Radio frequency

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Radio frequency, or RF, refers to that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in which electromagnetic waves can be generated by alternating current fed to an antenna. Such frequencies account for the following parts of the spectrum:

Extremely low frequency (ELF, ITU band 2): Below 300 Hz
Voice frequency (VF, ITU band 3): 300-3000 Hz
Very low frequency (VLF, ITU band 4): 3-30 kHz
Low frequency (LF, ITU band 5): 30-300 kHz
Medium frequency (MF, ITU band 6): 300-3000 kHz
High frequency (HF, ITU band 7): 3-30 MHz
Very high frequency (VHF, ITU band 8): 30-300 MHz
Ultra high frequency (UHF, ITU band 9): 300-3000 MHz
Super high frequency (SHF, ITU band 10): 3-30 GHz
Extremely high frequency (EHF, ITU band 11): 30-300 GHz

Note: above 300 GHz, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by Earth's atmosphere is so great that the atmosphere is effectively opaque to higher frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, until the atmosphere becomes transparent again in the so-called infrared and optical window frequency ranges.

The ELF, VLF and VF bands overlap the AF (audio frequency) spectrum, which is approximately 20-20,000 Hz.

Electrical connectors designed to work at radio frequencies are known as RF connectors. RF is also the name of a standard audio/video connector, also called BNC (BayoNet Connector).

Table of contents

1 Named Frequency Bands

1.1 Microwave (US)

2 See also

Named Frequency Bands

Band III - 174-245 MHz

ISM band......specific frequencies vary

Microwave (US)

L-band........1 to 2GHz

S-band........2 to 4GHz

C-band........4 to 8GHz
X-band........8 to 12GHz
Ku-band......12 to 18GHz
K-band.......18 to 26GHz
Ka-band......26 to 40GHz
V-band.......40 to 75Ghz
W-band.......75 to 110GHz