SpectrumWiki

Radio spectrum allocations

Look up a frequency or a range.

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

37.999999 MHz (37,999,999 Hz)

U.S. Federal Government Allocations

37.5 – 38 MHz

Radio astronomy

US342

ITU Region 1 Allocations

37.5 – 38.25 MHz

FIXED

MOBILE

Radio astronomy

5.149

ITU Region 2 Allocations

37.5 – 38.25 MHz

FIXED

MOBILE

Radio astronomy

5.149

ITU Region 3 Allocations

37.5 – 38.25 MHz

FIXED

MOBILE

Radio astronomy

5.149

Footnotes

  • 5.149   In making assignments to stations of other services to which the bands:
    13 360-13 410 kHz,
    25 550-25 670 kHz,
    37.5-38.25 MHz,
    73-74.6 MHz in Regions 1 and 3,
    150.05-153 MHz in Region 1,
    322-328.6 MHz,
    406.1-410 MHz,
    608-614 MHz in Regions 1 and 3,
    1 330-1 400 MHz,
    1 610.6-1 613.8 MHz,
    1 660-1 670 MHz,
    1 718.8-1 722.2 MHz,
    2 655-2 690 MHz,
    3 260-3 267 MHz,
    3 332-3 339 MHz,
    3 345.8-3 352.5 MHz,
    4 825-4 835 MHz, 4 950-4 990 MHz,
    4 990-5 000 MHz,
    6 650-6 675.2 MHz,
    10.6-10.68 GHz,
    14.47-14.5 GHz,
    22.01-22.21 GHz,
    22.21-22.5 GHz,
    22.81-22.86 GHz,
    23.07-23.12 GHz,
    31.2-31.3 GHz,
    31.5-31.8 GHz in Regions 1 and 3,
    36.43-36.5 GHz,
    42.5-43.5 GHz,
    48.94-49.04 GHz,
    76-86 GHz,
    92-94 GHz,
    94.1-100 GHz, 102-109.5 GHz,
    111.8-114.25 GHz,
    128.33-128.59 GHz,
    129.23-129.49 GHz,
    130-134 GHz,
    136-148.5 GHz,
    151.5-158.5 GHz,
    168.59-168.93 GHz,
    171.11-171.45 GHz,
    172.31-172.65 GHz,
    173.52-173.85 GHz,
    195.75-196.15 GHz,
    209-226 GHz,
    241-250 GHz,
    252-275 GHz
    are allocated, administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect the radio astronomy service from harmful interference. Emissions from spaceborne or airborne stations can be particularly serious sources of interference to the radio astronomy service (see Nos. 4.5 and 4.6 and Article 29). (WRC 07)

  • NG59  The frequencies 37.60 and 37.85 MHz may be authorized only for use by base, mobile, and operational fixed stations participating in an interconnected or coordinated power service utility system.

  • NG124  In the bands 30.85-34, 37-38, 39-40, 42-47.41, 150.995-156.25, 158.715-159.465, 453.0125-453.9875, 458.0125-458.9875, 460.0125-465.6375, and 467.9375-467.9875 MHz, police licensees are authorized to operate low power transmitters on a secondary basis in accordance with the provisions of 47 CFR 2.803 and 90.20(e)(5).

  • US342   In making assignments to stations of other services to which the bands:

    13 360-13 410 kHz42.77-42.87 GHz*
    25 550-25 670 kHz43.07-43.17 GHz*
    37.5-38.25 MHz43.37-43.47 GHz*
    322-328.6 MHz*48.94-49.04 GHz*
    1330-1400 MHz*76-86 GHz
    1610.6-1613.8 MHz*92-94 GHz
    1660-1660.5 MHz*94.1-100 GHz
    1668.4-1670 MHz*102-109.5 GHz
    3260-3267 MHz*111.8-114.25 GHz
    3332-3339 MHz*128.33-128.59 GHz*
    3345.8-3352.5 MHz*129.23-129.49 GHz*
    4825-4835 MHz*130-134 GHz
    4950-4990 MHz136-148.5 GHz
    6650-6675.2 MHz*151.5-158.5 GHz
    14.47-14.5 GHz*168.59-168.93 GHz*
    22.01-22.21 GHz*171.11-171.45 GHz*
    22.21-22.5 GHz172.31-172.65 GHz*
    22.81-22.86 GHz*173.52-173.85 GHz*
    23.07-23.12 GHz*195.75-196.15 GHz*
    31.2-31.3 GHz209-226 GHz
    36.43-36.5 GHz*241-250 GHz
    42.5-43.5 GHz252-275 GHz

    are allocated (*indicates radio astronomy use for spectral line observations), all practicable steps shall be taken to protect the radio astronomy service from harmful interference. Emissions from spaceborne or airborne stations can be particularly serious sources of interference to the radio astronomy service (see ITU Radio Regulations at Nos. 4.5 and 4.6 and Article 29).

