L band

IEEE L band
Frequency range	1 – 2 GHz
Wavelength range	30 – 15cm
Related bands	D(NATO); UHF(ITU);

TheL bandis theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) designation for the range offrequenciesin theradio spectrumfrom 1 to 2gigahertz(GHz). This is at the top end of theultra high frequency(UHF) band, at the lower end of themicrowaverange.

Applications

Mobile service

In Europe, the Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) of theEuropean Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations(CEPT) has harmonized part of the L band (1452–1492 MHz), allowing individual countries to adopt this spectrum for terrestrial mobile/fixed communications networks supplemental downlink (MFCN SDL). By means of carrier aggregation, anLTE-Advancedor UMTS/HSDPAbase station could use this spectrum to provide additional bandwidth for communications from the base station to the mobile device; i.e., in the downlink direction.^[1]

In the Americas, mobile services are operated between the 1.7 GHz to 2.1 GHz range in thePCSandAWSbands.

Satellite navigation

TheGlobal Positioning Systemcarriers are in the L band, centered at 1176.45 MHz (L5), 1227.60 MHz (L2), 1381.05 MHz (L3), and 1575.42 MHz (L1) frequencies. L band waves are used for GPS units because they are able to penetrate clouds, fog, rain, storms, and vegetation. Only dense environments such as heavy forest canopies or concrete buildings can cause GPS units to receive data inaccurately.^[2]

TheGalileo Navigation System,theGLONASSSystem, and theBeiDousystems use the L band similar to GPS, although the frequency ranges are named differently. Modern receivers, such as those found insmartphones,are able to take advantage of multiple systems (usually only around the oldest L1 band) at the same time.^[3]

Telecommunications use

Mobile phones operate at 600–900 and 1700–2100 MHz.Iridium Communicationssatellite phones use frequencies between 1616 and 1626.5 MHz^[4]to communicate with the satellites. Iridium Communications 2-way messaging serviceSnapdragon Satellitewill utilize frequencies in the L Band as well.InmarsatandLigado Networks(formerlyLightSquared) terminals use frequencies between 1525 and 1646.5 MHz.Thurayasatellite phones use frequencies between 1525 and 1661 MHz.

NOAA

NOAAcyclically broadcasts weather data from its two geosynchronous satellites on 1694.1 MHz.

Aircraft surveillance

The aircraft L-band ranges from 960–1215MHz. Aircraft can useAutomatic dependent surveillance-broadcast(ADS-B) equipment at 1090 MHz to communicate position information to the ground as well as between them for traffic information and avoidance. The 1090 MHz frequency (paired with 1030 MHz) is also used byMode Stransponders, which ADS-B augments when operated at this frequency. The TCAS system also utilizes the 1030/1090MHz paired frequencies. ADS-B information can also be broadcast on the L band frequency of 978 MHz. DME and TACAN systems are also in this frequency band.

Amateur radio

The Radio Regulations of theInternational Telecommunication Unionallowamateur radiooperations in the frequency range 1,240–1,300 MHz, andamateur satelliteup-links are allowed in the range 1,260–1,270 MHz. This is known as the23-centimeter bandby radio amateurs and as the L-band byAMSAT.

Digital audio broadcasting

In theUnited Statesandoverseas territories,the L band is held by themilitaryfortelemetry,thereby forcingdigital radiotoin-band on-channel(IBOC) solutions.Digital Audio Broadcasting(DAB) in Europe primarily usesBand III,but was historically also allowed to be carried in the 1452–1492MHz range in some countries.

WorldSpace satellite radioused to broadcast in the 1467–1492 MHz L sub-band.

Digital video broadcasting

DVB-H,DVB-SH,andDVB-T2can operate in the L band.

Digital multimedia broadcasting

T-DMBcan operate in the L band.

Astronomy

The band contains the hyperfine transition of neutral hydrogen (thehydrogen line,1420 MHz), which is of great astronomical interest as a means of imaging the normally invisible neutral atomic hydrogen in interstellar space. The band also containshydroxyl radicaltransition lines at 1665 and 1667 MHz. Consequently, parts of the L band are protectedradio astronomyallocations worldwide.^[5]Specifically, the 1400–1427 MHz and 1660.6–1670.0 MHz regions are protected.^[6]

References

^"Harmonised use of the band 1452–1492MHz for MFCN SDL "(PDF).CEPTECC. 2015-07-03. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-07-21.Retrieved2015-07-17.
^Ogaja, Clement A.(2011).Applied GPS for Engineers and Project Managers.ASCE Press.doi:10.1061/9780784411506.ap02.ISBN 978-0-7844-1150-6.
^Nicolini, Luca; Caporali, Alessandro (9 January 2018)."Investigation on Reference Frames and Time Systems in Multi-GNSS".Remote Sensing.10(2): 80.Bibcode:2018RemS...10...80N.doi:10.3390/rs10010080.hdl:11577/3269537.
^http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Orders/1995/da950131.txt^{[bare URL plain text file]}
^"Radio Spectrum Allocation".Federal Communications Commission.2011-03-02.Retrieved2023-02-09.
^"RA.314:Preferred frequency bands for radio astronomical measurements".www.itu.int.

[1] "Harmonised use of the band 1452–1492MHz for MFCN SDL "(PDF).CEPTECC. 2015-07-03. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-07-21.Retrieved2015-07-17.

[2] Ogaja, Clement A.(2011).Applied GPS for Engineers and Project Managers.ASCE Press.doi:10.1061/9780784411506.ap02.ISBN 978-0-7844-1150-6.

[3] Nicolini, Luca; Caporali, Alessandro (9 January 2018)."Investigation on Reference Frames and Time Systems in Multi-GNSS".Remote Sensing.10(2): 80.Bibcode:2018RemS...10...80N.doi:10.3390/rs10010080.hdl:11577/3269537.

[4] ttp://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Orders/1995/da950131.txt^{[bare URL plain text file]}

[5] "Radio Spectrum Allocation".Federal Communications Commission.2011-03-02.Retrieved2023-02-09.

[6] "RA.314:Preferred frequency bands for radio astronomical measurements".www.itu.int.

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