13-centimeter band

The 13 centimeter, 2.3 GHz or 2.4 GHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a secondary basis. The amateur radio band is between 2300 MHz and 2450 MHz, and thereby inside the S-band. The amateur satellite band is between 2400 MHz and 2450 MHz, and its use by satellite operations is on a non-interference basis to other radio users. The license privileges of amateur radio operators include the use of frequencies and a wide variety of modes within these ranges for telecommunication. The allocations are the same in all three ITU Regions.
The band is also allocated to the Mobile service in the 2300–2400 MHz range on a Primary basis, which in practice creates some difficult sharing scenarios and erratic amateur allocations at the national level.
Above 2400 MHz the band overlaps with the 2.4 GHz ISM band, and amateur stations must accept harmful interference caused by ISM equipment operating in the band, such as microwave ovens. The ISM band is also used by unlicensed devices, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which must not cause interference to amateur stations.

History

The first Earth-Venus-Earth contact by amateur radio operators was established on the 13 cm band in 2009. In HAMNET, the 13 cm band is primarily used for user access.

Frequencies allocations

2,304.1 MHz Region 2 CW & SSB calling frequency
2,320.2 MHz Region 1 Narrow-band calling frequency
2,450 MHz Operating frequency of ISM devices.

Generally, amateur radio is permitted worldwide in the frequency range of 2300 MHz to 2450 MHz. However, in Germany, only the frequency range above 2320 MHz is allocated to amateur radio. In the United States, the 13 cm band comprises frequencies in two segments stretching from 2.300 to 2.310 GHz, and from 2.390 to 2.450 GHz. The segment, 2.390 to 2.417 GHz, is domestically allocated amateur radio on a primary basis, while the remainder of the band is only available on a secondary basis. It is authorized to all amateur radio licensees who hold a Technician or higher class license, or a Basic or higher license. The band is allocated on a shared basis with other services, and U.S. Federal Communications Commission Rules specify that amateurs may not cause interference to and must accept interference from other services authorized by other nations, and by radio-location, fixed, and mobile stations authorized by the FCC. As in the rest of the world, US stations in the amateur service are not protected from interference caused by industrial, scientific, and medical equipment.
The bandplan published by the American Radio Relay League recommends frequencies based on intended activity in the band.
The following table shows the amateur radio bandplan for the 13-cm band:

Frequence range	Use
2320,000–2320,025 MHz	CW, EME
2320,025–2320,150 MHz	CW, Aktivitätszentrum PSK31 2320,138 MHz
2320,150–2320,800 MHz	CW & SSB, Aktivitätszentrum SSB 2320,200 MHz
2320,800–2320,990 MHz	internationales Baken-Projekt
2321,000–2322,000 MHz	Schmalband, Simplex & Relaiseingabe
2322,000–2355,000 MHz	ATV, RX
2355,000–2365,000 MHz	digitale Kommunikation
2355,000–2365,000 MHz	Duplex, digital
2365,000–2370,000 MHz	Schmalband, Relaisausgabe
2370,000–2392,000 MHz	ATV, TX
2392,000–2400,000 MHz	Duplex, digital
2400,000–2450,000 MHz	Amateurfunksatelliten