Learning
The radio spectrum is vast, and different frequency bands are allocated for different uses, ranging from amateur radio to unlicensed communications. Below is a general overview of various radio frequency ranges, including licensed and unlicensed uses:
### 1. **Very Low Frequency (VLF)**: 3 kHz – 30 kHz
- **Use**: Long-distance communication, submarine communication, navigation signals (e.g., LORAN)
### 2. **Low Frequency (LF)**: 30 kHz – 300 kHz
- **Use**: Maritime navigation, AM long-wave broadcasts, time signals
### 3. **Medium Frequency (MF)**: 300 kHz – 3 MHz
- **300 kHz – 500 kHz**: Maritime communication, distress signals
- **530 kHz – 1710 kHz**: AM radio broadcasting
- **1.8 MHz – 2.0 MHz**: Amateur radio (160-meter band)
### 4. **High Frequency (HF)**: 3 MHz – 30 MHz
- **3.5 MHz – 4.0 MHz**: Amateur radio (80-meter band)
- **7.0 MHz – 7.3 MHz**: Amateur radio (40-meter band)
- **14.0 MHz – 14.35 MHz**: Amateur radio (20-meter band)
- **11.715 MHz – 12.05 MHz**: International broadcasting (shortwave radio)
- **26.965 MHz – 27.405 MHz**: Citizens Band (CB) radio (unlicensed in some countries like the U.S.)
### 5. **Very High Frequency (VHF)**: 30 MHz – 300 MHz
- **30 MHz – 50 MHz**: Public safety, land mobile, and amateur radio (6-meter band)
- **50 MHz – 54 MHz**: Amateur radio (6-meter band)
- **88 MHz – 108 MHz**: FM radio broadcasting
- **108 MHz – 137 MHz**: Aviation communication (licensed)
- **136 MHz – 174 MHz**: Public safety, land mobile, marine VHF
- **144 MHz – 148 MHz**: Amateur radio (2-meter band)
- **151 MHz – 154 MHz**: Family Radio Service (FRS, unlicensed)
- **151 MHz – 162 MHz**: Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS, unlicensed)
- **156 MHz – 174 MHz**: Marine radio
### 6. **Ultra High Frequency (UHF)**: 300 MHz – 3 GHz
- **300 MHz – 450 MHz**: Military, amateur radio, satellite communication
- **406 MHz – 512 MHz**: Public safety, land mobile, TV broadcast (channels 14-20)
- **430 MHz – 440 MHz**: Amateur radio (70-centimeter band)
- **462 MHz – 467 MHz**: General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS, licensed in some countries), Family Radio Service (FRS, unlicensed)
- **900 MHz (902-928 MHz)**: Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band (unlicensed; used for cordless phones, wireless networks, RFID, etc.)
- **1.2 GHz – 1.3 GHz**: Amateur radio (23-centimeter band)
### 7. **Super High Frequency (SHF)**: 3 GHz – 30 GHz
- **2.4 GHz**: ISM band (unlicensed; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microwave ovens)
- **5 GHz**: ISM band (unlicensed; Wi-Fi, some cordless phones)
- **10 GHz – 10.5 GHz**: Amateur radio, satellite communication, radar
### 8. **Extremely High Frequency (EHF)**: 30 GHz – 300 GHz
- **24 GHz – 29 GHz**: 5G mobile communication, amateur radio
- **57 GHz – 64 GHz**: WiGig (high-speed wireless communications)
---
### **Amateur (Ham) Radio Bands**
Amateur radio operators are licensed to operate on specific frequencies within the HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave bands:
- **HF Bands**: 1.8 MHz, 3.5 MHz, 7 MHz, 10 MHz, 14 MHz, 18 MHz, 21 MHz, 24 MHz, 28 MHz
- **VHF Bands**: 50 MHz, 144 MHz
- **UHF Bands**: 430 MHz, 1.2 GHz
---
### **Unlicensed Radio Services**
1. **Citizens Band (CB) Radio**: 26.965 MHz – 27.405 MHz (11-meter band)
- 40 channels available, used for short-distance communication (e.g., trucking, off-roading).
- No license required in many countries.
2. **Family Radio Service (FRS)**: 462 MHz – 467 MHz
- Used for personal communications over short distances (walkie-talkies, etc.).
- No license required.
3. **Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)**: 151 MHz – 154 MHz
- 5 channels available for personal and business use.
- No license required.
4. **Wi-Fi & Bluetooth**: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz (Unlicensed ISM Bands)
- Used for wireless local area networking and personal devices.
5. **General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)**: 462 MHz – 467 MHz
- Requires a license in some countries for higher power usage than FRS.
---
### **Public Safety and Commercial Use**
- **Public Safety Frequencies**: VHF and UHF bands (151 MHz – 512 MHz) are used by police, fire, EMS, and other public safety entities.
- **Business Radio**: Licensed for use in various VHF and UHF bands for communication within companies.
---
### **Aviation**
- **118 MHz – 137 MHz**: Aircraft communications
- **121.5 MHz**: International emergency distress frequency
- **123.025 MHz – 123.075 MHz**: Air-to-air (common LADD frequencies)
---
### **Marine Communication**
- **156 MHz – 162 MHz**: VHF marine channels, including distress (156.8 MHz, Channel 16), ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore communications.
This list highlights a broad range of frequencies and their general use, from professional to recreational radio communications. Radio transmissions are subject to regulation by national authorities (e.g., **FCC** in the U.S., **IC** in Canada), and operators must comply with licensing and technical standards for most types of transmissions.
