Satellite /Microwave telecommunication Frequencies (Satellite TV)

Satellite /Microwave telecommunication Frequencies (Satellite TV)

L-Band

L Band is the frequency range by satellite equipment to transfer a satellite signal from the LNB on the dish to the receivers. The official frequency range for L-band is 1 to 2 GHz. Standard satellite LNBS use 950 to 1450 MHz as an intermittent frequency. Dish Network uses a wider bandwidth of 950 to 2250 MHz for their Dish Pro Plus LNB's

Applications

1.      Mobile service

2.      Satellite navigation

3.      Telecommunications use

4.      Aircraft surveillance

5.      Amateur radio

6.      Digital Audio Broadcasting

7.      Astronomy

S -Band 

The S band is part of the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is defined by an IEEE standard for radio waves with frequencies that range from 2 to 4 GHz, crossing the conventional boundary between UHF and SHF at 3.0 GHz. The S band is used by weather radar, surface ship radar, and some communications satellites, especially those used by NASA to communicate with the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. The 10 cm radar short-band ranges roughly from 1.55 to 5.2 GHz.

C-Band

C band satellite systems use a 6 to 12 foot dish for reception of television and data transmissions. C-band covers from 3.7 to 8 GHz, however the frequency range for satellite television is from 3.7 to 4.2 GHz. Used mostly for commercial satellite television transmissions, C-band is becoming less of a residential option.

X -Band 

The X band is a segment of the microwave radio region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, such as in communication engineering, the frequency range of the X band is rather indefinitely set at approximately 7.0 to 11.2 GHz. In radar engineering, the frequency range is specified by the IEEE at 8.0 to 12.0 GHz.

Uses

1.        Satellite Communication

2.        Radar

3.        Terrestrial Communication

4.        Space Communication

5.        Armature Radio   

6.        Traffic Motion Detection

Ku-Band

Ku band is the frequency range from 12 to 18 GHz. When discussing Ku-band satellite TV we only consider, the range between 11.7 and 12.7 GHz. 11.7 to 12.2 GHz is called the FSS-band and the 12.2 to 12.7 GHz range is called DBS band

Fixed Satellite Service- FSS, 11.7 - 12.2 GHz

Part of the Ku-band spectrum used for Fixed Satellite Service. Virtually every dish in the 1 meter to 1.7 meter size is used for FSS band reception. FSS satellites can be spaced 2 degrees apart, which limits their maximum power output to avoid adjacent satellite interference. Today the FSS band is used by Hughesnet ,and Starband for satellite internet. Free-To-Air (FTA) satellite systems also use the FSS band. The FSS band is also used for transmitting television shows, back haul feeds for remote news broadcast and many more companies for various data/video transmissions.

Direct Broadcast Satellite - DBS 12.2 - 12.7 GHz

The Broadcast Satellite sub-band of the Ku-band is commonly called the DBS band. The D in DBS is sometimes called Digital, and others will say it means Direct. Some consider this band to be called the BSS band for Business Satellite Service. That is not correct. BSS is a term used to describe a type of service and not the actually band of frequencies used to deliver that service. We will call this the DBS Band because we like DBS, no other reason.

The DBS band is reserved for high powered satellites intended for the delivery of digital television. DIRECTV and DISH Network are DBS Satellite system providers. DBS Satellites are spaced 9 degrees apart. The wide spacing of DBS satellites allow for very high powered transmissions which results in the ability to use a small 18" dish.

K-Band

 

K band is the frequency range from 18 to 27 GHz.

Ka-Band

Ka-band is the newest satellite broadcast band. Ranging from 27 GHz to 40 GHz. Ka-band is used by Wildblue and DIRECTV. Wildblue uses Ka-band for delivering of satellite broadband and DIRECTV uses Ka-band to supplement their existing Ku band channel capacity.

DIRECTV plans to use two sections of Ka bandwidth. 18.3 - 18.8 GHZ and another 500 MHz band at 19.7 to 20.2.

Wildblue uses 19.7 to 20.2 GHz for the signal sent to the Wildblue customers dish (User Downlink) and 29.5 to 30.0 GHz for sending signal out to the satellite from the users dish (Users Uplink). Go here for more information on Wildblue Satellite Internet frequency allocations.