Radio frequency

Radio frequency, or RF, is a carrier, or alternating current with or without a signal, at a frequency that can radiate, or propagate, if not shielded. Such frequencies account for the following parts of the electromagnetic spectrum:

Very low frequency (VLF): 3-30 kHz

Low frequency (LF): 30-300 kHz

Medium frequency (MF): 300-3000 kHz

High frequency (HF): 3-30 MHz

Very high frequency (VHF): 30-300 MHz

Ultra high frequency (UHF): 300-3000 MHz

Super high frequency (SHF): 3-30 GHz

Extremely high frequency (EHF): 30-300 GHz

Note: above 300 GHz, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by Earth's atmosphere is so great that the atmosphere is effectively opaque to higher frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, until the atmosphere becomes transparent again in the so-called infrared and optical window freqency ranges.

Analog signals that are not RF include IF (intermediate frequency) and AF (audio frequency, 20-20000 Hz).

Electrical connectors designed to work at radio frequencies are known as RF connectors. RF is also the name of a standard audio/video connector, also called BNC (BayoNet Connector).

Named Frequency Bands

Band III - 174-245 MHz

ISM band......specific frequencies vary

Microwave (US)

L-band........1 to 2GHz

S-band........2 to 4GHz

C-band........4 to 8GHz
X-band........8 to 12GHz
Ku-band......12 to 18GHz
K-band.......18 to 26GHz
Ka-band......26 to 40GHz
V-band.......40 to 75Ghz
W-band.......75 to 110GHz