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The 6 GHz (~Wifi 6E) of the satcom world? > In terms of communications capability, W band offers high data rate throughput when used at high altitudes and in s

The 6 GHz (~Wifi 6E) of the satcom world? > In terms of communications capability, W band offers high data rate throughput when used at high altitudes and in space. (The 71–76 GHz / 81–86 GHz segment of the W band is allocated by the International Telecommunication Union to satellite services.) Because of increasing spectrum and orbit congestion at lower frequencies, W-band satellite allocations are of increasing interest to commercial satellite operators, although no commercial project has yet been implemented in these bands. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_band https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_band Certain frequencies in the band seem to be used for near-distance radar: > However, W-band radar, a relative newcomer in maritime navigation and operating at 76-77GHz, provides the most impressive imagery and accuracy, which is becoming increasingly crucial in the ever more cluttered environs of offshore, nearshore, and inland waterways. It has a range of 500m and is resistant to adverse weather conditions. * https://www.ship-technology.com/comment/why-w-band-radar-is-a-viable-supplement-to-gnss/?cf-view https://www.ship-technology.com/comment/why-w-band-radar-is-... Automotive applications too: * https://www.mtu.edu/mtri/research/project-areas/transportation/safety/radar-w-band/ https://www.mtu.edu/mtri/research/project-areas/transportati...

wrigby 3y ago
I chuckled at this, because 6 GHz was until recently widely used by the satellite industry (C-band) for ground to spacecraft uplinks. They've had to vacate it as the spectrum has been re-allocated for terrestrial use (LTE-A, WiFi 6E, etc.). This is a great thing, too - 4-6 GHz is pretty much ideal for terrestrial use. C-band was wasted in space. Ka-band (18-30 GHz) used to be the new frontier for satcom - it was what everyone was excited about the last time I worked in the industry (2014). The advances in mm-wave devices over the last decade are mind boggling.

wrigby 3y ago

I chuckled at this, because 6 GHz was until recently widely used by the satellite industry (C-band) for ground to spacecraft uplinks. They've had to vacate it as the spectrum has been re-allocated for terrestrial use (LTE-A, WiFi 6E, etc.). This is a great thing, too - 4-6 GHz is pretty much ideal for terrestrial use. C-band was wasted in space. Ka-band (18-30 GHz) used to be the new frontier for satcom - it was what everyone was excited about the last time I worked in the industry (2014). The advances in mm-wave devices over the last decade are mind boggling.