📡
Frequency
406 MHz
Frequency
406 MHz
🧭
Range
401–430 MHz
Range
401–430 MHz
🧩
Band Group
UHF (300–1000 MHz)
Band Group
UHF (300–1000 MHz)
🌐 Summary
The 406 MHz allocation is part of the UHF (300–1000 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: 406 MHz: Government, utilities, telemetry, PMR/DMR trunked systems; Radiosondes, meteorological aids; LMR radios, telemetry, SRD.
406.0–406.1 MHz hosts COSPAS‑SARSAT emergency beacons; adjacent meteorological aids continue above/below.
🔍 Explore the full RF Spectrum database
📡 Band & Geometry key
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wavelength (m) | 0.739 |
| Waveforms | – |
| Antenna Form Factor (Typical) | ¼-wave ≈ 18.5 cm |
| Band Family | LMR/Public Safety |
| Band | UHF (Land mobile/Fixed) |
| Primary Common Name | Land mobile / Fixed allocation |
| FSPL @ 1 km [dB] | 84.610520671544 |
| FSPL @ 10 km [dB] | 104.61052067154 |
| Fresnel Radius @ 1 km (m) | 13.591108365435 |
| Band Group | UHF (300–1000 MHz) |
| Tax Band Family | UHF |
| Tax Band Class | 406 MHz Distress & Safety |
🧩 Applications & Usage
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary Application | Government, utilities, telemetry, PMR/DMR trunked systems |
| Lower Neighbor Use | PPDR / TETRA (Land mobile) |
| Upper Neighbor Use | Amateur 70 cm band |
| Typical Services Devices | Radiosondes, meteorological aids |
| Market Common Devices | LMR radios, telemetry, SRD |
| Refarming Use | No |
| Device Ecosystem Size | Medium |
| Device Hotspots (MHz) | 406 |
| Device Category | MedRadio / MICS |
| Typical Use Cases | – |
| Modulation (Device) | Varies by device |
| Channel Width (Device) [kHz] | Varies |
| Device Region Profiles | Varies by country / allocation |
| Per-Region EIRP Or Duty (Device) | Varies by regulation |
| Allocation Relevance (Device) | Medium |
| Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) | Low–Moderate |
| Example Devices Or Skus | Military Communications |
| Common Protocols | 406 MHz distress beacons (Cospas-Sarsat); Analog FM (12.5 kHz); DMR; P25 (region); TETRA (region) |
🗒️ Notes
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Receiver Selectivity Notes | – |
| Interference Notes | Protect sensitive receive systems |
| Compatibility Risk Notes | In sensitive band: Cospas–Sarsat |
| Notes | 406.0–406.1 MHz hosts COSPAS‑SARSAT emergency beacons; adjacent meteorological aids continue above/below. |
| Propagation Notes | Strong coverage, good indoor penetration |
⚙️ Technical Rules
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Lower Band Frequency Limit | 401 |
| Upper Band Frequency Limit | 430 |
| EIRP Indoor Limits | Prohibited (406 distress) |
| EIRP Outdoor Limits | Prohibited (406 distress) |
| PSD Limit | — |
| Emission Mask Class | Distress beacons protected |
| Guardband Minimum [kHz] | 25 |
| Typical Bandwidths | 11–20 kHz |
| Autocalculated Bandlimits | No |
| Typical Bandwidths (Estimated) | 11–20 kHz |
| Max EIRP [dBm] | Varies by regulation |
| 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 or paired |
| Uplink Pairing | – |
| Downlink Pairing | – |
| Paired Band Info | – |
| Max EIRP [dBm] | – |
| Channelization Block Size | 12.5 / 25 kHz channels |
| 3GPP Band Number | |
| Example 3GPP Bands | – |
| LTE Uplink Bands | – |
| LTE Downlink Bands | – |
| NR Uplink Bands | – |
| NR Downlink Bands | – |
| Guard Bands | Narrow 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 | Licensed land mobile / fixed service |
| Primary Application | Government, utilities, telemetry, PMR/DMR trunked systems |
| Primary Services | – |
| Spurious Emission [dBm] | -30 (baseline) |
| Lower Neighbor Use | PPDR / TETRA (Land mobile) |
| Upper Neighbor Use | Amateur 70 cm band |
| Licensing Model | Licensed (MetAids) |
| Typical Services Devices | Radiosondes, meteorological aids |
| US FCC Alloc | -– |
| CA IC Alloc | -– |
| UK Ofcom Alloc | -– |
| US Ref | 47 CFR Part 90 (Private Land Mobile) |
| Typical Bandwidths | 11–20 kHz |
| Market Licensing Model | Licensed (LMR/Gov) |
| Market Common Devices | LMR radios, telemetry, SRD |
| Fresnel Radius (1st, 1 km) [m] | 13.591108365435 |
| Typical Bandwidths (Estimated) | 11–20 kHz |
| Auction Status | – |
| Refarming Use | No |
| Typical Site Spacing km | 4 / 12 |
| Device Ecosystem Size | Medium |
| Traffic Load Share | Coverage-heavy, low capacity share |
| Device Hotspots (MHz) | 406 |
| Device Category | MedRadio / MICS |
| Typical Use Cases | – |
| Typical Center Frequencies [MHz] | – |
| Rule Part (Fcc Or Region) | – |
| Modulation (Device) | Varies by device |
| Channel Width (Device) [kHz] | Varies |
| Device Region Profiles | Varies by country / allocation |
| Per-Region EIRP Or Duty (Device) | Varies by regulation |
| Allocation Relevance (Device) | Medium |
| Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) | Low–Moderate |
| Example Devices Or Skus | Military Communications |
| Antenna Form Factor (Typical) | ¼-wave ≈ 18.5 cm |
| Power Source Or Duty Profile (Typical) | – |
🛡️ Regulatory & Neighbors
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Lower Band Frequency Limit | 401 |
| Upper Band Frequency Limit | 430 |
| Rx Blocking Min dBm | -15 (planning) |
| Lower Neighbor Use | PPDR / TETRA (Land mobile) |
| Upper Neighbor Use | Amateur 70 cm band |
| Lower Neighbor Band | PPDR / TETRA (Land mobile) |
| Lower Neighbor Range | 381.000–400.000 MHz |
| Upper Neighbor Label | Amateur 70 cm band |
| Upper Neighbor Range | 431.000–433.000 MHz |
| Adjacent-Band Collision Risks (Device) | Low–Moderate |
| Real-World Range (Indoor/Outdoor) | – |
| US FCC Alloc | — |
| CA IC Alloc | — |
| UK Ofcom Alloc | — |
| Regulatory References | US: 47 CFR Part 90 (Private Land Mobile); CA: ISED RSS‑119 (Land Mobile 27.41–960 MHz); UK: Ofcom PMR/Business Radio (UK FAT) |
| Global Harmonization | Regional |
| Crossborder Coordination | High |
| Sharing Mechanism | – |
| Auction Status | – |
| Guard Or Pair | – |
📈 Market & Measurements
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Noise Floor | -110 dBm (est.) |
| Interference Cases | – |
| Lower Neighbor Range | 381.000–400.000 MHz |
| Upper Neighbor Range | 431.000–433.000 MHz |
| Interference Notes | Protect sensitive receive systems |
| Market Licensing Model | Licensed (LMR/Gov) |
| Market Commercial Value | Medium |
| Market Common Devices | LMR radios, telemetry, SRD |
| Market Deployment Density | Dense in metro, low in rural |
| Noise Floor (Estimated) | -110 dBm (est.) |
| Market Commercial Value (Estimated) | Medium |
| 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 ≈ 18.5 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) | – |