Radio spectrum

Radio spectrum
ITU Radio Band Numbers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
ITU Radio Band Symbols

ELF SLF ULF VLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF EHF THF

NATO Radio bands

ABCDEFGHIJKLM
IEEE Radar bands

HF VHF UHF L S C X Ku K Ka Q V W

Radio spectrum refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to radio frequencies that is, frequencies lower than around 300GHz (or, equivalently, wavelengths longer than about 1mm). Different parts of the radio spectrum are used for different radio transmission technologies and applications. Radio spectrum is typically government regulated in developed countries and, in some cases, is sold or licensed to operators of private radio transmission systems (for example, cellular telephone operators or broadcast television stations). Ranges of allocated frequencies are often referred to by their provisioned use (for example, cellular spectrum or television spectrum).[1]

By frequency
A band is a small section of the spectrum of radio communication frequencies, in which channels are usually used or set aside for the same purpose. Above 300GHz, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by Earth's atmosphere is so great that the atmosphere is effectively opaque, until it becomes transparent again in the near-infrared and optical window frequency ranges. To prevent interference and allow for efficient use of the radio spectrum, similar services are allocated in bands. For example, broadcasting, mobile radio, or navigation devices, will be allocated in non-overlapping ranges of frequencies. Each of these bands has a basic bandplan which dictates how it is to be used and shared, to avoid interference and to set protocol for the compatibility of transmitters and receivers. As a matter of convention, bands are divided at wavelengths of 10nmetres, or frequencies of 310nhertz. For example, 30MHz or 10m divides shortwave (lower and longer) from VHF (shorter and higher). These are the parts of the radio spectrum, and not its frequency allocation.

Radio spectrum

Band name

Abbr

ITU band

Frequency and wavelength in air < 3 Hz > 100,000km

Example uses

Natural and man-made electromagnetic noise

Extremely low frequency

ELF

330 Hz 100,000km 10,000km 30300 Hz 10,000km 1000km 3003000 Hz 1000km 100km 330 kHz 100km 10km 30300 kHz 10km 1km 3003000 kHz 1km 100 m 330 MHz 100 m 10 m

Communication with submarines

Super low frequency

SLF

Communication with submarines

Ultra low frequency

ULF

Submarine communication, Communication within mines

Very low frequency

VLF

Navigation, time signals, submarine communication, wireless heart rate monitors, geophysics

Low frequency

LF

Navigation, time signals, AM longwave broadcasting (Europe and parts of Asia), RFID, amateur radio AM (medium-wave) broadcasts, amateur radio, avalanche beacons

Medium frequency

MF

High frequency

HF

Shortwave broadcasts, citizens' band radio, amateur radio and over-the-horizon aviation communications, RFID, Over-the-horizon radar, Automatic link establishment (ALE) / Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) radio communications, Marine and mobile radio telephony FM, television broadcasts and line-of-sight ground-to-aircraft and aircraft-to-aircraft communications. Land Mobile and Maritime Mobile communications, amateur radio, weather radio Television broadcasts, microwave ovens, microwave devices/communications, radio astronomy, mobile phones, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, ZigBee, GPS and two-way radios such as Land Mobile, FRS and GMRS radios, amateur radio radio astronomy, microwave devices/communications, wireless LAN, most modern radars, communications satellites, satellite television broadcasting, DBS, amateur radio

Very high frequency

VHF

30300 MHz 10 m 1 m

Ultra high frequency

UHF

3003000 MHz 1 m 100mm 330 GHz 100mm 10mm 30300 GHz 10mm 1mm 3003,000 GHz 1mm 100 m

Super high frequency

SHF

10

Extremely high frequency

EHF

11

radio astronomy, high-frequency microwave radio relay, microwave remote sensing, amateur radio, directed-energy weapon, millimeter wave scanner

Terahertz or Tremendously high frequency

THz or THF

12

Terahertz imaging a potential replacement for X-rays in some medical applications, ultrafast molecular dynamics, condensed-matter physics, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, terahertz computing/communications, sub-mm remote sensing, amateur radio

Radio spectrum

ITU
The ITU radio bands are designations defined in the ITU Radio Regulations. Article 2, provision No. 2.1 states that "the radio spectrum shall be subdivided into nine frequency bands, which shall be designated by progressive whole numbers in accordance with the following table[2]". The table originated with a recommendation of the IVth CCIR meeting, held in Bucharest in 1937, and was approved by the International Radio Conference held at Atlantic City in 1947. The idea to give each band a number, in which the number is the logarithm of the approximate geometric mean of the upper and lower band limits in Hz, originated with B.C. Fleming-Williams, who suggested it in a letter to the editor of Wireless Engineer in 1942. (For example, the approximate geometric mean of Band 7 is 10MHz, or 107 Hz.)[3]

