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A guide from 0 Hz to 30 EHz (DC to Gamma rays). The main bands, all frequencies in MHz unless otherwise stated. With grateful thanks to the UK Radiocomms Agency for so openly publishling all you need to know... even if actually tuning in to anything other than Broadcasting/CB/Ham is not allowed, that's the rules, folks. Which is why there are no details of Private systems here... this page details frequency ranges and channel schemes that could be used for various services, but not actual, specific instances.
As recommended by Short Wave Magazine (UK) - "Excellent... well worth a look"
established in 1997
Best viewed in 1024-x-768, on a beach, with scantily-clad...
DISCLAIMER: This page is provided for interest/curiosity only. Private services should remain that way, if you listen without a licence (you can't get them) to anything other than licenced Broadcasting or Amateur Radio (& CB) you are breaking the law. Even having a private frequency stored in a receiver's memory channel is considered to be proof of intercepting messages that are not intended for you. Penalties include heavy fines and/or imprisonment.
You have been warned.
Under Section 5(b) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 it is an offence to use radio equipment with intent to obtain information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any messages, whether or not the information is passed on, which the user has not been authorised to receive.
Eavesdropping is tempting because wide-area mobile comms are obviously designed to cover a large area and so it really is quite easy to receive at least base stations and repeaters. If you say they deserve to be heard if they don't encrypt their voice traffic in any way - I would say you need to consider the harsh economic reality of replacing huge numbers of radios, but it will happen. You may think that the USA has things right, as they may listen to their public services (but not cellphones) but you can't argue with our law unless you can get it changed, and unprocessed bacon might fly. There may well be a large number of cases of the US public assisting their law officers after having heard about incidents on their scanners, but I don't think that justifies the personal details of victims of crime being known. If anything, maybe there should be a clear channel in each area that the public MAY listen to, where the police actually ask the public for their assistance. Could be tricky from a legal liability angle though! Please don't tell me you think you have a right to listen to the movements of covert investigations...
THIS PAGE MAY BE REMOVED SOON. PLEASE COPY THE HTML FILE FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE. (c) Me, 1997-2003! However... PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY ONTO YOUR OWN WEB-SPACE AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. (CONDITIONS Please use the .JPG background, KEEP THE FORMATTING THE SAME, do not remove my comments, use a fixed width font so that it all lines up still, do not claim it's all your own work, bolt in a replacement hits counter, add your URL to AltaVista. Thank you)
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HINT: There is a glossary at the end of this page to explain all the funny acronyms!
So what's the point of this page? Personally, I've been fascinated by the magic of radio all of my life, fiddling around with radios since primary school, and over the years having read a fair bit about communication systems and the radio spectrum, I've now got a lot of radio information rattling around in my head. I thought it would be nice to share it with the world, via the web, to show what a crowded resource the RF spectrum is; how every nook and cranny is allocated to some service or other; how the RA has to balance the needs of various services when they are asked for more spectrum. Also, with all that RF energy passing through your body, don't you think you have a right to know exactly what sort of emissions are zapping through you? (I'm not saying you have a right to know the content of the messages, only the nature of the delivery). Also, Amateurs should be aware of the services that could be affected should their equipment not be up to the required standard. Likewise to anyone foolish enough to consider operating an unlicenced pirate station - just don't - there really isn't any point is there? And lastly, because published books are often out of date or plainly wrong in these matters.
This revision of this page is probably the last you'll be getting for a while. Unless the RA changes any allocations this is just about the lot. I'll keep things as accurate as I can, but I'm not adding any new links or checking the existing ones. I've researched all the topics that interest me and I've done my best to share what I've found. If you want to know more, firstly read the entire RA site, then learn to use the major search engines effectively, and join some of the many expert mailing lists. Many thanks to those who have had the patience to keep replacing the page each time I updated it. Thanks everyone, I hope it's been worthwhile - "The Author"
I think it has been VERY worthwhile, I've learnt a lot from this. I'd like to thank The Author for all their hard work. It has been a pleasure hosting the page. Thank you!! - RF-man
So if you've ever wondered what's beyond the dial on your ordinary radio, this is the page for you. Just be aware that you shouldn't tune in to anything private - if someone is talking loudly in the street and you can easily overhear, you still don't morally have the right to listen do you? If the vast amount of broadcasts and ham radio conversations aren't enough to amuse you (and the rest of what life in general has to offer) then that's quite sad. If I ever have time to switch on my receiver (to see what the propagation's like) the only bands I need to go to are amateur ones. And good music is much more satisfying. If you can find it.
In a decade or so there may not be all that much else to listen to anyway on current scanners, with FM broadcasters moving to DAB, analogue TV making way to digital, PMR and emergency services changing to TETRA, and both Marine and Aero traffic increasingly using digital modes and satellites for routine traffic, cellphones all digital. Maybe the spectrum will one day consist of just one system for mobile access to THE NET which provides for all possible communication needs - a load of buzzing noises wherever you tune, except for the long-established amateur bands. Then you scanner owners can relax, you won't be able to do anything illegal with them if you try - unless you decide to throw them through someone's window!
So before long a scanner will be virtually useless except for listening to the hams. Those who are only into the naughty stuff will find another hobby and those who are geniunely interested in radio will have no choice but to go down the amateur route.
I would say that if you have an interest in these matters, devote your energies now to Amateur Radio PLEASE! We need more activity in the bands. Amateur radio covers bands from Low Frequencies (with 2km wavelengths) to ultra-high micro-wave bands (wavelengths in millimetres) with modes ranging from good old-fashioned morse code (CW) to AM/FM speech (communications bandwidths) to advanced narrowband speech (Single Side Band) to Television (slow scan like FAX through to full motion/definition FMW broadcast quality) to digital/data modes like RTTY and Packet. Transmissions can be direct, fixed and mobile (and Maritime Mobile), via satellite, bent through the troposphere, bounced off various layers of charged particles in the upper atmosphere, or even bounced off the moon (EME), or shooting stars (MS)! And all for just 15 quid per year - bargain. Go on, prove you know what you're talking about, get a callsign soon. Even if you don't ever use it... See the RA web-page info, or the Radio Society for Good Buddies site for more details, or the UK Ham Radio FAQ. And the G7KPF Quick Links. Join and support the RSGB too, it's a good idea as they do tend to negotiate new bands for us.
Here then, is my quick tour of the spectrum of 2003, with links to other sites where appropriate.
All information sourced from freely published books, magazines and web-sites (RA,ERO), without the need for a scanner, as part of an ongoing quest to figure out what lies beyond the broadcasting bands...
Bands (MHz)
LW
MW
HF 3-26
CB 26-28
Low VHF 29.7 to 47
Band I 47-68
Low Band 68-87.5
FM, Band II 87.5-108
Air Band 108-137
Mid Band 137-165
Marine Band 156-163
High Band 165-174
Band III 174-230
NATO Band 230-400
UHF1 & 2 400-470
TV, Bands IV & V 470-854
GSM & mobile 854-960
Amateur 23cm 1.2 GHz
Microwaves 1-300 GHz
Ku TV Band 10.7-12.75 GHz
Light
Services
Broadcasting - LW,MW,SW, 87.5-108, DAB, TV, you're invited to listen (there's money in it, or a license fee to justify!).