Wiki entries

Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL)

Current Use
22–74.8 MHz Access BPL
According to the FCC's definition, Access BPL is "a carrier current system installed and operated on an electric utility service as an unintentional radiator that sends radio frequency energy on frequencies between 1.705 MHz and 80 MHz over medium voltage lines or over low voltage lines to provide broadband communications and is located on the supply side of the utility service’s points of interconnection with customer premises. Access BPL does not include power line carrier systems as defined in § 15.3(t) or In-House BPL as defined in § 15.3(gg)."

Low voltage lines are defined as lines carrying, for example, 240/120 volts from a distribution transformer to a customer's premises. Medium voltage lines carry between 1,000 and 40,000 volts from a power substation to neighborhoods, and may be overhead or underground.

Access BPL is an unlicensed service operated under Subpart G of Part 15 of the FCC's rules. Radiated emission limits from medium voltage lines in the 1.705-30 MHz range must not exceed the limits in 47 CFR 15.209, and those from 30-80 MHz must not exceed the limits in 15.109(b). Systems that operate on low voltage lines must comply with 15.109(a) limits across the entire 1.705-80 MHz range.

When Access BPL systems must use notch filters to protect licensed services, the notch must be at least 25 dB below applicable Part 15 limits in the 1.705-30 MHz band, and at least 10 dB below the limits in the 30-80 MHz band.

There are 12 sub-bands in which Access BPL systems are not allowed to operate anywhere to protect aeronautical (land) stations and aircraft receivers. Those excluded bands are listed in 15.615(f), and are excluded in the list of Access BPL bands in this entry.

Access BPL systems are not allowed to operate within the sub-band 2173.5-2190.5 kHz within 1 km of coast station facilities listed in 47 CFR 15.615(f)(2)(i), to protect the internationally-recognized standard maritime calling frequency of 2182 kHz.

No Access BPL emissions are allowed in the 73.0-74.6 MHz radio astronomy band on overhead medium voltage lines within 65 km of the Very Large Array radio telescope in New Mexico (34 04 43.5N, 107 37 03.82W), or within 47 km of the VLA on underground power lines or overhead low voltage lines.

Access BPL operators must consult at least 30 days in advance when deploying systems near various FCC field offices, aeronautical and maritime stations, radar systems, radio astronomy stations, and research areas. Details are in 47 CFR 15.615(f)(3).

Experimental Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Systems

Current Use
30–50 MHz
Experimental ultra-wideband (UWB) systems have been developed in the 30—50 MHz spectrum. These high data rate transmissions use ground or surface wave propagation to communicate over distances of several kilometers, through foliage and buildings and over hills. Most UWB technology uses higher bands.

(Source: Wireless Spectrum Finder by Bennett Z. Kobb. Wireless Spectrum Finder is now (c)MMX Technology LLC).

Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS)

Current Use
30–87.975 MHz
A longstanding Army portable and mobile system, operating across 30 - 87.975 MHz, is the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS). These radios provide frequency-hopping, secure voice, and data communications.

(Source: Wireless Spectrum Finder, by Bennett Z. Kobb. Wireless Spectrum Finder is now (c)MMX Technology LLC).

Radio Astronomy (38 MHz)

Current Use
37.5–38.25 MHz Low Frequency Radio Astronomy
The bands 37.5-38 (secondary) and 38-38.25 MHz (primary) are allocated to the radio astronomy service in the United States and in other parts of the world. This frequency range is considered low frequency (long wavelength) for radio astronomy, since it is not much above the ionospheric cut-off frequency, which is typically in the ~5-30 MHz range, depending on solar activity. In the United States, these bands are shared with active (transmitting) services.

Radio astronomy observing in this band is challenging since radio frequency interference may propagate from a long distance away and ruin observations being obtained with very sensitive radio telescopes. The Long Wavelength Array (LWA), located on the site of the Very Large Array radio telescope near Socorro, New Mexico, is one of the few major instruments that uses this band.

At these frequencies, the Sun, the Milky Way galaxy, and a few supernova remnants are among the very brightest sources in the sky.