Frequency Spectrum

Appendix A

Introduction
Table A-1 -- Frequency Multipliers
Traffic Radar Frequencies
Table A-2 -- Traffic Radar Frequency Bands
Table A-3 -- Select Ka Band Traffic Radar Frequencies
Figure A-1 -- Select Ka Band Radars
Frequency Band Designations
Table A-4 -- Military Radar Bands
Table A-5 -- International Telecommunications Union Radar Bands
Table A-6 -- Radio Frequency Bands
Table A-7 -- ECM Bands

Introduction

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates frequency use by setting specifications for transmit frequency, power, bandwidth, modulation, and location, to name a few, and requires a license for many uses. The FCC does NOT cover the CALIBRATION of radar units, radar ACCURACY, or OPERATOR capability requirements.

Note the following multiplier abbreviations for frequency (also see appendix B -- Electromagnetic Waves).

Table A-1 -- Frequency Multipliers

Hz (hertz) cycles per second 1 Hz

kHz (kilohertz) one thousand hertz 1,000 Hz

MHz (megahertz) one million hertz 1,000,000 Hz

GHz (gigahertz) one billion hertz 1,000,000,000 Hz

THz (terahertz) one trillion hertz 1,000,000,000,000 Hz

Traffic Radar Frequencies

Table A-2 -- Traffic Radar Frequency Bands

Band Frequency Wavelength Notes

S 2.455 GHz 4.8 in
12 cm obsolete

X* 9.41 GHz 1.25 in
3.2 cm some European countries

X* 9.90 GHz 1.2 in
3.0 cm some European countries

X 10.525 GHz ±25 MHz 1.1 in
2.8 cm one 50 MHz channel

Ku* 13.450 GHz 0.88 in
2.2 cm some European countries

K 24.125 GHz ±100 MHz 0.49 in
1.2 cm one 200 MHz channel
Europe and some US systems

K 24.150 GHz ±100 MHz 0.49 in
1.2 cm one 200 MHz channel

Ka 33.4 - 36.0 GHz 0.35 - 0.33 in
9 - 8.3 mm 13 channels; 200 MHz/ch

IR -- Infrared 332 THz 904 nm Laser Radar (Chapter 6)

* Not used in USA.

Band	Frequency	Wavelength	Notes
S	2.455 GHz	4.8 in 12 cm	obsolete
X*	9.41 GHz	1.25 in 3.2 cm	some European countries
X*	9.90 GHz	1.2 in 3.0 cm	some European countries
X	10.525 GHz ±25 MHz	1.1 in 2.8 cm	one 50 MHz channel
Ku*	13.450 GHz	0.88 in 2.2 cm	some European countries
K	24.125 GHz ±100 MHz	0.49 in 1.2 cm	one 200 MHz channel Europe and some US systems
K	24.150 GHz ±100 MHz	0.49 in 1.2 cm	one 200 MHz channel
Ka	33.4 - 36.0 GHz	0.35 - 0.33 in 9 - 8.3 mm	13 channels; 200 MHz/ch
IR -- Infrared	332 THz	904 nm	Laser Radar (Chapter 6)

Table A-3 -- Select Ka Band Traffic Radar Frequencies
Frequency tolerance for Ka band radars typically ±100 MHz.

Frequency System

33.3 GHz Genesis II

33.4 GHz photo radar

33.8 GHz BEE 36

34.3 GHz TMT-6F photo radar
Multanova 6F photo radar

34.6 GHz PR-100 photo radar

34.70 or 34.94 GHz Stalker ATR

34.2 - 35.2 GHz Stalker ATR (freq hopper)

Frequency	System
33.3 GHz	Genesis II
33.4 GHz	photo radar
33.8 GHz	BEE 36
34.3 GHz	TMT-6F photo radar Multanova 6F photo radar
34.6 GHz	PR-100 photo radar
34.70 or 34.94 GHz	Stalker ATR
34.2 - 35.2 GHz	Stalker ATR (freq hopper)

Figure A-1 -- Select Ka Band Radars

Fig A-1

Frequency Band Designations

Military Radar Bands
Military radar band nomenclature (L, S, C, X, Ku, K and Ka bands) originated during World War II as a secret code so scientists and engineers could talk about frequencies without divulging them. After the war the codes were declassified and millimeter (mm) was added. A form of the designations was eventually adopted and later dropped (considered obsolete) by the IEEE -- Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers. Military radar band nomenclature is widely used today in radar, satellite and terrestrial communications, and electronic countermeasure applications, both military and commercial.

Table A-4 -- Military Radar Bands

Radar Band Frequency Notes

HF 3 - 30 MHz High Frequency

VHF 30 - 300 MHz Very High Frequency

UHF 300 - 1000 MHz Ultra High Frequency

L 1 - 2 GHz

S 2 - 4 GHz

C 4 - 8 GHz

X 8 - 12 GHz

Ku 12 - 18 GHz

K 18 - 27 GHz

Ka 27 - 40 GHz

mm 40 - 300 GHz millimeter wavelength

mm sub-bands

Q 40 - 60 GHz Universal Designation

W 60 - 95 GHz Universal Designation

V 50 - 70 GHz Microwave Designation

Radar Band	Frequency	Notes
HF	3 - 30 MHz	High Frequency
VHF	30 - 300 MHz	Very High Frequency
UHF	300 - 1000 MHz	Ultra High Frequency
L	1 - 2 GHz
S	2 - 4 GHz
C	4 - 8 GHz
X	8 - 12 GHz
Ku	12 - 18 GHz
K	18 - 27 GHz
Ka	27 - 40 GHz
mm	40 - 300 GHz	millimeter wavelength

mm sub-bands
Q	40 - 60 GHz	Universal Designation
W	60 - 95 GHz	Universal Designation

V	50 - 70 GHz	Microwave Designation

Military HF, VHF, UHF same as Radio Band HF, VHF, UHF respectively.

