These tables detail the frequencies used in European cable networks. Cable networks use frequencies which are used by different users terrestrially, like the military, police radio, etc. Because of the late introduction of cable television in Europe, older television sets generally could not receive the special cable-only channels, so some countries (like Germany) still have the rule that the public TV stations must be located either in Band I or Band III. The Hyperband was allocated later than the other cable-only channels, so television sets produced in the late 80s and early 90s may lack this band.
In most cable networks, the UHF band is unusable because its frequency is too high, so TV stations are only allocated within Band I, III, the Mid-, Super- and Hyperband. Even in modern cable networks, only some UHF channels (like only channels 21–26) may be usable. This leads to a high level of congestion in many European cable TV networks, especially as analogue transmission, which is still commonplace in cable television in Europe, is being migrated to digital transmission.
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
2 | 48.25 | 53.75 | |
3 | 55.25 | 60.75 | |
4 | 62.25 | 67.75 | |
X | 69.25 | 74.75 | |
Y | 76.25 | 81.75 | |
Z | 83.25 | 88.75 | |
Z+1 | 90.25 | 95.75 | |
Z+2 | 97.25 | 102.75 | |
D73 | 73.00 | ||
D81 | 81.00 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
S01 | 105.25 | 106.00 to 107.50 | 110.75 |
S02 | 112.25 | 113.00 to 114.50 | 117.75 |
S03 | 119.25 | 120.00 to 121.50 | 124.75 |
S04 | 126.25 | 127.00 to 128.50 | 131.75 |
S05 | 133.25 | 134.00 to 135.50 | 138.75 |
S06 | 140.25 | 141.00 to 142.50 | 145.75 |
S07 | 147.25 | 148.00 to 149.50 | 152.75 |
S08 | 154.25 | 155.00 to 156.50 | 159.75 |
S09 | 161.25 | 162.00 to 163.50 | 166.75 |
S10 | 168.25 | 169.00 to 170.50 | 173.75 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
5 | 175.25 | 177.50 | 180.75 |
6 | 182.25 | 184.50 | 187.75 |
7 | 189.25 | 191.50 | 194.75 |
8 | 196.25 | 198.50 | 201.75 |
9 | 203.25 | 205.50 | 208.75 |
10 | 210.25 | 212.50 | 215.75 |
11 | 217.25 | 219.50 | 222.75 |
12 | 224.25 | 226.50 | 229.75 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
6 | 175.25 | 178.00 | 181.75 |
7 | 183.25 | 186.00 | 189.75 |
8 | 191.25 | 194.00 | 197.75 |
9 | 199.25 | 202.00 | 205.75 |
10 | 207.25 | 210.00 | 213.75 |
11 | 215.25 | 218.00 | 221.75 |
12 | 223.25 | 226.00 | 229.75 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
S11 | 231.25 | 234.00 | 236.75 |
S12 | 238.25 | 241.00 | 243.75 |
S13 | 245.25 | 248.00 | 250.75 |
S14 | 252.25 | 255.00 | 257.75 |
S15 | 259.25 | 262.00 | 264.75 |
S16 | 266.25 | 269.00 | 271.75 |
S17 | 273.25 | 276.00 | 278.75 |
S18 | 280.25 | 283.00 | 285.75 |
S19 | 287.25 | 290.00 | 292.75 |
S20 | 294.25 | 297.00 | 299.75 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
S21 | 303.25 | 306.00 | 308.75 |
S22 | 311.25 | 314.00 | 316.75 |
S23 | 319.25 | 322.00 | 324.75 |
S24 | 327.25 | 330.00 | 332.75 |
S25 | 335.25 | 338.00 | 340.75 |
S26 | 343.25 | 346.00 | 348.75 |
