Talk:Radio Frequencies, Bands, and Channels

ince VHF and UHF propagation is usually "line of sight," frequency allocations and usage are far more "localized" on frequencies above 30 MHz. However, there are some broad allocations for different purposes used in the United States and most of the rest of the Americas. The following is a summary of the main frequency bands found above 30 MHz. Please remember that listening to cellular phones, cordless phones and wireless intercoms is illegal in the United States.

30 to 50 MHz: This is known as the "VHF low" band. Most transmissions will be in narrow band FM with channels spaced at 20 kHz intervals. A wide variety of stations can be heard on this range, including businesses, federal, state, and local governments, law enforcement agencies, and various industrial radio services.

50 to 54 MHz: This is the six-meter ham radio band. The first megahertz is mainly used for USB, AM, CW, FSK modes, digital modes. The remainder of the band is used for narrow band FM, both simplex and through repeaters. 52.525 MHz is widely used as a simplex and calling frequency.

54 to 72 MHz: Television channels 2, 3, and 4 are located in this range. The video portions will sound like distorted noise on a scanner. The audio portions are in FM, but will sound "clipped" and "tinny" unless your scanner can tune this range in wide band.

72 to 76 MHz: This range is used for remote control signals for model airplanes and garage door openers, wireless microphones (including those used by law enforcement agencies), and two-way communications inside factories, warehouses, and other industrial facilities. Most channels are spaced at 20 kHz intervals.

76 to 88 MHz: This range is used for television channels 5 and 6.

88 to 108 MHz: This is where the FM broadcasting band is located.

108 to 136 MHz: This band is used for civilian aeronautical communications and all transmissions are in AM. Aeronautical beacons occupy 108 to 118 MHz; these continuously transmit a station identification and are used for navigation. The rest of the band is used for traffic between aircraft and air traffic control towers on channels spaced at 25 kHz intervals.

136 to 138 MHz: This segment is mainly used by weather satellites to transmit photographic images.

138 to 144 MHz: The various military services are the biggest users of this segment in the United States, with most transmissions in narrow band FM and spaced at 5 kHz intervals. You can also hear ham radio operators who are members of the military affiliate radio service (MARS).

144 to 148 MHz: This is the two-meter ham radio band. This is the most heavily used ham radio band in the United States. USB and various FSK modes are mainly used in the first 500 kHz, and the rest of the band is FM. Most activity is through repeaters, although simplex activity is found on frequencies like 146.52 MHz. For more information about this band, visit the ham radio section of this site.

148 to 150.8 MHz: The usage here is similar to the 138 to 144 MHz range.

150.8 to 174 MHz: This is known as the "VHF high" band, and it is used by the same wide spectrum of users as the 30 to 50 MHz band.

174 to 216 MHz: This range is used for television channels 7 through 13.

216 to 220 MHz: In the United States, this band is used by the automated maritime telecommunication system (AMTS) used on major inland waterways such as the Great Lakes and the Mississippi river. Communications are in FM on channels spaced at 12.5 kHz intervals. However, the 219 to 220 MHz range is shared with ham radio. On this range, ham stations can be used to relay digital messages to other hams, subject to a maximum power of 50 watts. Hams must first register to use their shared allocation, and cannot use it within range of maritime users.

220 to 222 MHz: This range was reallocated a few years ago from ham radio to land mobile radio. Frequency usage and modulation have not yet been finalized, although new narrow bandwidth modes are expected to be used.

222 to 225 MHz: This is the 1.25-meter ham radio band. It is mainly used for FM communication through repeaters, although it is much less heavily used than the two-meter band.

225 to 400 MHz: This very wide band is used for military aviation communications in AM. Most channels are 100 kHz apart.

400 to 406 MHz: This range is used primarily by government and military stations in FM.

406 to 420 MHz: In the United States, this band is used exclusively by the federal government. All transmissions are in FM, with most channels spaced at 25 kHz intervals.

420 to 450 MHz: This is the 70-centimeter ham radio band, second in popularity to the two-meter band on VHF/UHF. The 420 to 444 MHz range is used for USB, digital modes, ham television, and ham communications satellites. The 444 to 450 MHz range is used for FM, mainly in conjunction with repeaters.

450 to 470 MHz: This is the "UHF" band on most scanners, used for many of the same purposes as the 30 to 50 and 150.8 to 174 MHz bands.

470 to 512 MHz: This is known as the "UHF-T" band, and covers the same frequency range as television channels 14 to 20. This band is used for many of the same purposes as the "UHF" band in areas of the country without television stations on those channels.

512 to 825 MHz: This range is where television channels 21 through 72 are located.

825 to 849 MHz: This range is used for cellular telephone service, with cellular units transmitting here. Listening in this range is prohibited.

