HF Ham Radio Made Simple-Part 3: Beginner Guide to Propagation, SSB, Bands & First HF Station (General License)

If you’re early in your ham radio journey, you’ve probably discovered something frustrating: learning ham radio can feel way more complicated than it should. Between band charts, strange terms, and gear choices that seem endless, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

In Part 3 of MJ Jordan’s “Ham Radio Made Simple” series, he shifts focus from VHF/UHF into the world many operators are chasing next: HF (High Frequency)—the bands that make long-distance communication possible. This article breaks his presentation into a clear, visual-friendly guide so you can understand what HF is, why propagation matters, what “bands are open” really means, why SSB is so important, and what you’ll need to build a reliable HF station.

Beginner Guide to Propagation, SSB, Bands & First HF Station

Where Part 3 Fits in the Ham Radio Learning Path

MJ structures his series like this:

  • Parts 1–2: Technician-focused, operating mainly on VHF/UHF
  • Parts 3–4: General-focused, operating mainly on HF

That matters because while Technicians have some HF privileges, they’re limited. HF becomes truly practical when you earn your General license, which unlocks a large portion of HF operating privileges.

Quick Refresher: License Access on HF

As a Technician, your HF access is often described as “very limited.” MJ points out it includes:

  • 6 meters
  • 10 meters (SSB portion)

But the real step-change happens with the General license, which grants access to a large portion of the HF bands (he describes it as roughly “most of what you’ll want,” compared to Technician).

If you’re studying for General, Part 3 is a great “big picture” overview of what you’re working toward.

What Are HF Bands?

By strict definition, HF spans 3 to 30 MHz, which roughly corresponds to bands like 10 meters through 80 meters.

But MJ highlights a practical reality: radio manufacturers and most HF transceivers commonly cover a wider “HF world” that includes:

  • 6 meters
  • up through 160 meters

So while 6m and 160m aren’t technically inside the strict 3–30 MHz definition, you’ll often see them bundled into the typical HF-capable base station experience.

Using the ARRL Band Chart Without Losing Your Mind

The ARRL band chart is famous for being helpful—and also intimidating at first glance.

MJ’s advice is simple and excellent: instead of constantly squinting at the chart, make your own simplified cheat sheet.

Here’s what to focus on:

  • Find your license class (General)
  • Identify the segments you can use
  • Pay attention to the frequency ranges
  • Note the mode areas (voice vs data)

He mentions excluding:

  • 30 meters (data only)
  • 60 meters (a “special case” channelized band with shared/secondary-use rules)

A personal “band limits” reference sheet turns the chart from confusing to usable—especially when you’re tuning around and want confidence that you’re inside your legal segment.

HF Propagation: Why HF Can Go So Far

HF is different from VHF/UHF in one big way:

HF signals can travel upward into the atmosphere and “bounce” back down, sometimes multiple times, allowing your signal to travel hundreds or thousands of miles.

MJ calls this behavior propagation, and he explains it in plain terms:

  • The atmosphere has layers
  • Those layers change during day vs night
  • Solar activity can improve long-distance propagation
  • Storm systems and interference can distort or block signals

Solar Activity: A Blessing for HF

If a CME (coronal mass ejection) occurs, it can charge parts of the ionosphere and make the bands come alive—meaning your signal can travel much farther than you’d expect.

Thunderstorms: A Challenge for HF

Large thunderstorm regions can raise noise levels and interfere with the way signals travel, sometimes making certain directions harder to reach.

Day vs Night: Why HF “Changes Personality” After Sunset

MJ uses a simple explanation for why night operation can be so powerful.

During daytime, lower atmospheric layers (especially the D layer) can absorb certain HF signals. This limits distance on some bands.

At night, the D layer collapses (basically fades away), and later the E layer weakens too. That often leaves the higher F region as the dominant layer—making it easier for signals to bounce and travel long distances.

This is why many HF operators love operating at night.

The Skip Zone: Why You Hear Some People… and Not Others

If you’ve ever listened to an HF net and thought, “I can hear net control perfectly, but I can’t hear half the stations,” you’ve met the skip zone.

A skip zone is a “dead area” where the signal is literally skipping over a region before it returns to Earth farther away.

That means you might hear:

  • A station hundreds of miles away, loud and clear
  • But not hear stations in between (because they’re inside the skip zone)

It’s not that their radios are bad—it’s just propagation physics in action.

