| Band designation | Frequency range | Explanation of meaning of letters |
|---|---|---|
| HF | 3 to 30 MHz | High frequency |
| VHF | 30 to 300 MHz | Very high frequency |
| UHF | 0.3 to 1 GHz | Ultra-high frequency |
| L | 1 to 2 GHz | Long wave |
| S | 2 to 4 GHz | Short wave |
| C | 4 to 8 GHz | Compromise between S and X |
| X | 8 to 12 GHz | Used in World War II for fire control, X for cross (as in crosshair). Exotic. |
| Ku | 12 to 18 GHz | Kurz-under |
| K | 18 to 27 GHz | German: Kurz (short) |
| Ka | 27 to 40 GHz | Kurz-above |
| V | 40 to 75 GHz | |
| W | 75 to 110 GHz | W follows V in the alphabet |
| mm or G | 110 to 300 GHz | Millimeter |