highband

Highband is a colloquial term used in radio communications to denote the higher-frequency portion of a given spectrum used by a service such as land-mobile radio. It contrasts with lowband, which covers lower frequencies, and with midband, which lies between them. The term does not denote a formal regulatory category and its exact frequency boundaries vary by country and era. In practice, highband references are often tied to the higher blocks within VHF and UHF portions of the spectrum that have historically supported mobile and portable radio services.

In North America, highband historically refers to the higher blocks of the VHF and UHF ranges used by public safety and commercial users. Typical references include VHF high-band around 150–174 MHz, and UHF high-band roughly 450–470 MHz (with some systems using portions up to about 512 MHz). The precise allocations depend on national and regional spectrum plans, and many areas have undergone rebanding or reallocation over time.

Highband radios and systems generally offer more channels and, in some cases, greater data capacity, supported by newer modulation schemes and digital technologies. However, higher frequencies tend to have greater path loss and are more sensitive to obstacles, which can reduce range and indoor penetration compared with lower bands. This often necessitates more frequent use of repeaters and careful site planning in urban environments.

Today, the use of the term highband is partly historical and technical, lingering in documentation, hobbyist communities, and legacy equipment discussions. It remains a useful shorthand for distinguishing higher-frequency allocations within a given service, but exact ranges are defined by local spectrum regulations.