radio frequency bands

by Abbas Jahangir · June 14, 2024

Frequency bands . Frequency intervals of the electromagnetic spectrum assigned to different uses within radio communications. Its use is regulated by the International Telecommunications Union and varies by location.

The space assigned to the different bands includes the radio frequency spectrum and part of the microwave spectrum. It is divided into sectors.

Summary

[ disguise ]

1 Regions
2 Specters
3 Character of the bands for radio amateurs
4 Most common bands for amateur radio
- 1 LF Bands
- 2 FM Bands
- 3 HF bands
- 4 VHF bands
- 5 UHF Bands
5 Sources

Regions

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) distinguishes three regions:

Region 1: Europe and Africa
Region 2: America
Region 3: Asia and Oceania

The frequency bands assigned by the ITU are mandatory. No person, natural or legal, has the right to use the bands without authorization.

These bands are used by international broadcasters, countries and organizations.

Name	English abbreviation	ITU band	Frequencies	Wavelength
Less than 3 Hz	>100000 km
Extra low frequency	ELF	1	3-30Hz	100000–10000km
Super low frequency	SLF	2	30-300Hz	10000–1000km
Ultra low frequency	ULF	3	300–3000Hz	1000–100km
Very low frequency	VLF	4	3–30kHz	100–10km
Low frequency	L.F.	5	30–300kHz	10–1km
Medium frequency	M.F.	6	300–3000kHz	1km– 100m
High frequency	H.F.	7	3–30MHz	100–10m
Very high frequency	VHF	8	30–300MHz	10–1m
Ultra high frequency	UHF	9	300–3000MHz	1m– 100mm
Super high frequency	SHF	10	3-30GHz	100-10mm
Extra high frequency	EHF	eleven	30-300GHz	10–1mm
			Above 300GHz	<1mm

Spectral

The ELF, SLF, ULF and VLF bands share the AF (audio frequency) spectrum, which is between approximately 20 and 20,000 Hz.

From 1 GHz onwards the bands enter the microwave spectrum. Above 300 GHz the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the Earth’s atmosphere is so high that the atmosphere becomes opaque to it, until, in the so-called infrared and optical frequency ranges, it becomes transparent again.

Character of the bands for radio amateurs

Some of the bands assigned to the amateur radio service are assigned by nature:

Exclusive: Only radio amateurs can use them.
Shared: Radio amateurs can share them with other users, with one of these two statuses:

Primary shared: radio amateurs are priority in its use.
Secondary Shared: Radio amateurs must refrain from interfering with users with primary status.

Most common bands for amateur radio

Each country defines its Band Plan for its radio amateurs.

Amateur radio bands are governed by the Band Plan of each country. The bands have their own characteristics, defined by the propagation modes specific to each frequency. The limits of these frequencies change over time , the frequency bands most commonly used by radio amateurs are the HF, VHF and UHF bands.