EHF
47.0-47.2 GHz (6 mm)
ITU Radio Regulations
| Allocation to services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 |
47-47.2
| ||
IARU Spectrum Requirement
The amateur services seek to retain their primary allocations in the band 47.0–47.2 GHz.
75.5-81.5 GHz (4 mm)
ITU Radio Regulations
| Allocation to services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 |
76-77.5
| ||
77.5-78
| ||
78-79
| ||
79-81
| ||
81-81.4
| ||
5.149 In making assignments to stations of other services to which the bands: ....76-86 GHz.... are allocated, administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect the radio astronomy service from harmful interference. Emissions from spaceborne or airborne stations can be particularly serious sources of interference to the radio astronomy service (see Nos. 4.5 and 4.6 and Article 29). (WRC-07)
5.338A In the frequency bands ....81-86 GHz...., Resolution 750 (Rev. WRC-15) applies. (WRC-15)
5.560 In the band 78-79 GHz radars located on space stations may be operated on a primary basis in the Earth exploration-satellite service and in the space research service.
5.561A The 81-81.5 GHz band is also allocated to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a secondary basis. (WRC-2000)
Amateur experiments and records
08 Mar 2011, DL2AM/P and DJ5AP/P, distance 224 km, CW Tropo
22 Jun 2014, AD6IW and KF6KVG, distance 289 km, SSB Tropo
27 May 2017, OK1AIY/P and OK1FPC, distance 128 km, SSB Tropo
122.25-123.00 GHz (2.5 mm)
ITU Radio Regulations
| Allocation to services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 |
122.25-123
| ||
5.138 The following bands: ...122-123 GHz (centre frequency 122.5 GHz)... are designated for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications. The use of these frequency bands for ISM applications shall be subject to special authorization by the administration concerned, in agreement with other administrations whose radiocommunication services might be affected. In applying this provision, administrations shall have due regard to the latest relevant ITU R Recommendations.
5.558 In the bands ...122.25-123 GHz..., stations in the aeronautical mobile service may be operated subject to not causing harmful interference to the inter-satellite service (see No. 5.43). (WRC-2000)
background
Before WRC-2000 the band 119.98-120.02 GHz was allocated to the amateur service on a secondary basis.
Amateur experiments and records
26 Sep 2009, OK1AIY/P and OK1UFL/P, distance 22.6 km
20 Oct 2013, OE5VRL/P and OE3WOG/P, distance 132 km, CW Tropo
17 Feb 2020, K6ML on Mount Vaca (CM88WJ75ON) at 835 meters above sea level, and KB6BA and N9JIM, both on Mount Umunhum (CM97BD18VJ) at 1,016 meters above sea level. distance 139 km.
134-141 GHz (2 mm)
ITU Radio Regulations
| Allocation to services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 |
136-141
| ||
Before WRC-2000 the band 142-144 GHz was allocated to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a primary basis and the band 144-149 GHz was allocated to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a secondary basis.
Amateur experiments and records
29 Dec 2019 DB6NT and DK4RC CW and SSB Tropo, distance 65km
241-250 GHz (1 mm)
ITU Radio Regulations
| Allocation to services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 |
241-248
| ||
248-250
| ||
5.138 The following bands:....244-246 GHz (centre frequency 245 GHz) are designated for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications. The use of these frequency bands for ISM applications shall be subject to special authorization by the administration concerned, in agreement with other administrations whose radiocommunication services might be affected. In applying this provision, administrations shall have due regard to the latest relevant ITU R Recommendations.
