Radio bands

UK

Summary

• For control, the legal options are 27mhz, 35mhz (air only), 40mhz (no air), 459mhz, 2.4ghz
• For FPV, the legal options are 430-440mhz (req license) (no air), 1.3ghz (no air), 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz
• 2.4Ghz limited to 100mw

US

Summary

• For control, the legal options are: 27mhz, 49mhz, 50mhz (req license), 53ngz (req license), 72mhz (air only), 75mhz (ground only), 2.4ghz
• For FPV, the legal options are: 420-450mhz (req license), 902-927mhz (AKA "900Mhz"), 1240-1300mhz (req license), 2.4ghz, 5.8ghz
• AMA guide to bands

Ham bands

These require an amateur radio license.

• 70cm band (430-450mhz)
• 2m band (144-148mhz)
• Amateur Radio Bands - Wikipedia

RC Bands

From the RC Wikia. (2nd ref)

27 MHz

The 27 MHz band is legal in most, if not all, countries for use with all types of RCs. Subject to interference from adjacent CB Operation. Note:cheap toys seem to usually use Channel 4 if there is no channel stated.

• 26.995 MHz -- Channel 1 -- Brown
• 27.045 MHz -- Channel 2 -- Red
• 27.095 MHz -- Channel 3 -- Orange
• 27.145 MHz -- Channel 4 -- Yellow
• 27.195 MHz -- Channel 5 -- Green
• 27.255 MHz -- Channel 6 -- Blue

49 MHz

Used in some cheap toy R/C, there are at least 6 channels here too. (Need help here.) Not recommended for control of model aircraft due to limited range. Transmitter power limited to 100 Milliwatts.

• 49.830 Mhz -- Channel 1
• 49.845 Mhz -- Channel 2
• 49.860 Mhz -- Channel 3
• 49.875 Mhz -- Channel 4
• 49.890 Mhz -- Channel 5

50 MHz

The 50 MHz band is legal for all types of models in the US, for operators with an amateur radio license. Channels 2 and 3 are apparently not used.

• 50.800 MHz -- Channel RC00
• 50.820 MHz -- Channel RC01
• 50.840 MHz -- Channel RC02
• 50.860 MHz -- Channel RC03
• 50.880 MHz -- Channel RC04
• 50.900 MHz -- Channel RC05
• 50.920 MHz -- Channel RC06
• 50.940 MHz -- Channel RC07
• 50.960 MHz -- Channel RC08
• 50.980 MHz -- Channel RC09

53 MHz

53 MHz is another amateur radio band for all types of models in the US. It is no longer in widespread use for RC, as high powered repeaters are now operating on this band. Channels 2 and 3 are apparently not used.

• 53.100 MHz -- Black-Brown
• 53.200 MHz -- Black-Red
• 53.300 MHz -- Black-Orange
• 53.400 MHz -- Black-Yellow
• 53.500 MHz -- Black-Green
• 53.600 MHz -- Black-Blue
• 53.700 MHz -- Black-Violet
• 53.800 MHz -- Black-Gray
• Anyone having trouble with 53Mhz?

72 MHz

The 72 MHz band is for aircraft use only. Country information is not currently available, other then that it is legal in the US.

• 72.010 MHz -- Channel 11
• 72.030 MHz -- Channel 12
• 72.050 MHz -- Channel 13
• 72.070 MHz -- Channel 14
• 72.090 MHz -- Channel 15
• 72.110 MHz -- Channel 16
• 72.130 MHz -- Channel 17
• 72.150 MHz -- Channel 18
• 72.170 MHz -- Channel 19
• 72.190 MHz -- Channel 20
• 72.210 MHz -- Channel 21
• 72.230 MHz -- Channel 22
• 72.250 MHz -- Channel 23
• 72.270 MHz -- Channel 24
• 72.290 MHz -- Channel 25
• 72.310 MHz -- Channel 26
• 72.330 MHz -- Channel 27
• 72.350 MHz -- Channel 28
• 72.370 MHz -- Channel 29
• 72.390 MHz -- Channel 30
• 72.410 MHz -- Channel 31
• 72.430 MHz -- Channel 32
• 72.450 MHz -- Channel 33
• 72.470 MHz -- Channel 34
• 72.490 MHz -- Channel 35
• 72.510 MHz -- Channel 36
• 72.530 MHz -- Channel 37
• 72.550 MHz -- Channel 38
• 72.570 MHz -- Channel 39
• 72.590 MHz -- Channel 40
• 72.610 MHz -- Channel 41
• 72.630 MHz -- Channel 42
• 72.650 MHz -- Channel 43
• 72.670 MHz -- Channel 44
• 72.690 MHz -- Channel 45
• 72.710 MHz -- Channel 46
• 72.730 MHz -- Channel 47
• 72.750 MHz -- Channel 48
• 72.770 MHz -- Channel 49
• 72.790 MHz -- Channel 50
• 72.810 MHz -- Channel 51
• 72.830 MHz -- Channel 52
• 72.850 MHz -- Channel 53
• 72.870 MHz -- Channel 54
• 72.890 MHz -- Channel 55
• 72.910 MHz -- Channel 56
• 72.930 MHz -- Channel 57
• 72.950 MHz -- Channel 58
• 72.970 MHz -- Channel 59
• 72.990 MHz -- Channel 60