849 to 851 MHz: This band is used to provide telephone service from aircraft in flight. SSB is generally used here. Listening in this range is prohibited.

851 to 866 MHz: This is used by many of the same users as the 450 to 470 MHz band, with channels spaced at 25 kHz intervals.

866 to 869 MHz: This allocation is used by public safety and law enforcement agencies.

869 to 894 MHz: This range is used for cellular telephone service, with cells transmitting here. Listening in this range is prohibited.

894 MHz and above: These higher frequencies are where new communications technologies, such as wireless local area networks, spread spectrum telephony, and direct satellite broadcasting are being implemented.

kb8lxc frequency table

United States Frequency List
From	To	For	Memo
1.800 MHz	2.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 160m Band
3.500 MHz	4.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 80m Band
7.000 MHz	7.300 MHz	Amateur Radio 40m Band
10.100 MHz	10.150 MHz	Amateur Radio 30m Band
14.000 MHz	14.350 MHz	Amateur Radio 20m Band
18.068 MHz	18.168 MHz	Amateur Radio 17m Band
21.000 MHz	21.450 MHz	Amateur Radio 15m Band	For Long Distance
24.890 MHz	24.990 MHz	Amateur Radio 12m Band
26.965 MHz	26.965 MHz	CB Channel 1	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
26.975 MHz	26.975 MHz	CB Channel 2	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
26.985 MHz	26.985 MHz	CB Channel 3	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.005 MHz	27.005 MHz	CB Channel 4	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.015 MHz	27.015 MHz	CB Channel 5	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.025 MHz	27.025 MHz	CB Channel 6	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.035 MHz	27.035 MHz	CB Channel 7	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.055 MHz	27.055 MHz	CB Channel 8	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.065 MHz	27.065 MHz	CB Channel 9	Emergency Only. a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.075 MHz	27.075 MHz	CB Channel 10	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.085 MHz	27.085 MHz	CB Channel 11	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.105 MHz	27.105 MHz	CB Channel 12	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.115 MHz	27.115 MHz	CB Channel 13	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.125 MHz	27.125 MHz	CB Channel 14	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.135 MHz	27.135 MHz	CB Channel 15	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.155 MHz	27.155 MHz	CB Channel 16	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.165 MHz	27.165 MHz	CB Channel 17	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.175 MHz	27.175 MHz	CB Channel 18	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.185 MHz	27.185 MHz	CB Channel 19	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.205 MHz	27.205 MHz	CB Channel 20	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.215 MHz	27.215 MHz	CB Channel 21	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.225 MHz	27.225 MHz	CB Channel 22	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.255 MHz	27.255 MHz	CB Channel 23	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.235 MHz	27.235 MHz	CB Channel 24	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.245 MHz	27.245 MHz	CB Channel 25	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.265 MHz	27.265 MHz	CB Channel 26	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.275 MHz	27.275 MHz	CB Channel 27	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.285 MHz	27.285 MHz	CB Channel 28	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.295 MHz	27.295 MHz	CB Channel 29	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.305 MHz	27.305 MHz	CB Channel 30	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.315 MHz	27.315 MHz	CB Channel 31	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.325 MHz	27.325 MHz	CB Channel 32	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.335 MHz	27.335 MHz	CB Channel 33	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.345 MHz	27.345 MHz	CB Channel 34	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.355 MHz	27.355 MHz	CB Channel 35	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.365 MHz	27.365 MHz	CB Channel 36	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.375 MHz	27.375 MHz	CB Channel 37	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.385 MHz	27.385 MHz	CB Channel 38	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.395 MHz	27.395 MHz	CB Channel 39	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
27.405 MHz	27.405 MHz	CB Channel 40	a.k.a. 11m Band (Not Amatuer Radio)
28.000 MHz	29.700 MHz	Amateur Radio 10m Band	For Long Distance
30.820 MHz	30.820 MHz	Restaurant	KFC
30.840 MHz	30.840 MHz	Restaurant	Arby's, Bob's Big Boy, Burger King, Hardee's, KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Wendy's
31.000 MHz	31.000 MHz	Restaurant	Arby's, Burger King, Hardee's, KFC, McDonald's
33.400 MHz	33.400 MHz	Restaurant	KFC
33.140 MHz	33.140 MHz	Restaurant	McDonald's
33.160 MHz	33.160 MHz	Restaurant	Wendy's
33.400 MHz	33.400 MHz	Restaurant	McDonald's, Wendy's
33.715 MHz	33.715 MHz	Restaurant	McDonald's
35.020 MHz	35.020 MHz	Restaurant	Hardee's, McDonald's
35.120 MHz	35.120 MHz	Restaurant	McDonald's
43.720 MHz	43.720 MHz	Cordless Phone
43.740 MHz	43.740 MHz	Cordless Phone
43.820 MHz	43.820 MHz	Cordless Phone
43.840 MHz	43.840 MHz	Cordless Phone
43.920 MHz	43.920 MHz	Cordless Phone
