The Radio Spectrum - UK Allocationslast meddled with: 16-mar-1999A guide from 1 Hz to 30 EHz (DC to Gamma rays). The main bands, all frequencies in MHz unless otherwise stated. With grateful thanks to the UK Radiocomms Agency for so openly publishling all you need to know... even if actually tuning in to anything other than Broadcasting/CB/Ham is not allowed, that's the rules, folks. Which is why there are no details of Private systems here... DISCLAIMER: This page is provided for interest/curiosity only. Private services should remain that way, if you listen without a licence (you can't get them) to anything other than licenced Broadcasting or Amateur Radio (& CB) you are breaking the law. Even having a private frequency stored in a receiver's memory channel is considered to be proof of intercepting messages that are not intended for you. Penalties include heavy fines and/or imprisonment. So what's the point of this page? Personally, I've been fascinated by the magic of radio all of my life, fiddling around with radios since primary school, and over the years having read a fair bit about communication systems and the radio spectrum, I've now got a lot of radio information rattling around in my head. I thought it would be nice to share it with the world, via the web, to show what a crowded resource the RF spectrum is; how every nook and cranny is allocated to some service or other; how the RA has to balance the needs of various services when they are asked for more spectrum. Also, with all that RF energy passing through your body, don't you think you have a right to know exactly what sort of emissions are zapping through you? (I'm not saying you have a right to know the contentof the messages, only the nature of the delivery). Also, Amateurs should be aware of the services that could be affected should their equipment not be up to the required standard. Likewise to anyone foolish enough to consider operating an unlicenced pirate station - just don't - there really isn't any point is there? And lastly, because published books are often out of date or plainly wrong in these matters. So if you've ever wondered what's beyond the dial on your ordinary radio, this is the page for you. Just be aware that you shouldn't tune in to anything private - if someone is talking loudly in the street and you can easily overhear, you still don't morally have the right to listen do you? If the vast amount of broadcasts and ham radio conversations aren't enough to amuse you (and the rest of what life in general has to offer) then that's quite sad. If I ever have time to switch on my receiver (to see what the propagation's like) the only bands I need to go to are amateur ones. And good music is much more satisfying. If you can find it. In a decade or so there may not be all that much else to listen to anyway on current scanners, with FM broadcasters moving to DAB, analogue TV making way to digital, PMR and emergency services changing to TETRA, and both Marine and Aero traffic increasingly using digital modes and satellites for routine traffic, cellphones all digital. Maybe the spectrum will one day consist of just one system for mobile access to THE NET which provides for all possible communication needs - a load of buzzing noises wherever you tune, except for the long-established amateur bands! Then you scanner owners can relax, you won't be able to do anything illegal with them if you try - unless you decide to throw them through someone's window... I would say that if you have an interest in these matters, devote your energies to Amateur Radio PLEASE! We need more activity in the bands. Amateur radio covers bands from Low Frequencies (with 2km wavelengths) to ultra-high micro-wave bands (wavelengths in millimeters) with modes ranging from good old-fashioned morse code (CW) to AM/FM speech (communications bandwidths) to advanced narrowband speech (Single Side Band) to Television (slow scan like FAX through to full motion/definition FMW broadcast quality) to digital/data modes like RTTY and Packet. Transmissions