The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic Spectrum
ECEN 20083: FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Frequency Ranges from 30 Hz to 300 GHz
 EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCIES (ELFs)

 30 to 300 Hz
 These include ac power line frequencies (50 and 60 Hz are common), as well as those frequencies in the low end of the
human audio range.
 VOICE FREQUENCIES (VFs)
 300 to 3000 Hz
 This is the normal range of human speech. Although human hearing extends from approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz, most
intelligible sound occurs in the VF range.
 VERY LOW FREQUENCIES (VLFs)
 3000 to 30000 Hz
 Extend from 9 kHz to 30 kHz and include the higher end of the human hearing range up to about 15 or 20 kHz. Many
musical instruments make sounds in this range as well as in the ELF and VF ranges. The VLF range is also used in some
government and military communication. For example, VLF radio transmission is used by the navy to communicate with
submarines.
 LOW FREQUENCIES (LFs)

 30 kHz to 300 kHz
 The primary communication services using this range are in aeronautical and marine navigation.
Frequencies in this range are also used as subcarriers, signals that are modulated by the baseband
information. Usually, two or more subcarriers are added, and the combination is used to modulate
the final high-frequency carrier.
 MEDIUM FREQUENCIES (MFs)
 300 kHz to 3 MHz
 The major application of frequencies in this range is AM radio broadcasting (535 to 1605 kHz).
Other applications in this range are various marine and amateur radio communication.
 HIGH FREQUENCIES (HFs)

 3 MHz to 30 MHz
 These are the frequencies generally known as short waves. All kinds of simplex broadcasting and half
duplex two-way radio communication take place in this range. Broadcasts from Voice of America and
the British Broadcasting Company occur in this range. Government and military services use these
frequencies for two-way communication. An example is diplomatic communication between
embassies. Amateur radio and CB communication also occur in this part of the spectrum.
 VERY HIGH FREQUENCIES (VHFs)
 30 MHz to 300 MHz
 This popular frequency range is used by many services, including mobile radio, marine and
aeronautical communication, FM radio broadcasting (88 to 108 MHz), and television channels 2
through 13. Radio amateurs also have numerous bands in this frequency range.
 ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCIES (UHFs)

 300 MHz to 3 GHz
 This, too, is a widely used portion of the frequency spectrum. It includes the UHF TV channels 14
through 51, and it is used for land mobile communication and services such as cellular telephones
as well as for military communication. Some radar and navigation services occupy this portion of
the frequency spectrum, and radio amateurs also have bands in this range.
 MICROWAVES and SUPERHIGH FREQUENCIES (SHFs)
 3 GHz to 30 GHz
 Frequencies between the 1000-MHz (1-GHz) and 30-GHz range are called microwaves.
Microwave ovens usually operate at 2.45 GHz. Superhigh frequencies (SHFs) are in the 3- to 30-
GHz range. These microwave frequencies are widely used for satellite communication and radar.
Wireless local-area networks (LANs) and many cellular telephone systems also occupy this region.
 EXTREMELY HIGH FREQUENCIES (EHFs)

 30 GHz to 300 GHz
 Electromagnetic signals with frequencies higher than 30 GHz are referred to as millimeter waves.
Equipment used to generate and receive signals in this range is extremely complex and expensive,
but there is growing use of this range for satellite communication telephony, computer data, short-
haul cellular networks, and some specialized radar.
The Optical Spectrum
 INFRARED
 The infrared region is sandwiched between the highest radio frequencies (i.e., millimeter waves)
and the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared occupies the range between
approximately 0.1 millimeter (mm) and 700 nanometers (nm), or 100 to 0.7 micrometer (μm).
One micrometer is one-millionth of a meter. Infrared wavelengths are often given in micrometers
or nanometers.
 Infrared signals are used for various special kinds of communication. For example, infrared is
used in astronomy to detect stars and other physical bodies in the universe, and for guidance in
weapons systems, where the heat radiated from airplanes or missiles can be picked up by infrared
detectors and used to guide missiles to targets. Infrared is also used in most new TV remote-
control units where special coded signals are transmitted by an infrared LED to the TV receiver
for the purpose of changing channels, setting the volume, and performing other functions.
Infrared is the basis for all fiber-optic communication.
 THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM

 Just above the infrared region is the visible spectrum we ordinarily refer to as light. Light is a
special type of electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the 0.4- to 0.8-µm range (400 to
800 nm). Light wavelengths are usually expressed in terms of angstroms (Å). An angstrom is one
ten-thousandth of a micrometer; for example, 1 Å 5 10210 m. The visible range is approximately
8000 Å (red) to 4000 Å (violet). Red is low-frequency or long-wavelength light, whereas violet is
high-frequency or short-wavelength light.
 Light is used for various kinds of communication. Light waves can be modulated and transmitted
through glass fibers, just as electric signals can be transmitted over wires. The great advantage of
light wave signals is that their very high frequency gives them the ability to handle a tremendous
amount of information. That is, the bandwidth of the baseband signals can be very wide.
 ULTRAVIOLET
 Ultraviolet light (UV) covers the range from about 4 to 400 nm. Ultraviolet generated by the sun
is what causes sunburn. Ultraviolet is also generated by mercury vapor lights and some other
types of lights such as fluorescent lamps and sun lamps.
 Ultraviolet is not used for communication; its primary use is medical.
 Beyond the visible region are the X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays. These are all
forms of electromagnetic radiation, but they do not figure into communication systems.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

ECEN 20083: FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

 EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCIES (ELFs)

 LOW FREQUENCIES (LFs)

 HIGH FREQUENCIES (HFs)

 ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCIES (UHFs)

 EXTREMELY HIGH FREQUENCIES (EHFs)

 THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM

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