Amateur & CB - HF, 50, 70, 144, 430 MHz etc. Can be good, can be dull - you decide. You may listen. (The rules)
Aeronautical - "airband" - HF, 108-137 MHz. You may not listen, but it seems to be tolerated.
Maritime - HF, 156-163 MHz. Probably tolerated, but no listening unless licensed, and on-board.
...thou shalt NOT listen...
Low Power / Short Range Devices - Cordless telephones / headphones / microphones, remote control etc.
SAB/SAP - when TV/radio/film/programme makers use radio (managed by JFMG):
a) Radiomicrophones - carrying "programme audio" obviously,
b) Talkback - on-site comms (simplex or continous duplex) or wide-area comms back to base,
c) Links - mobile "programme audio" back to base, or Fixed links between sites.
Like the military and many low-power devices, they seem to crop up all over the spectrum! However, some of the assignments in shared bands (mainly BBC) are to cease in 2000, leaving mostly primary bands.
As Bands I, III, IV and V are designated BROADCASTING it seems logical that broadcasters may also use these bands for mics and comms either at UHF on locally unused "in-band" channels, or (also for links) in the VHF bands that are no longer used for broadcasting.
Around 174MHz is very popular for mics, as well as other parts of Band III that coincide with French TV carriers and so are not used for PBR.
Note that JFMG also deal with Special Event short-term assignments for local comms, e.g. Ascot.
PMR - channels are allocated in all bands to different categories such as :
. National exclusive,
. Wide Area Shared "G3" - taxis "T1", despatch "H4" etc. - 30kms range,
. ...& Medical (ambulance service - high band)
. CBS (follow the link for Common Base channels),
. On-site shared - dual "C2" or single "O5" - 3km range max., why not use PMR446?!
. Short Term Hire (up to 1 year), demo (28 days), "parking" (3 months), Test&Dev,
. specific uses i.e. Road Construction
. UK General "U3" - mobile only, anywhere in UK, 5W ERP max, for not more than 12 months in one place - i.e. temporary use in various locations. Shared channels : 5 in low-band, 2 in mid-band, 5 in high-band, 3 at UHF. (in 2002 the UHF channels changed and various conditions too. No time limit now, so it's a good LICENSED replacement for SRBR and 446, 20 quid a year)
Which explains why that "spare channel" can't be used for anything else in your area!
Given that the number of users of PMR channels runs into tens of thousands ( 2003 report, 2000 report, and 1997 report) , it would be quite futile to attempt to list them all - it amazes me that publications even try.
Even worse, once a frequency/user tie-up makes it into print, no-one ever seems to doubt its validity and it's often printed way after it ceased to be used!
Fair enough to list national allocations, the general type of use for a channel - but to try and find EVERY assigment, EVERY taxi firm.... ho hum.
Military - various web pages will show that there is a world market for equipment operating in the bands such as HF, 30-87.5 (25kHz FM), 116-155 & 225-400 (25kHz AM), 470-512 etc. Note that whilst the odd Combat Net here and there may be "in the clear" any serious tactical use would be very hard to find. Frequency hopping and scrambling are used - after all, would you want your country defended by forces that could be easily monitored?
Operational use (like PMR) for base security, training, Mil. Police, MOULD etc. involves fixed frequencies, and various books show that Low VHF, Low Band, Mid Band, 406.1-420 and UHF1 are heavily used for these purposes. There is currently a general move from VHF to UHF, and the use of a TETRA system is being considered. This type of radio traffic is still not to be listened to!
...thou shalt definitely NOT listen...
Public Telecomms - paging, mobile telephone/data - the reason why scanner manufacturers HAD to include coverage of the 900MHz band (! there's nowt else up there to listen to). Eavesdropping on analogue mobile calls is quite rightly frowned upon.
Home Office for the Emergency Services - previous versions of this document did not mention these allocations, but as the bands are shown on RA pages, and in various books, some are now included for the sake of clarity. Only the BANDS are shown, not actual frequencies in use. Do NOT listen in!
Notes
NOTE 1: Boundaries - a "equals" symbol (=) is used here to clarify a known boundary between two band sections, this usually means no transmissions on the frequency itself, but that use of the band includes RF emissions up to that point. This could be a point between two normal channels, such as the 165.04375 boundary between the last mid-band channel 165.0375 and the first high band channel 165.050, or even a "wasted" channel giving "guard band" separation between two types of service.
As an example, Band II is bounded by 87.5 to 108, whereas I try wherever possible to specify bands by the first and last channel centres, in this case 87.6 to 107.9 (in the USA, VOR tests are allowed on 108.0 just to confuse matters, so long as no interference is caused). (Some aero DME channels are tuned by selecting 108.0 even though there's no signal on 108!)
One exception is the international marine 156.0 boundary - used for channel 0 uniquely in the UK, which isn't at odds with the 154-156 use below I guess!
The RA usually specify bands as boundaries - hence I try here to show actual usage.
NOTE 2: Dots after a frequency signifies the start of a range, whereas a single spot frequency has no trailing dots - although this doesn't apply in the two-column section. Frequencies given relate to the center of the transmission (COFDM, FM, AM) (i.e. the unmodulated carrier with carrier-based systems such as FM/AM), or the absent carrier for SSB.
NOTE 3: Scanner folk often use the terms Simplex and Duplex wrongly to describe Single and Dual frequency systems. The term Simplex means taking turns to transmit, whether on one or more frequencies. The proper terms to use are S.F.S. (Single Frequency Simplex) and D.F.S (Dual..). Duplex only applies on telephone style systems where one party can interupt the other. Even TT (Talk-Through; repeaters) is still simplex. I use the abbrev.s Single and Dual. Any time I specify "Split" generally implies D.F.S., and details are given as base freq.s, with the change in frequency in +/- MHz needed to hear the mobile.
Even "Duplex" doesn't neccessarily mean two frequencies, new digital systems can rapidly take turns on the same freq. by time-compressing the audio data-stream!
ASSUMING you have permission to listen...
S.F.S. and TT (repeaters) are obviously very easy to monitor with just one memory (or in manual mode) and "scan delay" isn't a problem - the longer the delay the better, as many radio users seem to need a few seconds to think of a reply (TT "over" pips are generally a waste of time, most dimwits wait for the squelch crunch). This means conventional scanners are fine for monitoring amateur, CB, airband, ship-shore-ship, some PMR etc.
Private D.F.S is more tricky, depending on whether the base transmits pips to let other mobiles know the channel is busy. True D.F.S. with no "busy signal" just requires two scan memories and no scan-delay, which not all scanners allow. With "busy-pips" you'll need to be just a little smarter to catch all the action, should you have permission. Dare I suggest investing in a cheap-n-cheerful second receiver to take care of just the strong base freq.s while using the better set/antenna for the mobile side...
These difficulties could be quite easily overcome if the manufacturers thought just a teensy bit harder about the operation of their receivers. By the time they DO get such advances implemented, everything will be digital anyway!
NOTES: FM deviation and bandwidth :
Bandwidth = 2(PeakDeviation+HighestModulationFreq) ... this is Carson's Rule - a rule of thumb, but very close. For 3kHz maximum speech frequency comms :
BW= 2(5+3) = 16kHz (for 5kHz dev)
BW= 2(2.5+3) = 11kHz (for 2.5kHz dev)
"The -60 or -70dBc bandwidth is approximately twice the Carson bandwidth."