can be direct, fixed and mobile (and Maritime Mobile), via satellite, bent through the troposphere, bounced off various layer of charged particles in the upper atmosphere, or even bounced off the moon (EME), or shooting stars (MS)! And all for just 15 quid per year - bargain. Go on - prove you know what you're talking about - take the RAE examination soon. Even if you don't ever use it... See the RA web-pageinfo, or the Radio Society of Groovy Britain site for more details, or the UK Ham Radio FAQ. And the G7KPF Quick Links. Join and support the RSGB too, it's a good idea as they do tend to negotiate new bands for us. Here then, is my quick tour of the spectrum of 1999, with links to other sites where appropriate. Bands (MHz)
As Bands I, III, IV and V are designated BROADCASTING it seems logical that broadcasters may also use these bands for Outside Broadcasts, microphones, talkback, comm.s and links etc., either in the VHF bands that are no longer used for broadcasting, or at UHF on locally unused channels. Mics at near 174 are very popular, as well as other parts of Band III that coincide with French TV carriers and so are not used for PBR. NOTE 2: Home Office for the Emergency Services - previous versions of this document did not mention these allocations, but as the bands are shown on RA pages, and in various books, some are now included for the sake of clarity. Only the BANDS are shown, not actual frequencies in use. Do NOT listen in! NOTE 3: Military - various web pages will show that there is a world market for equipment operating in the bands such as HF, 30-87.5 (25kHz FM), 116-155 & 225-400 (25kHz AM), 470-512 etc. Note that whilst the odd Combat Net here and there may be "in the clear" any serious tactical use would be very hard to find. Frequency hopping and scrambling are used - after all, would you want your country defended by forces that could be easily monitored? NOTE 4: Boundaries - a "equals" symbol (=) is used here to clarify a known boundary between two band sections, this usually means no transmissions on the frequency itself, but that use of the band includes RF emissions up to that point. This could be a point between two normal channels, such as the 165.04375 boundary between the last mid-band channel 165.0375 and the first high band channel 165.050, or even a "wasted" channel giving "guard band" separation between two types of service. Also, dots after a frequency signifies the start of a range, whereas a single spot frequency has no trailing dots. Electromagnetic spectrum... MHzlower than 1Hz? Slowly-changing DC more like. --0.000001--(1Hz, 1 per sec.)--- Hz Brainwaves... (Electrical activity in your thinking-gear) 0.1... Delta - Sleep 3... Theta - Sluggish, day-dreaming 7... Alpha - Relaxed and receptive 13... Beta - Very alert 30... High Beta - Paranormal powers! --0.00002=--(20Hz)-------------- Audible if converted to soundwaves (like with, er, speakers) ELF,ILF,VLF Atmo-"sferics", "chorus", "tweeks" (1.5-5kHz), "whistlers" - natural phenomena mainly from lightening pulses trapped in "waveguides" between ion. layers 0.000050 UK mains AC electricity (50Hz, 240V) - 6000 km wavelength 0.000067... CTCSS (Tone squelch) tones 67 69.3 71.9 74.4 77 79.7 82.5 85.4 88.5 91.5 94.8 97.4 100 103.5 107.2 110.9 114.8 118.8 123 127.3 131.8 136.5 141.3 146.2 151.4 156.7 162.2 167.9 173.8 179.9 186.2 192.8 203.5 206.5 210.7 218.1 225.7 229.1 233.6 241.8 250.3 254.1Hz (150 Hz is a military standard) ---music--- 0.000016,35 C-1 nice and bass-y (16Hz) 0.000261,63 C3 note "middle C" (see Piano Tuning) 277.18 C# (these in Hz) 293.66 D 311.13 D# To double a frequency in 12 equal steps (semi-tones) to complete 329.63 E one octave, multiply a note by 2 to the power of 1/12th to obtain 349.23 F the next note. 440 (A) x 1.059463094 = 466.16 (A#) 369.99 F# 392.0 G 415.3 G# 440.0 A used for main reference 466.16 A# 493.88 B 0.000523,25 C4 the note C again. Only an octave higher. (x2, yeah?) 4186.00 C7 a really annoying 4kHz note C 7902.13 B7 0.012543,85 G8 highest midi note 0.002700.. above 2.7 kHz not neccessary for comms speech, phones etc, and so for phones it's filtered out. Hence too the 3kHz channel spacings on HF. 0.015... FM broadcast audio is filtered out above 15kHz 0.019 FM stereo "pilot tone" 0.020 approx. limit of human hearing. Bats, on the other hand... --0.003=-----(3kHz)------------- VLF,LF: Mobile, Fixed, Navigation, DGPS, Time Signals (20,25,50,60,66.6,75kHz) Enormous wavelengths are very useful for penetrating rock (cave to surface - molephones) and the oceans (for submarines) but the antennas need to be rather large, or magnetic loops. 