SpectrumWiki

Radio spectrum allocations

Look up a frequency or a range.

Examples: 88.5 MHz, 1350–1430 MHz, 2.4 GHz

1.215 GHz (1,215,000,000 Hz)

U.S. Non-Federal-Government Allocations

1215 – 1240 MHz

Earth exploration-satellite (active)

Space research (active)

U.S. Federal Government Allocations

1215 – 1240 MHz

EARTH EXPLORATION-SATELLITE (active)

RADIOLOCATION G56

RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) (space-to-space) G132

SPACE RESEARCH (active)

5.332

ITU Region 1 Allocations

1215 – 1240 MHz

EARTH EXPLORATION-SATELLITE (active)

RADIOLOCATION

RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) (space-to-space) 5.328B 5.329 5.329A

SPACE RESEARCH (active)

5.330 5.331 5.332

ITU Region 2 Allocations

1215 – 1240 MHz

EARTH EXPLORATION-SATELLITE (active)

RADIOLOCATION

RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) (space-to-space) 5.328B 5.329 5.329A

SPACE RESEARCH (active)

5.330 5.331 5.332

ITU Region 3 Allocations

1215 – 1240 MHz

EARTH EXPLORATION-SATELLITE (active)

RADIOLOCATION

RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) (space-to-space) 5.328B 5.329 5.329A

SPACE RESEARCH (active)

5.330 5.331 5.332

Footnotes

  • 5.328B   The use of the bands 1 164-1 300 MHz, 1 559-1 610 MHz and 5 010-5 030 MHz by systems and networks in the radionavigation-satellite service for which complete coordination or notification information, as appropriate, is received by the Radiocommunication Bureau after 1 January 2005 is subject to the application of the provisions of Nos. 9.12, 9.12A and 9.13. Resolution 610 (WRC 03)* shall also apply; however, in the case of radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-space) networks and systems, Resolution 610 (WRC-03)* shall only apply to transmitting space stations. In accordance with No. 5.329A, for systems and networks in the radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-space) in the bands 1 215 1 300 MHz and 1 559-1 610 MHz, the provisions of Nos. 9.7, 9.12, 9.12A and 9.13 shall only apply with respect to other systems and networks in the radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-space). (WRC-07)

  • 5.329   Use of the radionavigation-satellite service in the frequency band 1 215-1 300 MHz shall be subject to the condition that no harmful interference is caused to, and no protection is claimed from, the radionavigation service authorized under No. 5.331. Furthermore, the use of the radionavigation-satellite service in the frequency band 1 215-1 300 MHz shall be subject to the condition that no harmful interference is caused to the radiolocation service. No. 5.43 shall not apply in respect of the radiolocation service. Resolution 608 (Rev.WRC 19) shall apply. (WRC 19)

  • 5.329A   Use of systems in the radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-space) operating in the bands 1 215 1 300 MHz and 1 559-1 610 MHz is not intended to provide safety service applications, and shall not impose any additional constraints on radionavigation-satellite service (space-to-Earth) systems or on other services operating in accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations. (WRC 07)

  • 5.330   Additional allocation: in Angola, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Djibouti, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Togo and Yemen, the band 1 215-1 300 MHz is also allocated to the fixed and mobile services on a primary basis. (WRC 12)

  • 5.331   Additional allocation: in Algeria, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Korea (Rep. of), Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Estonia, the Russian Federation, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Montenegro, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Venezuela and Viet Nam, the frequency band 1 215 1 300 MHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis. In Canada and the United States, the frequency band 1 240-1 300 MHz is also allocated to the radionavigation service, and use of the radionavigation service shall be limited to the aeronautical radionavigation service. (WRC 19)

  • 5.332   In the band 1 215-1 260 MHz, active spaceborne sensors in the Earth exploration-satellite and space research services shall not cause harmful interference to, claim protection from, or otherwise impose constraints on operation or development of the radiolocation service, the radionavigation satellite service and other services allocated on a primary basis. (WRC 2000)

  • G56   Federal radiolocation in the bands 1215-1300, 2900-3100, 5350-5650 and 9300-9500 MHz is primarily for the military services; however, limited secondary use is permitted by other Federal agencies in support of experimentation and research programs. In addition, limited secondary use is permitted for survey operations in the band 2900-3100 MHz.

  • G132   Use of the radionavigation-satellite service in the band 1215-1240 MHz shall be subject to the condition that no harmful interference is caused to, and no protection is claimed from, the radionavigation service authorized under ITU Radio Regulation No. 5.331. Furthermore, the use of the radionavigation-satellite service in the band 1215-1240 MHz shall be subject to the condition that no harmful interference is caused to the radiolocation service. ITU Radio Regulation No. 5.43 shall not apply in respect of the radiolocation service. ITU Resolution 608 (Rev.WRC-15) shall apply.

Wiki entries

Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Satellite

Current Use
1200–1300 MHz SMAP active radar
The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite is a planned NASA satellite mission to monitor soil moisture around the globe. It is planned for launch in 2014.

As its name implies, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite uses active and passive radio systems to measure soil moisture around the globe. The spacecraft is in a sun-syncronous orbit that passes overhead of its target areas around 6 AM and 6 PM, approximately every 3 days at the equator and every 2 days at high latitudes.

SMAP's sensors can determine soil moisture down to a depth of approximately 5-10 cm. The active radar provides approximately 3 km resolution on the ground, using a 6 m antenna and measuring reflections in HH, VV, and HV polarization modes. The radar works in frequency hopping mode to avoid interference to and from aviation radars that operate in the same band. The instantaneous signal from the radar consists of two separate signals each of ~1.4 MHz bandwidth, separated by 5 MHz. It pulses every ~354 microseconds, for a duration of ~10-20 microseconds per pulse. The radar transmit power (not EIRP) is a few hundred watts.

SMAP will operate in a circular orbit of 670 km altitude. The ground footprint of the radar is approximately 1000 km. Resolution of the radar in low-resolution mode is approximately 40 km, and in high-resolution mode the resolution is approximately 3 km.

Soil moisture data can be used for improving numerical weather prediction, including seasonal climate prediction and rainfall prediction.

Like the European SMOS satellite, it is anticipated that SMAP's passive sensor will be subject to illegal RFI in the passive-only 1400-1427 MHz band.