Frequency band

A frequency band denotes frequency ranges, i.e. partial ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum of the electromagnetic waves used for technical communication .

Classifications according to frequency , wavelength or use are common. Various designations for the frequency bands are in use internationally, the limits of which have often been determined arbitrarily according to the current state of knowledge in high frequency physics. In a new standardization by the IEEE , the frequency bands are systematically divided according to the different properties of the frequencies with consequently logarithmically increasing band size. In some cases, however, traditional frequency band designations are still used in the literature, which are specified in the following tables.

Radio frequencies

Overview

Frequency bands by wavelength
engl. Abbr.	English name	German abbrev.	German name	Frequency range	wavelength	technical use
ELEVEN	Extremely low frequency	NF	Low frequency	3-30 Hz	100-10mm	Schumann response
SLF	Super low frequency	NF	Low frequency	30-300 Hz	10-1 mm	Power grid , (formerly) submarine communication up to a depth of 300 m
ULF	Ultra low frequency	NF	Low frequency	0.3-3 kHz	1000-100 km
VLF	Very low frequency	SLW	Low frequency, longest waves , myriameter waves	3-30 kHz	100-10 km	Submarine communication up to 30 m depth, heart rate monitors
LF	Low frequency	LW	Long waves , kilometer waves	30-300 kHz	10-1 km	Long wave broadcasting , time signal transmitters / radio clocks , terrestrial navigation , amateur radio service
MF	Medium Frequency	MW	Medium waves , hectometer waves	0.3-3 MHz	1000-100 m	Medium wave radio , partly short wave radio , partly border wave , military aeronautical radio (partly), avalanche search devices , amateur radio service
HF	High frequency	KW	Short waves , decameter waves	3-30 MHz	100-10 m	partly shortwave radio , partly border wave , amateur radio service , RFID
VHF	Very high frequency	VHF	Ultra-short waves , meter waves	30-300 MHz	10-1 m	Television , radio navigation , aeronautical radio , VHF radio , DAB + , DVB-C , radar , BOS radio , amateur radio service , marine radio , AIS
UHF	Ultra high frequency	µW	UHF frequency band , decimeter waves	0.3-3 GHz	10-1 dm	TV , microwave oven , WLAN , Bluetooth , DVB-T , DVB-T2 , DVB-C , DAB + , LTE Main article : Decimeter wave
SHF	Super high frequency		Centimeter waves	3-30 GHz	10-1 cm	Radar , directional radio , satellite broadcasting , WLAN , RTLS , short range devices , amateur radio service , electron spin resonance spectroscopy (EPR)
EHF	Extremely high frequency		Millimeter waves	30-300 GHz	10-1 mm	Radar , radio relay , amateur radio service , wireless gigabit
Limit of the spectrum regulated in accordance with the "Frequency Band Allocation Plan " of the International Telecommunication Union ( VO Funk ).
		IR	Infrared radiation	0.3-385 THz	1000-0.78 µm	Temperature measurement , amateur radio service
FIR	Far Infrared	FIR	Far infrared / terahertz radiation	0.3-20 THz	1000-15 µm	Safety technology, material testing
LWIR / TIR	Long Wavelength Infrared / Thermal Infrared		long wave infrared / thermal infrared	20-37.5 THz	15-8 µm
MWIR	Mid Wavelength Infrared			37.5-100 THz	8-3 µm
SWIR	Short Wavelength Infrared		Short wave infrared	100-214 THz	3-1.4 µm
NIR	Near Infrared		Near infrared	100-385 THz	3.0-0.78 µm	Photoelectric barriers , remote controls , fiber optics , IrDA
VIS	Visible light		visible light	385-750 THz	780-400 nm	Lighting, fiber optics

Remarks:

Electrical lines that are fed with low-frequency technical alternating currents are very poor emitters due to their short length compared to the wavelength (several 1000 km!). However, due to the high number of turns and very massive magnetic coupling (soft iron or ferrite core), good energy transfer is possible in the transformer .
The transition from Hertzian waves (wavelengths between 10 km and 1 cm) to infrared radiation is u. a. shaped by the type of detection. Hertzian waves are detected by antennas that deliver a high frequency . Infrared (and higher frequencies) through its thermal effect or by ionization of molecules and atoms detected.

broadcast

Abbreviations are usually used for the radio frequency ranges above 30 MHz. These broadcast bands are designated with Roman numerals from I to V. The band limits are defined in various sources and international agreements. Due to historical reasons, these frequency data sometimes differ from one another. Whether the respective frequency range can be used for broadcasting at all and is actually used again differs from country to country.

