📡
Frequency
156 MHz
Frequency
156 MHz
🧭
Range
148–174 MHz
Range
148–174 MHz
🧩
Band Group
VHF (30–300 MHz)
Band Group
VHF (30–300 MHz)
🌐 Summary
The 156 MHz allocation is part of the VHF (30–300 MHz) spectrum. This range is used worldwide for critical applications that keep our communications and infrastructure running smoothly. On this page we highlight how each band is applied in real systems, from regulatory assignments to everyday devices. Our goal is to make spectrum data clear and practical for engineers, regulators, and enthusiasts alike.
Key uses of this band include: 156 MHz: Marine VHF, Land Mobile; Marine radios, handhelds.
Start of Marine VHF band (156–162 MHz); Ch 16 at 156.8 MHz is international distress/calling.
🔍 Explore the full RF Spectrum database
📡 Band & Geometry key
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wavelength (m) | 1.923 |
| Waveforms | – |
| Antenna Form Factor (Typical) | ¼-wave ≈ 48.1 cm |
| Band Family | LMR/Public Safety |
| Band | Land mobile / Fixed (VHF high) |
| Primary Common Name | Land mobile / Fixed (VHF high) |
| FSPL @ 1 km [dB] | 76.302491967089 |
| FSPL @ 10 km [dB] | 96.302491967089 |
| Fresnel Radius @ 1 km (m) | 21.925807297361 |
| Band Group | VHF (30–300 MHz) |
| Tax Band Family | VHF |
| Tax Band Class | VHF Band |
🧩 Applications & Usage
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Application | – |
| Lower Neighbor Use | 2 m Amateur (R2/R3); Land mobile (R1) |
| Upper Neighbor Use | Broadcasting (VHF TV) |
| Typical Services Devices | Marine VHF, Land Mobile |
| Market Common Devices | Marine radios, handhelds |
| Refarming Use | No |
| Device Ecosystem Size | Medium |
| Device Hotspots (MHz) | 155, 162, 168 |
| Device Category | Public Safety / Marine / Business Radios |
| Typical Use Cases | – |
| Modulation (Device) | NFM / 4FSK (DMR), P25 |
| Channel Width (Device) [kHz] | 12.5 |
| Device Region Profiles | Globally used for LMR; country-specific licensing |
| Per-Region EIRP Or Duty (Device) | Licensed LMR: up to tens of watts mobile/base |
| Allocation Relevance (Device) | High (LMR) |
| Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) | Moderate: intermod in dense LMR deployments |
| Example Devices Or Skus | VHF Public Safety Radios, Marine Radios |
| Common Protocols | Analog FM (12.5 kHz); DMR; P25 (region); TETRA (region) |
🗒️ Notes
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Receiver Selectivity Notes | ≥70 dB @ ±25 kHz |
| Interference Notes | Internationally coordinated, distress frequencies |
| Compatibility Risk Notes | – |
| Notes | Start of Marine VHF band (156–162 MHz); Ch 16 at 156.8 MHz is international distress/calling. |
| Propagation Notes | Strong coverage, good indoor penetration |
⚙️ Technical Rules
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Lower Band Frequency Limit | 148 |
| Upper Band Frequency Limit | 174 |
| EIRP Indoor Limits | Marine handheld ≤5 W |
| EIRP Outdoor Limits | Marine mobile ≤25 W |
| PSD Limit | — |
| Emission Mask Class | Marine VHF FM |
| Guardband Minimum [kHz] | 25 |
| Typical Bandwidths | 16 kHz occupied |
| Autocalculated Bandlimits | No |
| Typical Bandwidths (Estimated) | 16 kHz occupied |
| Max EIRP [dBm] | Licensed LMR: up to tens of watts mobile/base |
| Power Source Or Duty Profile (Typical) | – |
| Channelization Plan | – |
| Channelization | – |
| Guard Band Requirement | – |
| OOB Emission Limit [dBm/MHz] | -13 (baseline) |
| Spurious Emission Limit (dBm) | -30 (baseline) |
| RX Blocking Min [dBm] | -15 (planning) |
| Duplexing | Half-duplex |
| Duplexing Information | Simplex/Duplex (ch-specific) |
| Uplink Pairing | – |
| Downlink Pairing | – |
| Paired Band Info | – |
| Max EIRP [dBm] | – |
| Channelization Block Size | 25 kHz channels |
| 3GPP Band Number | |
| Example 3GPP Bands | – |
| LTE Uplink Bands | – |
| LTE Downlink Bands | – |
| NR Uplink Bands | – |
| NR Downlink Bands | – |
| Guard Bands | – |
| Protocol Or Standard | – |
🌎 Country Overrides
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Tax Service Category | Other / Various |
| Tax License Type | Licensed / Service-Specific |
| Tax Regions | Global / Varies |
| ITU Region 1 | Land mobile, Fixed |
| ITU Region 2 | Land mobile, Fixed |
| ITU Region 3 | Land mobile, Fixed |
| License Type | Land mobile / Fixed service (licensed, often public safety/commercial) |
