RF refers to radio frequency, the mode of communication for wireless technologies of all kinds, including cordless phones, radar, ham radio, GPS, and radio and television broadcasts. RF technology is so much a part of our lives we scarcely notice it for its ubiquity. From baby monitors to cell phones, Bluetooth to remote control toys, RF waves are all around us. RF waves are electromagnetic waves which propagate at the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second (300,000 km/s). The frequencies of RF waves, however, are slower than those of visible light, making RF waves invisible to the human eye.

The frequency of a wave is determined by its oscillations or cycles per second. One cycle is one hertz (Hz); 1,000 cycles is 1 kilohertz (KHz); 1 million cycles is 1 megahertz (MHz); and 1 billion cycles is 1 gigahertz (GHz). A station on the AM dial at 980, for example, broadcasts using a signal that oscillates 980,000 times per second, or has a frequency of 980 KHz. A station a little further down the dial at 710 broadcasts using a signal that oscillates 710,000 times a second, or has a frequency of 710 KHz. With a slice of the RF pie licensed to each broadcaster, the RF range can be neatly divided and utilized by multiple parties.

Every device in the United States that uses RF waves must conform to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) regulations. A baby monitor, for example, must operate using the designated frequency of 49 MHz. Cordless phones and other devices have their own designated frequencies.

The FCC shares responsibility for RF assignment with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is responsible for regulating federal uses of the RF spectrum. At present, according to the FCC, frequencies from 9 KHz — 275 GHz have been allocated, with the highest bands reserved for satellite and radio astronomy. The sample chart below lists some of the major categories with approximate RF ranges. In actuality, there are no gaps between categories, as hundreds of other uses are also assigned, from garage door openers and alarm systems to amateur radio and emergency broadcasting.

Aeronautical/Maritime	9 KHz - 535 KHz
AM radio	535 KHz - 1,700 KHz
Shortwave radio	5.9 MHz - 26.9 MHz
Citizen's Band (CB)	26.96 MHz - 27.41 MHz
TV stations 2-6	54 MHz - 88 MHz
FM radio	88 MHz - 108 MHz
TV stations 7-13	174 MHz - 220 MHz
Cell phones CDMA	824 MHz - 849 MHz
Cell phones GSM	869 MHz - 894 MHz
Air Traffic Control	960 MHz - 1,215 MHz
GPS	1,227 MHz - 1,575 MHz
Cell phones PCS	1,850 MHz - 1,990 MHz

The RF table is divided and labeled according to frequency, with extremely low frequency (ELF) occupying one end at just 3-30 Hz, and extremely high frequency (EHF) at the other, representing 30-300 GHz. The RF bands most of us are familiar with are VHF (very high frequency), used by radio and television stations 2-13, and UHF (ultra high frequency), used by other television stations, mobile phones and two-way radios. Microwave ovens even use RF waves to cook food, but these waves are in the super high frequency band or SHF. Following the electromagnetic spectrum into even higher frequencies, one finds infrared waves, and finally visible light. For more information on RF refer to the FCC website.