The modulation index is defined as the peak deviation divided by the highest modulating frequncy. "This would be 5/3 for NBFM and 2.5/3 for the really narrow stuff. Modulation indexes under 1 don't really work that well, 5/3 is almost 2, and broadcast FM uses 75/15 or 5. It depends on the type of Signal-to-Noise Ratio you need." Note also that true FM uses pre-emphasis per octave from 300 to 3000Hz - which matches the effect of Phase Modulation.
deviation v. bandwidth (not accounting for frequency accuracy)
kHz kHz max band mod
spacing dev mod width index
6.25 1 2 6 0.5 narrowband experimental
10 2 3 10 0.66 CB/10m/6m
12.5 2.5 3 11 0.833 PMR/2m
15 3 3 12 1 (USA)
20 4 3 14 1.33 (some amateur)
25 5 3 16 1.66 70cm/marine
WEFAX 9 4 26 2.25 137MHz etc
WFM 75 15 180 5 Band II
"Analog FM doesn't perform as well in narrowband channels as it does in 25kHz
channels. If narrowband analog is deployed, there is a 6dB degradation in
performance from reduced deviation coupled with a 3dB improvement in receiver
noise performance due to the narrower IF filter, resulting in a 3dB overall
degradation. High-signal performance is reduced and a high SINAD cannot be
achieved because some FM sideband information is lost passing through the
narrow IF filter. Also, narrowband analog becomes more susceptible to noise
pops, giving up the advantage that normal analog FM enjoys." - in other words
a wider bandwidth system enjoys a higher S/N ratio due to increased deviation,
overcoming the additional noise getting through the wider receive filter.
Abbrev.s are no longer explained as we go, there's a new glossary at the end.
Electromagnetic spectrum... (Radiocomms Agency allocations page)
MHz
0 Hz No cycles per second - let's call it DC!
The planet Earth itself hums accoustically (apparently) with around 50 persistent notes
between 2 and 7 milliHertz. We are talking of cycle lengths of several minutes here.
--0.000001--(1Hz, 1 per sec.)---
Hz Brainwaves... (Electrical activity in your thinking-gear)
0.1... Delta - Sleep
3... Theta - Sluggish, day-dreaming
7... Alpha - Relaxed and receptive
13... Beta - Very alert
30... High Beta - Paranormal powers!
--0.00002=--(20Hz)--------------
Audible if converted to soundwaves (like with, er, speakers)
ELF,ILF,VLF Atmo-"sferics", "chorus", "tweeks" (1.5-5kHz), "whistlers" - natural phenomena
mainly from lightening pulses trapped in "waveguides" between ion. layers
0.000050 UK mains AC electricity (50Hz, 240V) - 6000 km wavelength
---music---
0.000016,35 C-1 nice and bass-y (16Hz)
0.000261,63 C3 note "middle C" (see Piano Tuning)
277.18 C# (these in Hz)
293.66 D
311.13 D# To double a frequency in 12 equal steps (semi-tones) to complete
329.63 E one octave, multiply a note by 2 to the power of 1/12th to obtain
349.23 F the next note. 440 (A) x 1.059463094 = 466.16 (A#)
369.99 F#
392.0 G
415.3 G#
440.0 A used for main reference
466.16 A#
493.88 B
0.000523,25 C4 the note C again. Only an octave higher. (x2, yeah?)
4186.00 C7 a really annoying 4kHz note C
7902.13 B7
0.012543,85 G8 highest midi note
0.002700.. above 2.7 kHz not neccessary for comms speech, phones etc, and so for
phones it's filtered out. Hence too the 3kHz channel spacings on HF.
0.015... FM broadcast audio is filtered out above 15kHz
0.019 FM stereo "pilot tone"
0.020 approx. limit of human hearing (location : Bats 30k-80k, Whales 50k-200k)
--0.003=-----(3kHz)-------------
VLF,LF: Mobile, Fixed, Navigation, DGPS, Time Signals (20,25,50,60,66.6,75kHz)
Enormous wavelengths are very useful for penetrating rock (cave to surface - molephones) and
the oceans (for submarines) but the antennas need to be rather large, or magnetic loops.
See LW enthusiasts site http://www.lwca.org
0.009 UK Thunderstorm detection system, airborne and ground based
0.0102 ex Omega hyperbolic fix Nav. (& 11.05 & 11.33 & 13.6 kHz) ** ceased sep.97 **
0.016 ex GBR, Rugby. A BT service, closed 31.mar.2003
0.060 MSF British Time signal
0.070...ex Decca Nav. purple slaves, to 72kHz (5f) Llancarfan
0.073 ex UK Ham 4km band ( 71.6= - 74.4= kHz) ** UK only, 1996 until 30.jun.2003 **
0.084=..ex Decca Nav. masters, to 86= kHz (6f) Bolberry Down (f=14.046666.)
0.100 NELS Loran-C Navigation. 4MW pulsed. Loophead,Lessay,Sylt,Soustons (90 - 110)
0.112...ex Decca Nav. red slaves, to 117.6kHz (8f) Jersey
0.126...ex Decca Nav. green slaves, to 129kHz (9f) St.Marys
0.13347 Mobile data service (& 146.705 kHz)
0.13675 Ham 2km band (135.7= - 137.8= kHz) ** new Euro band, 1998 **
Decca involved a non-radiated fundamental freq around 14kHz, and a "chain" used
freq.s that were 5,6,8 and 9 times that of the fundamental. Ended 31.mar.2000
--0.1485=-----------------------
0.153.. LW AM Broadcasting, to 0.279 - 9kHz channels (ITU Region1) + some Nav. (NDB)
See the British DX Club's Lists. Message Board
153 Germany, Romania, Algeria
162 France (FSK data), Turkey 165 to 190kHz is 1800m band in NZ (5W ERP max)
171 Russia, Morocco, possible future Dutch "Delta 171"
177 Germany
183 Germany
189 Italy
198 UK BBC Radio 4 (FSK data) Droitwich, Burghead & Westerglen
used to be 200kHz(1500m) until Feb 1st 1988... ex BBC R2 ex Light Programme ex National Prog.
207 Germany, Morocco
216 France, Norway - English language 1200kW Christian format
225 Poland, spare UK INR allocation
234 Luxembourg, Russia
243 Denmark
252 EIRE TeamTalk 252 (25/2/02) ex Atlantic 252), Algeria
261 Moscow
270 Czech
279 Belarus, and soon: MusicMann 279 (Isle of Man)
A conference in Prague in 1929 provided for the 9-khz channels (then called kilocycles) in the
Europeen Broadcasting Area for LW and MW ... "a few hadn't moved even by 1964 (MW)"
"LW .. built around 200 Khz being a frequency check by Droitwich, so went 200,209, 218,
..etc and 191, 182...etc the other way. A lot later when PLL and synthesised tuning came in,
the channels were changed to be multiples of 9, so the LW all moved down 2 Khz.
