Is your HF radio on frequency? How accurate is it? The reality is that in most cases, your HF radio could be off frequency by 100Hz or 200Hz and you'd have no idea. On SSB and CW, you just tune in the other station. Even with modes like FT8 on fixed frequencies, you could be off frequency a bit and it will still work fine.
Still though, it's nice to know what your radio is like? Is it accurate or not?
On the 9th and 16th of February 2026, a group in Poland will be making test transmissions from Warsaw (loc KO02md) on precise frequencies on the 20m, 40m and 80m bands.
This is the schedule...
10:00 UTC - 14.069000 MHz
16:00 UTC - 14.069000 MHz
19:00 UTC - 7.039000 MHz
21:00 UTC - 3.569000 MHz
The message is 'QST DE SN0FMT CALIBATION FMT'
10:00 UTC - 14.0687 MHz
16:00 UTC - 14.0687 MHz
19:00 UTC - 7.0387 MHz
21:00 UTC - 3.5687 MHz
How to check... If you're not sure how to check your radio then maybe some of you will be using modes like FT8 and software like WSJT-X with its waterfall display. For the 14.069 MHz transmission, set your radio to 14.068 MHz on USB. Check the waterfall display and you should see the carrier at 1000 Hz. If it's off then put the cursor over the signal on the waterfall and see how far off frequency you are.
There are other options as well. I prefer to use software like SpectrumLab which is an audio spectrum analyser and you can examine the frequency in finer detail.
Limitations... Note that the signals are coming off the ionosphere and that is not static, especially if there are points along the path where the sun is rising or setting. You should still be able to get an accurate reading to within a few Hz.
Note that these test transmissions are primarily for Europe but they may be heard elsewhere.
Link... https://fmtlab.org/