S27 | 351.25 | 354.00 | 356.75 |
S28 | 359.25 | 362.00 | 364.75 |
S29 | 367.25 | 370.00 | 372.75 |
S30 | 375.25 | 378.00 | 380.75 |
S31 | 383.25 | 386.00 | 388.75 |
S32 | 391.25 | 394.00 | 396.75 |
S33 | 399.25 | 402.00 | 404.75 |
S34 | 407.25 | 410.00 | 412.75 |
S35 | 415.25 | 418.00 | 420.75 |
S36 | 423.25 | 426.00 | 428.75 |
S37 | 431.25 | 434.00 | 436.75 |
S38 | 439.25 | 442.00 | 444.75 |
S39 | 447.25 | 450.00 | 452.75 |
S40 | 455.25 | 458.00 | 460.75 |
S41 | 463.25 | 466.00 | 468.75 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
21 | 471.25 | 474.00 | 476.75 |
22 | 479.25 | 482.00 | 484.75 |
23 | 487.25 | 490.00 | 492.75 |
24 | 495.25 | 498.00 | 500.75 |
25 | 503.25 | 506.00 | 508.75 |
26 | 511.25 | 514.00 | 516.75 |
27 | 519.25 | 522.00 | 524.75 |
28 | 527.25 | 530.00 | 532.75 |
29 | 535.25 | 538.00 | 540.75 |
30 | 543.25 | 546.00 | 548.75 |
31 | 551.25 | 554.00 | 556.75 |
32 | 559.25 | 562.00 | 564.75 |
33 | 567.25 | 570.00 | 572.75 |
34 | 575.25 | 578.00 | 580.75 |
35 | 583.25 | 586.00 | 588.75 |
36 | 591.25 | 594.00 | 596.75 |
37 | 599.25 | 602.00 | 604.75 |
Channel | Video Carrier (MHz) | QAM Carrier (MHz) | Audio Carrier (MHz) |
---|---|---|---|
38 | 607.25 | 610.00 | 612.75 |
39 | 615.25 | 618.00 | 620.75 |
40 | 623.25 | 626.00 | 628.75 |
41 | 631.25 | 634.00 | 636.75 |
42 | 639.25 | 642.00 | 644.75 |
43 | 647.25 | 650.00 | 652.75 |
44 | 655.25 | 658.00 | 660.75 |
45 | 663.25 | 666.00 | 668.75 |
46 | 671.25 | 674.00 | 676.75 |
47 | 679.25 | 682.00 | 684.75 |
48 | 687.25 | 690.00 | 692.75 |
49 | 695.25 | 698.00 | 700.75 |
50 | 703.25 | 706.00 | 708.75 |
51 | 711.25 | 714.00 | 716.75 |
52 | 719.25 | 722.00 | 724.75 |
53 | 727.25 | 730.00 | 732.75 |
54 | 735.25 | 738.00 | 740.75 |
55 | 743.25 | 746.00 | 748.75 |
56 | 751.25 | 754.00 | 756.75 |
57 | 759.25 | 762.00 | 764.75 |
58 | 767.25 | 770.00 | 772.75 |
59 | 775.25 | 778.00 | 780.75 |
60 | 783.25 | 786.00 | 788.75 |
61 | 791.25 | 794.00 | 796.75 |
62 | 799.25 | 802.00 | 804.75 |
63 | 807.25 | 810.00 | 812.75 |
64 | 815.25 | 818.00 | 820.75 |
65 | 823.25 | 826.00 | 828.75 |
66 | 831.25 | 834.00 | 836.75 |
67 | 839.25 | 842.00 | 844.75 |
68 | 847.25 | 850.00 | 852.75 |
69 | 855.25 | 858.00 | 860.75 |
Cable television is a system of delivering television programming to consumers via radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through coaxial cables, or in more recent systems, light pulses through fibre-optic cables. This contrasts with broadcast television, in which the television signal is transmitted over-the-air by radio waves and received by a television antenna ; or satellite television, in which the television signal is transmitted over-the-air by radio waves from a communications satellite and received by a satellite dish on the roof. FM radio programming, high-speed Internet, telephone services, and similar non-television services may also be provided through these cables. Analog television was standard in the 20th century, but since the 2000s, cable systems have been upgraded to digital cable operation.
