Broadcast band

This article is about radio frequencies. For the band, see Broadcast (band).

A broadcast band is a segment of the radio spectrum used for broadcasting.^[1]

Common name	Frequencies	Modulation	Frequency range	Notes
longwave	148.5–283.5 kHz[2]	amplitude modulation (AM)	low frequency (LF)	Mostly used in Europe, North Africa, and Asia
AM radio (medium wave)	525–1606.5 kHz, 525–1705 kHz in N. America, Australia and the Philippines.	amplitude modulation (AM)	medium frequency (MF)	Usually speech and news, where a lower bandwidth will suffice; long range at night due to the ionosphere increasing in altitude
Shortwave	Multiple; see Shortwave bands	Mostly AM and single-sideband (SSB) modes	high frequency (HF)	Very long range through "skipping". Standard time frequencies can be heard here.
VHF low (TV)	54–88 MHz	vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast	very high frequency (VHF) band I	Channels 2 through 6 are from 54–88 MHz (except 72–76 MHz).
FM radio	87.5–108 MHz, 76–90 MHz in Japan	Frequency Modulation (FM)	VHF band II	Usually music, due to the clarity and high bandwidth of FM. Relatively short range
VHF high (TV)	174–216 MHz	vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast	VHF band III	Channels 7–13 use 174–216 MHz.
UHF (TV)	470–806 MHz	vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast	ultra high frequency (UHF)	Channels 14–69 use 470–806 MHz, except for the radio astronomy band at 608–614 MHz where channel 37 would be

See also

• North American broadcast television frequencies
• AM broadcasting
• FM broadcasting
• Dead air
• Internet radio
• Radio network
• Music radio
• Old-time radio
• Radio astronomy
• Radio programming
• Types of radio emissions