The 8–meter band (40 MHz) is at present the lowest portion of the very high frequency (VHF) radio spectrum available for national amateur radio use. The term refers to the average signal wavelength of 8 meters.
The 8–meter band shares many characteristics with the neighboring 6–meter and 10–meter bands. However, as it is somewhat lower in frequency it does display the better propagation mechanisms via the F2 ionospheric layer normally seen at high frequency (HF) which occasionally appear in 6 meters. However, sporadic E propagation, whereby radio signals bounce off ionized clouds in the lower E region of the ionosphere, is common on the band in summer.