Broadcast band.html |
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This article or section deals primarily with the United States and does not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
Broadcast band commonly refers to several segments of the radio spectrum. In the U.S. the major broadcast bands are:
| Common name | Frequencies | Modulation | Band | Notes |
| "AM" | 535 to 1700 kHz | Amplitude Modulation (AM) | Medium Frequency (MF) | Usually speech and news, where a lower bandwidth will suffice. Long range at night due to the ionosphere increasing in altitude. |
| "Shortwave" | 5.9 to 26.1 MHz | Mostly AM and single-sideband (SSB) modes. | High Frequency (HF) | Very long range through "skipping". Standard time frequencies can be heard here. |
| "VHF low" (TV) | 54 to 88 MHz | vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast | VHF band I | Channels 2 through 6 are from 54 to 88 MHz, except 72 to 76. |
| "FM" | 88 to 108 MHz, 74 to 90 in Japan | Frequency Modulation (FM) | Very High Frequency (VHF) band II | Usually music, due to the clarity and high bandwidth of FM. Relatively short range. |
| "VHF high" (TV) | 174 to 216 MHz | vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast | VHF band III | Channels 7 through 13 are from 174 to 216 MHz. |
| UHF (TV) | 470 to 806 MHz | vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast | Ultra High Frequency (UHF) | Channels 14 through 69 are from 470 to 806 MHz, except 608 to 614 (radio astronomy in place of channel 37). |
In Europe, North Africa and Asia, longwave radio frequencies between 153 and 281 kHz are used for domestic and international broadcasting.
See also
- North American broadcast television frequencies
- Broadcast (band)
- Crystal radio receiver
- Dead air
- Internet radio
- Links to UK Radio Stations
- List of radio networks
- Mediumwave
- Music radio
- Old-time radio
- Radio astronomy
- Radio hardware
- Radio programming
- Software radio
- Transistor radio
- Types of radio emissions