RF Bands Overview

RA allows antennas to use different radio frequency bands. These different bands have different properties, which makes them useful for different applications. As a general rule, the lower frequency a radio signal, the less it will attenuate, and can be used at longer ranges. However, higher frequencies are more easily focused by radio dishes, and as such ground based radio stations and dish antennas get much better range at higher frequencies, despite the attenuation penalties.

• L-Band: L-Band is a starting tech, and defined as a 31.5 kHz wide channel centered at 1.61 GHz. The low frequency means only a small amount of data can be transmitted, and only omni antennas can be effectively used. As the lowest frequency, it is good for omni-to-omni communications.

RF Bands beyond this frequency are only received by the 3 DSN stations (and NKN stations at higher tech levels). Communications may be intermittent in low orbit

• S-Band: S-band is unlocked at tech level 3, and defined as a 330 kHz wide channel centered at 2.25 GHz. This will be your main radio band for deep space probes, as it will focus well with dishes, and uses the very powerful antennas of the DSN rather than the smaller antennas of the local ground stations. The higher frequency allows for moderate bitrates.

• X-Band: X-band is unlocked at tech level 7, and is defined as a 1.36 MHz wide channel centered at 8.45 GHz. The next step up after S-band, it gets slightly better focusing from dishes, and consequently better effective range. The higher frequency allows for better bitrates.

• K-Band: K-band is unlocked at tech level 9, and is defined as a 20 MHz wide channel centered at 26.25 GHz. As the highest frequency radio band available, it focuses very well (in some cases too well, K-band dishes will have a very narrow beamwidth, requiring much more precise aiming). Due to the very high frequencies, Ka-band can achieve very high bitrates.