G0ISW 70MHz

The 70 MHz (4M) band is somewhat underused compared to other Amateur Radio VHF bands primarily due to the fact that far fewer Countries have a permitted allocation on this band. However here in the UK it has been in use for many years even with only a Secondary allocation and a maximum permitted power of 160W.

There are now a range of base, mobile and even dual band (70/144 MHz) hand-held Amateur radios that are capable of operating on 70 MHz out of the box. It is a great band for VHF DX especially via Sporadic-E or Meteor Scatter where it is easier than on the 144 MHz (2M) band.

The best frequencies to monitor for activity here in the UK are either 70.450 MHz FM or 70.200 MHz USB, during the Summer Sporadic-E season from April to September also try 70.154 MHz USB FT8 data mode.

Latest 70 MHz(4m) DX cluster spots

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70 MHz Links
The 4 Metres Website	Latest UK Band Plans	70 MHz Beacons	4m Live interactive map
ON4KST 70 MHz Chat	4m database people listing	RSGB VHF Contests	ON4KST 50/70/144/432 MHz Chat, DX cluster and live maps
70 MHz Cluster	70 MHz latest DX map	70 MHz news	VHF/UHF QSOs real time maps
770 MHz (4m) UK Band Plan & activity
FREQUENCY	MODE	REMARKS
70.000-70.100 MHz	CW	Beacons
70.100-70.250 MHz	CW/SSB/MGM	Narrowband modes maximum 2.7 kHz
70.154 MHz	FT8	Lots of Sporadic-E in Europe seen here 2024
70.185 MHz	USB	5B4 Cyprus speech Calling frequency (70.200 used by their water companies!)
70.200 MHz	USB	UK SSB speech calling frequency
70.230 MHz	JT6M	Meteor Scatter centre of activity WSJT modes
70.250-70.294 MHz	All modes	Maximum bandwidth 12 kHz
70.260 MHz	AM	AM Calling frequency
70.280 MHz	FSK441	Meteor Scatter FSK441 mode active 2017 +/- 5 kHz
70.294-70.500 MHz	All modes	Channelised operations 12.5 kHz spacing
70.450 MHz	FM	FM speech Calling frequency

70MHz beacon list
Frequency	Call	QTH	Locator	Contact	Watt	Antenna	mASL	Notes
70.000	GB3BUX	Buxton, Derbys	IO93BF	G4IHO	20	2 x Turnstile (omni)	456
70.002	ZS1FOR/B	Western Cape	JF96FB		15	Dipole horz.
70.005	ZS5MTL		KG50IG		50	Omni
70.007	GB3WSX	Yeovil, Somerset	IO80QW	G3ZXX	150	5 el. 70°	90 ft	F1A
70.012	OX4MB	Dyefour	HP15EO	OZ1DJJ	25	Dipole	1200	*Not yet operational*
70.014	S55ZRS	Mt. Kum	JN76MC				1219	*Planned beacon*
70.015	ZR6FOR							*Planned*
70.016	GB3BAA	Tring, Herts	IO91QP	G0RDI	20	Dipole	195
70.020	GB3ANG	Dundee	IO86MN	GM4ZUK	100	3 el. yagi 160°	370
70.021	OZ7IGY	Greater Jystrup	JO55WM	OZ7IS	25	Big-wheel	102	F1A
70.023	PI7EPO	Rijswijk	JO22EA	PA5DD	20	Halo	90	F1A, planned no license
70.025	GB3MCB	St Austell	IO70OJ	G3YJX	40	2 el. yagi 45°	320	Operation due to cease from this site soon.
70.027	GB3CFG	Carrickfergus, N. Ireland	IO74CR	GI0GDP	20 20	3 el. 45°, 3 el. 135°	1000 ft	F1A
70.029	S55ZMB		JN76VK	S51DI	6	4 el. yagi 310°	262	A1A, 15 s keydown
70.030	S56A		JN76GB					Personal beacon
70.031	G4JNT/P	Blandford, Dorset	IO80UU	G4JNT	0,6	Dipole	2,5	Slow FSK telemetry (+85Hz shift) and CW
70.035	OY6BEC	Tórshavn	IP62	OY9JD	25	Loop 135/315°	10	*Temp. out of service*
70.0708	GW3MHW	mid-Wales		GW3MHW				*Not operational*
70.1135	5B4CY	Cyprus	KM64FT	5B8AV	10	6 el. yagi 315°
70.130	EI4RF	Dublin	IO63WD	EI9GK	25	5 el. 45°, 5 el. 135°	120	Yagis are sequenced. Believed to be off-air
70.3125	SJV900	Sweden	JO99	SM0TSC				*Planned*
70.350	EI???	40km NW Cork	IO52	EI7GL		Omni vert.	450	45 s FM "Simplexer"
70.4375	MB7FM	Chiltern Hills	IO91PS		10	Dipole		FM "Simplexer"
70.608	CQ5FOUR	Ribatejo	IM59QD	CT1ARR	10			CW
70.612	CU8DUB	Azores	HM49KL	CU8AO	20
75.300	ZD8DUB	Ascension Isl.	II22TB		8	4 el. 340°	730

There weren't that many Amateur radios, which could transmit on 70 MHz SSB out of the box, one is the discontinued multimode Yaesu FT-847. When I had one of these radios I was lucky, mine produced 25 watts output on 4m whilst others can produce only 10 watts. It is all down apparently to when the radio was made on the production line in the factory. One disappointing feature was that my FT-847 was quite deaf of 70MHz and only the very strongest signals could be heard by me.

A new to the market in 2013 Icom IC-7100 multimode transceiver is confirmed in its European model to include a 50W 70 MHz capability. Now in 2025 there are many new Amateur radios that include 4m (70 MHz) as standard.

There are a lot of converted PMR radios operating on 70 MHz FM, that is one of the easiest routes onto this band. Garex communications previously announced that they are to make again their AKD 4001 transceiver, which was popular in the 1990s. Converted PMR radios were not designed for long overs so beware of overheating and some can be quite deaf too.



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