SpectrumWiki

Radio spectrum allocations

Look up a frequency or a range.

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

1.299999999 GHz (1,299,999,999 Hz)

U.S. Non-Federal-Government Allocations

1240 – 1300 MHz

AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION

Amateur

Earth exploration-satellite (active)

Space research (active)

5.282

FCC rule parts

U.S. Federal Government Allocations

1240 – 1300 MHz

EARTH EXPLORATION-SATELLITE (active)

RADIOLOCATION G56

SPACE RESEARCH (active)

AERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATION

5.332 5.335

Footnotes

  • 5.282   In the bands 435-438 MHz, 1 260-1 270 MHz, 2 400-2 450 MHz, 3 400-3 410 MHz (in Regions 2 and 3 only) and 5 650-5 670 MHz, the amateur-satellite service may operate subject to not causing harmful interference to other services operating in accordance with the Table (see No. 5.43). Administrations authorizing such use shall ensure that any harmful interference caused by emissions from a station in the amateur-satellite service is immediately eliminated in accordance with the provisions of No. 25.11. The use of the bands 1 260-1 270 MHz and 5 650-5 670 MHz by the amateur-satellite service is limited to the Earth-to-space direction.

  • 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)

  • 5.335   In Canada and the United States in the band 1 240-1 300 MHz, active spaceborne sensors in the Earth exploration-satellite and space research services shall not cause interference to, claim protection from, or otherwise impose constraints on operation or development of the aeronautical radionavigation service. (WRC-97)

  • 5.335A   In the band 1 260-1 300 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 and other services allocated by footnotes 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.

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.

Aeronautical Long Range Surveillance Radars

Current Use
1240–1370 MHz Aeronautical long range surveillance radars
Long range surveillance radars are used for air traffic control purposes. Long range radars are able to detect objects as small as 1-2 m^2 cross section out to distances as far as 200-250 nautical miles.

In the United States, there are approximately 130 long range surveillance radars spread across the country as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS), shared among FAA, DoD, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Long range surveillance radars can also be used for weather detection, by switching from vertical polarization (for aircraft detection) to circular polarization mode. They can also be used as terminal radars (for monitoring traffic closer-in to airports), under conditions of greater-than-normal separation between aircraft.

The scan time (rotation rate) for long range radars is 12 seconds, which provides position updates for aircraft five times each minute.

Aeronautical Terminal Radars

Current Use
1240–1370 MHz Aeronautical terminal radars
Terminal radars are installed at busy airports to monitor air traffic in the vicinity of the airport. Terminal radars have shorter range than long range surveillance radars, but rotate more quickly (4.8 seconds instead of 12).

In the United States, terminal radars are installed at approximately 300 airports.

Amateur Radio (23 cm)

Current Use
1240–1300 MHz Amateur radio 23 cm band
The amateur service has a secondary allocation in this band worldwide. According to the ITU, this band is "used for short-range communications and for experimentation."

In the United States, the ARRL has adopted the following band plan. This band plan may apply in other countries as well:

1240-1246 ATV #1
1246-1248 Narrow-bandwidth FM point-to-point links and digital, duplex with 1258-1260.
1248-1258 Digital Communications
1252-1258 ATV #2
1258-1260 Narrow-bandwidth FM point-to-point links digital, duplexed with 1246-1252
1260-1270 Satellite uplinks, reference WARC '79
1260-1270 Wide-bandwidth experimental, simplex ATV
1270-1276 Repeater inputs, FM and linear, paired with 1282-1288, 239 pairs every 25 kHz, e.g. 1270.025, .050, etc.
1271-1283 Non-coordinated test pair
1276-1282 ATV #3
1282-1288 Repeater outputs, paired with 1270-1276
1288-1294 Wide-bandwidth experimental, simplex ATV
1294-1295 Narrow-bandwidth FM simplex services, 25-kHz channels
1294.5 National FM simplex calling frequency
1295-1297 Narrow bandwidth weak-signal communications (no FM)
1295.0-1295.8 SSTV, FAX, ACSSB, experimental
1295.8-1296.0 Reserved for EME, CW expansion
1296.00-1296.05 EME-exclusive
1296.07-1296.08 CW beacons
1296.1 CW, SSB calling frequency
1296.4-1296.6 Crossband linear translator input
1296.6-1296.8 Crossband linear translator output
1296.8-1297.0 Experimental beacons (exclusive)
1297-1300 Digital Communications