The 27 Mhz Band – Illegal to use for radio controlled aircraft
The 35 Mhz Band
The most popular and commonly used band in the FPV sector. This band has very good range properties over 1 mile range with standard equipment.
The downside of this frequency is the ability for another user to be on the same frequency by mistake and shoot your FPV platform down. This is why at meetings everyone’s channels are logged down and channels are assigned to users so two channels can not be used at the same time.
To identify your channel on known crystal frequencies :
| Channel 55 | 34.950 | Channel 67 | 35.070 | Channel 79 | 35.190 |
| Channel 56 | 34.960 | Channel 68 | 35.080 | Channel 80 | 35.200 |
| Channel 57 | 34.970 | Channel 69 | 35.090 | Channel 81 | 35.210 |
| Channel 58 | 34.980 | Channel 70 | 35.100 | Channel 82 | 35.220 |
| Channel 59 | 34.990 | Channel 71 | 35.110 | Channel 83 | 35.230 |
| Channel 60 | 35.000 | Channel 72 | 35.120 | Channel 84 | 35.240 |
| Channel 61 | 35.010 | Channel 73 | 35.130 | Channel 85 | 35.250 |
| Channel 62 | 35.020 | Channel 74 | 35.140 | Channel 86 | 35.260 |
| Channel 63 | 35.030 | Channel 75 | 35.150 | Channel 87 | 35.270 |
| Channel 64 | 35.040 | Channel 76 | 35.160 | Channel 88 | 35.280 |
| Channel 65 | 35.050 | Channel 77 | 35.170 | Channel 89 | 35.290 |
| Channel 66 | 35.060 | Channel 78 | 35.180 | Channel 90 | 35.300 |
To identify the channel number of an untagged crystal:
If your crystals have the frequency stated but not channel how can you define which channels it on ?
Well that depends on what the crystals marked up with, either 34. something or 35. something.
If its marked 34.___ then you take 40 from the numbers after the decimal place, so for instance if its marked 34.950 then take 40 off the 95. This gives you 55, so its on channel 55. If its marked 34.990 then take 40 off the 99 and you get channel 59.
If the crystals are marked 35.___ then you need to add 60 to the numbers after the decimal. So crystals marked 35.180 would be 18 + 60 = 78, so that would be channel 78. Crystals marked with 35.240 would be 24 + 60 = channel 84
All 35 mhz radio control equipment must carry an approval sticker or an official CE marking. Equipment bearing either of these markings shows that the equipment has been tested and approved for use in the UK.
If your 35 MHz equipment carries neither marking, it may not be suitable or fit the criteria required for safe use in the UK.
The 72 Mhz Band
72 Mhz is not a legal frequency for the use of any model control in the UK and should never be considered
The 2.4 Ghz Band
2.4Ghz has gained lots in its popularity over the years, its a viable choice of band for FPV control, has decent range and means you can fly amongst other 2.4 users with no problems. The only thing is as time has past a lot of users have reported brownout problems with this system and rebinding takes to long as the plane falls out the sky.
The other problem with 2.4Ghz radio control is you cant use it with 2.4Ghz video gear. Which is by far the most popular of all the video frequencies and limits video gear to 5.8ghz or 1.3ghz
UHF Band
The 433 Mhz UHF Band is a popular choice abroad. Its used in many FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) systems for very long range of many km. One manufacturer has recorded full control in excess of 25km away. Claims go up as far as 70km possible.
Again 433 Mhz band even frequency hopping technology is still illegal in the UK. A 459 Mhz UHF system is legal in the Uk for rc control use however.
Some manufacturers are currently in motion of creating a UK legal 459 Mhz UHF system for FPV use but as of yet none are commercially available to date.