Principles of RF and Microwave Circuits
Electromagnetic Waves Part 1
Frequency Spectrum (1)
𝑣=𝜆𝑓
𝑣𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 = 𝑐 = 3 × 108 𝑚/𝑠
Reprinted from NASA
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Frequency Spectrum (2)
Reprinted from NASA
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Frequency
Spectrum (3)
Typical Frequencies
▪ AM broadcast band 535-1605 kHz
▪ Short wave radio band 3-30 MHz
▪ FM broadcast band 88-108 MHz
▪ VHF TV (2-4) 54-72 MHz
▪ VHF TV (5-6) 76-88 MHz
▪ UHF TV (7-13) 174-216 MHz
▪ UHF TV (14-83) 470-890 MHz
▪ US cellular telephone 824-849 MHz, 869-894 MHz
▪ European GSM cellular 880-915 MHz, 925-960 MHz
▪ GPS 1575.42 MHz, 1227.60 MHz
▪ Microwave ovens 2.45 GHz
▪ US DBS 11.7-12.5 GHz
▪ US ISM bands 902-928 MHz, 2.400-2.484 GHz,
5.725-5.850 GHz
▪ US UWB radio 3.1-10.6 GHz
Approximate Band Designations
▪ Medium frequency 300 kHz-3 MHz
▪ High frequency (HF) 3 MHz-30 MHz
▪ Very high frequency (VHF) 30 MHz-300 MHz
▪ Ultra high frequency (UHF) 300 MHz-3 GHz
▪ L band 1-2 GHz
▪ S band 2-4 GHz
▪ C band 4-8 GHz
▪ X band 8-12 GHz
▪ Ku band 12-18 GHz
▪ K band 18-26 GHz
▪ Ka band 26-40 GHz
▪ U band 40-60 GHz
▪ V band 50-75 GHz
▪ E band 60-90 GHz
▪ W band 75-110 GHz
▪ F band 90-140 GHz
Adapted from Figure 1.1 of Pozar (2012)
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RF/Microwave Applications
Name
Frequency Range
Name Origin
Common Applications
VHF Band
VHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
UHF Band
L Band
L Band
30 to 300 MHz
30 to 300 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
300 to 3000 MHz
1 to 2 GHz
1 to 2 GHz
Very High Frequency
Very High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Ultra High Frequency
Long
Long
FM radio
Television broadcasts
Television broadcasts
Microwave oven
Microwave devices
Communications
Radio astronomy
Mobile phones
Wireless LAN
Bluetooth
Military telemetry
GPS
L Band
1 to 2 GHz
Long
Air traffic control (ATC) radar
S Band
S Band
S Band
S Band
S Band
2 to 4 GHz
2 to 4 GHz
2 to 4 GHz
2 to 4 GHz
2 to 4 GHz
Short
Short
Short
Short
Short
Weather radar
Surface ship radar
Microwave ovens
Microwave devices
Communications
Adapted from Mega Industries (2021)
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RF/Microwave Applications (cont.)
Name
Frequency Range
Name Origin
Common Applications
C Band
4 to 8 GHz
Compromise (between S and X)
Long-distance radio telecommunications
X Band
8 to 12 GHz
X Band
8 to 12 GHz
X Band
8 to 12 GHz
X Band
8 to 12 GHz
X Band
8 to 12 GHz
Ku Band
K Band
K Band
K Band
K Band
Ka Band
12 to 18 GHz
18 to 26.5 GHz
18 to 26.5 GHz
18 to 26.5 GHz
18 to 26.5 GHz
26.5 to 40 GHz
X for “crosshair” (used in WW2 for fire control
radar
X for “crosshair” (used in WW2 for fire control
radar
X for “crosshair” (used in WW2 for fire control
radar
X for “crosshair” (used in WW2 for fire control
radar
X for “crosshair” (used in WW2 for fire control
radar
Kurtz Under
Kurtz (German for short)
Kurtz (German for short)
Kurtz (German for short)
Kurtz (German for short)
Kurtz Above
Satellite communications
Radar
Terrestrial broadband
Space communications
Satellite communications
Satellite communications
Radar
Satellite communications
Astronomical observations
Automotive radar
Satellite communications
Adapted from Mega Industries (2021)
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References
▪ Mega Industries. (2021, September 27). Microwave frequency bands. https://www.megaind.com/microwavefrequency-bands/
▪ NASA. (n.d.). Electromagnetic spectrum diagram. My NASA Data. http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/sciencepractices/electromagnetic-diagram/
▪ Pozar, D. (2012). Microwave engineering (4th ed.). John Wiley and Sons.
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