UHF (Ultra High Frequency)

UHF is an acronym for a band of radio frequencies often used to broadcast television signals. Mobile phones and satellite radio also use UHF signals. The letters ‘UHF’ stand for: Ultra High Frequency.

UHF Frequencies

Any radio frequency between 300 MegaHertz (MHz) and 3,000 MHz (or 3 GigaHertz) is considered to be in the UHF signal range. This range is less commonly known as the decimeter range.

Frequencies immediately below 300 MHz are part of the VHF range. Radio frequencies above 3,000 MHz are categorized into the Super High Frequency and Extreme High Frequency ranges and together these two are considered the Microwave frequency range.

Uses of UHF

UHF spectrum is used for an enormous variety of purposes, including: mobile phones (PCS etc.), television broadcasters, GPS satellites and devices, satellite radio (XM and Sirius), cordless phones, wireless networking, ham radio operators, Bluetooth devices and some RFID chips.

Frequency Range	Uses
300 – 420 MHz	Meteorology and federal two-way use
420 – 450 MHz	Government radiolocation and 70cm ham radio band
450 – 470 MHz	UHF Business Band, GMRS, FRS, public safety
470 – 512 MHz	TV channels 14-20
512 – 698 MHz	TV channels 21-51, channel 34 is sometimes used for radar, channel 37 is used for radio astronomy
698 – 806 MHz	Previously used for TV channels 52-69
806 – 824 MHz	Pagers, previously used for TV channels 70-72
824 – 849 MHz	Terminal (mobile phone), previously used for AMPS, previously used for TV channels 73-77
849 – 869 MHz	Public safety 2-way (fire, police, ambulance), previously used for TV channels 77-80
869 – 894 MHz	Base station, previously used for AMPS, previously used for TV channels 80-83
902 – 928 MHz	ISM band, cordless phones and stereo, RFID, datalinks, 33cm ham radio band
928 – 960 MHz	Mixed studio-transmitter links, mobile 2-way, paging
1240 -1300 MHz	23cm ham radio band
1850 – 1910 MHz	PCS
1920 – 1930 MHz	DECT cordless telephones
1930 – 1990 MHz	PCS
2300 – 2310 MHz	13cm ham radio band – lower segment
2310 – 2360 MHz	Satellite radio (Sirius and XM)
2390 – 2450 MHz	13cm ham radio band – upper segment
2400 – 2483.5 MHz	ISM, IEEE 802.11, 802.11b, 802.11g Wireless LAN, IEEE 802.15.4

Microwave ovens cause interference around 2450 MHz in the UHF band.