Before that, the MW had moved (November 1978) UP freq by just 1 khz for the same reason,
thus 908 (then the BBC Radio 4) became 909 (now 5 live)"
LW : " lower freqs (up to 177 kHz?) moved in late 1987, the middle section (180-225) in
February 1988 and the top end in Feb 1990. Atlantic 252 launched on 254 kHz in Sept 1989"
"Before November 1978 the arrangement on Medium Wave was like this:
Most channels were 9 kHz spaced, on a frequency which was a multiple of 9 kHz, minus 1 kHz.
For example, London Radio 4 was 908 kHz, Radio 3 was 647 kHz, and Radio 1 was 1214 kHz.
There was one 10 kHz spacing at the bottom end: 539 kHz (normal pattern), then 529 kHz.
At the top end there were 8 channel spacings of 8 kHz. I assume this must have been done to
get one extra channel when the top end of the band was extended from around 1550 kHz to 1606.5 kHz.
The frequencies were 1538 kHz (normal pattern), then 1546, 1554, 1562, 1570, 1578, 1586, 1594, 1602."
1967, 30th Sept : BBC Radio 1 launched, and BBC Light (29.jul.1945), Third (sept 1946) and Home (sept 1939)
are reorganised as Radios 2,3 & 4 (timeline)
Light Prog was Forces Prog (1940) renamed for peacetime.
Home Service was merger of old National Prog (1930, previously 2LO (May 1922)) and Regional Prog (1930)
BBC services moved on 23.nov.1978 :
R1 from 1214kHz/247m to 1089/275 and 1053/285
R2 from 200/1500 to 693 and 909 kHz
R3 from 647kHz to 1215/247 "3rd Programme was on 464m (647kHz) from 1951"
R4 from 908kHz (and others) to 200/1500
R5 took over R2's 693/909 on 27.aug.1990
INR1 : Classic FM (1992)
INR2 : Virgin took over R3's 1215, launched 30.apr.1993
INR3 : Talk Radio took over R1's 1053/1089 in Feb 1995
R6 Music : (digital) 11 March 2002
R1 Xtra : (digital) 16 Aug 2002
R7 : (digital) soon
--0.2835=-----------------------
Marine/Aero Navigation (NDB beacons) + Maritime Mobile (CW)
--0.5265=-MF--------------------
0.531.. MW AM Broadcasting, to 1.602 - 9 kHz channels (to 1.700 in USA, 10kHz ch)
See the British DX Club's Lists.
Channels internationally assigned to countries with maximum power levels specified.
Hence the terms "national clear channel" etc. A country's channel will thus be used
for either national networks or for lower powered local stations. If the international
plan (Geneva, 22.11.1975) exists anywhere on the web, do let us know!
--kHz-- UK band plan:
558 ILR Spectrum (London), ex Pirates e.g. Laser 558
585 BBC regional (Scotland)
603 local (BBC/ILR)
630 BBC local (2)
648 National BBC World Service
657 BBC local (2)
666 local (BBC/ILR)
693 National BBC R5
720 some BBC R4
729 BBC local (1)
738 BBC local (low power)
756 local (BBC mainly)
765 BBC local (1)
774 local (mainly BBC - some R4)
792 local (BBC/ILR) (2)
801 BBC local (1)
810 BBC regional (Scotland)
819 local (BBC/ILR)
828 local (BBC/ILR)
837 BBC local
855 local (BBC/ILR)
873 BBC local
882 BBC regional (Wales)
909 National BBC 5
936 ILR (2)
945 ILR (2), University inductive loops
954 ILR (2)
963 ILR (2), University inductive loops
990 local (BBC/ILR)
999 local (BBC/ILR) + University/Hospital Radio loops
1017 ILR
1026 local (BBC/ILR)
1035 local (BBC/ILR)
1053 INR3 Talk Radio UK
1089 INR3 Talk Radio UK
1107 ILR + INR3 Talk Radio
1116 local (BBC/ILR)
1125 BBC regional (Wales)
1143 CFA tests, 11/2000, Wooferton
1152 ILR
1161 local (BBC/ILR)
1170 ILR
1197 fill-in INR2 Virgin
1215 INR2 Virgin (once "Virgin 1215")
1233 fill-in INR2 Virgin
1242 local (ILR/INR2 Virgin)
1251 ILR (1)
1260 local (BBC/ILR/INR2 Virgin)
1269 RSL Brands Hatch
1278 ILR + RSL
1287 RSL
1296 National BBC World Service
1305 ILR
1323 local (BBC/ILR) + ex RSL
1332 local (BBC/ILR)
1341 BBC regional (Ulster)
1350 RSL (Hospital RSL)
1359 local (BBC/ILR)
1368 local (BBC/ILR)
1377 ILR (1)
1386 RSL
1404 RSL
1413 local (BBC/ILR/RSL)
1431 ILR
1440 ex The Great 208 - Radio Luxembourg (MW closed 30.dec.1991) started 1933, LW, moved 1439 2.jul.1951
1449 BBC local (some BBC R4)
1458 local BBC/ILR)
1476 ILR
1485 local (BBC/BBC R4/ILR)
1494 RSL Tooting
1503 local (BBC/RSL)
1521 local (BBC/ILR) 1520 was Radio Caroline (started 28 Mar 1964)
1530 local (BBC/ILR)
1548 local (BBC/ILR)
1557 local (BBC/ILR)
1566 RSL
1575 RSL
1584 local (BBC/ILR)
1602 RSL
1.642...Cordless phones (CT0 base), to 1782 (8x 20kHz FM),
handsets duplex at 47.456-47.543 MHz (12.5kHz spacing, 6.25 offsets)
Channel 7 (1762) may use 47.531 or 47.444
To be phased out. No new equipment after apr.2005
Handsets on 1690, 1710, 1730, 1750, 1770 may be unapproved USA gear (base 49.86-49.93)
Amateur Radio 160m "Top Band" (1.81-2.0) shared (SSB used is mainly LSB below 10MHz)
1.6 to 3.8MHz mostly known for maritime use (intership, trawler chat etc)
(3kHz SSB channels 1635-1797 and 2053-2153?)
UK "Fishphone" Coastal Radio Stations (BT) all closed by 30.jun.2000
used 25 paired channels :
Alpha 2751 2006 Shetland via Wick ex Norwick
Bravo 2841 2277 Shetland via Wick, ex Norwick
Charlie 2604 2013 Shetland via Wick, ex Norwick
Delta 1659 2084 Shetland via Wick, ex Norwick
Echo 2705 2524 Wick
Foxtrot 1797 2060 Wick
Golf 1755 2099 Wick
Hotel 2625 2108 Wick
India 1856 2555 Stonehaven
Juliet 1650 2075 Stonehaven
Kilo 1946 2566 Stonehaven
Lima 2607 1999 Stonehaven
Mike 3617 3249 Stonehaven
November 1731 2527 Cullercoats
Oscar 2828 1953 Cullercoats
Papa 3750 2123 Cullercoats
Quebec 1925 2105 Humber
Romeo 2684 2002 Humber
Sierra 2810 2562 Humber
Tango 2698 2016 Stonehaven
Uniform 2628 2009 Niton
Victor - Not Assigned
Whisky 2782 2111 Land's End
X-Ray 3610 2120 Land's End
Yankee 1710 2135 Portpatrick
Zulu 1866 2534 Hebrides via Stonehaven
"...UK, where anyone could hear the Met police on CW - the operator sat next to the driver with
a Morse key and he would send 'coded' messages to Scotland Yard, like 'X231 Marble Arch to Oxford
Circus' which didn't take a lot of imagination to decipher. These were the Wolsley saloons with
the bell on the front. Frequency again was around 2 megs and it is the 1930s.