Terrestrial broadcasting bands and their designations at the ITU and CEPT

Terrestrial broadcasting bands (frequencies in MHz)
Volume I.	Volume II	Volume III	Volume IV	Volume V	1.5 GHz band ("L-band")	source
41-68	87.5-100	162-230	470-582	582-960	-	ST61 footnote to Annex 1
47-68	87.5-108	174-240	-	-	1452-1492	WI95revMA02 footnote to Annex 2 Chapter 2.2.3
-	-	-	-	-	1452-1479.5	MA02
-	-	174-230	470-582	582-862	-	GE06 Annex 2 Chapter 1.1.2
47-68	87.5-108	174-230	470-582	582-960	-	ITU-R V.431-7 Table 3 (for ITU Region 1)

OIRT band

In addition to the bands I to V provided by the ITU for broadcasting, there is also the so-called OIRT band . This has been used for a long time by some member countries of the OIRT in Eastern Europe to broadcast FM radio. It ranges from 65.9 MHz to 73.1 MHz and overlaps from 65.9 MHz to 68 MHz with radio band I. Today it is only used in a few countries (e.g. Russia, Belarus and Ukraine) .

Japanese VHF broadcast band

In Japan the FM band ranges from 76 to 90 MHz; the immediately following Japanese television band I ranges from 90 to 108 MHz (three analog channels).

1.5 GHz band ("L-band")

Above band V, the 1.5 GHz band - the so-called L band - is intended for terrestrial broadcasting applications. The above nomenclature has not yet been updated using Roman numerals. Presumably because this frequency range has only been planned for terrestrial broadcasting on a European level ( CEPT ) and not on a larger, international level ( ITU ). The term "L-band" is not an official name for this radio frequency range. It is derived from the radar frequency range "L" (1 to 2 GHz).

Terrestrial use of radio bands in Europe

tape	Broadcasting Services (in Europe)	other services
Volume I.	~~Analog television~~ (discontinued)	Fixed radio service Amateur radio service , 6 m band ...
OIRT band	Radio (FM)	Fixed radio service BOS radio amateur radio service , 4 m band ...
Volume II	VHF radio (FM)
Volume III	~~Analog television~~ (discontinued) DAB + DVB-T DMB	wireless microphones
Volume IV	DVB-T DVB-H	wireless microphones 470–494 MHz: non-navigational location radio ( wind profiler )
Volume V	DVB-T DVB-H	wireless microphones 608–614 MHz: radio astronomy service
1.5 GHz band ("L-band")	DAB + DMB

Frequency use in broadband cable

See cable television .

Microwave range

During the Second World War, high frequencies in the GHz range were used for radar location. The frequency bands were given random letters to keep them secret. Such was L possibly stands for tape-long , S for short , C for compromise between L and S . The abbreviations K and Ku (formerly also written as K _u ) go back to the German names short and short-below . Today the letters also indicate the transmission ranges of satellites .

The ITU tries to standardize the frequency assignments to the frequency band names:

Frequency band names
tape
tape	Frequency range in [GHz]	according to ITU in [GHz]
L.	1-2.6	1-2
S.	2.6-3.95	2-4
C.	3.95-5.8	4-8
J	5.85-8.2
X	8.2-12.4	8-12
K _u	12.4-18	12-18
K	18-26.5	18-27
K _a	26.5-40	27-40
Q	33-50
U	40-60
V	50-75
E.	60-90	60-90
W.	75-110	80-110
F.	90-140
D.	110-170
G	140-220
Y	170-260
J	220-325

In contrast, this classification is mostly used in satellite radio. (Some frequencies for research satellites and space probes are still missing.)

Designations for satellite radio with a distinction between services
tape	service	Frequency range in [GHz]
tape	service	Downlink	Uplink
P		0.23-1
L.		1.53-2.7
S.		2.7-3.5
C.		3.4-4.2	5.925-6.425
X	Military - communication satellites	7.25-7.75	7.9-8.4
X	Research ^{radio note 1}	8.4-8.5	7.145-7.235
K _u (Europe)	fixed satellite service	10.7-11.7	12.75-13.25 / 13.75-14.5
	BSS	11.7-12.5	17.3-18.1
	SMS	12.5-12.75	12.75-13.25 / 13.75-14.5
K _u (America)	FSS	11.7-12.2	14-14.5
K _u (America)	BSS	12.2-12.7	17.3-17.8
K _a	Radio data transmission via satellite	17.7-21.2	27.5-31

^{Note 1} Research satellites , space probes

Military designations

The designations for frequency bands that are binding in NATO Europe are published in the ARFA manual. These are also used for cross-border frequency uses with neighboring countries or UN missions with NATO participation. In addition, these names are largely compatible with the US armed forces.