0.0102 Omega hyperbolic fix Nav. (& 11.05 & 11.33 & 13.6 kHz) ** ceased sep97 ** 0.060 MSF British Time signal 0.070...Decca Nav. purple slaves, to 72kHz Llancarfan 0.073 Ham 4km band ( 71.6= - 74.4= kHz) ** UK only, until 30.June.2000 ** 0.084=..Decca Nav. masters, to 86= kHz Bolberry Down 0.100 NELS Loran-C Navigation. pulsed. Loophead,Lessay,Sylt,Soustons (90 - 110) 0.112...Decca Nav. red slaves, to 117.6kHz Jersey 0.126...Decca Nav. green slaves, to 129kHz St.Marys 0.13675 Ham 2km band (135.7= - 137.8= kHz) ** new Euro band, 1998 ** --0.1485=----------------------- 0.153.. LW AM Broadcasting, to 0.279 - 9kHz channels (ITU Region1) + some Nav. (NDB) See the British DX Club's Lists. 153 Germany, Romania, Algeria 162 France, Turkey 171 Russia, Morocco, possible future Dutch "Delta 171" 177 Germany 183 Germany 189 Italy 198 UK BBC Radio 4 207 Germany, Morocco 216 France, Norway 225 Poland, spare UK INR allocation 234 Luxembourg, Russia 243 Denmark 252 EIRE Atlantic 252, Algeria 261 Moscow 270 Czech 279 Belarus, Isle of Man (maybe) --0.2835=----------------------- Marine/Aero Navigation (NDB beacons) + Maritime Mobile (CW) 0.500 Calling, Distress (CW) 0.518 Navtex, (& 490 & 4209.5 kHz) --0.5265=-MF-------------------- 0.531.. MW AM Broadcasting, to 1.602 - 9 kHz channels (10kHz to 1.700 in USA) See the British DX Club's Lists. 0.648 BBC World Service 0.693 BBC Radio 5 0.909 BBC Radio 5 1.053 INR3 - Talk Radio UK 1.089 INR3 - Talk Radio UK 1.197 INR2 - Virgin Radio 1.215 INR2 - Virgin Radio 1.611 used, but out-of-band --1.6065=------------------------ MF mobile, Maritime and Aero. (OR) 1.642...Cordless phones (CT1 base), to 1782 (8x 20kHz FM), handsets at 47.443-47.543 MHz (12.5kHz spacing, 6.25 offsets) to be eventually withdrawn Amateur Radio 160m "Top Band" (1.81-2.0) (SSB used is mainly LSB) 2.182 Calling, Distress --2.85=---HF-------------------- the "real shortwave bands"! mobile, fixed, military, ISM, SRD, and... "numbers stations"/more AM Broadcasting (around 2.4, 3.3, 3.975, 5, 6, 7.2, 9.7, 11.8, 13.7, 15.3, 17.8, 21.6, 25.8) Amateur Radio 80m ( 3.5 - 3.8) (SSB mainly LSB) 40m ( 7.0 - 7.1) (SSB mainly LSB) 30m (10.1 - 10.15) (SSB not recommended) (WARC) 20m (14.0 - 14.35) 16.5m (18.068-18.168) (WARC) 15m (21.0 - 21.45) 12m (24.89- 24.99) (WARC) Standard Frequency references, and Time signals (at 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0) Maritime (3kHz SSB channels) more more 2046+ 2049 intership (kHz) 2053+ 2056 intership 2241 British intership 2246 British intership 2301 British intership 4146+ 4149 intership 4357- 4435 shore chs 401- 427 ( -292kHz split: 4065- 4143) 4417/ 4125 calling 6224- 6230 intership 6501- 6522 shore chs 601- 608 ( -301kHz split: 6200- 6221) 6516/ 6215 calling 8291 ch 833 GMDSS 8294+ 8297 intership 8707- 8716 chs 834-837 8719- 8812 shore chs 801- 832 ( -524kHz split: 8195- 8288) 8779/ 8255 calling 12353-12365 intership 13077-13197 shore chs 1201-1241 ( -847kHz split: 12230-12350) 13137/12290 calling 16528-16546 intership 17242-17410 shore chs 1601-1656 ( -882kHz split: 16360-16525) 17302/16420 calling 18825-18843 intership 19755-19797 shore chs 1801-1815 ( -975kHz split: 18780-18822) 19770/18795 calling 22159-22177 intership 22696-22852 shore chs 2201-2253 ( -696kHz split: 22000-22156) 22756/22060 calling 25100-25118 intership 26145-26172 shore chs 2501-2510 (-1075kHz split: 25070-25097) 26172/25097 calling Aeronautical R or ER (En-Route on fixed airways; so