimental operations. Limited local activity.

5 Centimetres (5650–5925 MHz)

What this means for hams: 5 cm is a secondary allocation for digital modes and experimental operations. Overlaps the 5 GHz Wi-Fi/RLAN band. Limited local activity.

3 Centimetres (10.0–10.5 GHz)

What this means for hams: 3 cm is a secondary allocation for digital modes, microwave experiments, and narrow-band communication. Limited local activity.

1.2 Centimetres (24.0–24.25 GHz)

What this means for hams: 1.2 cm is a secondary allocation at the boundary of SHF and EHF for experimental and digital modes. Limited local activity.

Adjacent Services

PMR446 (446.000–446.200 MHz)

16 channels from 446.00625 to 446.19375 MHz at 12.5 kHz spacing. These are the same PMR446 channels used in Europe. Amateur operation is not permitted anywhere in this 200 kHz block.

433 MHz ISM Band (433.05–434.79 MHz)

ISM devices operate on a non-interference basis. Amateur operations in the 420–440 MHz band are primary but must accept interference from ISM devices operating in this sub-band.

Legal Allocations vs. Voluntary Recommendations

The OfReg Table of Frequency Assignments defines the legal frequency allocations for amateur radio in the Cayman Islands. Within those legal allocations, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and the Cayman Amateur Radio Society (CARS) may publish voluntary band-plan recommendations that suggest preferred sub-band usage (e.g., which segments are used for CW, SSB, digital modes, or simplex calling).

These recommendations are:

• Not legally binding — they are voluntary operating guidelines
• Not enforced by OfReg — they are self-regulated by the amateur community
• Subject to change — band plans evolve as operating practices and technology change
• Distinct from the allocation table — the legal allocation defines what is permitted; the band plan defines what is recommended

Where this page cites a recommended frequency, it is identified as a CARS recommendation, not a regulatory requirement.

See Also

• Operate in Cayman — quick-start guide with frequencies, repeater details, and visitor tips
• Programming Downloads — CHIRP CSV, frequency lists, and data exports for your radio
• Repeaters — Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac repeater details

This page is maintained by CARS. Corrections or updates should be submitted via the CARS website repository.