Radiowave frequency ranges

spaceweb@oulu.fi - last update: 24 November 1998, 1335 UT

Radiowave Frequency Ranges
Abbr. Name Frequencies

ELF Extremely Low Frequencies 30 - 300 Hz

VF Voice Frequencies 0.3 - 3 kHz

VLF Very Low Frequencies 3 - 30 kHz

LF Low Frequencies 30 - 300 kHz

MF Medium Frequencies 0.3 - 3 MHz

HF High Frequencies 3 - 30 MHz

VHF Very High Frequencies 30 - 300 MHz

UHF Ultra High Frequencies 0.3 - 3 GHz

SHF Super High Frequencies 3 - 30 GHz

EHF Extremely High Freqiencies 30 - 300 GHz

Radiowave Frequency Ranges
Abbr.	Name	Frequencies
ELF	Extremely Low Frequencies	30 - 300 Hz
VF	Voice Frequencies	0.3 - 3 kHz
VLF	Very Low Frequencies	3 - 30 kHz
LF	Low Frequencies	30 - 300 kHz
MF	Medium Frequencies	0.3 - 3 MHz
HF	High Frequencies	3 - 30 MHz
VHF	Very High Frequencies	30 - 300 MHz
UHF	Ultra High Frequencies	0.3 - 3 GHz
SHF	Super High Frequencies	3 - 30 GHz
EHF	Extremely High Freqiencies	30 - 300 GHz

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has defined the radiowave frequency ranges as shown in the table. Note that most of the plasma waves occurring in the magnetosphere are "ultra-low-frequency" (ULF) range geomagnetic pulsations occurring below 5 Hz, i.e., outside of this classification. Their high frequency limit corresponds to magnetospheric ion gyrofrequencies (which are low because of small B and high m).

On the other hand, wave types relating to electrons, or those created at the ionospheric altitudes, can reach frequencies covered by the table (ELF - VLF). Instruments like incoherent radars work typically at VHF and UHF frequencies.