Formal Rf Band Designators:

The rf spectrum is divided into eight bands, each symbolizing one order of magnitude in terms of frequency & wavelength. Such bands are termed as very low, low, medium, high, very high, ultrahigh, super high, & extremely high frequencies. They are abbreviated, correspondingly, as VLF, LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, and EHF. These are represented in table shown below in terms of the frequency and the free-space wavelength.

Such bands have alternative names. The energy at VLF & LF is at times termed as long-wave radio or long waves. The energy in the HF range is at times termed as shortwave radio or short waves (yet however the waves are not short compared with most of the EM waves in wireless communications used nowadays). The Super high-frequency and extremely-high-frequency rf waves are at times termed as microwaves.

Table: The Bands in the Radio-frequency (rf) Spectrum. Each and every band covers one mathematical order of magnitude in terms of frequency and wavelength.

The Radio-frequency waves propagate via the Earth's environment and via space in different manners, based on the wavelength. Few waves are affected by the ionosphere; this is particularly accurate at VLF, LF, MF, and HF. The troposphere can twist, reflect, or disperse waves at UHF, VHF, SHF, & EHF.