C Band

C Band is the original frequency allocation for communications satellites.

C-Band uses 3.7-4.2GHz for downlink and 5.925-6.425Ghz for uplink.

The lower frequencies that C Band uses perform better under adverse weather conditions than
the Ku band or Ka band frequencies.

C Band Variants
Slight C Band frequency variations are approved for use in various parts of the world.

Band TX Frequency RX Frequency

Extended C Band 5.850 6.425 GHz 3.625 4.200 GHz
Super Extended C-Band 5.850 6.725 GHz 3.400 4.200 GHz
INSAT C-Band 6.725 7.025 GHz 4.500 4.800 GHz
Palapa C-Band 6.425 6.725 GHz 3.400 3.700 GHz
Russian C-Band 5.975 6.475 GHz 3.650 4.150 GHz
LMI C-Band 5.7250 6.025 GHz 3.700 4.000 GHz

C Band Dishes
C Band requires the use of a large dish, usually 6 across. C Band dishes vary, between 3 and
9 across, depending upon signal strength.

Because C Band dishes are so much larger than Ku and Ka Band dishes, a C Band dish is
sometimes referred to in friendly jest as a BUD (Big Ugly Dish).

Ku Band

The Ku band (Kurtz-under band) is primarily used for satellite communications, particularly
for editing and broadcasting satellite television. This band is split into multiple segments
broken down into geographical regions, as the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
determines.

The Ku band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of

frequencies ranging from 11.7 to 12.7GHz. (downlink frequencies) and 14 to 14.5GHz
(uplink frequencies).

The most common Ku band digital reception format is DVB (main profile video format) vs
the studio profile digital video format or the full-blown Digicipher II 4DTV format.
Anchor a piece of string that is stretched as tight as possible, north to south across the
dish face and edge to edge. Do the same thing again with another piece of string, only east
to west across the dish face at 90 degree angles. Make sure that both strings are tight.

If the strings come together anywhere but the direct center, the dish has sustained warp
damage and needs to be bent back into proper parabola shape for optimal performance. If
they connect in the center of the dish, it is likely that the dish is not warped.

Therefore, use either the tri-supports or quad supports as they will greatly assist in keeping
the Ku-band feed horn highly stable, even in high winds.

When the button hook feed moves in the wind, Ku-band reception can easily drop out. By
putting guy wires on the button hook feed, the user will create the much needed support in the
event that the user is unable to obtain a tri support or quad support.

Ka Band

The Ka band uplink uses frequencies between 27.5GHz and 31Ghz and the downlink uses
frequencies between 18.3 and 18.8Ghz and between 19.7 and 20.2Ghz. The Ka band is
branch of the K band from the electromagnetic spectrum. The term Ka-band is from Kurz-
above, which originates from the German phrase kurz implying short.

Ka band dishes can be much smaller than C band dishes. Ka band dishes vary from 2 to 5 in
diameter.

Ka band satellites typically transmit with much more power than C band satellites.

The higher frequencies of Ka band are significantly more vulnerable to signal quality
problems caused by rainfall, known as rainfade.