E band

E band

NATO E band
Frequency range	2 – 3 GHz
Wavelength range	15 – 10 cm
Related bands	S (IEEE) UHF (ITU)
Waveguide E band
Frequency range	60 – 90 GHz
Wavelength range	5 – 3.33 mm
Related bands	V / W (IEEE) EHF (ITU)

NATO E band

The NATO E band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 2 000 to 3 000 MHz (equivalent to wavelengths between 15 and 10 cm) during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA).^[1] However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

NATO Radio spectrum designation
LATEST SYSTEM			ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM
BAND	FREQUENCY (MHz)		BAND	FREQUENCY (MHz)
A	0 – 250		I	100 – 150
B	250 – 500		G	150 – 225
C	500 – 1 000		P	225 – 390
D	1 000 – 2 000		L	390 – 1 550
E	2 000 – 3 000		S	1 550 – 3 900
F	3 000 – 4 000		C	3 900 – 6 200
G	4 000 – 6 000		X	6 200 – 10 900
H	6 000 – 8 000		K	10 900 – 36 000
I	8 000 – 10 000		Ku	10 900 – 20 000
J	10 000 – 20 000		Ka	20 000 – 36 000
K	20 000 – 40 000		Q	36 000 – 46 000
L	40 000 – 60 000		V	46 000 – 56 000
M	60 000 – 100 000		W	56 000 – 100 000

Waveguide E band

The waveguide E band is the range of radio frequencies from 60 GHz to 90 GHz in the electromagnetic spectrum,^[2][3] corresponding to the recommended frequency band of operation of WR12 waveguides. These frequencies are equivalent to wave lengths between 5 mm and 3.333 mm. The E band is in the EHF range of the radio spectrum.

Atmospheric effects

At these high frequencies the short wavelengths give the radiation a very directional quality, similar to visible light. Many molecules possess rotational and vibrational states excited by very specific wavelengths in this band, thus the atmospheric gasses such as oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide and nitrogen can absorb, and be excited causing variable beam attenuation effects dependent on meteorological and atmospheric conditions.

Applications

In October 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that spectrum at 71 to 76 GHz, 81 to 86 GHz and 92 to 95 GHz was available for high-density fixed wireless services in the United States.^[4]

The Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union allow amateur radio and amateur satellite operations in the frequency range 76.000 GHz to 81.000 GHz, which is known as the 4-millimeter band.

E band for mobile backhaul

As mobile operators need more and more bandwidth, they are turning to new frequency spectrums to lower their wireless backhaul costs. Both license-exempt V band spectrum (57–66 GHz) and the newly allocated E-Band spectrum (71–76 GHz, 81–86 GHz and 92–95 GHz) has clear technological and economic advantages. The 20 GHz allocated in this spectrum allows multi-Gigabit per second capacities far exceeding the 6–38 GHz bandwidth-limited frequencies.

In the V Band and E-Band spectrum, wireless systems can utilize the significantly larger allocated spectrum and channels to deliver multi-Gigabit data rates. This enables a simple, robust, and low cost modem and radio design. Thus, V-Band and E-Band, millimeter-wave wireless systems provide significant cost advantages over 6–38 GHz wireless systems – allowing scaling capacity to Gigabit capacities, without additional radio equipment and licensing fees

References

1. NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA)
2. Victor L. Granatstein (26 March 2012). Physical Principles of Wireless Communications, Second Edition. CRC Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4398-7897-2.
3. Jonathan Wells (2010). Multigigabit Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communications. Artech House. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-60807-083-1.
4. Wells, Jonathan (May 2006). "Multigigabit wireless technology at 70 GHz, 80 GHz and 90 GHz, RF Design" (PDF). Defense Electronics Magazine. Retrieved 2014-03-03.