"The ground transmitter was GWW (?) at West Wickham, SE of London, which later became the Interpol
link with France (FSB) and other continental countries, still using Morse and equally obvious
'X-codes' well into the 1980's."
--2.85=---HF-------------------- the "real shortwave bands"!
mobile, fixed, military, ISM, SRD, and... "numbers stations"/more Guide/Newer SGC Guide PDF
o AM Broadcasting
Tropical bands around 2.4 MHz (120 metres), 3.3 MHz (90 metres) and 5 MHz (60 metres)
kHz Bands (as used by the BBC) :
3950= - 4000= 75 metres
5900= - 6200= 49 metres +5875
7100= - 7350= 41 metres (7200-7450 from 29.mar.2009)
9400= - 9900= 31 metres +9915
11600= - 12050= 25 metres +12095
13570= - 13870= 22 metres
15100= - 15800= 19 metres +15070
17480= - 17900= 16 metres
( 18900= - 19020 15 metres SSB broadcasting after 2007 )
21450= - 21850= 13 metres
25600= - 26100= 11 metres
Band boundaries are often ignored by broadcasters trying to get a clear channel
o Amateur Radio
160m ( 1.81- 2.0) shared (SSB mainly LSB)
80m ( 3.5 - 3.8) shared (SSB mainly LSB)
40m ( 7.0 - 7.1) primary (SSB mainly LSB) (to 7200 from 29.mar.2009 - WRC-03)
30m (10.1 - 10.15) shared (SSB not recommended) (WARC)
20m (14.0 - 14.35) primary
16.5m (18.068-18.168) primary (WARC)
15m (21.0 - 21.45) primary
12m (24.89- 24.99) primary (WARC)
10m (28.0 - 29.7) primary
Note: the original bands were harmonically related 1.8, 3.6, 7, 14, 21, 28 (ex 56 band!) etc
56m ( 5.25- 5.4) Proposed new USA band
UK 'Fivemegs' NoV experiments (Aug 2002, for 4 years) 3kHz channels centered:
5260 1st Working Ch FA speech USB: 5258.5
5280 2nd Working Ch FB cw / narrow data
5290 3rd Working Ch FC wide data / speech
5400 Primary Calling Channel FE nets/calling
5405 Secondary Calling Channel FM calling only
o Aeronautical OR (Off-Route; so mainly military) (3kHz SSB channels) GHFS
Watch for "Airfield colour states" every hour at the same minutes past the hour.
Volmet weather info broadcasts are easy to find...
kHz
3023 - 3152 3023 SAR (night) and up to 3230= ?
3800 - 3950
4700= -4995= +CCF
5450= -5480= 5450 RAF VolMet
5680 GMDSS SAR (day)
5684 - 5726 5711
6685 - 6763 6739
8965 - 9037 9031 "On-the-hour" and H+30 "Architect"
11175 -11271 11175 is the "triple 1" calling channel 11253 RAF VolMet
13200 -13257
15010 -15097
17970 -18027
21870=-21924= Fixed
23200=-23350=
o Sounding - investigating the ionospheric conditions by sweeping 2 to 30MHz every
5 minutes (100kHz per second). A chirp hits 7MHz at about 2:28 into each 5 minute segment
o In the remaining parts of HF, you'd be forgiven for thinking anything goes :o)
I presume "fixed" on its own means mobile so long as one station is fixed!
kHz
3155= -3400= Fixed + Land & Sea Mobile
4000= -4063= Fixed + Sea Mobile (4000-4060 USB, ch1-21)
4438= -4650= Fixed + all Mobile +CCF
5005= -5450= Fixed + Land & Sea Mobile +CCF
5730= -5950= Fixed + Land & Sea Mobile
6765= -7000= Fixed + Land Mobile
7300= -8100= Fixed + Land Mobile
8100= -8195= Fixed + Maritime Mobile (8101-8191 USB, ch1-31)
9040= -9500= Fixed
9900= -9995= Fixed
10150=-11175= Fixed + Land & Sea Mobile
11400=-11700= Fixed
12050=-12230= Fixed
13360=-13600= Fixed + all Mobile
13800=-14000= Fixed + all Mobile + EC!
14350=-14990= Fixed + all Mobile
15600=-16360= Fixed
17410=-17550= Fixed
18030=-18068= Fixed
18168=-18780= Fixed + Land & Sea Mobile
18900=-19680= Fixed (18.9 to 19.02 broadcasting after 2007)
19800=-19990= Fixed
20010=-21000= Fixed + all Mobile
21750=-21870= Fixed
22855=-23000= Fixed
23000=-23200= Fixed + all Mobile
23350=-24890= Fixed + Land Mobile
25010=-25070= Fixed + Land Mobile
25210=-25550= Fixed + Land & Sea Mobile
25550=-25600= Radio Astronomy
o Cadets - CCF etc.
CCF (Combined Cadet Force)
Equipment they use tends to read 2kHz higher - 5330 etc.
2273
2413
2768
3848
4029 ?
4363 ?middle of a Maritime SSB channels section
4443
4453 - 4498 4478 4953
4918 - 4995 4973 calling, 4918 4921 4953
5300 - 5346 5328 5343 calling
6913
7708
7751 data
Sea Cadets (Sunday mornings)
6992 RL25 and RL22 6806
o Unlicensed pirate pseudo-hams.
"Echo Charlie" band at 6.6MHz (please let me know what EC means!) has been around for decades.
They argue that little real harm is done on the unused civil aero channels, but a lot of
channels ARE used, especially between 6600 and 6635. Of the hundreds of stations active,
some do venture down as far as 6530 but "most don't really go below 6635" has been heard.
International flight control may be affected. There may be a dozen or more QSOs at any time!
kHz (approx)
3430 - 3500 86 or 85m, LSB/USB calling 3475 LSB much aero use... SAR on 3488 etc.
6530 - 6700 45 metres, LSB/USB calling 6670 LSB Italy 6660 Sweden 6685 military above 6682!
12105 -12256 22 metres, USB 12.105 12.13 12.16
13630 -14000 21 metres, USB/LSB calling 13970 USB 13995? much data use, but not all the time
18010 -18050 16 metres, USB/LSB calling 18030 USB stay above 18030, it's military aero below!
20900 -20980 14 metres, USB/LSB calling 20930 USB I'd stay below 20960, if I were you.
I hesitate to include the following because the whole approach is subtly different...
26185 -28000 11 metres, USB/LSB calling 27555 USB CB "Freeband"
Stereotypes:
CB : fairly brainless, nice but dim etc
ham : knowledgeable nerds, very dull
PMR446 : the outdoor type, and hubby-to-wife links
freebanders : CBers playing at DX
Echo Charlie : The true spirit of radio friendship, enjoying beating the system
--26.175=-------------------------
Fixed & Mobile (not aero)
The use of HF spectrum as we know it changes near 26.1MHz, where usage becomes more
like VHF/6 metres - services intended to be local, rather than long-distance.
26 (25?!!) to 28 MHz littered with freeband unofficial CB channels. (+Callsigns) more
Very nicely operated SSB DX, putting Amateur radio to shame!