US military names
tape	Frequency range
A.	000-250 MHz
B.	250-500 MHz
C.	0.5-1 00GHz
D.	001-2 00GHz
E.	002- 003 GHz
F.	003-4 00GHz
G	004- 006 GHz
H	006-8 00GHz
I.	008-10 0GHz
J	010-20 0GHz
K	020-40 0GHz
L.	040-60 0GHz
M.	060-100 GHz
N	100-200 GHz
O	200-300 GHz

Note: May be helpful when civil organizations / NATO work together.

Amateur radio

Frequencies and services (selection)

Band / service	Band limit in MHz		comment
Band / service	below	above	comment
LW radio	0.1485	0.2835	Only used for broadcasting in Europe, North Africa, the CIS countries and Mongolia.
Upper LW band	0.2000	0.5260	for non-directional (flight) radio beacons ( non-directional radio beacon , NDB)
MW radio	0.5265	1.6065	in the USA up to 1700 kHz, also in Europe some stations outside the regular band
KW radio	5.9	26.1	in several bands, with other applications in between, for example amateur radio service
CB radio	26,565	27.405	11 m tape
RC model making	35.1	35.9	35 MHz for model aircraft
Wireless microphones	36.7	37.1	First generation wireless technology, outdated, currently still for tour guide systems
RC model making	40.4	40.6
ISM	40.665	40.695
Broadcasting Volume I	47	68	formerly analog television
OIRT band	65.9	73.1	FM radio in Eastern Europe (except the former GDR), expiring
4 meter tape	66	87.49	BOS radio (Germany)
Broadcasting Volume II	87.5	108	VHF FM radio (in Europe)
Navigational radio service	108	117.975	VOR (Very High Frequency omnidirectional radio range, VOR) and localizer (Localizer) of the instrument landing system (Instrument Landing System, ILS)
Aeronautical service	118,000	137	Aeronautical radio
Amateur radio service 2 m	144	146	(VHF)
Mobile maritime service	156	162	Mobile marine service (ultra-short wave)
Broadcasting Volume III	174	230	analog television (only via cable ), DVB-T , DAB , radio microphones
UHF	328	336	Glideslope transmitter
GSM 400	380.2	496.0	Digital BOS radio + civil or commercial radio
Amateur radio service 70 cm	430	440	(UHF)
ISM	433.05	434.79	SRD
KDR	444,600	444.875	Short range radio (in Scandinavia)
PMR	446,000	446,200
LTE uplink	703	733	E-UTRA Volume 28 after Digital Dividend II
Duplex gap unspecified	733	758	after digital dividend II
LTE downlink	758	788	E-UTRA Volume 28 after Digital Dividend II
LTE downlink	790	814	E-UTRA Volume 20 after Digital Dividend I
Duplex gap for wireless microphones	822	832	after digital dividend I
LTE uplink	838	862	E-UTRA Volume 20 after Digital Dividend I
SRD	863	864.5	analog audio transmissions (wireless headphones, wireless speakers, etc.)
SRD 868 MHz band	868		SRD , wireless outdoor thermometer
GSM 850	824	894	GSM networks America
GSM 900	870.4	960.0	D networks , GSM networks Europe (mobile communications)
Mode S	960	1164	for example ADS -B on 1090 MHz
GPS	1227.60	1227.60	Satellite navigation
1.2 GHz band	1240	1300	Amateur radio service 23 cm
1.5 GHz band	1452	1492	DAB , conversion to Volume III planned
GPS	1575.42	1575.42	Satellite navigation
iridium	1616	1625	Satellite telephony
DCS 1800	1710	1880	E networks
PCS 1900	1850	1990	GSM networks America
DECT	1880	1900	Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (cordless phone)
Land mobile service	1885	2025	UMTS
Land mobile service	2110	2200	UMTS
ISM	2400	2500	Bluetooth , WLAN , RC model making , RFID , wireless MIDI , radio microphones , in USA: DECT
WLL	3400	3600	WiMAX
ISM	5725	5875	WLAN , U-NII , wireless microphones
Satellite broadcasting service	10700	12750	DVB-S and still analogue PAL / SECAM
802.11ad WiFi	57000	66000	License-free, only a few meters range, but high bandwidth