mainly civil) (3kHz SSB channels) more 2851- 3019 kHz 3401- 3497 4651- 4696 5481- 5676 6526- 6682 8816- 8960 10006-10096 11276-11396 13261-13357 17901-17967 21925-21997 Aeronautical OR (Off-Route; so mainly military) (3kHz SSB channels) GHFS 3023- 3152 kHz 4700- 4995 5680- GMDSS SAR 5684- 5726 6685- 6763 8965- 9037 11175-11271 13200-13257 15010-15097 17970-18027 23200-23350 In the remaining parts of HF, you'd be forgiven for thinking anything goes! --26.175=------------------------- Fixed & Mobile (not aero) 26.243..Paging, to 26.8625 26.25 JFMG talkback (simp) 12.5kHz 20W, and 26.35, 26.45 26.87 ..future SSB CB, to 26.96 (provisional plans) "The UK indicted their willingness to participate in this work, although they indicated that they would be opposed to introducing AM/SSB CB operation." SRD, models, ISM 26.995 "Brown" (AM) 1mW 27.045 "Red" 27.095 "Orange" 27.120 Test/Dev., ISM 27.145 "Yellow" 27.195 "Green" 27.245 "Blue" 26.965..CB, to 27.405 (40 CEPT "EURO" FM channels : 10kHz spacings with gaps) (PR27) 26.965 ch 1 to gaps where the model channels fit in (except "blue") 27.405 ch 40 27.41=... Alarms 27.41=... future Digital CB, to 27.51 (provisional plans) 27.5= ... Mobile, to 28 Weather balloons (sondes) 27.601..CB, to 27.991 (40 UK FM 10 kHz channels) (27/81) 27.601 ch 1 MHz = (channel x 0.01) + 27.59125 Ch = first two decimals -60 +1 to 27.731 UK calling: Channel 14 CB can be fairly useful (when you want to speak to normal people, not just radio nutters), but what a pity we're stuck with an HF allocation clogged up with to foreign SSB rather too often... We need a system that allows silent monitoring, like CTCSS, or (even better) a 460 MHz system as they do in the USA, Australia etc. NOTE: (oct98) it looks like PMR 446 will do nicely, apart from the low power. 27.991 ch 40 28=... Amateur 10m band, to 29.7= CW,USB,Satellite,FM 29.6 FM calling 29.55...overseas FM repeaters, to 29.7= The use of HF spectrum as we know it changes near 26.1MHz, where usage becomes more like VHF/6 meters. You'd think that if any Tom, Dick or Harriet can use 4W on 26 MHz, that a licenced Class B amateur would be able to use at least 3W (novice level) somewhere in this band, wouldn't you? But no, 30MHz is the cut off point (despite not corresponding to the edge of any practical band usage) where you need to pass a Morse test just to be able to use SSB! And who do they survey, to see if things should change? The very people who have already suffered the ordeal! SELFISH B*****DS. Don't get caught up in the way things happened in the past, riding waves of nostalgia, but concentrate on the present, the future, what today's very different generations could enjoy - share your precious bands with those who can already do the same thing at 50MHz when the conditions are right. When ever we're at work, that is. Or make the Morse test need to be re-taken every five years, we'll see how quickly it gets dropped then! Suppose there was no Amateur Radio, but such a service was being planned, to start next year, with the rules and regulation we currently endure. There would be an uproar, wouldn't there? Nobody would seriously suggest a morse requirement. I rest my case. We do not NEED different licence classes apart from Novice and Full. And don't use that tired old "wally filter" argument, I've already gone to the trouble of passing the RA Exam. Don't interfere with MY life, go and live your OWN. I do acknowledge the "true spirit of amateur radio" (homebrew and experimentation) IS different from the fanatical pursuit of "radio DXing". I'd settle then for a two class system where existing Novices and Class B licencees could use HF SSB on restricted parts of the bands using type-approved equipment. With DXing available to the public with properly regulated callsigns maybe 27MHz would become a peaceful haven for local FM comms, and the Aero (R) 6.6MHz channels could be clear at last. And I DO realise that CW can get through when all else fails, and that if I ever reached 12 words per minutes I might get to enjoy