26.185..CB freeband Lo-Lo channels 11-40, to 26.505 (mid band - 2 x 450kHz) 26285 calling
26.3125.unapproved French cordless phones 15 x 25kHz, to 26.4875 (handsets +15: 41.3125-41.4875)
26.330..New Zealand CB 1-40, to 26.770 (mid band -635kHz) calling 26.5 (ch 15)
26.225=.Paging, to 26.9325= 25kHz STH Paging 26.835 & 26.92
26.25 JFMG talkback (simp) 12.5kHz 20W, and 26.35, 26.45
26.515..CB freeband Lo channels 1-40, to 26.955 (mid band - 1 x 450kHz)
Allowed in Hungary AM/FM 4W mobile, 1W base - and SSB 12 or 3W
26.565..German CB ch.s 41-80, to 26.955 (straight 10kHz sequence)
26.87 ..future SSB CB, to 26.96 (provisional plans)
"The UK indicted their willingness to participate in this work, although they indicated
that they would be opposed to introducing AM/SSB CB operation."
26.965..CB, to 27.405 (PR27) 40 FM CEPT "EURO" channels 10kHz spacings with gaps (+/-2kHz FM deviation)
Allowed in the UK since 1988, this is now a Euro band as agreed by an ERC decision
in 1996. These CEPT channels are the original USA freqs, known as the "mid" channels.
Shared with ISM, and up to 27.28= with SRD (models - AM on colour coded channels) (USA models)
26.965 01
26.975 02 +"Black" (Models code)
26.985 03
26.995 "Brown" / 3A
27.005 04
27.015 05 +27.020 "Brown/Red" (5a)
27.025 06
27.035 07
27.045 "Red" +Test/Dev / 7A
27.055 08
27.065 09 +27.070 "Red/Orange" (9a)
27.075 10
27.085 11
27.095 "Orange" +Railway SRDs / 11A
27.105 12
27.115 13 +27.120 "Orange/Yellow" (13a), +ISM, ex Paging (Test/Dev.), & 27.162
27.125 14
27.135 15
27.145 "Yellow" / 15A
27.155 16
27.165 17 +27.170 "Yellow/Green" (17a)
27.175 18
27.185 19
27.195 "Green" / 19A
27.205 20 from 20 to 40 channel num = first two decimals except 23 to 25...
27.215 21 +27.220 "Green/Blue" (21a)
27.225 22
27.235 24 ! ex 22A
27.245 25 ! +"Blue (UK)" ex 22B before 1977
27.255 23 ! +"Blue (US)" ex top channel until 1977
27.265 26 +27.270 "Blue/Grey" or sometimes "White" (26a)
to
27.405 40 27.315 31 Calling?
Packet (AX25) allowed 20.dec.2002 on channels 24,25 & 32
pre-1958 : USA Ham band at 26.96-27.23 very underused, and there was little business/military
use up to 28MHz. Model control on 27.255 was inadequate and shared with all sorts of paging.
11.sep.1958 : CB starts, on 22 new 10kHz channels in the old ham band, fitted around 5 new model
channels later known as 3A, 7A, 11A, 15A and 19A. The old model channel was allocated to CB as channel
23 as well as remaining as the sixth model channel. The two-channel gap between 22 and 23 gave rise
to pirate channels 22A and 22B in the Business Band that couldn't yet be used for CB.
1.jan.1977 : more CB channels added - there had been plans for 99 channels up to 27.995 but it was
decided not to allow a span of more than 440kHz - to prevent intermod breakthrough to any 455kHz
receiver Intermediate Frequency stages. The business band lost 27.23 to 27.41 to CB, the new channels
(24 onwards) filled in the reclaimed gap between 22 and 23, and then continued up to 27.405 to make 40
channels in all. The five newer model freqs (50kHz apart) are now part of an allocation up to 27.28= in the
UK with channel 25 now being "Blue" (27.245) and channel 02 now "Black", amongst other interleaved channels.
The mid channels are transposed up and down the spectrum by multiples of 450kHz to create
extra sets of 40 channels such as "hi" and "lo", including the gaps and sequence jumps!
26.957 to 27.283 is still an 11m Amateur band in New Zealand!
CB should be license-free! Wakey wakey, UK!
Very commendable, I'm sure, but licensing is really needed as a mechanism to stop idiots using
it - licenses can be revoked. Interesting issue. Maybe a license should be for life... (unless forfeited).
(UPDATE: Dereg. is being considered, for effect circa 2005)
27.415..CB freeband Hi channels 1-40, to 27.855 (mid band + 1 x 450kHz)
27.41=... Alarms (27.45 12.5kHz 0.5mW)
27.41=... future Digital CB, to 27.51 (provisional plans)
CB in Roumanie, to 27.66
27.5= ... Mobile, to 28 Weather balloons (sondes)
27.555 International "Freeband" calling, USB, hi channel 12
Callers announce the freq they'll move to, usually between 27.41 and 28MHz in 5kHz chs. Very civilised!
27.601..CB, to 27.99125 (27/81) UK ONLY - 40 FM 10kHz channels allocated 2.nov.1981
27.601 ch 1 MHz = (channel x 0.01) + 27.59125 Ch = first two decimals -60 +1
to
27.991 ch 40 09=emergency 14=calling 19=mobile
27.865..CB freeband Hi-hi channels 1-11a, to 27.995 (mid band + 2 x 450kHz)
CB can be fairly useful (when you want to speak to normal people, not just radio
nutters), but what a pity we're stuck with an HF allocation clogged up with
foreign SSB rather too often... We need a system that allows silent monitoring,
like CTCSS, or (even better) a 460 MHz system as they do in the USA, Australia etc.
NOTE: (oct98) it looks like PMR 446 will do nicely, apart from the low power.
28=... Amateur 10m band, to 29.7= primary CW,USB,Satellite,FM
28.3... Voice... (and other modes)
29.3=.. Satellite, to 29.5=
29.51.. FM, to 29.69 10kHz simplex or Repeaters (split: -0.1) 10 or 20kHz
Various parts of these channels used for repeaters in different regions
with the remaining channels used for simplex.
29.51.. repeater inputs or simplex, to 29.59
29.6 simplex calling
For the unlicensed, or simply licensed, there are three main types of radio use:
1) Low-power handheld - now well served by PMR 446
2) Base/mobile use that is well served by CB SOME OF THE TIME
3) DX-ing - wasn't well served at all, leading to the 27MHz SSB and 6.6MHz problems,
although getting onto HF legally is now far more reasonable as Morse no longer applies.
27MHz and 6.6MHz SSB should eventually ease off, and to make matters bearable for FM
users of 27MHz I would say CTCSS is needed.
There is a need for the kind of local service that allows a low-powered
service with roof-mounted antennas to acheive local CB-like ranges WITHOUT any
possibility of SSB interference (i.e. above 30MHz) preferably using CTCSS/DCS as
with PMR 446. With CTCSS, and given the current demand, I would imagine 20 channels
or less would meet the demand. A 200kHz section of spectrum allocated throughout
Europe somewhere between 30 and 217 is hardly asking too much is it? The same
bandwidth as ONE radio mic channel? Or extend PMR 446 with 8 more channels,
all available to handhelds with captive antennas, but the new channels available
to base/mobile sets with external antennas and a couple of Watts of power.
