Medium frequency (MF) is theITU designation^[1][2] forradio frequencies (RF) in the range of 300 kilohertz (kHz) to 3 megahertz (MHz). Part of this band is themedium wave (MW)AM broadcast band. The MF band is also known as thehectometer band as the wavelengths range from ten to onehectometers (1000 to 100 m). Frequencies immediately below MF are denoted aslow frequency (LF), while the first band of higher frequencies is known ashigh frequency (HF). MF is mostly used forAM radio broadcasting,navigational radio beacons, maritime ship-to-shore communication, and transoceanicair traffic control.

Radio waves at MF wavelengths propagate viaground waves and reflection from theionosphere (calledskywaves).^[3] Ground waves travel just above the earth's surface, following the terrain. At these wavelengths, they can bend (diffract) over hills, and travel beyond thevisual horizon, although they may be blocked by mountain ranges. Ground waves are progressively absorbed by the Earth, so the signal strength decreases exponentially with distance from the transmitting antenna. Typical MF radio stations can cover a radius of several hundred kilometres/miles from the transmitter, with longer distances over water and damp earth.^[4] MFbroadcasting stations use ground waves to cover their listening areas.

MF waves can also travel longer distances viaskywave propagation, in which radio waves radiated at an angle into the sky arerefracted back to Earth by layers of charged particles (ions) in theionosphere, theE andF layers. However, at certain times the D layer (at a lower altitude than the refractive E and F layers) can be electronically noisy and absorb MF radio waves, interfering with skywave propagation. This happens when the ionosphere is heavily ionised, such as during the day, in summer and especially at times of highsolar activity.

At night, especially in winter months and at times of low solar activity, the ionospheric D layer can virtually disappear. When this happens, MF radio waves can easily be received hundreds or even thousands of miles away as the signal will be refracted by the remaining F layer. This can be very useful for long-distance communication, but can also interfere with local stations. Because of the limited number of available channels in the MW broadcast band, the same frequencies are re-allocated to different broadcasting stations several hundred miles apart. On nights of good skywave propagation, the signals of distant stations may reflect off the ionosphere and interfere with the signals of local stations on the same frequency. TheNorth American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) sets aside certain channels for nighttime use over extended service areas via skywave by a few specially licensed AM broadcasting stations. These channels are calledclear channels, and the stations, calledclear-channel stations, are required to broadcast at higher powers of 10 to 50 kW.

A major use of these frequencies isAM broadcasting;AMradio stations are allocated frequencies in themedium wave broadcast band from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz^[5]in Europe; in North America thisextends from 525 kHz to 1705 kHz^[6] Some countries also allow broadcasting in the 120-meter band from 2300 to 2495 kHz; these frequencies are mostly used in tropical areas. Although these are medium frequencies, 120 meters is generally treated as one of theshortwave bands.

There are a number ofcoast guard and other ship-to-shore frequencies in use between 1600 and 2850 kHz. These include, as examples, the French MRCC on 1696 kHz and 2677 kHz, Stornoway Coastguard on 1743 kHz, the US Coastguard on 2670 kHz and Madeira on 2843 kHz.^[7] RN Northwood in England broadcasts Weather Fax data on 2618.5 kHz.^[8]Non-directional navigational radio beacons (NDBs) for maritime and aircraft navigation occupy a band from 190 to 435 kHz, which overlaps from theLF into the bottom part of the MF band.

2182 kHz is the international calling and distress frequency forSSB maritime voice communication (radiotelephony). It is analogous to Channel 16 on the marine VHF band.500 kHz was for many years the maritimedistress and emergency frequency, and there are more NDBs between 510 and 530 kHz.Navtex, which is part of the currentGlobal Maritime Distress Safety System occupies 518 kHz and 490 kHz for important digital text broadcasts. Lastly, there are aeronautical and other mobile SSB bands from 2850 kHz to 3500 kHz, crossing the boundary from the MF band into theHF radio band.^[9]

Anamateur radio band known as160 meters or 'top-band' is between 1800 and 2000 kHz (allocation depends on country and starts at 1810 kHz outside the Americas). Amateur operators transmit CWmorse code, digital signals and SSB and AM voice signals on this band. FollowingWorld Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-2012), the amateur service received a new allocation between 472 and 479 kHz for narrow band modes and secondary service, after extensive propagation and compatibility studies made by the ARRL 600 meters Experiment Group and their partners around the world. In recent years, some limitedamateur radio operation has also been allowed in the region of 500 kHz in the US, UK, Germany and Sweden.^[10]

Many home-portable or cordless telephones, especially those that were designed in the 1980s, transmit low power FM audio signals between the table-top base unit and the handset on frequencies in the range 1600 to 1800 kHz.^[11]

Transmitting antennas commonly used on this band includemonopolemast radiators, top-loaded wire monopole antennas such as the inverted-L andT antennas, and wiredipole antennas.Ground wave propagation, the most widely used type at these frequencies, requires vertically polarized antennas like monopoles.

The most common transmitting antennas, monopoles of one-quarter to five-eighths wavelength, are physically large at these frequencies, 25 to 250 metres (82 to 820 ft) requiring a tallradio mast. Usually the metal mast itself is energized and used as the antenna, and is mounted on a large porcelain insulator to isolate it from the ground; this is called amast radiator. The monopole antenna, particularly ifelectrically short requires a good, low resistance Earthground connection for efficiency since the ground resistance is in series with the antenna and consumes transmitter power. Commercial radio stations use a ground system consisting of many copper cables, buried shallowly in the earth, radiating from the base of the antenna to a distance of about a quarter wavelength. In areas of rocky or sandy soil where the ground conductivity is poor, above-groundcounterpoises are sometimes used.

Lower power transmitters often useelectrically short quarter wave monopoles such as inverted-L orT antennas, which are brought into resonance with aloading coil at their base.

Receiving antennas do not have to be as efficient as transmitting antennas since in this band thesignal-to-noise ratio is determined by atmospheric noise. Thenoise floor in the receiver is far below the noise in the signal, so antennas small in comparison to the wavelength, which are inefficient and produce low signal strength, can be used. The weak signal from the antenna can beamplified in the receiver without introducing significant noise. The most common receiving antenna is theferriteloopstick antenna (also known as aferrite rod aerial), made from a ferrite rod with a coil of fine wire wound around it. This antenna is small enough that it is usually enclosed inside the radio case. In addition to their use in AM radios, ferrite antennas are also used in portableradio direction finder (RDF) receivers. The ferrite rod antenna has adipolereception pattern with sharpnulls along the axis of the rod, so that reception is at its best when the rod is at right angles to the transmitter, but fades to nothing when the rod points exactly at the transmitter. Other types ofloop antennas andrandom wire antennas are also used.

• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Global Maritime Distress Safety System
• Maritime broadcast communications net
• Navtex
• Types of radio emissions

• Federal Standard 1037C

• Charles Allen Wright and Albert Frederick Puchstein, "Telephone communication, with particular application to medium-frequency alternating currents and electro-motive forces". New York [etc.] McGraw-Hill Book Company, inc., 1st ed., 1925. LCCN 25008275

• Tomislav Stimac, "Definition of frequency bands (VLF, ELF... etc.)". IK1QFK Home Page (vlf.it).

• Radio spectrum

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