UHFVHF

UHF/VHF is a shorthand used to refer collectively to the Ultra High Frequency and Very High Frequency bands in radio communications. The term is common in technical literature and in practical contexts such as consumer electronics, broadcasting, and public-safety communications. It does not denote a single standard but a spectrum region that includes many discrete allocations used by different services around the world.

Spectral ranges: VHF covers about 30 to 300 MHz; UHF covers about 300 MHz to 3 GHz. Within those ranges, different countries allocate bands for broadcasting (FM radio, television), two‑way radio, mobile communications, satellite links, and data services. Not all allocations occur at the same frequencies in every region.

Propagation and characteristics: VHF waves tend to propagate over longer distances in open terrain and can diffract around obstacles more than higher frequencies. UHF waves are more line-of-sight and are more sensitive to buildings and foliage, but they offer smaller antennas and can support higher data rates and more channels within the same footprint. Rain has relatively little impact at these bands, but multipath and interference are common in urban areas.

Common uses: VHF is widely used for FM broadcasting (in many regions) and for traditional two‑way radio and aviation communications; UHF is popular for land mobile radio, public-safety networks, cellular backhaul, and television distribution (in many regions, UHF bands were chosen for digital television). Amateur radio uses separate VHF and UHF allocations (for example, 2 meters and 70 centimeters). Consumer technologies such as Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth also operate in the upper part of the UHF range (around 2.4 GHz).

Equipment and deployment: Systems operating in VHF/UHF rely on line-of-sight coverage, with coverage extending through repeaters and relays in challenging terrain. Antenna size scales with wavelength, allowing compact designs for UHF; system design must consider path loss, interference, licensing, and regional allocations.