--29.7=---VHF-------------------
Mobile
military (30.3-30.5 and 32.15-32.45 EU1 harmonised) Combat Net Radio, etc
+ SRD, mics, R/C Models, Cordless Phones, Alarms, Hospital Paging
USA :
30-40 MHz allocated for private land mobile use in 1947
25-30 MHz and 44-50 MHz bands allocated for private land mobile use in 1949
20kHz channels were introduced in the 25-50 MHz band in 1957
Parts of 25-50 MHz allocated to Highway Maintenance, Police and Special Emergency Radio Services in 1960
On rare occasions ion layer conditions allow the reception of these signals over the Atlantic into Europe.
31.0375.Cordless phone base, to 31.2125 (duplex, split +8.9: 39.9375-40.1125) 8 x 25kHz channels MPT1384
new in 1997 10mW (4 more channels in Europe(Netherlands), up to 40.2125)
Some countries (i.e. Spain) use 31.025-31.325, 12 x 25kHz channels (+8.9)
Australia has 30.075-30.3, 10 x 25kHz channels (+9.7: 39.775-40.0)
31.725..Hospital Paging, to 31.775
Speech in emergency only. Returns at 161/164
34.25... unapproved New Zealand cordless phones 25kHz ch11-20, to 34.475 (handsets +6: 40.25-40.475)
35.0... Model aircraft, to 35.25 (26x 10kHz) 100mW channels 60 to 85
35.3375.Marine databuoys, to 35.4625 - 25kHz, 250mW
36.5.. Prefered band for use by visiting foreigners for temporary mics use, to 38.5 (espec. 36.7, 37.1, 37.9)
39.0= MBC Meteor Burst Comms, to 39.2= (8x 25kHz : 39.0125 to 39.1875) 500-1600km range
now changed their minds to (7x 25kHz : 39.025 to 39.175)
Proposed wideband systems at 37MHz
39.9375...phone handsets, to 40.1125 - see 31.0375
40.500 Distress, Rescue (often wrongly listed as 40.050) 40.5 x 3 = 121.5
40.66=..ISM, to 40.7= (40.68 +/- 20kHz) DEC(01)03 SRD ** proposed new Euro amateur beacons band **
40.665..Surface models, to 40.995 (34x 10kHz) 100mW cars and boats channels 665 to 995
41= ... Harmonised Military Band (EU1)
46·5=.. meteor burst communications, to 47= UK 46.4, 46.95, 46.975
--47=--------------------------
Band I - TV Broadcasting (not in UK since 1984 - so, great for TV DXing!)
UK: Mobile - SRD, Radio Mics, Alarms
Euro TV 7MHz ch.: E2 47-54, E3 54-61, E4 61-68
Old UK 5MHz ch.: B1 41.25-46.25, B2 48-53, B3 53-58, B4 58-63, B5 63-68 (snd. @ +0.25, vis. @ +3.75)
DAB, if implemented here: 2A 47.936 to 2D 53.072, 3A 54.928 to 3D 60.064, 4A 61.936 to 4D 67.072
There was a pre-war 56MHz ham band in the UK, and the 5m band (58.5-60) for three years post-war.
Many imported (UK unapproved) cordless telephones... base channels :
43.72...US(25ch) & Dutch, to 46.97 (handsets 48.76-49.99) more
45.25...Chinese 10 x 25kHz, to 45.475 (handsets +3: 48.25-48.475)
46.51...Korean 15ch, to 46.97 (handsets 49.67-49.99)
47.64...Dutch to 49.99 (handsets 67.55-71.805)
48.99..."Supaphones" to 49.82 (handsets 67.55-71.745)
47.0 ... Future Euro-harmonised Paging band, to 47.25
47.3=...Alarms & Cordless phones, to 47.55=
47.310 Security alarms, & 47.319, 47.331, 47.356
47.4 Vehicle alarms
47.419 CT0 base, & 47.431 - duplex, see 77.5125 to be phased out. None new after April 2005
47.443...CT0 mobile, to 47.544 - duplex, see 1642-1782 kHz to be phased out
47.550=.JFMG, to 48.880= - talkback (base - split to 52MHz) + links
48.3 links - 200kHz stereo, 2/30/365 days
48.4=... also used for low power conference/touring, to 48.55=
48.425 links - 50kHz mono, + 48.475, 48.525 ( 2/30/365 days, directional TX antenna, 10W max ERP)
48.880=.Paging - 12.5kHz - 48.975 to 49.4875 one-way only
48.975 STH
48.9875 STH
49.2625 SRBR
49.2875 SRBR
49.425...Hospitals, to 49.475 (speech only in emergencies) returns at 161/164
49.5= ...
49.82...SRD, to 49.98 baby alarms etc. 10mW max
50=... Amateur Radio 6m band, to 52= (varies in other countries). Primary. See GJ4ICD site.
Beacons...
50.09...CW/SSB...
50.11 Inter-continental SSB DX
50.15 SSB centre-of-activity
50.185 Crossband centre-of-activity
50.2 MS centre-of-activity
50.5=.. ALL MODES...
50.5=.. data/digital, to 50.7= (railway track to train video over 'leaky feeders' on 50.5)
50.51 SSTV (AFSK) (50·5-51·0 Ocean Surface Current Radars. Short-term, NIB)
50.55 FAX
50.6 RTTY (FSK)
50.72.. UK Repeaters, to 50.88 (split: +0.5) R50-1 to R50-17 - 10kHz spaced
51=... secondary...
51.21.. repeater inputs, to 51.39 (both UK and Euro systems)
51.41.. FM simplex, to 51.59 (20kHz channels)
51.51 FM calling channel
51.81.. Euro. repeaters, to 51.99 (split: -0.6) RF81 to RF99 - 20kHz spaced
52.0=.. JFMG, to 52.95= - talkback (mobile - split to 48Hz) + links
52.75 links - 200kHz stereo - TX antenna directional
52.85=.also used for low power conference/touring, to 52.95=
52.875 links - 50kHz mono + short term OB, + 52.925
52.95=...
53.75=..JFMG, to 55.75= - links (5W)
53.8 low power (10mW) 50kHz conference/touring, and 54.1 54.3 54.7 55.4 55.5
Band I 55.75000 - 68.00000 MHz ... channels will be made available to CBS & PBR services...
... No assignments at present... 380 dual channels
Here is an early plan, more recently 62.75-67.75 is one block with -7 split
55.75=... PBR, see 62.75
57.5=...CBS (planned), to 60.75= (split +7: 64.5 -67.75)
60.75=..JFMG links (5W)
62.75=..PBR (planned), to 64.5= (split -7: 55.75-57.50)
64.5=... CBS, see 57.5=
67.7625..Land Mobile, single, to 68=
some JFMG (BBC) :
67.76875 (split +6.94375 : 74.7125
67.79375 (split +7.4875 : 75.28125)
67.80625
67.83125 (split +7.4625 : 75.29375)
Euro Recommendation T/R 75-03 (Nice 1985) set 67.5-68 as a prefered band for UK use by visiting foreigners for
temporary PMR use by "ITINERANT ENTERPRISES AND SPORTING EVENTS", but 75-03 has not been implemented by the UK
There is a Euro plan (25-08) to re-organise 54-68:
61.0125 ... Base, to 67.9875 (split -7: 54.0125-60.9875)
There is a Euro plan (TR 25-08) to re-organise this band:
77.8125 ... Base, to 87.4875 (split -9.8: 68.0125-77.6875) single: 77.7-77.8 and 74.8-75.2 & 84.6-85
Various countries overseas allow FM broadcasting from 65-74 and 76-87.5 (eg OIRT), this often reaches us.