Table of ITU Radio Bands

Band Number Symbols Frequency Range Wavelength Range 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 VLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF EHF 3 to 30kHz 30 to 300kHz 300 to 3000kHz 3 to 30MHz 30 to 300MHz 300 to 3000MHz 3 to 30GHz 30 to 300GHz 300 to 3000 GHz 10 to 100km 1 to 10km 100 to 1000 m 10 to 100 m 1 to 10 m 10 to 100cm 1 to 10cm 1 to 10mm 0.1 to 1mm

This column does not form part of the table in Provision No. 2.1 of the Radio Regulations

Radio spectrum

IEEE US
Band Frequency range 3 to 30MHz 30 to 300MHz High Frequency Very High Frequency Origin of name

EU, NATO, US ECM frequency designations

Band Frequency range

Waveguide frequency bands

Band Frequency range [5] 1.70 to 2.60GHz 2.20 to 3.30GHz 2.60 to 3.95GHz 3.30 to 4.90GHz 3.95 to 5.85GHz 4.90 to 7.05GHz 5.85 to 8.20GHz 7.05 to 10.10GHz 8.2 to 12.4GHz 12.4 to 18.0GHz

HF band VHF band UHF band L band S band C band X band

A band 0 to 0.25GHz B band 0.25 to 0.5GHz

R band D band S band E band G band F band C band H band X band Ku band K band Ka band Q band U band V band

300to1000MHz Ultra High Frequency

C band 0.5 to 1.0GHz D band 1 to 2GHz

1 to 2GHz 2 to 4GHz 4 to 8GHz 8 to 12GHz

Long wave Short wave Compromise between S and X Used in WW II for fire control, X for cross (as in crosshair) Kurz-under German Kurz (short) Kurz-above

E band 2 to 3GHz F band 3 to 4GHz G band 4 to 6GHz H band 6 to 8GHz I band J band 8 to 10GHz 10 to 20GHz

Ku band K band Ka band V band W band mmband

12 to 18GHz 18 to 27GHz 27 to 40GHz 40 to 75GHz 75 to 110GHz 110 to 300GHz [4]

K band 20 to 40GHz L band 40 to 60GHz

15.0 to 26.5GHz 26.5 to 40.0GHz

W follows V in the alphabet

M band

60 to 100GHz

33 to 50GHz 40 to 60GHz 50 to 75GHz

|+ Table of IEEE bands

W band 75 to 110GHz Y band 325 to 500GHz

By application
Broadcasting
Broadcast frequencies: Longwave AM Radio = 148.5 283.5kHz (LF) Mediumwave AM Radio = 530kHz 1710kHz (MF) Shortwave AM Radio = 3MHz 30MHz (HF) Designations for television and FM radio broadcast frequencies vary between countries, see Television channel frequencies and FM broadcast band. Since VHF and UHF frequencies are desirable for many uses in urban areas, in North America some parts of the former television broadcasting band have been reassigned to cellular phone and various land mobile communications systems. Even within the allocation still dedicated to television, TV-band devices use channels without local broadcasters. The Apex band in the United States was a pre-WWII allocation for VHF audio broadcasting; it was made obsolete after the introduction of FM broadcasting.

Radio spectrum

Air band
Airband refers to VHF frequencies used for navigation and voice communication with aircraft. Trans-oceanic aircraft also carry HF radio and satellite transceivers.

Marine band
The greatest incentive for development of radio was the need to communicate with ships out of visual range of shore. From the very early days of radio, large oceangoing vessels carried powerful long-wave and medium-wave transmitters. High-frequency allocations are still designated for ships, although satellite systems have taken over some of the safety applications previously served by 500 kHz and other frequencies. 2182 kHz is a medium-wave frequency still used for marine emergency communication. Marine VHF radio is used in coastal waters and relatively short-range communication between vessels and to shore stations. Radios are channelized, with different channels used for different purposes; marine Channel 16 is used for calling and emergencies.

Amateur radio frequencies

Amateur radio frequency allocations vary around the world. Several bands are common for amateurs world-wide, usually in the shortwave part of the spectrum. Other bands are national or regional allocations only due to differing allocations for other services, especially in the VHF and UHF parts of the radio spectrum.