| Primary Application | – |
| Primary Services | – |
| Spurious Emission [dBm] | -30 (baseline) |
| Lower Neighbor Use | 2 m Amateur (R2/R3); Land mobile (R1) |
| Upper Neighbor Use | Broadcasting (VHF TV) |
| Licensing Model | Licensed (Maritime/Land) |
| Typical Services Devices | Marine VHF, Land Mobile |
| US FCC Alloc | Maritime Mobile VHF (Part 80)– |
| CA IC Alloc | Maritime Mobile VHF– |
| UK Ofcom Alloc | Marine VHF– |
| US Ref | 47 CFR Part 80 (Maritime) |
| Typical Bandwidths | 16 kHz occupied |
| Market Licensing Model | Licensed (Maritime) |
| Market Common Devices | Marine radios, handhelds |
| Fresnel Radius (1st, 1 km) [m] | 21.925807297361 |
| Typical Bandwidths (Estimated) | 16 kHz occupied |
| Auction Status | – |
| Refarming Use | No |
| Typical Site Spacing km | 5 / 30 |
| Device Ecosystem Size | Medium |
| Traffic Load Share | Coverage-heavy, low capacity share |
| Device Hotspots (MHz) | 155, 162, 168 |
| Device Category | Public Safety / Marine / Business Radios |
| Typical Use Cases | – |
| Typical Center Frequencies [MHz] | – |
| Rule Part (Fcc Or Region) | – |
| Modulation (Device) | NFM / 4FSK (DMR), P25 |
| Channel Width (Device) [kHz] | 12.5 |
| Device Region Profiles | Globally used for LMR; country-specific licensing |
| Per-Region EIRP Or Duty (Device) | Licensed LMR: up to tens of watts mobile/base |
| Allocation Relevance (Device) | High (LMR) |
| Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) | Moderate: intermod in dense LMR deployments |
| Example Devices Or Skus | VHF Public Safety Radios, Marine Radios |
| Antenna Form Factor (Typical) | ¼-wave ≈ 48.1 cm |
| Power Source Or Duty Profile (Typical) | – |
🛡️ Regulatory & Neighbors
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Lower Band Frequency Limit | 148 |
| Upper Band Frequency Limit | 174 |
| Rx Blocking Min dBm | -15 (planning) |
| Lower Neighbor Use | 2 m Amateur (R2/R3); Land mobile (R1) |
| Upper Neighbor Use | Broadcasting (VHF TV) |
| Lower Neighbor Band | 2 m Amateur (R2/R3); Land mobile (R1) |
| Lower Neighbor Range | 147.000–148.000 MHz |
| Upper Neighbor Label | Broadcasting (VHF TV) |
| Upper Neighbor Range | 175.000–215.000 MHz |
| Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) | Moderate: intermod in dense LMR deployments |
| Real-World Range (Indoor/Outdoor) | – |
| US FCC Alloc | Maritime Mobile VHF (Part 80)Maritime Mobile VHF (Part 80) |
| CA IC Alloc | Maritime Mobile VHFMaritime Mobile VHF |
| UK Ofcom Alloc | Marine VHFMarine VHF |
| Regulatory References | US: 47 CFR Part 80 (Maritime); CA: Canadian Ship Stations (Radiocommunication Regs); UK: UK FAT (Maritime) |
| Global Harmonization | Regional |
| Crossborder Coordination | High |
| Sharing Mechanism | – |
| Auction Status | – |
| Guard Or Pair | – |
📈 Market & Measurements
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Noise Floor | -105 dBm (est.) |
| Interference Cases | – |
| Lower Neighbor Range | 147.000–148.000 MHz |
| Upper Neighbor Range | 175.000–215.000 MHz |
| Interference Notes | Internationally coordinated, distress frequencies |
| Market Licensing Model | Licensed (Maritime) |
| Market Commercial Value | Specialized (safety/operations) |
| Market Common Devices | Marine radios, handhelds |
| Market Deployment Density | High in coastal/port, low inland |
| Noise Floor (Estimated) | -105 dBm (est.) |
| Market Commercial Value (Estimated) | Specialized (safety/operations) |
| Ecosystem Maturity | Emerging |
| Indoor Penetration | Good |
| Known Interference | No major interference issues noted |
| Device Ecosystem Size | Medium |
| Real-World Range (Indoor/Outdoor) | – |
| Antenna Form Factor (Typical) | ¼-wave ≈ 48.1 cm |
| Ecosystem Maturity | Emerging |
| Device Ecosystem Size | Medium |
| Chipset Availability | Limited / TBD |
| Operator Deployments | Limited operators |
| Technology Generations Deployed | Multiple / TBD |
| Roaming Support | – |
| Traffic Load Share | Coverage-heavy, low capacity share |
| Indoor Penetration | Good |
| Known Interference | No major interference issues noted |
| Occupancy | Medium |
| Occupancy Bucket Pct | 10–30% |
| Latency Profile | – |
| Common Channels Or Profiles | – |
| Security Features | – |
| Lbt Or Fhss Requirement | – |
| Popularity (Installed Base) | – |
| Coexistence Tips | – |
| Latency Class | – |
| Device Hotspots (Scoped && Tagged) | – |
