4-millimeter band

The 4-millimeter band is a portion of the EHF (microwave) radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use. The band is between 75.5 GHz and 81.5 GHz, with some regional and national variations.^[1][2]

Due to the lack of commercial off the shelf radios, amateurs who operate on the 4 mm band must design and construct their own equipment. Amateurs often use the band to experiment with the maximum communication distance they can achieve, and they also use it occasionally for radio contesting.

Amateur radio shares the band with radio astronomy, vehicular radars for adaptive cruise control, and aircraft FOD detection radars.

Allocation

The International Telecommunication Union allocates 76.0 GHz to 81.0 GHz to amateur radio, amateur satellites, radio astronomy and radiolocation (radar) and space research downlinks. Amateurs operate on a primary basis between 77.5 GHz and 78.0 GHz and on a secondary basis in the rest of the band. Also, 81.0 GHz to 81.5 GHz is allocated by ITU footnote 5.561A to the amateur and amateur-satellite services on a secondary basis. The ITU's allocations are the same in all three ITU regions.^[1]

Until 2006, 75.5 GHz to 76.0 GHz was also allocated by the ITU to amateurs on a primary basis. In response to this change, CEPT added footnote EU35 to the "European Common Allocation Table", which provides a continued allocation of this segment to European amateurs.^[2]

List of notable frequencies

• 75,976.200 MHz Preferred narrow band calling frequency in CEPT countries^[3]
• 76,032.200 MHz Narrow band calling frequency in some countries^[3][4]
• 77,500.200 MHz Preferred narrow band calling frequency, outside the CEPT area^[3][4]

Distance records

The current world distance record on the 4 mm band was 289 kilometres (180 mi) set by US stations AD6IW and KF6KVG / K6GZA on June 14, 2014.^[5][6]

The longest distance achieved on 4 mm in the United Kingdom was 129 kilometres (80 mi) between stations G8KQW and G8CUB on November 23, 2013.^[6]

In Australia, the 4 mm distance record was 170.1 kilometres (105.7 mi) set by stations VK4FB and VK4CSD on July 18, 2019.^[7]

See also

• Amateur radio frequency allocations
• W band

References

1. "FCC Online Table of Frequency Allocations" (PDF). 47 C.F.R. Federal Communications Commission. May 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
2. Blondeel Timmerman, Hans (15 March 2009). "75.5-81.5 GHz". International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Homepage. International Amateur Radio Union Region 1. Retrieved August 4, 2011. EU35: The band 75.5-76 GHz is in Europe also allocated to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services
3. "VHF Managers Handbook". 7. International Amateur Radio Union Region 1. January 2015. p. 53. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 17, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
4. "IARU Region 2 Band Plan" (PDF). International Amateur Radio Union Region 2. October 14, 2016. p. 15.
5. "Distance Records" (PDF). Amateur Radio Relay League. May 21, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
6. Day, Peter; Qaurmby, John (May 9, 2019). "Microwave Distance Records". UK Microwave Group. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
7. "Australian VHF - UHF Records" (PDF). Wireless Institute of Australia. January 23, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.

External links

• UK Microwave Group's 75 GHz page
• First 75 GHz VUCC - Mount Greylock Expeditionary Force
• Building a 76 GHz transverter