Frequency Ranges for Radio Telemetry

Low to High Frequencies

• Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) is below 3kHz and are used for submarine communications. Very Low Frequency (VLF) ranges from 3 kHz to 30 kHz and are used for maritime communications. Low Frequency (LF,) 20 to 300 kHz, and Medium Frequency (MF), 300 to 3,000 kHz are used for AM Radio. High Frequency (HF), also known as Short Wave (SW) ranges from 3 to 30 MHz and are used for AM radio, Short Wave radio and amateur radio. Bands within these frequencies are generally used for non-governmental telemetry, such as point-to-point telemetry.

Very High to Extreme Frequencies

• Very High Frequency (VHF) ranges from 30 to 300 MHz and is used for FM radio and television broadcasts. Ultra High Frequency (UHF) ranges from 300 to 1,000 MHz and is used for television and cellular phone communication. Super High Frequency (SHF) ranges from 3 to 30 GHz and is used for wireless communications and satellite transmissions. Many of the L-Bands and S-Bands of SHF are allocated to the U.S. government for telemetry uses. Extreme High Frequency (EHF) ranges from 30 to 300 GHz and is used for satellite transmissions and radar systems.

Government L-Band Telemetry Frequencies

• The Lower L-Band is between 1435 and 1525 MHz. It is used primarily for manned aircraft telemetry. This band is also shared by GPS systems, targets and drones. The Upper L-Band is from 1710 to 1850 MHz. It can be used for telemetry, although it is not common, nor is it officially allocated for telemetry by the Department of Defense. It can be used for test flights on a case-by-case basis.

Government S-Band Telemetry Frequencies

• The Lower S-Band ranges from 2200 to 2290 MHz. It is used primarily for telemetry systems for missiles, unmanned flight tests and unmanned spacecraft. The Upper S-Band ranges between 2360 and 2390 MHz. As of January 2005, only the range between 2360 and 2390 is available for telemetry and this may be further reduced as the band is gradually being allocated for non-Department of Defense purposes.

FCC Telemetric Frequencies

• In addition to frequency bands used by the U.S. government for telemetry, the FCC has allocated 1427 to 1429 MHz, 1429 to 1432 MHz, 1432 to 1435 MHz, 1435 to 1525 MHz, 1525 to 1530 MHz and 1530 to 1535 MHz for telemetry technologies for land, maritime, air and space operations. The FCC has also reserved bands 608 to 614 MHz, 1395 to 1400 MHz and 1429 to 1432 MHz to be used specifically for medical telemetry technology.