The 13 centimeter 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. 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). Also, amateur stations must accept harmful interference caused by industrial, scientific, and medical equipment operating in the band, including nearly all microwave ovens, many cordless phones and the very popular Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 computer networking technologies. The allocations are the same in all three ITU regions.[1]
The license privileges of amateur radio operators include the use of frequencies within these ranges for telecommunication.
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[2]. (The segment from 2.310 to 2.390 GHz was withdrawn from the amateur service and reallocated to direct satellite radio broadcasting, e.g., Sirius XM Radio.)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 Technician or higher class licenses. 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.[3] 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.[4]
| Range | Band | ITU Region 1 | ITU Region 2 | ITU Region 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LF | 2200 m | 135.7 kHz - 137.8 kHz | ||
| MF | 160 m | 1.810 MHz - 1.850 MHz | 1.800 MHz - 2.000 MHz | 1.800 MHz - 2.000 MHz |
| HF | 80 / 75 m | 3.500 MHz - 3.800 MHz | 3.500 MHz - 4.000 MHz | 3.500 MHz - 3.900 MHz |
| 60 m1 | 5.250 MHz - 5.450 MHz | |||
| 40 m | 7.000 MHz - 7.200 MHz | 7.000 MHz - 7.300 MHz | 7.000 MHz - 7.200 MHz | |
| 30 m2 | 10.100 MHz - 10.150 MHz | |||
| 20 m | 14.000 MHz - 14.350 MHz | |||
| 17 m2 | 18.068 MHz - 18.168 MHz | |||
| 15 m | 21.000 MHz - 21.450 MHz | |||
| 12 m2 | 24.890 MHz - 24.990 MHz | |||
| 10 m | 28.000 MHz - 29.700 MHz | |||
| VHF | 6 m | 50.000 MHz - 52.000 MHz1 | 50.000 MHz - 54.000 MHz | 50.000 MHz - 54.000 MHz |
| 4 m1 | 70.000 MHz - 70.500 MHz | |||
| 2 m | 144.000 MHz - 146.000 MHz | 144.000 MHz - 148.000 MHz | 144.000 MHz - 148.000 MHz | |
| 1.25 m | 220.000 MHz - 225.000 MHz | |||
| UHF | 70 cm | 430.000 MHz - 440.000 MHz | 420.000 MHz - 450.000 MHz3 | 420.000 MHz - 450.000 MHz3 |
| 33 cm | 902.000 MHz - 928.000 MHz | |||
| 23 cm | 1.240 GHz - 1.300 GHz | |||
| 13 cm | 2.300 GHz - 2.450 GHz | |||
| SHF | 9 cm | 3.400 GHz - 3.475 GHz3 | 3.300 GHz - 3.500 GHz | 3.300 GHz - 3.500 GHz |
| 5 cm | 5.650 GHz - 5.850 GHz | 5.650 GHz - 5.925 GHz | 5.650 GHz - 5.850 GHz | |
| 3 cm | 10.000 GHz - 10.500 GHz | |||
| 1.2 cm | 24.000 GHz - 24.250 GHz | |||
| EHF | 6 mm | 47.000 GHz - 47.200 GHz | ||
| 4 mm3 | 75.500 GHz1 - 81.500 GHz | 76.000 GHz - 81.500 GHz | 76.000 GHz - 81.500 GHz | |
| 2.5 mm | 122.250 GHz - 123.000 GHz | |||
| 2 mm | 134.000 GHz - 141.000 GHz | |||
| 1 mm | 241.000 GHz - 250.000 GHz | |||
| THF | Sub-mm | Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region. | ||
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1 This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but it is a de facto international amateur radio allocation. |
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| See also: Radio spectrum · Electromagnetic spectrum | ||||