5.149 In making assignments to stations of other services to which the bands: ....241-250 GHz.... are allocated, administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect the radio astronomy service from harmful interference. Emissions from spaceborne or airborne stations can be particularly serious sources of interference to the radio astronomy service (see Nos. 4.5 and 4.6 and Article 29). (WRC-07)
Amateur experiments and records
10 Jun 1993, OZ/DB6NT/P and OZ/DF9LN
26 Jun 1995, DB6NT/P and DF9LN/P, distance 2 km, SSB
23 Feb 2002, WA1ZMS/4 and W4WWQ/4, distance 7.3 km
11 Mar 2002, WA1ZMS/4 3and W4WWQ, distance 11.4 km, FSK CW
14 Nov 2003, WA1ZMS/4 and W4WWQ/4, distance 34.9 km
3 Dec 2003, W2SZ/4 (op WA1ZMS) and W4WWQ/4, distance 61.8 km
17 Feb 2004, W2SZ/4 and WA1ZMS/4, distance 79.6 km, slow speed CW (QRSS)
31 Jan 2008, WA1ZMS/P and W4WWQ/P, distance 114.4 km
275+ GHz
ITU Radio Regulations
| Allocation to services | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 |
275- 3 000
| ||
5.565 The following frequency bands in the range 275-1 000 GHz are identified for use by administrations for passive service applications:
- – radio astronomy service: 275-323 GHz, 327-371 GHz, 388-424 GHz, 426-442 GHz, 453-510 GHz, 623-711 GHz, 795-909 GHz and 926-945 GHz;
- – Earth exploration-satellite service (passive) and space research service (passive): 275-286 GHz, 296-306 GHz, 313-356 GHz, 361-365 GHz, 369-392 GHz, 397-399 GHz, 409-411 GHz, 416-434 GHz, 439-467 GHz, 477-502 GHz, 523-527 GHz, 538-581 GHz, 611-630 GHz, 634-654 GHz, 657-692 GHz, 713-718 GHz, 729-733 GHz, 750-754 GHz, 771-776 GHz, 823-846 GHz, 850-854 GHz, 857-862 GHz, 866-882 GHz, 905-928 GHz, 951-956 GHz, 968-973 GHz and 985-990 GHz.
- The use of the range 275-1 000 GHz by the passive services does not preclude use of this range by active services. Administrations wishing to make frequencies in the 275-1 000 GHz range available for active service applications are urged to take all practicable steps to protect these passive services from harmful interference until the date when the Table of Frequency Allocations is established in the above-mentioned 275-1 000 GHz frequency range.
- All frequencies in the range 1 000-3 000 GHz may be used by both active and passive services. (WRC-12)
Considerations
WRC-2000 extended the mandate of the ITU Radio Regulations to 275-1000 GHz but did not make any specific allocations to radiocommunication services. However, it did introduce radio regulation footnote 5.565 which lists bands above 275 GHz used by passive services that should be avoided by active services. This footnote was updated at WRC-12; the list of bands used by passive services was expanded greatly:
IARU Spectrum Requirement
In order to continue with their activities, the Amateur Services will require globally harmonised allocations of sufficient bandwidth to permit experimentation spaced throughout the range 275-1000 GHz. Given the distribution of radio telescope sites there appears to be potential for sharing with the radio astronomy service.
Primary allocations within these bands appear feasible. Bands within the 275 - 510 GHz range are the most ideal for the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services, based on atmospheric attenuation. Frequencies identified by previous IARU studies were reviewed as part of preparations for WRC-12. Below are the results from these studies indicating bands within which allocations are preferred.
| Previous Studies | Recent Studies |
|---|---|
| 280-294 GHz | 280-294 GHz |
| 358-363 GHz | 334-342 GHz |
| 365-371 GHz | 400-410 GHz |
| 389-400 GHz | |
| 493-496 GHz | 455-470 GHz |
| 506-510 GHz | |
| 692-710 GHz | 670-680 GHz |
| 810-850 GHz | 855-870 GHz |
It should be noted that there is also an increasing preference by some administrations to consider licence-exemption as their default position. This may also facilitate near term amateur access for experimental purposes although not necessarily in the optimum bands The ITU has begun studies of frequency bands above 3000 GHz (3 THz), considered the beginning of the optical spectrum.
Status of allocations in Region 1
Germany has (an) amateur allocation(s) above 275 GHz (source DK2NH 24 feb 2007)
The UK has experimental access to above 275GHz - see RSGB THz Guidance webpage
Amateur experiments and records
322 GHz
15 Dec 2001, W2SZ/4 (op WA1ZMS) and WA4RTS/4, distance 0.05 km
10 Dec 2006, W4WWQ and WA1ZMS/4, distance 7.3 km, FSK slow CW
403 GHz
21 Dec 2004, WA1ZMS/4 and W4WWQ/4, distance 1.4 km, CW
411 GHz
06 Jan 1998, DB6NT/P and DL1JIN/P, distance 0.05 km, SSB