Is there a ‘POTA’ channel on 60m CW? I see 5.373 spotted a lot, and that’s where I typically go, too, since my rig’s already tuned there.
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In the UK we follow a strict band plan as below:
UK Operation
This largely follows the conventions shown here but exceptions are common and QSOs on popular frequencies may be found using any mode. Take care not to transmit outside the UK segments even if amateur signals can be heard as they may be coming from other countries with different allocations.
| Lower limit kHz | Upper limit kHz | Guidelines on current usage and suggested
USB frequencies |
|----|----|----|
| 5258.5 | 5264.0 | CW activity, 5262kHz QRP |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5276.0 | 5284.0 | USB 5278.5kHz, EMCOMM CoA |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5288.5 | 5292.0 | Beacons 5290kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5298.0 | 5307.0 | All modes. USB 5298.5kHz, 5301kHz, 5304kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5313.0 | 5323.0 | All modes. AM 5317kHz. USB 5320kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5333.0 | 5338.0 | USB 5335kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5354.0 | 5358.0 | All modes. USB 5354kHz. In WRC-15 band |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5362.0 | 5374.5 | All modes. USB 5363kHz, 5371.5kHz. WRC-15 band to 5366.5kHz. Weak signal 5366.0 – 5366.5kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5378.0 | 5382.0 | USB 5379kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5395.0 | 5401.5 | USB 5395kHz, 5398.5kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
| 5403.5 | 5406.5 | USB 5403.5kHz |
undefined|----|----|----|
Please do not transmit out-of-band. Selecting a USB frequency from the table above will ensure compliance and is largely compatible with allocations in other countries also.
Please do not transmit USB on 5330.5kHz, 5357kHz, or 5360kHz. Also do not transmit CW between 5351.5 – 5354kHz. These frequencies are commonly used in other countries but are outside the UK allocation.
Interesting, I don’t see 5.373 listed for the UK, I’m guessing each ITU region has its own band plan for 60m. I’m surprised that digital modes (FT8) are allowed with so few channels available, at least in the US.
Ye as I say its very strictly followed here, plus we have secondary access as they are still used by the Military. plus UK Full License only (Extra in the US) I am surprised that only one channel allocated for AM Mode? Its certainly a popular band for portable ops (SOTA), even though antenna choice can be a bit of a challenge ?
Right, the verticals I’m carrying these days don’t really cut it at 60m. I do have an 80m coil for my shorter Gabil vertical, though, I should try that next time and see how it loads up. Of course there’s a big difference between ‘loading’ and ‘radiating meaningfully’.
Ye, I have heard reports an end fend sloper seems to do both at a good angle. of course the military may have be using 60m vertical’s on the tanks so may need to get a tank whip tuned for 60m. difficulty there would be lugging it on a long trek ??
So now I’m thinking that I really need to choose my 60m channel carefully if I’m hoping for any DX.
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You sure will , the allocation on the band worldwide does not match up too well!?
This is what I use to try to understand, but old age still makes me confused at times 
LOL lots of info there! I ended up asking ChatGPT to create a chart showing the US channel overlaps with the rest of the world:
| US Channel Center (CW) | US Dial Freq (USB) | Who Watches / Overlaps |
|---|---|---|
| 5332.0 kHz | 5330.5 kHz | Ireland (EI) — also authorized 5.332 MHz spot; not generally used elsewhere in Europe. |
| 5348.0 kHz | 5346.5 kHz | Ireland (EI) — 5.348 MHz; again unique to EI, not UK or continental Europe. |
| 5358.5 kHz | 5357.0 kHz | Inside WRC-15 worldwide segment (5351.5–5366.5 kHz) used by most of Europe, Central & South America; best international channel. UK stops at 5358.0 kHz. |
| 5373.0 kHz | 5371.5 kHz | US-only channel; outside WRC-15 allocation and not shared with UK/EU. |
| 5405.0 kHz | 5403.5 kHz | US, UK, and Ireland all share this one — the classic “5403.5 USB” trans-Atlantic channel. |
I need to double-check the actual frequencies, especially 5358.5.
seems like 5358.5 is it, then. I guess I’ll start thinking about antennas, because the solar minimum is coming.
A little cleaner version of the chart, adding FT8
| US (CW) | US (USB) | Who Watches / Overlaps |
|---|---|---|
| 5332.0 kHz | 5330.5 kHz | Ireland (EI) — also authorized 5.332 MHz spot; not generally used elsewhere in Europe. |
| 5348.0 kHz | 5346.5 kHz | Ireland (EI) — 5.348 MHz; again unique to EI, not UK or continental Europe. |
| 5358.5 kHz | 5357.0 kHz | Inside WRC-15 worldwide segment (5351.5–5366.5 kHz) used by most of Europe, Central & South America; best international channel. UK stops at 5358.0 kHz. FT8 |
| 5373.0 kHz | 5371.5 kHz | US-only channel; outside WRC-15 allocation and not shared with UK/EU. |
| 5405.0 kHz | 5403.5 kHz | US, UK, and Ireland all share this one — the classic “5403.5 USB” trans-Atlantic channel. |
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Ah. So I can expect 5358.5 to be overrun with FT8? That changes the calculus somewhat. How much do I care about 60M DX possibilities? Off, now, to play with VOACAP and explore 60M propagation.
So, for me here in the PNW of the US, about the only promising DX opportunities on 60m seem to be Japan and its neighbors, mostly during hours when I’m unlikely to be active. Mostly 60m is either NVIS, or NVIS expanded to cover the US west of the Mississippi.
For POTA purposes, I’m guessing that 60m has the same problem that 30m, 17m, 12m have, which is that it seems impossible to get hunters to follow you onto those bands, I’m guessing because they don’t have antennas that work well on those bands.
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Yeah, I usually don’t have a 60m antenna in the field with me, even. It seems like 5373 might be the one channel that I’d expect any QSOs on at all with just 10W, and probably locals.
I posted this over on Discord, too, a wallet-sized card showing the mapping between US and the rest of the world on 60m.
PNR 60M US Mapping.pdf (60.9 KB)
I laminated and trimmed mine.
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Already a correction! Added 5373 as a UK mapping per M0TTQ.
PNR 60M US Mapping.pdf (60.9 KB)
And Kjetil LB4FH points out that they just have a continuous block from 5.260 to 5.410. He says Denmark is even wider.
One of our awards should be figuring out who can talk to each other on 60m. Spoiler: I am not going to win that award.
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WN1C thought it’d be a good idea to put a date on the chart. I started looking because all the band allocation charts I was pulling up said that CW was verboten on 60m from the US, which clearly changed (I think in 2018).
PNR 60M US Mapping.pdf (60.9 KB)