Microwave Band Plans

Send comments to Microwave band planning Committee Chair,

Note: The Amateur bands above 70 GHz were changed at WRC 2000 (See the comparison table on this web site for the changes). Since Industry Canada has not yet approved the changed allocations in Canada, the RAC Band plans currently reflect the pre WRC 2000 bands. If you wish to operate above 70 GHz, it would be wise to contact either RAC, or the chair of the Microwave band planning committee, to find out the latest status.

1. The committee felt that dividing the band up between digital, video and wideband voice modes was unnecessarily constricting given the low probability of interference problems between modes. The suggested frequencies should provide for interoperability of equipment while avoiding most interference.

2. A wider allocation is maintained for narrowband modes than in the IARU Region 1 band plan (there is no band plan for Region 2). This is to provide a guard band to protect against interference between narrowband stations near 10.368 GHz and wideband stations, which typically suffer from several MHz of drift and frequency setting error. This takes into account the trend toward more home station operation (including EME) on narrowband modes, where one can not get away from interference by simply moving to a new operating site. The sub-band edges were chosen as multiples of 10 MHz simply to make them easy to remember.

3. The 20 kHz bandwidth is intended to define narrow band FM as a narrowband mode. The 20 MHz bandwidth is intended to define normal FM ATV as a normal wideband mode, not a very wide band mode that should stay below 10.200 GHz.

4. The suggested wideband FM voice channels are based on the activity originally established with MA/COM Gunnplexers at 10.25 and 10.28 GHz centre frequencies, and the most common IFs used with duplex equipment in Canada (30 MHz, sometimes 90 MHz).  A calling frequency is not practical for duplex operation.

5. The wording regarding 10.370 GHz wideband FM is intended to give precedence to narrowband, but to allow the continued use of wideband FM (as has been the practice in Ontario) as long as there is no interference.

Notes for 24 GHz:

1. The 2 MHz for narrow band at 24.048 GHz is there because it is in the IARU Region 1 band plan. The understanding is that the intent is to provide for narrowband duplex operation using 144 MHz IF. There appears to be no reason why we should not provide for this, even if it is not currently used in North America.

2. EME operation is understood to be currently centred at 24.1921 GHz.

3. To protect any future satellite operation from interference, the 24.000-24.050 GHz section has been left out of the "all modes" category.

Notes for 47 GHz

1. The new calling frequency reflects international usage and commercial equipment availability.

Note: The Amateur bands above 70 GHz were changed at WRC 2000 (See the comparison table on this web site for the changes) The following band plans (approved May 23 1998) reflect the pre WRC 2000 allocations.