S band

The S band ranges from 2 to 4 GHz, crossing the (artificial) boundary between UHF and SHF at 3.0 GHz. It is part of the microwave band of the electromagnetic spectrum. The S band is used by weather radar and some communications satellites, especially those used by NASA to communicate with the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. The 10-cm radar short-band ranges roughly from 1.55 to 5.2 GHz.

In the U.S., the FCC approved Digital Audio Radio Satellite (DARS) broadcasts in the S band from 2.310 to 2.360 GHz, currently used by Sirius XM Radio.

In some countries, S band is used for Direct-to-Home satellite television (unlike similar services in most countries, which use K_u band). The frequency typically allocated for this service is 2.5 to 2.7 GHz (LOF 1.570 GHz).

More recently, the FCC has approved for portions of the S band between 2.0 and 2.2 GHz the creation of Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) networks in connection with Ancillary Terrestrial Components (ATC). There are presently a number of companies attempting to deploy such networks, including ICO Satellite Management and TerreStar.

Wireless network equipment compatible with IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g standards use the 2.4GHz section of the S band. Also IEEE 802.16a and 802.16e standards utilize a part of the frequency range of S-Band, under WiMAX standards most vendors are now manufacturing equipment in the range of 3.5GHz. The exact frequency range allocated for this type of use varies between countries.

Optical communications S band

"S band" is also used in optical communications to refer to the wavelength range 1460 nm to 1530 nm.

External links

* [http://www.zarya.info/Frequencies/FrequenciesSband.php S-band satellite telemetry and housekeeping frequencies]
* [http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/archive/characterizations/pioneer10.html Pioneer 10 & 11 Abstract]