Radio frequencies and their primary mode of propagation

Radio Band

Frequency

Wavelength

Propagation Via

VLF

Very Low Frequency

3 – 30 kHz

100 – 10 km

- Guided between the earth and the ionosphere

LF

Low Frequency

30 – 300 kHz

10 – 1 km

- Guided between the earth and the ionosphere
- Ground Waves

MF

Medium Frequency

300 – 3000 kHz

1000 – 100 m

- Ground waves
- E layer ionospheric refraction at night, when D layer absorption disappears

HF

High Frequency (Short Wave)

3 – 30 MHz

100 – 10 m

- E layer ionospheric refraction
- F layer ionospheric refraction

VHF

Very High Frequency

30 – 300 MHz

10 – 1 m

- Line-of-sight

UHF

Ultra High Frequency

300 – 3000 MHz

100 – 10 cm

- Line-of-sight

SHF

Super High Frequency

3 – 30 GHz

10 – 1 cm

- Line-of-sight

EHF

Extremely High Frequency

30 – 300 GHz

10 – 1 mm

- Line-of-sight limited by absorption