ARFCN Calculator
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What is ARFCN?
ARFCN (Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number) is a unique number assigned to each radio channel in GSM systems. Instead of using raw frequency values, GSM networks use ARFCN numbers to simplify channel allocation and planning.
Key Points:- ARFCN uniquely identifies a GSM carrier frequency
- Used in frequency planning and optimization
- Maps to specific uplink and downlink frequency pairs
- Essential for drive testing and RF troubleshooting
How ARFCN Works in GSM
In GSM, each channel contains an uplink frequency (Mobile Station to BTS) and a downlink frequency (BTS to Mobile Station). The standard GSM channel spacing is 200 kHz.
Uplink Frequency (MHz) = Base Frequency + (ARFCN × 0.2)
Downlink Frequency (MHz) = Uplink Frequency + Duplex Spacing
GSM Frequency Bands and ARFCN Ranges
GSM operates in multiple bands worldwide. The most important GSM band types are listed below.
GSM 900 Band
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Uplink | 890 – 915 MHz |
| Downlink | 935 – 960 MHz |
| Duplex spacing | 45 MHz |
| ARFCN range | 1 – 124 |
| Channel spacing | 200 kHz |
| Formula (GSM 900): | Uplink = 890 + (ARFCN × 0.2) Downlink = Uplink + 45 |
Extended GSM (E-GSM 900)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Uplink | 880 – 915 MHz |
| Downlink | 925 – 960 MHz |
| Duplex spacing | 45 MHz |
| ARFCN range | 0 - 124 and 975 – 1023 |
GSM 1800 (DCS 1800)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Uplink | 1710 – 1785 MHz |
| Downlink | 1805 – 1880 MHz |
| Duplex spacing | 95 MHz |
| ARFCN range | 512 – 885 |
| Channel spacing | 200 kHz |
| Formula (GSM 1800): | Uplink = 1710 + ((ARFCN − 512) × 0.2) Downlink = Uplink + 95 |
GSM 850 Band
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Uplink | 824 – 849 MHz |
| Downlink | 869 – 894 MHz |
| Duplex spacing | 45 MHz |
| ARFCN range | 128 – 251 |
GSM 1900 (PCS 1900)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Uplink | 1850 – 1910 MHz |
| Downlink | 1930 – 1990 MHz |
| Duplex spacing | 80 MHz |
| ARFCN range | 512 – 810 |
Why ARFCN is Important in RF Engineering
- Frequency planning
- Interference analysis
- Drive test log analysis
- Neighbor planning
- Network optimization
- Spectrum management
FAQ on ARFCN Calculator
ARFCN stands for Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number.
In GSM, the channel spacing is 200 kHz (0.2 MHz).
Yes. LTE uses EARFCN and 5G uses NR-ARFCN.
Standard GSM 900 supports 124 radio channels using ARFCN range 1 to 124. Each GSM channel uses 200 kHz spacing. Extended GSM (E-GSM 900) provides additional channels using ARFCN range 975–1023.
A GSM channel number is called an ARFCN (Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number). It is a unique number assigned to each GSM radio frequency channel used for communication between the mobile station and base station. Instead of using raw frequency values, GSM networks use ARFCN numbers for frequency planning, channel allocation, and RF optimization.