Difference between revisions of "Radio Frequencies, Bands, and Channels"

Revision as of 19:10, 14 July 2015

Radio frequency transmissions are divided up into contiguous bands for different purposes. These groupings are usually due to the different physical characteristics or behavior of radio waves at different frequencies (more on this below). To understand the properties of different radio waves, let's first calculate the wavelength of some typical radio frequencies found in each of the main broadcast bands. As explained above, this is performed by dividing the speed of light by the frequency of interest:

• Band: MF — Medium Frequency — AM (amplitude mall/ago/0 Radio Band (535-1705 kHz)

Channel: AM Radio — 1120 kHz 300 million meters/sec ÷ 1120 thousand cycles /sec = 268 meters (880 feet)

• Band: VHF — Very High Frequency FM Viequeney moduilatiaii) Radio Band (88-108 MHz)

Channel: FM Radio — 98.1 MHz 300 million meters/sec = 98.1 million cycles/sec = 3 meters (10 feet)

• Band: VHF — Very High Frequency — Television Band (54-216 MHz)

Channel: VHF TV, Channel 8-183 MHz 300 million meters/sec ÷ 183 million cycles/sec = 1.64 meters (5 feet)

• Band: UHF — Ultra High Frequency — Television Band (470-806 MHz)

Channel: UHF TV, Channel 40 — 629 MHz 300 million meters/sec ÷ 629 million cycles/sec = 0.48 meters (19 inches)

• Band: SHF — Super High Frequency — Broadcasting Satellite Ku Band (11-14 GHz)

Channel: Direct Broadcast Satellite, Transponder 30 — 12.647 GHz 300 million meters/sec ÷ 12.647 billion cyclesfsec = 2.37 centimeters (1 inch)

As this summary of the Electromagnetic Spectrum illustrates, the wavelengths of different broadcast bands vary quite a bit, from hundreds of feet to an inch or less. Because of these differing wavelengths, there are major physical differences in the design of antenna types used to transmit and receive signals in different bands. The amplitudes (or power) of these signals also greatly influence the design and size of these antennas.

Each radio band is divided into individual channels, and each of these channels includes a range of frequencies. The range of frequencies included in a channel from lowest to highest is known as the channel's batidwidin. (The term may also refer to any particular range of frequencies, not just those in RF.) For simplicity, however, a channel is often identified by its reizterfrequency, so that only one numerical value (rather than two) will have to be cited when referring to a particular channel. If the center frequency is given and the channel bandwidth is known, the upper and lower frequency limits of the channel can be easily derived. For example, a channel with a 2 kHz (2,000 Hz) bandwidth centered at 100 kHz occupies the spectrum between 99 kHz and 101 kHz.

The UHF and SHF bands have further subdivisions, with bands that are used for terrestrial radio links, satellite links, and for satellite broadcasting. These include the L, Cyan, X, Ku, IC, and Ka bands, with frequencies ranging from about 1 GHz to 40 GHz.

United States Frequency Allocations Chart

The United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Office of Spectrum Management released this chart to the public in 2003. This is an enormous chart that would make an excellent poster to hang on your wall. It is very detailed. Click the icon below for a direct link to the file.

The NTIA's Office of Spectrum Management is in charge of regulating use of spectrum allocated to the Federal Government. It serves in a manner equivalent to the FCC for this purpose. It is also the part of the Department of Commerce that oversees ICANN.

Wavelength Table

Meter Band 	Frequency Range and Use
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160 meter 	1800 - 2000 kHz ham radio
120 meter 	2300 - 2498 kHz broadcasting
90 meter 	3200 - 3400 kHz broadcasting
80 meter 	3500 - 4000 kHz ham radio
60 meter 	4750 - 4995 kHz broadcasting
49 meter 	5950 to 6250 kHz broadcasting
41 meter 	7100 to 7300 kHz broadcasting
40 meter 	7000 to 7300 kHz ham radio
31 meter 	9500 to 9900 kHz broadcasting
30 meter 	10100 to 10150 kHz ham radio
25 meter 	11650 to 11975 kHz broadcasting
22 meter 	13600 to 13800 kHz broadcasting
20 meter 	14000 to 14350 kHz ham radio
19 meter 	15100 to 15600 kHz broadcasting
17 meter 	18068 to 18168 kHz ham radio
16 meter 	17550 to 17900 kHz broadcasting
15 meter 	21000 to 21450 kHz ham radio
13 meter 	21450 to 21850 kHz broadcasting
12 meter 	24890 to 24990 ham radio
11 meter 	25670 to 26100 kHz broadcasting
10 meter 	28 to 29.7 MHz ham radio 
6 meter        50 - 54 MHz ham radio since 1947
5 meter        56 – 64 MHz taken from ham radio in 1946
2 meter        144 MHz to 148 MHz for ham
1.25 meter     219 - 225 MHz
70 centimeter  420 - 450 MHz ham 462 - 468 MHz non-ham public
33 centimeter  909 MHz
23 centimeter

Due to errors from HAM designations versus actual wave conversion formula 17-meter ham radio band is actually higher in frequency than the 16-meter broadcasting band.