eEngineer - Radio Frequency Band Designations

IEEE Standard Radar Band Nomenclature
(*IEEE Std. 521-2002, IEEE Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands)
Designation Frequency Wavelength
HF 3 - 30 MHz 100 m - 10 m
VHF 30 - 300 MHz 10 m - 1 m
UHF 300 - 1000 MHz 100 cm - 30 cm
L Band 1 - 2 GHz 30 cm - 15 cm
S Band 2 - 4 GHz 15 cm - 7.5 cm
C Band 4 - 8 GHz 7.5 cm - 3.75 cm
X Band 8 - 12 GHz 3.75 cm - 2.50 cm
Ku Band 12 - 18 GHz 2.50 cm - 1.67 cm
K Band 18 - 27 GHz 1.67 cm - 1.11 cm
Ka Band 27 - 40 GHz 1.11 cm - .75 cm
V Band 40 - 75 GHz 7.5 mm - 4.0 mm
W Band 75 - 110 GHz 4.0 mm - 2.7 mm
mm Band 110 - 300 GHz 2.7 mm - 1.0 mm

International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Radar Band Nomenclature

(ITU classifications are based on region-2 radiolocation service allocations)
Band Designation 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
24.65 - 24.75 GHz
Ka 33.4 - 36.0 GHz
V 59.0 - 64.0 GHz
W 76.0 - 81.0 GHz
92.0 - 100.0 GHz
mm 126.0 - 142.0 GHz
144.0 - 149.0 GHz
231.0 - 235.0 GHz
238.0 - 248.0 GHz

Military Radar Band Designations
Band Frequency Wavelength
HF 3 - 30 MHz 100 m - 10 m
VHF 30 - 300 MHz 10 m - 1 m
UHF 300 - 1000 MHz 100 cm - 30 cm
L 1 - 2 GHz 30 cm - 15 cm
S 2 - 4 GHz 15 cm - 7.5 cm
C 4 - 8 GHz 7.5 cm - 3.75 cm
X 8 - 12 GHz 3.75 cm - 2.50 cm
Ku 12 - 18 GHz 2.50 cm - 1.67 cm
K 18 - 27 GHz 1.67 cm - 1.11 cm
Ka 27 - 40 GHz 1.11 cm - .75 cm
mm 40 - 300 GHz 7.5 mm - 1.0 mm

ITU Frequency Band Nomenclature
ITU Band Designation Frequency Wavelength
1 ELF 3 - 30 Hz 100,000 km - 10,000 km
2 SLF 30 - 300 Hz 10,000 km - 1000 km
3 ULF 300 - 3000 Hz 1000 km - 100 km
4 VLF 3 - 30 kHz 100 km - 10 km
5 LF 30 - 300 kHz 10 km - 1 km
6 MF 300 - 3000 kHz 1 km - 100 m
7 HF 3 - 30 MHz 100 m - 10 m
8 VHF 30 - 300 MHz 10 m - 1 m
9 UHF 300 - 3000 MHz 1 m - 10 cm
10 SHF 3 - 30 GHz 10 cm - 1 cm
11 EHF 30 - 300 GHz 1 cm - 1 mm


Band Designation Acronyms
Extremely Low Frequency (ELF)
Super Low Frequency (SLF)
Ultra Low Frequency (ULF)
Very Low Frequency (VLF)
Low Frequency (LF)
Medium Frequency (MF)
High Frequency (HF)
Very High Frequency (VHF)
Ultra High frequency (UHF)
Super High Frequency (SHF)
Extremely High Frequency (EHF)


*IEEE Std 521-2002 (IEEE Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands)
IEEE Standard 521 reaffirms the use of letter band designations for radar frequency bands.  It relates the letter designators in common usage to the frequency ranges that they represent.  The 1984 revision defined the application of V and W to a portion of the millimeter wave region while retaining the previous letter designators for frequencies.  The current (2002) revision keeps the same letter band designations and includes a change in the definition of millimeter wave frequencies to conform to the ITU nomenclature.  The letter band designations are not a substitute for the specific frequency limits of the frequency bands.  The specific frequency limits should be used when appropriate, unless a letter designation of the radar frequency band is required.  The letter designations described in this standard are designed for radar usage and are used in current practice.  They are not meant to be used for other radio or telecommunication purposes, unless they pertain to radar.
Microwave Frequency Bands
The UHF (upper), SHF and EHF regions of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum are generally classified as microwave frequencies.  The letter designations (L, S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka) were meant to be used for radar, but have become commonly used for other microwave frequency applications.

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