Q band

Waveguide Q band
Frequency range
33 to 50 GHz
Related bands
Radio bands
ITU
1 (ELF) 2 (SLF) 3 (ULF) 4 (VLF)
5 (LF) 6 (MF) 7 (HF) 8 (VHF)
9 (UHF) 10 (SHF) 11 (EHF) 12 (THF)
EU / NATO / US ECM
IEEE
Other TV and radio

The Q band is a range of frequencies contained in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Common usage places this range between 33 and 50 GHz, but may vary depending on the source using the term.[1][2] The foregoing range corresponds to the recommended frequency band of operation of WR22 waveguides. These frequencies are equivalent to wavelengths between 6 mm and 9.1 mm in air/vacuum. The Q band is in the EHF range of the radio spectrum.

The term "Q band" does not have a consistently precise usage in the technical literature, but tends to be a concurrent subset of both the IEEE designated Ka band (26.5–40 GHz) and V band (40–75 GHz). Neither the IEEE nor the ITU-R recognize the Q band in their standards, which define the nomenclature of bands in the electromagnetic spectrum.[3][4] The ISO recognizes the Q band; however, the range therefore defined is 36 to 46 GHz. Other ISO frequency band definitions do not precisely match the concurrent definitions of the IEEE and ITU-R.[5]

The Q band is mainly used for satellite communications, terrestrial microwave communications and for radio astronomy studies such as the QUIET telescope. It is also used in automotive radar and in radar investigating the properties of the Earth's surface.[6]

  1. ^ "Millimeter Wave Propagation: Spectrum Management Implications" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission, Office Of Engineering And Technology, Bulletin Number 70. July 1997. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  2. ^ "Memorandum Opinion And Order, In the Matter of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Application for Review, Fee Control Number 9709298210183001, FCC 09-118" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. December 31, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  3. ^ 521-2002 - IEEE Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands. IEEE. 2003-01-14. doi:10.1109/IEEESTD.2003.94224. ISBN 978-0-7381-3355-3.
  4. ^ "V.431 : Nomenclature of the frequency and wavelength bands used in telecommunications". www.itu.int. International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  5. ^ "ISO 21348:2007 - Space environment (natural and artificial) -- Process for determining solar irradiances". ISO. Retrieved 2016-09-10.
  6. ^ Atanassov, VB and Balan, MG and Haimov, SJ and Kulemin, GP and Michalev, MA and Mladenov, L.H. and Pedenko, Y.A. and Razskazovsky, VB and Savchenko, AK and Vasilev, VL (1990). "Experimental study of nonstationary X-and Q-band radar backscattering from the sea surface". IEE Proceedings F - Radar and Signal Processing. 137 (2): 118–124. doi:10.1049/ip-f-2.1990.0017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)