it. Maybe. But I object strongly to HAVING to. Similar argument - you've no right to force someone to drink something that you're sure they'll like. And if you disagree with that, change the subject to sex then try again. Again, the Golden Rule in life - don't live someone else's life for them - live your own! Glad I've got that off my chest... --29.7=---VHF------------------- Mobile military (30.3-30.5 and 32.15-32.45 EU1 harmonised) + SRD Short Range Devices, R/C Models, Cordless Phones, Alarms, Hospital Paging On rare occasions ion layer conditions allow the reception of FM business/police signals here from the USA. 35.0... Model aircraft, to 35.25 (25x 10kHz) 100mW 39.9375.Cordless phones, to 40.1125 (split -8.9: 31.0375-31.2125) 40.500 Distress, Rescue (often wrongly listed as 40.050) 40.5 x 3 = 121.5 40.66=..ISM, to 40.7= (40.68 +/- 20kHz) ** proposed new Euro amateur beacons band ** 40.665..Surface models, to 40.955 (33x 10kHz) 100mW cars and boats 41 ... Harmonised Military Band (EU1) --47=-------------------------- Band I - TV Broadcasting (not in UK since 1984 - so, great for TV DXing!) UK: Mobile - SRD, Radio Mics, Alarms Euro TV 7MHz ch.: E2 47-54, E3 54-61, E4 61-68 Old UK 5MHz ch.: B1 41.25-46.25, B2 48-53, B3 53-58, B4 58-63, B5 63-68 (snd. @ +0.25, vis. @ +3.75) 47.0 ... 47.3=...Alarms, Cordless phones (CT0 base/CT1 mobile), to 47.55= 47.550=.JFMG, to 48.880= - talkback (base - split to 52MHz) + links 48.76... unapproved US cordless phone handsets, to 49.99 (base 43-47) 48.880=.Paging - from 48.975 to 49.4875 49.5= ... 49.82...SRD, to 49.98 baby alarms etc. 50=... Amateur Radio 6m band, to 52= (varies in other countries). Primary. See GJ4ICD site. Beacons... 50.09...CW/SSB... 50.11 Inter-continental SSB DX 50.15 SSB centre-of-activity 50.72.. UK Repeaters, to 50.88 (split +0.5) 51=... secondary... 51.21.. repeater inputs, to 51.39 (both UK and Euro systems) 51.41.. FM simplex, to 51.59 (20 kHz channels) 51.51 FM calling channel 51.81.. Euro. repeaters, to 51.99 (split -0.6) 52.0=.. JFMG, to 52.95= - talkback (mobile - split to 48Hz) + links 52.95=... 53.75=..JFMG, to 55.75= - links (5W) 55.75=... PBR, see 62.75 57.5=...CBS (planned), to 60.75= (split +7: 64.5 -67.75) 60.75=..JFMG links (5W) 62.75=..PBR (planned), to 64.5= (split -7: 55.75-57.50) 64.5=... CBS, see 57.5= 67.7625... There is a Euro plan (25-08) to re-organise 54-68: 61.0125 ... Base, to 67.9875 (split -7: 54.0125-60.9875) --68=-----Low Band------------- Mobile, military, emergency services (French splits -4.05, -5, -3) Military PTARMIGAN access links There is a Euro plan (25-08) to re-organise this band: 77.8125 ... Base, to 87.4875 (split -9.8: 68.0125-77.6875) single: 77.7-77.8 and 74.8-75.2 & 84.6-85 Various countries overseas allow FM radio broadcasting from 65-74 and 76-87.5 (eg OIRT), this often reaches us. 68.0875.PBR, to 69.9875 single, dual: see 81.5875 (68.816=.. JFMG, to 69.904= - Talkback base (12.5kHz - split to 75MHz) to cease in 2000) -70=--...Amateur 4m band, to 70.5= (since 1956; mainly UK only) Secondary Beacons... 70.03.. CW/SSB 70.15 Meteor Scatter calling 70.185 Cross-band centre-of-activity 70.2 SSB calling 70.25.. FM simplex, to 70.4875 (12.5 kHz channels) 70.26 old AM frequency still in use 70.3 RTTY/FAX 70.3125 Packet, to 70.3375 70.45 FM Calling channel 70.4875 Packet -70.5=--- 70.5125.Home Office - Fire Service mainscheme, to 71.5 (with 80-81.5) 71.5125.PBR, to 72.7875 single, dual: see 85.0125 72.8... MoD, to 76.7 (73.3-74.1 EU1 harmonised) (74.6875... JFMG, to 74.7125 - Talkback) 75.0 CAA ILS runway marker beacons (Guard band 74.8-75.2) 200ft, 1 & 3.5 miles from touchdown (75.2625=.. JFMG, to 75.3= - Talkback mobile (split to 69MHz) (+airborne) to cease in 2000) 76.7125.PBR, to 77.4875 single, dual: see 86.7125 ... 