43.960 MHz	43.960 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.120 MHz	44.120 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.160 MHz	44.160 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.180 MHz	44.180 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.200 MHz	44.200 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.320 MHz	44.320 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.360 MHz	44.360 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.400 MHz	44.400 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.460 MHz	44.460 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.480 MHz	44.480 MHz	Cordless Phone
44.890 MHz	44.890 MHz	Restaurant	Wendy's
46.610 MHz	46.610 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.630 MHz	46.630 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.670 MHz	46.670 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.710 MHz	46.710 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.730 MHz	46.730 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.770 MHz	46.770 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.830 MHz	46.830 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.870 MHz	46.870 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.930 MHz	46.930 MHz	Cordless Phone
46.970 MHz	46.970 MHz	Cordless Phone
49.300 MHz	49.300 MHz	Baby Monitor
49.830 MHz	49.830 MHz	Baby Monitor/Restaurant	Wendy's
49.845 MHz	49.845 MHz	Baby Monitor
49.860 MHz	49.860 MHz	Baby Monitor
49.875 MHz	49.875 MHz	Baby Monitor
49.890 MHz	49.890 MHz	Baby Monitor
49.830 MHz	213.800 MHz	Wireless Mike
50.000 MHz	54.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 6m Band
67.775 MHz	67.775 MHz	Restaurant	McDonald's
88.000 MHz	108.000 MHz	Public FM Radio
108.500 MHz	135.900 MHz	Aviation
144.000 MHz	148.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 2m Band	Most Popular Band for Hams. It is also popular for satellite communications.
151.685 MHz	151.685 MHz	Restaurant	Hardee's
154.490 MHz	154.490 MHz	Restaurant	McDonald's
154.540 MHz	154.540 MHz	Restaurant	KFC
154.570 MHz	154.570 MHz	Commercial/Restaurant	Wal-Mart Stores/Arby's, Bob's Big Boy, Burger King, Taco Bell
154.600 MHz	154.600 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
170.065 MHz	170.065 MHz	Department of Corrections	Federal Prisons
170.875 MHz	170.875 MHz	Department of Corrections	Federal Prisons
170.925 MHz	170.925 MHz	Department of Corrections	Federal Prisons
170.305 MHz	170.305 MHz	Restaurant	Burger King, Hardee's
220.000 MHz	225.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 1.25m Band
430.000 MHz	450.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 70cm Band	Popular Band for Hams
457.5375 MHz	457.5375 MHz	Restaurant	Taco Bell
457.550 MHz	457.550 MHz	Restaurant	Arby's, Taco Bell
457.600 MHz	457.600 MHz	Restaurant	Bob's Big Boy
460.8875 MHz	460.8875 MHz	Restaurant	Wendy's
462.5625 MHz	462.5625 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 1	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
462.5875 MHz	462.5875 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 2	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
462.6125 MHz	462.6125 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 3	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
462.6375 MHz	462.6375 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 4	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
462.6625 MHz	462.6625 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 5	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
462.6875 MHz	462.6875 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 6	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
462.7125 MHz	462.7125 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 7	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
464.475 MHz	464.475 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
464.520 MHz	464.520 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
464.6125 MHz	464.6125 MHz	Restaurant	Hardee's
464.975 MHz	464.975 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
465.8875 MHz	465.8875 MHz	Restaurant	Burger King
467.5625 MHz	467.5625 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 8	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.5875 MHz	467.5875 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 9	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.6125 MHz	467.6125 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 10	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.6375 MHz	467.6375 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 11	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.6625 MHz	467.6625 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 12	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.6875 MHz	467.6875 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 13	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.7125 MHz	467.7125 MHz	Family Radio Service Ch. 14	"Very Short Distance Two-way Voice Radio Service."
467.8125 MHz	467.8125 MHz	Restaurant	KFC
467.825 MHz	467.825 MHz	Restaurant	Bob's Big Boy
469.0125 MHz	469.0125 MHz	Restaurant	Hardee's
469.475 MHz	469.475 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
469.525 MHz	469.525 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
469.975 MHz	469.975 MHz	Commercial	Wal-Mart Stores
902.000 MHz	928.000 MHz	Amateur Radio 33cm Band	Not used often
926.100 MHz	926.370 MHz	Cordless Phone	10 Chs
1.240 GHz	1.300 GHz	Amateur Radio 23cm Band	Not used often