All Bands of Satellite Frequencies and their Applications

In the 21st century, satellite equipment is a part of various technologies such as broadcasting, networking, weather forecasting, navigation, communications, radio, radar, and more. However, to communicate with different devices for all these purposes, satellites communicate through different frequency bands, which are also known as satellite frequencies, and the devices that transmit and receive these frequencies are known as satellite communication (Satcom) equipment.

In this blog, we will be covering different satellite frequencies that satcom equipment uses to power essential modern-day technologies.

List of all satellite frequency bands

To begin with, it is important to understand that all satellite frequencies fall under the category of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Super High Frequency (SHF), meaning that they fall in the range of 1GHz to 100 GHz. Their wavelengths are also small, ranging from just 1mm to 10 cm. The following are satellite communication bands and their applications categorized from weakest to strongest satellite frequencies.

● L-band

L-band frequencies range from 1-2 GHz and are chiefly used for GPS navigation and connecting satellite phones. They have longer wavelengths and are good at transmitting signals across land, sea, and air.

● S-band

S-band ranges from 2-4 GHz. As it is highly resistant to atmospheric interference, it is chiefly used in radar systems and at airports for air traffic control. S-band also helps establish communications between weather radars, ship radars, and even some NASA satellites.

● C-band

The C-band range is 4-8 GHz. It is even more resistant to atmospheric conditions than S-band and can be used for communications in hard-to-reach regions with extreme climates. Due to its strong frequency, C-band is mainly used for connection between multiple satellites, satellite TVs, and raw satellite feeds.

● X-band

The X-band range is between 8-12 GHz. It is used by the military for multiple radar applications like single and dual polarization, continuous wave, synthetic aperture, and phased arrays. Apart from these, X-band also has applications in air traffic control, maritime traffic control, vehicle speed detection, and defense tracking.

● Ku-band

At a frequency of 12-18 GHz, Ku-band is used for inter-satellite communications and for devices that receive direct transmissions from satellites. Some popular applications of Ku-band are the Astra satellite broadcast service and NASA's Tracking Data Relay satellite used for communications from the International Space Station.

● Ka-band

The strongest spectrum in satellite frequencies is the Ka-band. With a massive frequency range of 27-40 GHz, it is mainly used for delivering high-speed broadband and broadcasting high-resolution videos. Apart from these, it is also highly functional in military aircraft radars for close-range targeting.

These were all satellite frequency bands currently in use all around the world. The only two bands more powerful than these satellite bands are the V-band (40 Ghz to 75 Ghz) and W-band (75 Ghz - 110 Ghz) which fall under the category of extremely high frequency (EHF).

More about Ka-band

The most interesting satellite frequency band about which you would like to know more is Ka-band. Due to the proliferation of the internet throughout the world and the rise of internet-based technologies and startups, Ka-band satcom equipment is in high demand. It is not only driving market growth in the satcom industry but also powering future capabilities including 5G internet and multi-orbit satellite internet.

Here are some advantages of using Ka-band:

● It provides a significantly larger bandwidth availability, which lowers the cost of providing high-speed data.

● Transmitting Ka-band signals requires small-sized antennas or user terminals, which are very cost-effective and easy to install.

● KA-band signals have impressive throughput, which refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted in a particular time.

● KA-band frequency is compatible with multi-beam antennas, which allow the simultaneous transmission of multiple beams from a single aperture.

KA-band equipment is available at SatComHQ

At SatCom HQ, you can find different types of KA-band antennas and amplifiers. Apart from them, we also specialize in providing satcom equipment of all types, including earth stations, antennas, amplifiers, BUCs, modems, encoders, antenna control units, and lower band equipment. To provide you with quality equipment, we have a network of global satcom equipment suppliers and distributors. Our customers can also find reliable sources of suppliers via our dealer directory.

The Takeaway

Satellite technology is essential in the modern-day world and is expected to evolve in the future. However, to ensure uninterrupted communications, satellite companies need to set up stable connections for which these various bands are used. Every band helps us power the various technologies connected to our daily lives and even ensures our safety and economic welfare. Out of all satellite communications bands, the most promising for the future is the Ka and Ku bands which power global internet connectivity and also have promising outcomes for the future.