77.5... PBR, to 77.9875 (used to be paired with 87.5 to 88) 77.5125 CT0 Cordless phones, & 77.55 (mobile; base at 47.431 & 47.419) 78=... MoD (79-79.7 EU1 harmonised) (78.183=..JFMG, to 78.259= - wide area or location talkback - 12.5kHz) 80... H.O. mobile, to 81.5 - see 70.5 (81.5 Radio Astronomy - Interplanetary Scintillation - Cambridge +/- 1MHz?) 81.5125.PBR, to 81.575 81.5875.PBR, to 83.4875 (split -13.5: 68.0875-69.9875) new for the 1990s 83.5... H.O. 84 ... MoD, to 85= - RAF, Mil.Police, mountain rescue (ISM at 84.0 +/- 4kHz) 85= ... Private Business Radio, to 87.5= PBR listed so that you can avoid tuning in by accident. (same info can be found on Radiocomms Agency site anyway) 12.5kHz channels. (Started in 1947 with 100 kHz channels, 25 kHz from 1960) Water co.s, councils, AA/RAC, forestry, customs, taxis etc. 85.0125.PBR, to 86.2875 (split -13.5: 71.5125-72.7875) 85.0125 ch L001 Lxxx = (freq - 85) / 0.0125 86.2875 ch L103 freq = (Lnumber x 0.0125) + 85 86.3....PBR, to 86.7 86.3125 Land SAR search and rescue 86.325 Land SAR some areas 86.675 JFMG, Talkback (12.5kHz) Wales and west. 86.7125.PBR, to 87.4875 (split -10: 76.7125-77.4875) no longer extends to 87.9875 86.8125.JFMG, to 86.8375 - wide area duplex Talkback (12.5kHz) (+airborne) 87.34.. Eurosignal paging, to 87.415 (4 x 25kHz channels A-D) heard in UK from Europe (used to be AM - constant AM tone with pips and doodle-doo noises!) (could be heard on tuners at 87.5 - it's now bursts of FM data, since march'98) --87.5=------------------------ Band II - FM Broadcasting (100 kHz channels) 87.6-107.9 RDS Independent Radio managed by the Radio Authority. See the British DX Club's Lists. Tuners. SBS. Latest news : Newstide. 87.6... RSLs (Restricted Service Licences) 88.0... BBC Radio 2 90.2... BBC Radio 3 92.4... BBC Radio 4, BBC Wales/Scotland 94.6... BBC Local Radio, Radio 4, ILR 96.1... Independent Local Radio 97.6... BBC Radio 1 99.8... Independent National Radio - INR1 - Classic FM (+RDS DCI DGPS - Focus FM), ILR 102.0... Independent Local Radio 103.5... BBC Local Radio, Radio 4, ILR 105.0... Independent Local Radio, regional, RSLs 107.0... RSLs, Small-scale and other low power broadcasting, to 107.9 87.5 to 88= MHz was once used for base PMR (split -10: 77.5-77.9875). 97.6 to 102.1 MHz was used by the Home Office for Emergency Services AMRT base, until the late 1980s (split to 82.5-84). 105 to 108 MHz used from 1969 until the early 1990s for mobile JRC PBR (split to 138-141), and became available to Broadcasting in 1995. A frequency near 107.8 was used for Local Authority Alarms until the end of 1995, now on 160.55-160.575 and 168.2875 & 168.9375. Some old lists show the freq was 107.80825 Long distance reception is more common via the troposphere here, rather than the ionosphere... i.e a "lift" rather than "sporadic-E". "Tropo" tends to improve the higher the frequency, and lower frequencies are not affected; whereas ionospheric "skip" builds up from HF, maybe reaching as high as 150 MHz rarely - but leaves higher bands unaffected. DSI2 recommends that by 2020 when DAB is established, the band may be reduced to 97.5-108 for local and community broadcasting only. -108=-------------------------- Aero. Navigation 108.05.. ILS/VOR/ATIS, to 117.95 (50 kHz channels) ILS 108-112 mil comms are sometimes reported here, usually 117-118 -117.975=---------------------- Aero. Mobile "Civil Air Band" - NATS National Air Traffic Services, Volmet See Javiation's list. RTCA. ICAO. Used by the military too, of course. 118.0... AM comms, to 136.975 (25 kHz channels) The use of 136 - 137 dates from 1990, and it's still shared with satellite services until 1/1/2002. Until the 1970s 50kHz channel spacing was used, and soon some channels will be three times closer with 8.33kHz spacings; in Europe in 1999, in the UK in 2000. So if the scheme is ever extended to the full band, will the first channel be 117.983 or 118.0? (Given the current 117.975 boundary due to 25kHz use of 118.0). Channel Names will be used, such as : 132.000, 132.005 (same but 8.33 bandwidth), 132.010 (132.0083), 132.015 (132.0166) However, don't panic about needing new equipment, 8.33 will only be used in a small segment of the band, and not for local traffic. You'll be able to enter frequencies using 5 or 10kHz steps and not be more than 1.66 