A television channel, or TV channel, is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, channel 2 refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video (VSB) and 59.75 MHz for analog audio (FM), or 55.31 MHz for digital ATSC (8VSB). Channels may be shared by many different television stations or cable-distributed channels depending on the location and service provider
Very high frequency (VHF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves from 30 to 300 megahertz (MHz), with corresponding wavelengths of ten meters to one meter. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted high frequency (HF), and the next higher frequencies are known as ultra high frequency (UHF).
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 megahertz (MHz) and 3 gigahertz (GHz), also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one tenth of a meter. Radio waves with frequencies above the UHF band fall into the super-high frequency (SHF) or microwave frequency range. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF or lower bands. UHF radio waves propagate mainly by line of sight; they are blocked by hills and large buildings although the transmission through building walls is strong enough for indoor reception. They are used for television broadcasting, cell phones, satellite communication including GPS, personal radio services including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, walkie-talkies, cordless phones, satellite phones, and numerous other applications.
Terrestrial television or over-the-air television (OTA) is a type of television broadcasting in which the content is transmitted via radio waves from the terrestrial (Earth-based) transmitter of a TV station to a TV receiver having an antenna. The term terrestrial is more common in Europe and Latin America, while in Canada and the United States it is called over-the-air or simply broadcast. This type of TV broadcast is distinguished from newer technologies, such as satellite television, in which the signal is transmitted to the receiver from an overhead satellite; cable television, in which the signal is carried to the receiver through a cable; and Internet Protocol television, in which the signal is received over an Internet stream or on a network utilizing the Internet Protocol. Terrestrial television stations broadcast on television channels with frequencies between about 52 and 600 MHz in the VHF and UHF bands. Since radio waves in these bands travel by line of sight, reception is generally limited by the visual horizon to distances of 64–97 kilometres (40–60 mi), although under better conditions and with tropospheric ducting, signals can sometimes be received hundreds of kilometers distant.
Broadcasttelevision systems are the encoding or formatting systems for the transmission and reception of terrestrial television signals.
A tuner is a subsystem that receives radio frequency (RF) transmissions, such as FM broadcasting, and converts the selected carrier frequency and its associated bandwidth into a fixed frequency that is suitable for further processing, usually because a lower frequency is used on the output. Broadcast FM/AM transmissions usually feed this intermediate frequency (IF) directly into a demodulator that converts the radio signal into audio-frequency signals that can be fed into an amplifier to drive a loudspeaker.
The following tables show the frequencies assigned to analog broadcast television channels in various regions of the world, along with the ITU letter designator for the system used. The frequencies shown are for the analog video and audio carriers. The channel itself occupies several megahertz of bandwidth. For example, North American channel 1 occupies the spectrum from 44 to 50 MHz. See Broadcast television systems for a table of signal characteristics, including bandwidth, by ITU letter designator. Analog television broadcasts have been phased out in most regions, having been replaced by digital television broadcasts.
A television transmitter is a transmitter that is used for terrestrial (over-the-air) television broadcasting. It is an electronic device that radiates radio waves that carry a video signal representing moving images, along with a synchronized audio channel, which is received by television receivers belonging to a public audience, which display the image on a screen. A television transmitter, together with the broadcast studio which originates the content, is called a television station. Television transmitters must be licensed by governments, and are restricted to a certain frequency channel and power level. They transmit on frequency channels in the VHF and UHF bands. Since radio waves of these frequencies travel by line of sight, they are limited by the horizon to reception distances of 40–60 miles depending on the height of transmitter station.