### 1. **Very Low Frequency (VLF)**: 3 kHz – 30 kHz
- **Use**: Long-distance communication, submarine communication, navigation signals (e.g., LORAN)
### 2. **Low Frequency (LF)**: 30 kHz – 300 kHz
- **Use**: Maritime navigation, AM long-wave broadcasts, time signals
### 3. **Medium Frequency (MF)**: 300 kHz – 3 MHz
- **300 kHz – 500 kHz**: Maritime communication, distress signals
- **530 kHz – 1710 kHz**: AM radio broadcasting
- **1.8 MHz – 2.0 MHz**: Amateur radio (160-meter band)
### 4. **High Frequency (HF)**: 3 MHz – 30 MHz
- **3.5 MHz – 4.0 MHz**: Amateur radio (80-meter band)
- **7.0 MHz – 7.3 MHz**: Amateur radio (40-meter band)
- **14.0 MHz – 14.35 MHz**: Amateur radio (20-meter band)
- **11.715 MHz – 12.05 MHz**: International broadcasting (shortwave radio)
- **26.965 MHz – 27.405 MHz**: Citizens Band (CB) radio (unlicensed in some countries like the U.S.)
### 5. **Very High Frequency (VHF)**: 30 MHz – 300 MHz
- **30 MHz – 50 MHz**: Public safety, land mobile, and amateur radio (6-meter band)
- **50 MHz – 54 MHz**: Amateur radio (6-meter band)
- **88 MHz – 108 MHz**: FM radio broadcasting
- **108 MHz – 137 MHz**: Aviation communication (licensed)
- **136 MHz – 174 MHz**: Public safety, land mobile, marine VHF
- **144 MHz – 148 MHz**: Amateur radio (2-meter band)
- **151 MHz – 154 MHz**: Family Radio Service (FRS, unlicensed)
- **151 MHz – 162 MHz**: Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS, unlicensed)
- **156 MHz – 174 MHz**: Marine radio
### 6. **Ultra High Frequency (UHF)**: 300 MHz – 3 GHz
- **300 MHz – 450 MHz**: Military, amateur radio, satellite communication
- **406 MHz – 512 MHz**: Public safety, land mobile, TV broadcast (channels 14-20)
- **430 MHz – 440 MHz**: Amateur radio (70-centimeter band)
- **462 MHz – 467 MHz**: General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS, licensed in some countries), Family Radio Service (FRS, unlicensed)
- **900 MHz (902-928 MHz)**: Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band (unlicensed; used for cordless phones, wireless networks, RFID, etc.)
- **1.2 GHz – 1.3 GHz**: Amateur radio (23-centimeter band)
### 7. **Super High Frequency (SHF)**: 3 GHz – 30 GHz
- **2.4 GHz**: ISM band (unlicensed; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microwave ovens)
- **5 GHz**: ISM band (unlicensed; Wi-Fi, some cordless phones)
- **10 GHz – 10.5 GHz**: Amateur radio, satellite communication, radar
### 8. **Extremely High Frequency (EHF)**: 30 GHz – 300 GHz
- **24 GHz – 29 GHz**: 5G mobile communication, amateur radio
- **57 GHz – 64 GHz**: WiGig (high-speed wireless communications)
---
### **Amateur (Ham) Radio Bands**
Amateur radio operators are licensed to operate on specific frequencies within the HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave bands:
- **HF Bands**: 1.8 MHz, 3.5 MHz, 7 MHz, 10 MHz, 14 MHz, 18 MHz, 21 MHz, 24 MHz, 28 MHz
- **VHF Bands**: 50 MHz, 144 MHz
- **UHF Bands**: 430 MHz, 1.2 GHz
---
### **Unlicensed Radio Services**
1. **Citizens Band (CB) Radio**: 26.965 MHz – 27.405 MHz (11-meter band)
- 40 channels available, used for short-distance communication (e.g., trucking, off-roading).
- No license required in many countries.
2. **Family Radio Service (FRS)**: 462 MHz – 467 MHz
- Used for personal communications over short distances (walkie-talkies, etc.).
- No license required.
3. **Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)**: 151 MHz – 154 MHz
- 5 channels available for personal and business use.
- No license required.
4. **Wi-Fi & Bluetooth**: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz (Unlicensed ISM Bands)
- Used for wireless local area networking and personal devices.
5. **General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)**: 462 MHz – 467 MHz
- Requires a license in some countries for higher power usage than FRS.
---
### **Public Safety and Commercial Use**
- **Public Safety Frequencies**: VHF and UHF bands (151 MHz – 512 MHz) are used by police, fire, EMS, and other public safety entities.
- **Business Radio**: Licensed for use in various VHF and UHF bands for communication within companies.
---
### **Aviation**
- **118 MHz – 137 MHz**: Aircraft communications
- **121.5 MHz**: International emergency distress frequency
- **123.025 MHz – 123.075 MHz**: Air-to-air (common LADD frequencies)
---
### **Marine Communication**
- **156 MHz – 162 MHz**: VHF marine channels, including distress (156.8 MHz, Channel 16), ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore communications.
This list highlights a broad range of frequencies and their general use, from professional to recreational radio communications. Radio transmissions are subject to regulation by national authorities (e.g., **FCC** in the U.S., **IC** in Canada), and operators must comply with licensing and technical standards for most types of transmissions.