kHz out, and likewise you'll still be able to search in 10kHz steps and that will be faster then 8.33! It's no more likely than now that two adjacent channels will be strongly in use at any one location. In any case, the great thing about airband as far as searching goes, is that the controllers TELL the pilots what frequency to go to next - so finding any new channels isn't really that hard! The USA NexCom solution, though, is for digital TDMA on existing 25kHz channels (& also retaining AM capability) using 8-phase shift keying, giving 4 time slots within 120ms frames, providing for a mix of voice and data. Coverage of 112-117.975 is included in the spec.s - and they haven't decided about the UHF band yet. 121.5 Distress, EPIRBs (?120.875 Distress, discrete?) 121.6 airport Fire Services 121.9 common Ground frequency 122.475 Balloons and Hangliders 123.1 SAR Search and Rescue 129.7... many private airline channels, to 132 130.1 Gliders, +130.125 +130.4 131.725 ACARS Packet data (Europe & USA) Air Comms Addressing/Reporting System 132.0... 8.33 sub-band, to 134.8 - for over FL245 (FL195 France) 135.375 London VOLMET (main) 136.8... company ops, to 136.875 136.9... data only, to 136.975 Air-air chat (unofficial) is sometimes heard on the first channel 118.0 and the "old" last 135.975 and "new" last 136.975 - more popular perhaps is 123.45 even though that's allocated for other purposes. 125.125 is also sometimes used... it has to be a "neat" number! -137=-----Mid Band------------- Mobile, military, Aero OR, emergency services (French splits +/-4.6) Military PTARMIGAN access links 137=... Weather Satellites, to 138= 137=... LEO MSS Sat. downlinks, to 138= (up at 148-149.9) Orbcomm (4800 bps FSK) 137.975..Paging, to 138.2 Police: 4 air-ground-air ch.s at +/- 6.25kHz around 138.1 & 138.3 138.2=...future Euro. SRD band, to 138.45= 138=... MoD 138.7 SAR secondary 139.5=...JRC Joint Radio Co. PBR, to 140.5= (split +8.5: 148-149) Trunked. 139.51875-140.48125 J22-J99, main channels 12.5kHz spaced (no J01-J21) 139.525 -140.475 K22-K98, interleaved (J+6.25kHz) 140.375 JRC paging (simplex use of J90 below & J91 above) Electricity (mainly below 140) and Gas (mainly above 140) industries. From 1969 until the early 1990s JRC used the band 138-141 and the top of Band II: 138.01875.. JRC, to 140.95625 (split -33: 105.01875-107.95625) AM, 12.5kHz channels, 6.25kHz offsets (channel 1 at 138.00625 was never used) (Some JFMG in the Channel Islands at 139.55 & 139.575 (base), and simplex at 139.65) 140.5=... MoD, to 143= (old 140.96875 STH channel no longer used) 141=... JFMG, wide area Talkback (75kHz max), to 141.5= (previously 141.9=) 6.25 kHz offsets Simplex and duplex (split - mobiles at 212MHz). +airborne. Not in Channel Islands. 140.993 London only 141.006..ILR, to 141.193 141.206..BBC radio, to 141.256 141.268 not available to BBC - & 141.281 141.293..BBC radio, to 141.318 (.318 BBC News) 141.375 BBC 75kHz wideband 141.418 BBC 141.4625 BBC 75kHz wideband 143.0=... H.O., to 144= - see 152 143.625 Space - MIR station (143.6-143.65) - also 121.75 & 130.165 FM 144=... Amateur 2m band, to 146= Primary - IARU Bandplan: EME (Moonbounce)... 144.035..CW 144.150..SSB - calling 144.3 144.4... Beacons, to 144.49 144.5... All modes 144.725 in the south - you'll appear on F5ZBF when there's a lift... 144.8... Digital, to 144.99 145.0... Repeater inputs, to 145.1875 145.2... FM Simplex, to 145.5875 (12.5 kHz channels) older 25kHz channels listed: 145.2 S8, V16 Raynet priority, MIR (with 145.8) 145.225 S9, V18 Raynet priority 145.25 S10, V20 Slow Morse 145.275 S11, V22 145.3 S12, V24 145.325 S13, V26 + French R8b/RV26 F5ZBF repeater Caen (split normal -0.6) 145.35 S14, V28 + French R9b/RV28 145.375 S15, V30 + French R10b/RV30 145.4 S16, V32 + French R11b/RV32 145.425 S17, V34 + French R12b/RV34 145.45 S18, V36 145.475 S19, V38 145.5 S20, V40 FM calling channel 145.525 S21, V42 GB2RS news, Sundays 145.55 S22, V44 145.575 S23, V46 145.5875 V47 (Repeaters 145.6 - 145.7875, split -0.6) 145.600 R0, RV48 FZ3VHF St.Brieuc 