A television antenna, also called a television aerial, is an antenna specifically designed for use with a television receiver (TV) to receive terrestrial over-the-air (OTA) broadcast television signals from a television station. Terrestrial television is broadcast on frequencies from about 47 to 250 MHz in the very high frequency (VHF) band, and 470 to 960 MHz in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band in different countries.
Channel 37 is an intentionally unused ultra-high frequency (UHF) television broadcasting channel by countries in most of ITU region 2 such as the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. The frequency range allocated to this channel is important for radio astronomy, so all broadcasting is prohibited within a window of frequencies centred typically on 611 MHz. Similar reservations exist in portions of the Eurasian and Asian regions, although the channel numbering varies.
The Preseli transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility on the eastern end of the Preseli Mountains, close to the villages of Crymych and Pentre Galar in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is owned and operated by Arqiva.
Band III is the name of the range of radio frequencies within the very high frequency (VHF) part of the electromagnetic spectrum from 174 to 240 megahertz (MHz). It is primarily used for radio and television broadcasting. It is also called high-band VHF, in contrast to Bands I and II.
Band I is a range of radio frequencies within the very high frequency (VHF) part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The first time there was defined "for simplicity" in Annex 1 of "Final acts of the European Broadcasting Conference in the VHF and UHF bands - Stockholm, 1961". Band I ranges from 47 to 68 MHz for the European Broadcasting Area, and from 54 to 88 MHz for the Americas and it is primarily used for television broadcasting in compliance with ITU Radio Regulations. With the transition to digital TV, most Band I transmitters have already been switched off.
Television frequency allocation has evolved since the start of television in Australia in 1956, and later in New Zealand in 1960. There was no coordination between the national spectrum management authorities in either country to establish the frequency allocations. The management of the spectrum in both countries is largely the product of their economical and political situation. New Zealand didn't start to develop television service until 1965 due to World War 2 and its economic harm in the country's economy.
Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connected to an antenna which radiates oscillating electrical energy, often characterized as a wave. They can be received by other antennas connected to a radio receiver, this is the fundamental principle of radio communication. In addition to communication, radio is used for radar, radio navigation, remote control, remote sensing, and other applications.
CCIR System B was the 625-line VHF analog broadcast television system which at its peak was adopted by more than one hundred countries, either with PAL or SECAM colour. It is usually associated with CCIR System G for UHF broadcasts.
UHF television broadcasting is the use of ultra high frequency (UHF) radio for over-the-air transmission of television signals. UHF frequencies are used for both analog and digital television broadcasts. UHF channels are typically given higher channel numbers, like the US arrangement with VHF channels (initially) 1 to 13, and UHF channels (initially) numbered 14 to 83. Compared with an equivalent VHF television transmitter, to cover the same geographic area with a UHF transmitter requires a higher effective radiated power, implying a more powerful transmitter or a more complex antenna. However, the additional channels allow more broadcasters in a given region without causing objectionable mutual interference.
The Pan-American television frequencies are different for terrestrial and cable television systems. Terrestrial television channels are divided into two bands: the VHF band which comprises channels 2 through 13 and occupies frequencies between 54 and 216 MHz, and the UHF band, which comprises channels 14 through 36 and occupies frequencies between 470 and 608 MHz. These bands are different enough in frequency that they often require separate antennas to receive, and separate tuning controls on the television set. The VHF band is further divided into two frequency ranges: VHF low band between 54 and 88 MHz, containing channels 2 through 6, and VHF high band between 174 and 216 MHz, containing channels 7 through 13. The wide spacing between these frequency bands is responsible for the complicated design of rooftop TV antennas. The UHF band has higher noise and greater attenuation, so higher gain antennas are often required for UHF.
CCIR System I is an analogue broadcast television system. It was first used in the Republic of Ireland starting in December 1961 as the 625-line broadcasting standard to be used on VHF Band I and Band III, sharing Band III with 405-line System A signals radiated in the north and east of the country. The Republic of Ireland has (slowly) extended its use of System I onto the UHF bands.