Citizens' band and personal radio services

Citizens' band radio is allocated in many countries, using channelized radios in the upper HF part of the spectrum (around 27MHz). It used for personal, small business and hobby purposes. Other frequency allocations are used for similar services in different jurisdictions, for example UHF CB is allocated in Australia. A wide range of personal radio services exist around the world, usually emphasizing short-range communication between individuals or for small businesses, simplified or no license requirements, and usually FM transceivers using around 1 watt or less.

Industrial, scientific, medical

The ISM bands were initially reserved for non-communications uses of RF energy, such as microwave ovens, radio-frequency heating, and similar purposes. Many unlicensed devices such as cordless telephones or wireless computer networks now use ISM frequencies, with no expectation of regulatory protection from primary ISM devices.

Land mobile bands

Bands of frequencies, especially in the VHF and UHF parts of the spectrum, are allocated for communication between fixed base stations and land mobile vehicle-mounted or portable transceivers. In the United States these services are informally known as business band radio. See also Professional mobile radio. Police radio and other public safety services such as fire departments and ambulances are generally found in the VHF and UHF parts of the spectrum. Trunking systems are often used to make most efficient use of the limited number of frequencies available. The demand for mobile telephone service has led to large blocks of radio spectrum allocated to cellular frequencies.

Radio spectrum

Radio control
Reliable radio control uses bands dedicated to the purpose. Radio-controlled toys may use portions of unlicensed spectrum in the 27MHz or 49MHz bands, but more costly aircraft, boat, or land vehicle models use dedicated remote control frequencies near 72MHz to avoid interference by unlicensed uses. Licensed amateur radio operators use portions of the 6-meter band in North America. Industrial remote control of cranes or railway locomotives use assigned frequencies that vary by area.

Radar
Radar applications use relatively high power pulse transmitters and sensitive receivers, so radar is operated on bands not used for other purposes. Most radar bands are in the microwave part of the spectrum, although certain important applications for meteorology make use of powerful transmitters in the UHF band.

References
[1] Colin Robinson (2003). Competition and regulation in utility markets (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=iROxMM2MHrIC& pg=PA175& dq="cellular+ spectrum"+ "television+ spectrum"& num=20#v=onepage& q="cellular spectrum" "television spectrum"& f=false). Edward Elgar Publishing. p.175. ISBN9781843762300. . [2] ITU Radio Regulations, Volume 1, Article 2; Edition of 2008. Available online at (http:/ / life. itu. int/ radioclub/ rr/ art02. htm) [3] Booth, C.F. (1949). Nomenclature of Frequencies. The Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal 42 (1): 47-48 [4] Per IEEE Std 521-2002 Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands. Reaffirmed standard of 1984; originally dates back to World War II. [5] www.microwaves101.com "Waveguide frequency bands and interior dimensions" (http:/ / www. microwaves101. com/ encyclopedia/ waveguidedimensions. cfm)

ITU-R Recommendation V.431: Nomenclature of the frequency and wavelength bands used in telecommunications (http://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-V.431/en). International Telecommunication Union, Geneva. IEEE Standard 521-2002: Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands AFR 55-44/AR 105-86/OPNAVINST 3430.9A/MCO 3430.1, 27 October 1964 superseded by AFR 55-44/AR 105-86/OPNAVINST 3430.1A/MCO 3430.1A, 6 December 1978: Performing Electronic Countermeasures in the United States and Canada, Attachment 1,ECM Frequency Authorizations.

External links
UnwantedEmissions.com (http://www.unwantedemissions.com) A reference to radio spectrum allocations. "Radio spectrum: a vital resource in a wireless world" (http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ ecomm/radio_spectrum/index_en.htm) European Commission policy.

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Radio spectrum Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=470964197 Contributors: 28bytes, Alansohn, Bjankuloski06en, Chris the speller, Dicklyon, Dr. Zombieman, Dravecky, DuncanHill, Fanatix, Gerrit, GoingBatty, GyroMagician, Harryzilber, Harumphy, Jonverve, Kajervi, Lcabanel, Maaf, MarkPos, Materialscientist, Mneuner, Mulad, Ninly, Nomad, Paul Gaskell, Perohanych, RTG, RingtailedFox, SDC, Sparkgap, Spinningspark, Tabletop, The Original Wildbear, TheAnarcat, Thryduulf, Vdonof, Wavelength, WikHead, Wiki libs, Wnt, Wtshymanski, Yaman32, 59 anonymous edits

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