ITU Radar Bands
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) specifies bands designated for radar systems as described in the table below. The ITU bands are sub-bands of military designations.

Table A-5 -- International Telecommunications Union Radar Bands

ITU Band Frequency

VHF 138 - 144 MHz
216 - 225 MHz

UHF 420 - 450 MHz
890 - 942 MHz

L 1.215 - 1.400 GHz

S 2.3 - 2.5 GHz
2.7 - 3.7 GHz

C 5.250 - 5.925 GHz

X 8.500 - 10.680 GHz

Ku 13.4 - 14.0 GHz
15.7 - 17.7 GHz

K 24.05 - 24.25 GHz

Ka 33.4 - 36.0 GHz

ITU Band	Frequency
VHF	138 - 144 MHz 216 - 225 MHz
UHF	420 - 450 MHz 890 - 942 MHz
L	1.215 - 1.400 GHz
S	2.3 - 2.5 GHz 2.7 - 3.7 GHz
C	5.250 - 5.925 GHz
X	8.500 - 10.680 GHz
Ku	13.4 - 14.0 GHz 15.7 - 17.7 GHz
K	24.05 - 24.25 GHz
Ka	33.4 - 36.0 GHz

VHF -- Very High Frequency
UHF -- Ultra High Frequency

Radio Bands
Radio band designations are summarized below. Note that the radio band chart includes wavelength. In the early days of radio it was easier to measure wavelength than frequency.

Table A-6 -- Radio Frequency Bands

Band Nomenclature Frequency Wavelength

ELF Extremely Low Frequency 3 - 30 Hz 100,000 - 10,000 km

SLF Super Low Frequency 30 - 300 Hz 10,000 - 1,000 km

ULF Ultra Low Frequency 300 - 3000 Hz 1,000 - 100 km

VLF Very Low Frequency 3 - 30 kHz 100 - 10 km

LF Low Frequency 30 - 300 kHz 10 - 1 km

MF Medium Frequency 300 - 3000 kHz 1 km - 100 m

HF High Frequency 3 - 30 MHz 100 - 10 m

VHF Very High Frequency 30 - 300 MHz 10 - 1 m

UHF Ultra High Frequency 300 - 3000 MHz 1 m - 10 cm

SHF Super High Frequency 3 - 30 GHz 10 - 1 cm

EHF Extremely High Frequency 30 - 300 GHz 1 cm - 1 mm

Band	Nomenclature	Frequency	Wavelength
ELF	Extremely Low Frequency	3 - 30 Hz	100,000 - 10,000 km
SLF	Super Low Frequency	30 - 300 Hz	10,000 - 1,000 km
ULF	Ultra Low Frequency	300 - 3000 Hz	1,000 - 100 km
VLF	Very Low Frequency	3 - 30 kHz	100 - 10 km
LF	Low Frequency	30 - 300 kHz	10 - 1 km
MF	Medium Frequency	300 - 3000 kHz	1 km - 100 m
HF	High Frequency	3 - 30 MHz	100 - 10 m
VHF	Very High Frequency	30 - 300 MHz	10 - 1 m
UHF	Ultra High Frequency	300 - 3000 MHz	1 m - 10 cm
SHF	Super High Frequency	3 - 30 GHz	10 - 1 cm
EHF	Extremely High Frequency	30 - 300 GHz	1 cm - 1 mm

ECM Bands
The electronic countermeasures (ECM) industry occasionally refers to band designations as described below.

Table A-7 -- ECM Bands

Band Frequency

A 30 - 250 MHz

B 250 - 500 MHz

C 500 - 1,000 MHz

D 1 - 2 GHz

E 2 - 3 GHz

F 3 - 4 GHz

G 4 - 6 GHz

H 6 - 8 GHz

I 8 - 10 GHz

J 10 - 20 GHz

K 20 - 40 GHz

L 40 - 60 GHz

M 60 - 100 GHz

Band	Frequency
A	30 - 250 MHz
B	250 - 500 MHz
C	500 - 1,000 MHz
D	1 - 2 GHz
E	2 - 3 GHz
F	3 - 4 GHz
G	4 - 6 GHz
H	6 - 8 GHz
I	8 - 10 GHz
J	10 - 20 GHz
K	20 - 40 GHz
L	40 - 60 GHz
M	60 - 100 GHz

Police Traffic Radar Handbook
Appendix A -- Frequency Spectrum

Hz	(hertz)	cycles per second	1 Hz
kHz	(kilohertz)	one thousand hertz	1,000 Hz
MHz	(megahertz)	one million hertz	1,000,000 Hz
GHz	(gigahertz)	one billion hertz	1,000,000,000 Hz
THz	(terahertz)	one trillion hertz	1,000,000,000,000 Hz