13-centimeter band

The 13 centimeter, 2.3 GHz or 2.4 GHz band is a portion of the UHF (microwave) radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a secondary basis. The amateur radio band is between 2300 MHz and 2450 MHz, and thereby inside the S-band. The amateur satellite band is between 2400 MHz and 2450 MHz, and its use by satellite operations is on a non-interference basis to other radio users (ITU footnote 5.282). The license privileges of amateur radio operators include the use of frequencies and a wide variety of modes within these ranges for telecommunication. The allocations are the same in all three ITU Regions.[1]

In the 2300-2400 MHz range the band is also allocated to the Mobile service on a Primary basis which in practice leads to some challenging sharing scenarios and inconsistent allocations to amateurs at national level.

Above 2400 MHz the band overlaps with the 2.4 GHz ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) band, and amateur stations must accept harmful interference caused by ISM equipment operating in the band, such as microwave ovens. The ISM band is also used by unlicensed devices, such as WiFi and Bluetooth, which must not cause interference to amateur stations.

History

List of notable frequencies

ITU regions.

  Region 1

  Region 2

  Region 3

• 2,304.1 MHz Region 2 CW & SSB calling frequency[2]
• 2,320.2 MHz Region 1 Narrow-band calling frequency[3]
• 2.400–2.485 GHz: Spread Spectrum band for general radio-controlled aircraft recreational use (amateur radio license holders have 2.39–2.45 GHz licensed for their general use in the USA) and using both frequency-hopping spread spectrum and direct-sequence spread spectrum RF technology to maximize the number of available frequencies on this band, especially at organized events in North America.[4][5]
• 2,450 MHz Operating frequency of ISM devices.

United States

In the United States, the 13 cm band comprises frequencies in two segments stretching from 2.300 to 2.310 GHz, and from 2.390 to 2.450 GHz.[6] (The segment from 2.310 to 2.390 GHz was withdrawn from the amateur service and reallocated to direct satellite radio broadcasting, e.g., Sirius XM Radio.) The segment, 2.390 to 2.417 GHz, is domestically allocated amateur radio on a primary basis, while the remainder of the band is only available on a secondary basis.[1] It is authorized to all amateur radio licensees who hold a Technician or higher class license (US), or a Basic or higher license (Canada). The band is allocated on a shared basis with other services, and U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules specify that amateurs may not cause interference to and must accept interference from other services authorized by other nations, and by radio-location, fixed, and mobile stations (except aeronautical) authorized by the FCC.[7] As in the rest of the world, US stations in the amateur service are not protected from interference caused by industrial, scientific, and medical equipment.

The bandplan published by the American Radio Relay League recommends frequencies based on intended activity in the band.[8]

See also

• Amateur radio frequency allocations
• High-speed multimedia radio

References

1. "FCC Online Table of Frequency Allocations" (PDF). 47 C.F.R. Federal Communications Commission. August 13, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
2. "IARU Region 2 Band Plan" (PDF). International Amateur Radio Union Region 2. October 14, 2016. p. 12.
3. "VHF Managers Handbook" (PDF). 7. International Amateur Radio Union Region 1. January 2015. p. 47. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
4. "American FCC RC frequencies". Archived from the original on 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
5. "Industry Canada RC frequencies". Archived from the original on 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
6. Title 47, Part 97.301 (Subpart D): Technical Standards. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/d-301.html accessed 12 May 2008
7. 47 C.F.R. §97.301, §97.303
8. http://www.arrl.org/band-plan-1

International amateur radio frequency allocations
Range	Band	ITU Region 1	ITU Region 2	ITU Region 3
LF	2200 m	135.7–137.8 kHz
MF	630 m	472–479 kHz
	160 m	1.810–1.850 MHz	1.800–2.000 MHz
HF	80 / 75 m	3.500–3.800 MHz	3.500–4.000 MHz	3.500–3.900 MHz
	60 m	5.3515–5.3665 MHz
	40 m	7.000–7.200 MHz	7.000–7.300 MHz	7.000–7.200 MHz
	30 m^[w]	10.100–10.150 MHz
	20 m	14.000–14.350 MHz
	17 m^[w]	18.068–18.168 MHz
	15 m	21.000–21.450 MHz
	12 m^[w]	24.890–24.990 MHz
	10 m	28.000–29.700 MHz
VHF	6 m	50.000–52.000 MHz (50.000–54.000 MHz)^[y]	50.000–54.000 MHz
	4 m^[x]	70.000–70.500 MHz	N/A
	2 m	144.000–146.000 MHz	144.000–148.000 MHz
	1.25 m	N/A	220.000–225.000 MHz	N/A
UHF	70 cm	430.000–440.000 MHz	430.000–440.000 MHz (420.000–450.000 MHz)^[y]
	33 cm	N/A	902.000–928.000 MHz	N/A
	23 cm	1.240–1.300 GHz
	13 cm	2.300–2.450 GHz
SHF	9 cm	3.400–3.475 GHz^[y]	3.300–3.500 GHz
	5 cm	5.650–5.850 GHz	5.650–5.925 GHz	5.650–5.850 GHz
	3 cm	10.000–10.500 GHz
	1.2 cm	24.000–24.250 GHz
EHF	6 mm	47.000–47.200 GHz
	4 mm^[y]	75.500 GHz^[x] – 81.500 GHz	76.000–81.500 GHz
	2.5 mm	122.250–123.000 GHz
	2 mm	134.000–141.000 GHz
	1 mm	241.000–250.000 GHz
THF	Sub-mm	Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region; others have declined to regulate frequencies above 300 GHz, leaving them available by default.
[w] HF allocation created at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. These are commonly called the "WARC bands". [x] This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but individual administrations may make allocations under "Article 4.4". ITU Radio Regulations.. See the appropriate Wiki page for further information. [y] This includes a currently active footnote allocation mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations. These allocations may only apply to a group of countries.
See also: Radio spectrum, Electromagnetic spectrum