RF & Microwave

The microwave spectrum is defined approximately for the frequency range 0.3 to 1000 gigahertz. For a frequency of use between 1 and 100 GHz, the term microwave is generally used, most common applications using the range from 1 to 80 gigahertz. The microwave range is divided into different bands, depending on the different technical applications (see table below for bands up to 60 GHz):

Designation – Frequency range – Wavelenght

• L Band – 1 to 2 GHz – 30 to 15 cm
• S Band – 2 to 4 GHz – 15 to 7.5 cm
• C Band – 4 to 8 GHz – 7.5 to 3.75 cm
• X Band – 8 to 12 GHz – 3.75 to 2.5 cm
• Ku Band – 12 to 18 GHz – 2.5 to 1.6 cm
• K Band – 18 to 26.5 GHz – 1.66 to 1.13 cm
• Ka Band – 26.5 GHz to 40 GHz – 11.3 to 7.5 mm
• Q Band – 33 to 50 GHz – 9.1 to 6 mm
• U Band – 40 to 60 GHz – 7.5 to 5 mm

Microwaves are used for satellite transmission, radar, wireless transmission such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DECT, …, WiMAX, mobile telephony, etc.