6-millimeter band

Part of the EHF (microwave) radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur use

The 6-millimeter or 47 GHz band is a portion of the EHF (microwave) radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use between 47.0 GHz and 47.2 GHz.^[1]

Due to the lack of commercial off the shelf radios, amateurs who operate on the 6 mm band must design and construct their own equipment.^[2] Amateurs often use the band to experiment with the maximum communication distance they can achieve, and they also use it occasionally for radio contesting.^[2] In some areas, amateurs maintain 47 GHz propagation beacons on mountain tops.^[2] The band has been successfully used by amateurs in moon bounce contacts.^[2]^[3]

Allocation

The International Telecommunication Union allocates 47.0 GHz to 47.2 GHz to amateur radio and amateur satellites on a primary basis in all three ITU regions.^[1]

It is the only EHF band amateurs do not share with other radio services, and it is the only band above 2 meters which is exclusively for the amateur services in its entirety.^[1]

List of notable frequencies

47.0882 GHz Narrow band calling frequency^[4]^[5]
47.088 GHz Propagation beacons^[2]

Distance records

The current world distance record on the 6 mm band was 344.8 kilometres (214.2 mi) set by US stations AD6FP and W6QIW on September 19, 2015.^[6]

The longest distance achieved on 6 mm in the United Kingdom was 203 kilometres (126 mi) between stations GM7MRF / GM0HNW and GW0IVA on October 21, 2001.^[3]

In Australia, the 6 mm distance record was 181.2 kilometres (112.6 mi) set by stations VK5KK/3 and VK5ZD/3 on November 14, 2019.^[7]

The 6 mm Earth-Moon-Earth record was 9,967 kilometres (6,193 mi) set by stations AD6FP and RW3BP on January 23, 2005.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "FCC Online Table of Frequency Allocations" (PDF). 47 C.F.R. Federal Communications Commission. May 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "UK Amateur Radio in 47GHz" (PDF). Radio Society of Great Britain. August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Day, Peter; Qaurmby, John (May 9, 2019). "Microwave Distance Records". UK Microwave Group. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^ "VHF Managers Handbook". 7. International Amateur Radio Union Region 1. January 2015. p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 17, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
^ "IARU Region 2 Band Plan" (PDF). International Amateur Radio Union Region 2. October 14, 2016. p. 15.
^ "Distance Records" (PDF). Amateur Radio Relay League. May 21, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^ "Australian VHF - UHF Records" (PDF). Wireless Institute of Australia. January 23, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

External links

UK Amateur Radio in 47GHz – Radio Society of Great Britain
UK Microwave Group's 47 GHz page
Map of 47 GHz beacons in UK
First 47 GHz VUCC – Mount Greylock Expeditionary Force
Construction of a 47 GHz Transverter

International amateur radio frequency allocations^[v]

Range	Band	ITU Region 1	ITU Region 2	ITU Region 3
LF	2200 m	135.7–137.8 kHz
MF	630 m	472–479 kHz
MF	160 m	1.810–1.850 MHz	1.800–2.000 MHz
HF	80 / 75 m	3.500–3.800 MHz	3.500–4.000 MHz	3.500–3.900 MHz
	60 m	5.3515–5.3665 MHz
	40 m	7.000–7.200 MHz	7.000–7.300 MHz	7.000–7.200 MHz
	30 m^[w]	10.100–10.150 MHz
	20 m	14.000–14.350 MHz
	17 m^[w]	18.068–18.168 MHz
	15 m	21.000–21.450 MHz
	12 m^[w]	24.890–24.990 MHz
	10 m	28.000–29.700 MHz
VHF	6 m	50.000–52.000 MHz (50.000–54.000 MHz)^[y]	50.000–54.000 MHz
	4 m^[x]	70.000–70.500 MHz	—
	2 m	144.000–146.000 MHz	144.000–148.000 MHz
	1.25 m	—	220.000–225.000 MHz	—
UHF	70 cm	430.000–440.000 MHz	430.000–440.000 MHz (420.000–450.000 MHz)^[y]
	33 cm	—	902.000–928.000 MHz	—
	23 cm	1.240–1.300 GHz
	13 cm	2.300–2.450 GHz
SHF	9 cm	3.400–3.475 GHz^[y]	3.300–3.500 GHz
	5 cm	5.650–5.850 GHz	5.650–5.925 GHz	5.650–5.850 GHz
	3 cm	10.000–10.500 GHz
	1.2 cm	24.000–24.250 GHz
EHF	6 mm	47.000–47.200 GHz
	4 mm^[y]	75.500 GHz^[x] – 81.500 GHz	76.000–81.500 GHz
	2.5 mm	122.250–123.000 GHz
	2 mm	134.000–141.000 GHz
	1 mm	241.000–250.000 GHz
THF	Sub-mm	Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region; others have declined to regulate frequencies above 300 GHz.
[v] All allocations are subject to variation by country. For simplicity, only common allocations found internationally are listed. See a band's article for specifics. [w] HF allocation created at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. These are commonly called the "WARC bands". [x] This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but many individual administrations have commonly adopted this allocation under "Article 4.4". [y] This includes a currently active footnote allocation mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations. These allocations may only apply to a group of countries.
See also: Radio spectrum, Electromagnetic spectrum