145.6125 R0x, RV49 F5ZBL Evreux 145.625 R1, RV50 FZ3VHD Quimper 145.6375 R1x, RV51 F5ZDE Chateauroux 145.650 R2, RV52 145.6625 R2x, RV53 F5ZCR Vernon 145.675 R3, RV54 F1ZBX Rennes 145.6875 R3x, RV55 FZ2VHF Lille 145.700 R4, RV56 F6ZCE Alencon 145.7125 R4x, RV57 145.725 R5, RV58 FZ2VHC Le Havre 145.7375 R5x, RV59 145.750 R6, RV60 145.7625 R6x, RV61 145.775 R7, RV62 FZ3VHB Les Herbiers 145.7875 R7x, RV63 145.8=...Satellite Service, to 146= 146=...H.O., see 154 148=...JRC,LEO, see 139.5 and 137 (Some JFMG in the Channel Islands at 148.575 & 148.725 - mobile) 149... MoD, to 154 149.9=...Satellite Navigation, to 150.05= 150.05=..Radio Astronomy, to 152= + Oil-slick markers (150.5= - 150.55=) 151.675 unlicensed US "DOT" radios (more) +151.955 &154/462/467... 152=... Home Office - Emergency Services, to 153= (with 143-144) mostly police 153.025..Paging, to 153.475 (25kHz channels) POCSAG (bursts) 153.025 FLEX paging (continuous) +153.325 154... Home Office - Emergency Services, to 155.975 (with 146-148) mostly police There is a Euro plan (25-08) to re-organise 146-156: (boundaries) 151.4 ... Base, to 156 (split -7: 146.8-151.4) single: 146-146.8 and 149.9-150.05 & 154.5-154.65 -156=-------------------------- Mobile, Marine VHF (SAR, MBR/CSR) PMR/PBR + CBS + STH, Ambulances, Paging (ERMES), SRD, Packnet, Civil Defence 156=... Marine, to 163 - International and private 25kHz channels, single and dual (split -4.6). was 50 kHz spacing until SOLAS 1972, new channels were fitted in between old... Some sets may be set from "international" to "USA" mode, and then some of the dual frequency channels can be used as single (ship channel) frequencies; (e.g. 157.125 = 82a for USA single freq use - can't be heard on an "international" set) which could be handy for a "private" channel, no-one else would hear you! (apart from coast stations that use that channel. So you'd want to pick a clear one - and bear in mind that if you don't you won't be able to hear them telling you to move!) Maybe it's best not to, then. Interesting thought though, isn't it? There are Euro plans to use the paired freq.s for channels 87 and 88 separately, to accommodate VTS (now called AIS - Automatic Identification and Surveillance) at 162 MHz, and allow simplex at 157 MHz. Also plans to allow use of channels 75 and 76 for voice, which were unused guardbands for channel 16. (Earlier plans had included simplex use of channels 18 and 82-86) The latest RA info sheet shows the breakup of channels 87 and 88, and the introduction of 75 and 76. Channel 88 used to be used for Radio Lighthouses, a null was swept around the compass... i.e. you'd count the "pips" and when the signal briefly disappeared that would give you a bearing Channel 99 started life as channel 00, but apparently 00 is what the coastguards dial into their consoles to clear them! For single/mobile freqs.. MHz = (ch number x 0.05) + 156 (subtract 2.975 for ch 60 and up)Ten to the power of -27 vimto v -24 yocto y -21 zepto z -18 atto a Greek: atten = eighteen -15 femto f Greek: fempten = fifteen -12 (trillionth) pico p 'little bit' -9 (billionth) nano n nanos = dwarf -6 (millionth) micro u mikros = small -3 (thousandth) milli m mille = thousand -2 (hundredth) centi c centum = hundred -1 (tenth) deci d decimus = tenth 1 (ten) deca da deka = ten 2 (hundred) hecto h hekaton = hundred 3 (thousand) kilo k Greek: Khilioi 6 (million) mega M megas = great 9 (billion) giga G gigas = giant 12 (trillion) tera T teras = monster 15 (quadrillion) peta P 18 (quintillion) exa E 21 (sextillion) zetta Z 24 (septillion) yotta Y 27 (octillion) 30 (nonillion) 33 (decillion 36 (undecillion) 39 (dodecillion) These American terms obviously increment by one per 42 (tredecillion) thousand. In Europe however, we prefer to do it by 45 (quattuordecillion) millions. Thus a Euro billion is a million millions 48 (quindecillion) and not a thousand millions. 51 (sexdecillion) 99 (dotrigintillion) 100 (googol) 120 (novemtrigintillion) 303 (centillion) googol (googolplex) InternationalAllocation Tables |