“Bands Are Open”: What That Actually Means

When hams say “the bands are open,” they mean atmospheric conditions are ideal for long-distance propagation on certain bands. Signals are traveling well, stations are loud, and contacts come easier.

This is part science, part art—and part “experience.” The more you listen and operate, the faster you’ll recognize when the bands are hot.

Best Times to Use Common HF Bands (Simple Rules)

MJ gives a beginner-friendly rule set (with the usual “exceptions apply”):

Daytime:

  • 6m, 10m, 17m, 20m

Twilight:

  • 20m, 40m

Night:

  • 40m, 80m, 160m

This isn’t a rigid schedule, but it’s a solid starting framework for understanding why some bands sound “dead” at one time and alive at another.

SSB (Single Sideband): The Mode You Must Understand

If there’s one HF mode you’ll hear constantly, it’s SSB (Single Sideband).

MJ explains why SSB dominates HF voice operation:

  • It uses less bandwidth
  • It is more efficient
  • It allows more effective “talk power”
  • It generally propagates farther

In short, if your goal is making voice contacts on HF, SSB is where most of the action is.

Upper vs Lower Sideband (Keep It Simple)

A practical rule of thumb:

  • Above ~14 MHz: usually USB
  • Below ~14 MHz: usually LSB

Many modern radios automatically select the correct sideband when you change bands, but it’s still useful to understand the concept.

What Equipment Do You Need for HF? (And What It Costs)

HF can be as simple—or as elaborate—as you want. MJ outlines the core building blocks:

1) HF Transceiver

Typical cost range: ~$500 to $12,000 depending on features and performance.

2) Power Supply

If you’re running a base station, you’ll likely need an AC-to-DC power supply. Typical range: ~$115 to $450.

3) Antenna Tuner (Optional)

Some radios include an internal tuner. If not, expect ~$150 to $600.
Internal tuners often won’t handle every antenna type (like some random-wire setups), so this depends on your antenna choice.

4) HF Antenna (Critical)

This can range from a simple wire antenna to towers and beams. MJ’s point is important:

Your antenna is as important as your radio.
A great transceiver with a poor antenna is a frustrating experience.

5) Grounding and Protection

MJ strongly recommends proper grounding and single-point grounding best practices, plus:

  • Quality surge protection
  • Lightning arrestors (to protect equipment from static discharge and surges)

6) Coax Cable and Connectors

Not all coax is the same. MJ stresses: don’t cheap out. Consider:

  • Length (long runs increase loss)
  • Direct-bury capability
  • UV resistance
  • Attenuation (signal loss)
  • Shielding quality (noise/interference reduction)

Common U.S. connector types:

  • PL-259 (male)
  • SO-239 (female)

He also notes:

  • N-type connectors are common in other regions and are weather-sealed
  • BNC is quick-disconnect (often used in certain scenarios)
  • SMA is common on handheld antennas

HF Radio Options by Manufacturer (Examples MJ Mentions)

MJ provides examples of popular HF-capable choices across brands:

  • Icom: popular HF rigs (with strong online learning resources)
  • Yaesu: solid multiband options (HF + VHF/UHF in one radio)
  • Kenwood: higher-end, high quality, often more “knob-and-button” style
  • BridgeCom: value-focused options to get started (especially if you want a practical entry point)

The takeaway isn’t “buy this exact radio”—it’s to understand how features, power output, interface, and filtering influence price and experience.

Where to Buy Ham Radio Gear

MJ points out ham gear usually isn’t bought at big-box stores. Instead, look to specialty ham dealers such as:

  • DX Engineering
  • Ham Radio Outlet (HRO)
  • Gigaparts
  • R&L Electronics

He also mentions marketplaces like Amazon/eBay—but urges caution on high-end gear (counterfeits, unknown condition, unclear sourcing). Some items are best purchased direct from manufacturers depending on availability.

Summary: The HF Roadmap for New Generals

HF is where long-distance communication becomes real—and it’s also where the atmosphere becomes part of your station.

Key points to remember:

  • General unlocks meaningful HF access
  • HF signals can bounce through atmospheric layers (propagation)
  • Nighttime often improves long-distance conditions on many bands
  • Skip zones explain why you hear some stations but not others
  • SSB dominates HF voice
  • Your antenna system and coax choices matter as much as your radio
  • Buy gear from reputable ham suppliers and build your station step-by-step

If you keep the approach simple—learn the bands, listen often, and build your setup thoughtfully—you’ll shorten your learning curve and enjoy HF much faster.