K band (IEEE)
Frequency range | 18 – 27 GHz |
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Wavelength range | 1.67 – 1.11 cm |
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The IEEE K-band is a portion of the radio spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies from 18 to 27-Gigahertz (GHz). The range of frequencies in the center of the K-band between 18- and 26.5-GHz is absorbed by water vapor in the atmosphere due to its resonance peak at 22.24-GHz, 1.35 cm (0.53 in). Therefore these frequencies experience high atmospheric attenuation and cannot be used for long distance applications. For this reason the original K-band has been split into three bands, Ka-band, K-band, and Ku-band as detailed below.
The K stands for Kurz which stems from the German word for short.
Subdivisions
Because of the water vapor absorption peak in the center of the band,[1] the IEEE K-band is conventionally divided into three sub-bands:
- Ku-band: K-under band, 12–18-GHz, mainly used for satellite communications, direct-broadcast satellite television, terrestrial microwave communications, and radar, especially police traffic-speed detectors.
- K-band 18–27-GHz: Due to the 22-GHz water vapor absorption line this band has high atmospheric attenuation and is only useful for short range applications.
- Ka-band: K-above band, 26.5–40-GHz, mainly used for satellite communications, radar and experimental communications. NASA's Kepler spacecraft is the first NASA mission to use Ka-band NASA Deep Space Network (NASA DSN) communications.[2]
Amateur radio
The Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) allow amateur radio and amateur satellite operations in the frequency range 24.000-GHz to 24.250-GHz, which is known as the 1.2-centimeter band. It is also referred to as the K-band by AMSAT.
See also
References
- ^ du Preez, Jaco; Sinha, Saurabh (2016). Millimeter-Wave Antennas: Configurations and Applications. Springer. p. 3. ISBN 978-3319350684.
- ^ "Mission Manager Update: Kepler Spacecraft Status Report". NASA. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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