Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the

electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light.

The radio spectrum is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum from 3 Hz to 3000
GHz (3 THz). Electromagnetic waves in this frequency range, called radio waves, are
extremely widely used in modern technology, particularly in telecommunication. To
prevent interference between different users, the generation and transmission of
radio waves is strictly regulated by national laws, coordinated by an international
body, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
A band is a small section of the spectrum of radio communication frequencies, in
which channels are usually used or set aside for the same purpose.

Low frequency As its wavelengths range from one to ten kilometres, it is also
known as the kilometre band or kilometre wave. LF radio waves exhibit low signal
attenuation, making them suitable for long-distance communications. part of the LF
spectrum is used for AM broadcasting as the "longwave" band. In the western
hemisphere, its main use is for aircraft beacon, navigation (LORAN), information,
and weather systems. A number of time signal broadcasts are also broadcast in this
band.
Medium frequency (MF) is the ITU designation[1] for radio frequencies (RF) in the
range of 300 kHz to 3 MHz. Part of this band is the medium wave (MW) AM

broadcast band. The MF band is also known as the hectometer band or hectometer
wave as the wavelengths range from ten to one hectometer (1,000 to 100 m. MF is
mostly used for AM radio broadcasting, navigational radio beacons and maritime
ship-to-shore communication.
High frequency (HF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency
electromagnetic waves (radio waves) between 3 and 30 MHz. It is also known as the
decameter band or decameter wave as its wavelengths range from one to ten
decameters (ten to one hundred metres). The HF band is a major part of the
shortwave band of frequencies, so communication at these frequencies is often
called shortwave radio. Because radio waves in this band can be reflected back to
Earth by the ionosphere layer in the atmosphere a method known as "skip" or
"skywave" propagation these frequencies are suitable for long-distance
communication across intercontinental distances. The band is used by international
shortwave broadcasting stations (2.310 - 25.820 MHz), aviation communication,
government time stations, weather stations, amateur radio and citizens band
services, among other uses.
The main users of the high frequency spectrum are:
Military and governmental communication systems, Aviation air-to-ground
communications, Amateur radio, Shortwave international and regional broadcasting,
Maritime sea-to-shore services, Over-the-horizon radar systems, Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) communication.
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency
electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, with corresponding
wavelengths of ten to one meters. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted
high frequency (HF), and the next higher frequencies are known as ultra high
frequency (UHF).
Common uses for VHF are FM radio broadcasting, television
broadcasting, two way land mobile radio systems (emergency, business, private use
and military), long range data communication up to several tens of kilometres with
radio modems, amateur radio, and marine communications. Air traffic control
communications and air navigation systems (e.g. VOR, DME & ILS) work at distances
of 100 kilometres or more to aircraft at cruising altitude. VHF was used for analog
television stations in the US, and continues to be used for digital television.
Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths
ranging from one meter to one millimeter; with frequencies between 300 MHz (100
cm) and 300 GHz (0.1 cm).[1][2] This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF
(millimeter waves), and various sources use different boundaries. In all cases,
microwave includes the entire SHF band (3 to 30 GHz, or 10 to 1 cm) at minimum,
with RF engineering often restricting the range between 1 and 100 GHz (300 and 3
mm).
The prefix micro- in microwave is not meant to suggest a wavelength in the
micrometer range. It indicates that microwaves are "small", compared to waves
used in typical radio broadcasting, in that they have shorter wavelengths.

Microwave technology is extensively used for point-to-point telecommunications,

spacecraft communication, and much of the world's data, TV, navigation, and
telephone communications are transmitted long distances by microwaves between
ground stations and communications satellites. Microwaves are also employed in
microwave ovens and in radar technology.
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the
range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the
wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. UHF radio waves propagate
mainly by line of sight; they are blocked by hills and large buildings although the
transmission through building walls is strong enough for indoor reception. They are
used for television broadcasting, cell phones, satellite communication including
GPS, personal radio services including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, walkie-talkies, cordless
phones, and numerous other applications.UHF television broadcasting fulfilled the
demand for additional over-the-air television channels in urban areas. Today, much
of the bandwidth has been reallocated to land mobile, trunked radio and mobile
telephone use. UHF channels are still used for digital television.
Super high frequency (SHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in
the range between 3 GHz and 30 GHz. This band of frequencies is also known as the
centimetre band or centimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten
centimetres. These frequencies fall within the microwave band, so radio waves with
these frequencies are called microwaves. The small wavelength of microwaves
allows them to be directed in narrow beams by aperture antennas such as parabolic
dishes, so they are used for point-to-point communication and data link and for
radar. This frequency range is used for most radar transmitters, microwave ovens,
wireless LANs, cell phones, satellite communication, microwave radio relay links,
and numerous short range terrestrial data links. Wireless USB technology is
anticipated to use approximately one-third of this spectrum.
Extremely high frequency (EHF) is the ITU designation for the band of radio
frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum from 30 to 300 gigahertz. It lies
between the super high frequency band, and the far infrared band which is also
referred to as the terahertz gap. Radio waves in this band have wavelengths from
ten to one millimetre, giving it the name millimetre band or millimetre wave,
sometimes abbreviated MMW or mmW. Compared to lower bands, radio waves in
this band have high atmospheric attenuation; they are absorbed by the gases in the
atmosphere. Therefore, they have a short range and can only be used for terrestrial
communication over about a kilometer.
Terahertz radiation also known as submillimeter radiation, terahertz waves,
tremendously high frequency, T-rays, T-waves, T-light, T-lux or THz consists of
electromagnetic waves within the ITU-designated band of frequencies from 0.3 to 3
terahertz (THz; 1 THz = 1012 Hz). Wavelengths of radiation in the terahertz band
correspondingly range from 1 mm to 0.1 mm (or 100 m). Because terahertz

radiation begins at a wavelength of one millimeter and proceeds into shorter

wavelengths, it is sometimes known as the submillimeter band, and its radiation as
submillimeter waves, especially in astronomy.
Terahertz radiation occupies a middle ground between microwaves and infrared
light waves known as the terahertz gap, where technology for its generation and
manipulation is in its infancy. It represents the region in the electromagnetic
spectrum where the frequency of electromagnetic radiation becomes too high to be
measured digitally via electronic counters, so must be measured by proxy using the
properties of wavelength and energy. Similarly, the generation and modulation of
coherent electromagnetic signals in this frequency range ceases to be possible by
the conventional electronic devices used to generate radio waves and microwaves,
requiring the development of new devices and techniques. Terahertz radiation is
emitted as part of the black-body radiation from anything with temperatures greater
than about 10 kelvin.