Satellite Radio Frequencies - 136-138 MHz band

The frequency band between 136 and 138 MHz was, at one time, reserved for use in space research. Many early satellites had transmission frequencies in this band, and the frequencies above 137 MHz are still used occasionally by new satellites.

Because of history, transmissions from older satellites can still be found in the lower half (136-137) MHz of the band even though it has lost its reserved status.

Currently, this band is used for terrestrial services. In some parts of the UK, for example, radio-paging systems were still a source of strong interference during the early years of the 2000s. This is now significantly diminished.

Freq (MHz)	Satellite	Payload	Signal Type	Notes
136.235	Tiros 10 1965-051A 1430	Meteorology	AM - 1.3 kHz tone	Payload now inactive, radio transmission is not continuous - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.260	ERS 20 (OV5-3) 1967-040D 2768	USAF test satellite	AM - tone (unstable)	High orbit, visible for long periods of time - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.410	Isis 1 1969-009A 3669	Ionosphere studies	CW	(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.440	ERS 15 (NORAD lists as Secor 7) 1966-077C 2412	Military satellite	AM with 1.3 kHz tone	Incorrectly catalogued by NORAD as SECOR 7 - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.500	Nimbus 4 (Nimbus D) 1970-025A 4362	Meteorology (including imaging)	CW - sometimes modulated	Payload no longer operational - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.650	NNS O-2 (Oscar O-2) 1964-083D 965	Navigation	CW Carrier plus telemetry tones	Second operational TRANSIT navsat, navigation system failed soon after launch but transmitter is still active (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.695	Shinsei (MS-F2) 1971-080A 5485	Japanese scientific satellite	CW	Continuous transmission - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
136.770	NOAA 9 (NOAA F) 1984-123A 15427	Formerly meteorological imaging	CW	Telemetry frequency, transmission is intermittent - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - Also has a transmission at 137.500 MHz
136.800	Solrad 7B (SR 7B) 1965-016D 1291	Solar radiation studies (launched 1969)	AM IRIG telemetry channels	Continuous transmission - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.080	OPS 7898-2 (NOSS B1?) 1971-110C 5680	US military satellite	CW	(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.100	NOAA 18 (NOAA N) 2005-018A 28654	Meteorological imaging	APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images	Revised frequency as of 2006 Jan 4, changed from 137.9125 MHz
137.142	Eutelsat I F4 (ECS 4) 1987-078B 18351	Defunct comsat	CW	Regular, intermittent signal possibly due to vehicle rotation causing periodic flow of power from solar panels
137.200	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies,individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.225	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies,individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.250	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies,individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.300	Russian Imaging	Meteorological imaging	APT at 2 lines per second	Frequency not currently active
137.350	NOAA 15 (NOAA K) 1998-030A 25338	Meteorological imaging	CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry	Continuous transmission -(information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - Also transmits at 137.500 MHz
137.350	NOAA 16 (NOAA L) 2000-055A 26536	Formerly meteorological imaging	CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry	Continuous transmission -(information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - Also transmits at 137.500 MHz
137.350	Compass 2 2006-019A 29157	Russian scientific satellite studying possible ways of predicting earthquakes - not operating properly	CW/AM	After launch on 2006 May 26 - bursts of CW tone one to ten seconds duration in groups with peaks at central frequency and +/- 64 kHz - As of 2006 Nov 16 - data transmission at 64 kHz side bands only
137.380	OPS 7613-1 (NRL PL176) 1969-082B 4256	Navigation technology	Mixed modulation (PAM/FM/AM)	(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.400	Russian Imaging	Meteorological imaging	APT at 2 lines per second	Frequency not currently active
137.410	OPS 7613-6 (NOSS A1?) 1969-082E 4237	USAF test satellite	CW	(information contributed by Michael D Kenny)
137.440	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies, individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.460	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies, individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.500	Tiros-N 1978-096A 11060	Meteorological imaging	CW - carrier only	Inactive satellite but reportedly transmitting
137.500	NOAA 6 (NOAA A) 1979-057A 11416	Meteorological imaging	CW - carrier only	Inactive satellite but reportedly transmitting
137.500	NOAA 9 (NOAA F) 1984-123A 15427	Formerly meteorological imaging	Tone for 6 seconds out of every 25 seconds (periods vary - these are averages)	Non-operational satellite but transmitter still had power long after the payload was switched off - Timings shown are as of 2001 January 6 - Probably no longer transmitting at this frequency - Also has a transmission at 136.770 MHz
137.500	NOAA 12 (NOAA D) 1991-032A 21263	Meteorological imaging	APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images	Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 15 - Also transmits at 137.770 MHz - De-commissioned 2007 Aug 10
137.500	NOAA 15 (NOAA K) 1998-030A 25338	Meteorological imaging	APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images	Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 12 - Also transmits at 137.350 MHz
137.625	NOAA 14 (NOAA 14) 1994-089A 23455	Meteorological imaging	APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images	Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 17 - Also transmits at 137.770 MHz - Decommissioned 2007 May 23
137.625	NOAA 17 (NOAA M) 2002-032A 27453	Meteorological imaging	APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images	Switched off occasionally when transmissions conflict with those from NOAA 14
137.663	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.688	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.713	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.738	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.770	NOAA 11 (NOAA H) 1988-089A 19531	Formerly meteorological imaging	CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry	Continuous transmission when operational - (information contributed by Michael D Kenny) - De-commissioned 2004 June 16
137.770	NOAA 12 (NOAA D) 1991-032A 21263	Meteorological imaging	CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry	Also transmitted at 137.500 MHz - De-commissioned 2007 Aug 10
137.770	NOAA 14 (NOAA 14) 1994-089A 23455	Meteorological imaging	CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry	Also transmits at 137.625 MHz - Decommissioned 2007 May 23
137.770	NOAA 17 (NOAA M) 2002-032A 27453	Meteorological imaging	CW Doppler Beacon and telemetry	Also transmits at 137.625 MHz
137.800	Orbcomm	Mobile telephony	Digitised telephone traffic	One of several frequencies - individual satellites switch between them - Also transmits at 400.100 MHz
137.850	Russian Imaging	Meteorological imaging	APT at 2 lines per second	Frequency not currently active
137.913	NOAA 18 (NOAA N) 2005-018A 28654	Meteorological imaging	APT at 4 lines per second - interlaced visible light and infrared images	Frequency probably not active - changed to 137.100 MHz (2006 Jan 4?)