68.08125= start of VHF Low for PBR, boundary
68.0875.PBR, to 69.9875 single, dual: see 81.5875
68.55 RA plan says this is single (unpaired)
68.625 demo/parking
(68.816=.. JFMG, to 69.904= - Talkback base (12.5kHz - split to 75MHz) to cease in 2000)
-70=--...Amateur 4m band, to 70.5= (since 1956; when 70.2-70.4)
Secondary (Full/Intermediate Classes only).
started as UK (G/M/2) only, with British Gibraltar (ZB) and Cyprus (5B), and Eire (EI)
now with South Africa (ZS/ZR), and Slovenia (S5)
Denmark now allows (July 2003) 70.025, 70.05 and 70.1 (max 25W, 10 kHz)
70.0... Beacons...
70.03.. CW/SSB
70.15 Meteor Scatter calling
70.185 Cross-band centre-of-activity
70.2 SSB calling
-70.25= -all modes---
70.26 old calling frequency still in use - AM/FM
70.275
70.2875
-70.3= --FM simplex--- (12.5 kHz channels) ---
70.3 RTTY/FAX
70.3125 data/digital - Packet
70.325 data/digital - Packet
70.3375 data/digital - Packet
70.350 (Emergency priority)
70.3625 data/digital
70.375 (Emergency priority)
70.3875 data/digital
70.4 (Emergency priority)
70.4125 data/digital
70.4250 (some use by GB2RS)
70.4375 data/digital
70.45 FM Calling channel
70.4625 data/digital
70.4750 data/digital
70.4875 data/digital - Packet
-70.5=---
70.5125.H.O. - Fire Service mainscheme, to 71.5= (with 80-81.5) 12.5kHz AM/FM
71.5125.PBR, to 72.7875 single, dual: see 85.0125
72.375 STH/demo/parking
72.8... Land Mobile: MoD, to 76.7 (73.3-74.1 EU1 harmonised) Helicopters allowed 72.8-74.8
(74.6875... JFMG, to 74.7125 - Talkback)
75.0 CAA ILS runway marker beacons (Guard band 74.8-75.2) 200ft, 1 & 3.5 miles from touchdown
(75.2625=.. JFMG, to 75.3= - Talkback mobile (split to 69MHz) (+airborne) to cease in 2000)
76.7125.PBR, to 77.4875 single, dual: see 86.7125 ...
77.5... PBR, to 77.9875 (used to be paired with 87.5 to 88)
77.5 standard telemetry channel
77.5125 CT0 extended Cordless phones, & 77.55 (mobile; base at 47.431 & 47.419) to be phased out
77.625 once mobile paired with 82.8 base
77.6875 UK General
Four channels between 77.75 and 77.9875 were once mobile paired with base at +8.7125/8.7
in the 86MHz single section, between 86.4625 and 86.6875
A new plan now shows 86.4625 - 86.7 split -8.7125 : 77.75 - 77.9875
78=... Land Mobile: MoD (79-79.7 EU1 harmonised) Helicopters allowed 78-80
(Thailand yellow CB at 78.0 - 78.9875)
(78.183=..JFMG, to 78.259= - wide area or location talkback - 12.5kHz)
80... H.O. (Fire) mobile, to 81.5= - see 70.5
Some vehicle-vehicle use (Eng & Wales - not Herts)
(81.5 Radio Astronomy - Interplanetary Scintillation - Cambridge +/- 1MHz?)
81.5=...PBR / CBS - new for the late 1980s
Lxxx = (freq - 78.2) / 0.0125 freq = (Lnumber x 0.0125) + 78.2
81.5125.PBR, to 81.575
81.5125 L265
81.575 L270 MSA, Rallies (from June 2003. Was 86.4375 AM from 1976)
81.5875.PBR, to 83.5 (split -13.5: 68.0875-70.0)
81.6625.Data only (IR2008), to 81.8875 (ch 358-360?!)
81.8 L288 CBS predominantly (
82.05 RA plan says this is single (unpaired)
82.125 L314 Demo/"parking" (temporary use) (:68.625)
82.25 L324 Data Dominant, to 82.275 L326
82.2875 L327 Data only (IR2008)
82.3 L328 CBS predominantly, to 82.3375 L331
82.35 L332 Data only (IR2008)
82.3625 L333 Data only (IR2008)
Somewhere around 82.5 the RA's channel numbering seems to miss 0.2MHz :
Now Lxxx = (freq - 78.0) / 0.0125 freq = (Lnumber x 0.0125) + 78.0
82.5125 L361 Data only (IR2008)
82.5875.L367 Data only (IR2008), to 82.6125 L369
82.625 L370 Data Dominant
82.6375 DGPS - from autumn 2000
82.65 L372 Data Dominant
82.825 L386 Data Dominant
82.8375 L387 Data Dominant
82.8625 L389 Data Dominant
82.875 L390 CBS
to CBS "predominantly" in 25kHz steps - and 83.0125 too
83.050 L404 CBS
83.5... H.O.
84 ... MoD, to 85= - RAF, Mil.Police, mountain rescue (ISM at 84.0 +/- 4kHz)
85= ... Private Business Radio, to 87.5=
PBR listed so that you can avoid tuning in by accident.
(same info can be found on Radiocomms Agency site anyway)
12.5kHz channels. (Started in 1947 with 100 kHz ch, 25kHz from 1960, 12.5kHz in 1969)
Water co.s, councils, AA/RAC, forestry, customs, taxis etc.
85.0125.PBR, to 86.2875 (split -13.5: 71.5125-72.7875)
85.0125 ch L001
85.875 STH (:72.375) or either, singly Also used for demos and parking
86.2875 ch L103
86.3....PBR single, to 86.7
86.3125 Land SAR
86.325 Land SAR, secondary, some areas
86.3375 UK General, to 86.375 (4 ch)
86.675 JFMG, Talkback (12.5kHz) Wales and west.
86.4625 PBR, to 86.7 (split -8.7125: 77.75 - 77.9875) new plan
86.7125.PBR, to 87.4875 (split -10: 76.7125-77.4875) no longer extends to 87.9875 (or starts from 86.9625)
86.8125.JFMG, to 86.8375 - wide area duplex Talkback (12.5kHz) (+airborne)
The 86.7= to 86.95= section used to be used for 10 x 25kHz links, same -10 split.
87.34.. Eurosignal paging, to 87.415 (4 x 25kHz channels A-D) heard in UK from Europe. info.
Used to be a constant AM tone with pips and doodle-doo noises, as featured in the song
Professionnels by Air (Premiers Symptomes), and could be heard on tuners at 87.5
Changed in March 1998 to bursts of FM data. French channel is 87.39 (C)
87.4875 L199 (highest freq. Low-Band channel)
87.49375= boundary (above 87.4875 by 6.25 kHz - half a 12.5 kHz channel)
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