75 MHz

75 MHz is a surface model band in the US.

• 75.410 MHz --- Channel 61
• 75.430 MHz --- Channel 62
• 75.450 MHz --- Channel 63
• 75.470 MHz --- Channel 64
• 75.490 MHz --- Channel 65
• 75.510 MHz --- Channel 66
• 75.530 MHz --- Channel 67
• 75.550 MHz --- Channel 68
• 75.570 MHz --- Channel 69
• 75.590 MHz --- Channel 70
• 75.610 MHz --- Channel 71
• 75.630 MHz --- Channel 72
• 75.650 MHz --- Channel 73
• 75.670 MHz --- Channel 74
• 75.690 MHz --- Channel 75
• 75.710 MHz --- Channel 76
• 75.730 MHz --- Channel 77
• 75.750 MHz --- Channel 78
• 75.770 MHz --- Channel 79
• 75.790 MHz --- Channel 80
• 75.810 MHz --- Channel 81
• 75.830 MHz --- Channel 82
• 75.850 MHz --- Channel 83
• 75.870 MHz --- Channel 84
• 75.890 MHz --- Channel 85
• 75.910 MHz --- Channel 86
• 75.930 MHz --- Channel 87
• 75.950 MHz --- Channel 88
• 75.970 MHz --- Channel 89
• 75.990 MHz --- Channel 90

U-NII Bands

"The Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) radio band is part of the radio frequency spectrum used by 802.11a devices and by many wireless ISPs. It operates over three ranges:

• U-NII Low (U-NII-1): 5.15-5.25 GHz. Regulations require use of an integrated antenna. Power limited to 50mW
• U-NII Mid (U-NII-2<ref name=cisco1 />): 5.25-5.35 GHz. Regulations allow for a user-installable antenna, subject to Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS, or radar avoidance). Power limited to 250mW
• U-NII Worldwide: 5.47-5.725 GHz. Both outdoor and indoor use, subject to Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS, or radar avoidance)/ Power limited to 250mW.
• U-NII Upper (U-NII-3): 5.725 to 5.825 GHz. Sometimes referred to as U-NII / ISM due to overlap with the ISM band. Regulations allow for a user-installable antenna. Power limited to 1W"

ISM Bands

"The ISM bands defined by the ITU-R are:

Frequency range		Bandwidth	Center frequency	Availability
6.765 MHz	6.795 MHz	30  KHz	6.780 MHz	Subject to local acceptance
13.553 MHz	13.567 MHz	14  KHz	13.560 MHz
26.957 MHz	27.283 MHz	326  KHz	27.120 MHz
40.660 MHz	40.700 MHz	40  KHz	40.680 MHz
433.050 MHz	434.790 MHz	1.84  MHz	433.920 MHz	Region 1 only and subject to local acceptance
902.000 MHz	928.000 MHz	26  MHz	915.000 MHz	Region 2 only
2.400 GHz	2.500 GHz	100 MHz	2.450 GHz
5.725 GHz	5.875 GHz	50 MHz	5.800 GHz
24.000 GHz	24.250 GHz	250 MHz	24.125 GHz
61.000 GHz	61.500 GHz	500 MHz	61.250 GHz	Subject to local acceptance
122.000 GHz	123.000 GHz	1 GHz	122.500 GHz	Subject to local acceptance
244.000 GHz	246.000 GHz	2 GHz	245.000 GHz	Subject to local acceptance

"

• 900mhz & 2.4ghz are routinely used in RC controls, FPV, & telemetry

CB bands

"The Citizens Band Radio Services are:

(a) The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service—a private, two-way, short-distance voice communications service for personal or business activities of the general public. The CB Radio Service may also be used for voice paging.

(b) The Family Radio Service (FRS)—a private, two-way, very short-distance voice and data communications service for facilitating family and group activities. The rules for this service are contained in subpart B of this part.

(c) The Low Power Radio Service (LPRS)—a private, short-distance communication service providing auditory assistance to persons with disabilities, persons who require language translation, and persons in educational settings, health care assistance to the ill, law enforcement tracking services in cooperation with law enforcement, and point-to-point network control communications for Automated Marine Telecommunications System (AMTS) coast stations licensed under part 80 of this chapter. The rules for this service are listed under subpart G of this part. Two-way voice communications are prohibited.

(d) The Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS)—an ultra-low power radio service for the transmission of non-voice data for the purpose of facilitating diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions involving implanted medical devices. The rules for this service are contained in subpart I of this part.

(e) The Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS)—a private, short distance data communication service for the transmission of patient medical information to a central monitoring location in a hospital or other medical facility. Voice and video communications are prohibited. Waveforms such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) are not considered video. The rules for this service are contained in subpart H of this part.

(f) The Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)—a private, two-way, short-distance voice or data communications service for personal or business activities of the general public. The rules for this service are contained in subpart J of this part.

(g) Dedicated Short-Range Communications Service On-Board Units (DSRCS-OBUs). The rules for this service are contained in subpart L of this part. DSRCS-OBUs may communicate with DSRCS Roadside Units (RSUs), which are authorized under part 90 of this chapter. DSRCS, RSU, and OBU are defined in § 90.7 of this chapter."

• Five MURS bands are available at 151 and 154mhz.