Optical and infrared astronomy

Wavelength in µm	designation
0.36	U-band
0.44	B-band
0.55	V-band
0.65	R band
1.00	I-band
1.25	J-band
1.65	H band
2.20	K band
3.45	L-band
4.70	M-band
10	N band
20th	Q band
450	Submillimeter

Optical data communication

tape	designation	Wavelength range
O-band	original	1260-1360 nm
E-band	Extended	1360-1460 nm
S-band	Short wavelength	1460-1530 nm
C band	Conventional	1530-1565 nm
L-band	Long wavelength	1565-1625 nm
U-band	Ultralong wavelength	1625-1675 nm

Web links

Commons : Radio spectrum - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ IEEE Standard 521-2002: Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands, doi : 10.1109 / IEEESTD.2003.94224
↑ Radio Regulations, Edition of 2012
↑ Vfg No. 14/2005: Conditions of use for the amateur radio service in the frequency ranges above 444 GHz. (PDF) Federal Network Agency, February 15, 2013, accessed on August 26, 2014 .
^ ITU: final acts of the European Broadcasting Conference in the VHF and UHF bands Stockholm, 1961
↑ CEPT: FINAL ACTS of the CEPT T-DAB Planning Meeting (3) Maastricht, 2002
↑ CEPT: FINAL ACTS of the CEPT T-DAB Planning Meeting (4) Maastricht, 2002
^ ITU: Final Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz (RRC-06) Geneva, 15 May – 16 June 2006
↑ ^a ^b ^c ITU: Recommendation ITU-R V.431-7: Nomenclature of the Frequency and Wavelength Bands Used in Telecommunications
↑ Source unknown
^ ^A ^b Meinke, Friedrich-Wilhelm Gundlach : Pocket book of high frequency technology , 4th edition 1985, Springer-Verlag: page A2
^ NATO Allied Radio Frequency Agency (ARFA) HANDBOOK - VOLUME I; PART IV - APPENDICES,… G-2,… NOMENCLATURE OF THE FREQUENCY AND WAVELENGTH BANDS USED IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION.
^ ^A ^b Whitaker: Handbook of Broadcast Engineering . McGraw-Hill, 2005
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 3GPP TS 45.005: GSM / EDGE Radio Access Network: Radio transmission and reception (Release 8) ( ZIP ; 798 kB)
↑ Frequency assignment PMR-446

[1] IEEE Standard 521-2002: Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands, doi : 10.1109 / IEEESTD.2003.94224

[2] Radio Regulations, Edition of 2012

[3] Vfg No. 14/2005: Conditions of use for the amateur radio service in the frequency ranges above 444 GHz. (PDF) Federal Network Agency, February 15, 2013, accessed on August 26, 2014 .

[4] ITU: final acts of the European Broadcasting Conference in the VHF and UHF bands Stockholm, 1961

[5] CEPT: FINAL ACTS of the CEPT T-DAB Planning Meeting (3) Maastricht, 2002

[6] CEPT: FINAL ACTS of the CEPT T-DAB Planning Meeting (4) Maastricht, 2002

[7] ITU: Final Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz (RRC-06) Geneva, 15 May – 16 June 2006

[V.431-7-8] ITU: Recommendation ITU-R V.431-7: Nomenclature of the Frequency and Wavelength Bands Used in Telecommunications

[unbekannt-9] Source unknown

[Meinke-Gundlach-10] A ^b Meinke, Friedrich-Wilhelm Gundlach : Pocket book of high frequency technology , 4th edition 1985, Springer-Verlag: page A2

[11] NATO Allied Radio Frequency Agency (ARFA) HANDBOOK - VOLUME I; PART IV - APPENDICES,… G-2,… NOMENCLATURE OF THE FREQUENCY AND WAVELENGTH BANDS USED IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION.

[Whitaker-12] A ^b Whitaker: Handbook of Broadcast Engineering . McGraw-Hill, 2005

[3GPP45005-13] 3GPP TS 45.005: GSM / EDGE Radio Access Network: Radio transmission and reception (Release 8) ( ZIP ; 798 kB)

[14] Frequency assignment PMR-446