The Old CATV Equipment Museum
U.S. Cable Television Analog Channel Designations
Neal McLain 05/05/2007
The following table compares five methods used in the United States to designate analog cable television channels:
- Band. The band designations adopted by the broadcast and the cable television industries.
- Alphabetic. Channel designations adopted in an ad-hoc fashion when manufacturers began building equipment intended to operate in the midband (120-174 MHz). Note that:
- Lowband and highband channels 2-13 are identical to broadcast channels 2-13, and retain the same numeric designations.
- Midband and superband channels were given alphabetic designations.
- The lower two midband channels (108-120 MHz) were skipped due to possible conflicts with VOR transmitters. Eventually they were named A-2 ("A minus 2") and A-1 ("A minus 1").
- Numeric. Channel designations adopted by converter manufacturers when they began building converters with illuminated channel-number displays (presumably because of the complexity and cost of displays that could display alphabetic letters). These designations have been standardized in Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Standard CTA-542 "Cable Television Channel Identification Plan," and incorporated by reference in the FCC Rules and Regulations at 47 CFR 76.602.
- Channel Boundary Frequencies.
- Visual Carrier Frequency. The visual carrier frequency of an NTSC signal operating in this channel, as offset (if required) to avoid conflicts with certain aeronautical frequencies pursuant to FCC regulation set forth in 47 CFR 76.610.
CABLE TELEVISION ANALOG CHANNEL DESIGNATIONS
Click on footnote for further information.
|
|---|
| BAND |
ALPHA
CHANNEL
DESIGNATION |
NUMERIC
CHANNEL
DESIGNATION |
CHANNEL
BOUNDARY
FREQUENCIES |
VISUAL
CARRIER
FREQUENCY | FOOT
NOTE |
|---|
| LOW | 2 | 2 | 54-60 | 55.2500 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 60-66 | 61.2500 | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | 66-72 | 67.2500 | 1 |
| | 1 | 72-76 |
Unusable
|
2
|
| 5 | 5 | 76-82 | 77.2500 | 1 |
| 6 | 6 | 82-88 | 83.2500 | 1 |
| FM | A-5 | 95 | 90-96 | 91.2500 | 3 |
| A-4 | 96 | 96-102 | 97.2500 | 3 |
| A-3 | 97 | 102-108 | 103.2500 | 3 |
| MID | A-2 | 98 | 108-114 | 109.2750 | 4, 5 |
| A-1 | 99 | 114-120 | 115.2750 | 4, 5 |
| A | 14 | 120-126 | 121.2625 | 4, 6 |
| 15 | 15 | 126-132 | 127.2625 | 4, 6 |
| 16 | 16 | 132-138 | 133.2625 | 4, 6 |
| 17 | 17 | 138-144 | 139.2500 | 4 |
| 18 | 18 | 144-150 | 145.2500 | 4 |
| 19 | 19 | 150-156 | 151.2500 | 4 |
| 20 | 20 | 156-162 | 157.2500 | 4 |
| 21 | 21 | 162-168 | 163.2500 | 4 |
| 22 | 22 | 168-174 | 169.2500 | 4 |
| HIGH | 7 | 7 | 174-180 | 175.2500 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 180-186 | 181.2500 | 1 |
| 9 | 9 | 186-192 | 187.2500 | 1 |
| 10 | 10 | 192-198 | 193.2500 | 1 |
| 11 | 11 | 198-204 | 199.2500 | 1 |
| 12 | 12 | 204-210 | 205.2500 | 1 |
| 13 | 13 | 210-216 | 211.2500 | 1 |
| SUPER | J | 23 | 216-222 | 217.2500 | 4 |
| K | 24 | 222-228 | 223.2500 | 4 |
| L | 25 | 228-234 | 229.2625 | 4, 6 |
| M | 26 | 234-240 | 235.2625 | 4, 6 |
| N | 27 | 240-246 | 241.2625 | 4, 6 |
| O | 28 | 246-252 | 247.2625 | 4, 6 |
| P | 29 | 252-258 | 253.2625 | 4, 6 |
| Q | 30 | 258-264 | 259.2625 | 4, 6 |
| R | 31 | 264-270 | 265.2625 | 4, 6 |
| S | 32 | 270-276 | 271.2625 | 4, 6 |
| T | 33 | 276-282 | 277.2625 | 4, 6 |
| U | 34 | 282-288 | 283.2625 | 4, 6 |
| V | 35 | 288-294 | 289.2625 | 4, 6 |
| W | 36 | 294-300 | 295.2625 | 4, 6 |
| HYPER | AA | 37 | 300-306 | 301.2625 | 4, 6 |
| BB | 38 | 306-312 | 307.2625 | 4, 6 |
| CC | 39 | 312-318 | 313.2625 | 4, 6 |
| DD | 40 | 318-324 | 319.2625 | 4, 6 |
| EE | 41 | 324-330 | 325.2625 | 4, 6 |
| FF | 42 | 330-336 | 331.2750 | 4, 7 |
| GG | 43 | 336-342 | 337.2625 | 4, 6 |
| HH | 44 | 342-348 | 343.2625 | 4, 6 |
| II | 45 | 348-354 | 349.2625 | 4, 6 |
| JJ | 46 | 354-360 | 355.2625 | 4, 6 |
| KK | 47 | 360-366 | 361.2625 | 4, 6 |
| LL | 48 | 366-372 | 367.2625 | 4, 6 |
| MM | 49 | 372-378 | 373.2625 | 4, 6 |
| NN | 50 | 378-384 | 379.2625 | 4, 6 |
| OO | 51 | 384-390 | 385.2625 | 4, 6 |
| PP | 52 | 390-396 | 391.2625 | 4, 6 |
| QQ | 53 | 396-402 | 397.2625 | 4, 6 |
| RR | 54 | 402-408 | 403.2500 | 4 |
| SS | 55 | 408-414 | 409.2500 | 4 |
| TT | 56 | 414-420 | 415.2500 | 4 |
| UU | 57 | 420-426 | 421.2500 | 4 |
| VV | 58 | 426-432 | 427.2500 | 4 |
| WW | 59 | 432-438 | 433.2500 | 4 |
| XX | 60 | 438-444 | 439.2500 | 4 |
| YY | 61 | 444-450 | 445.2500 | 4 |
| ZZ | 62 | 450-456 | 451.2500 | 4 |
| | | 63 | 456-462 | 457.2500 | 4 |
| | 64 | 462-468 | 463.2500 | 4 |
| | 65 | 468-474 | 469.2500 | 4 |
| | 66 | 474-480 | 475.2500 | 4 |
| | 67 | 480-486 | 481.2500 | 4 |
| | 68 | 486-492 | 487.2500 | 4 |
| | 69 | 492-498 | 493.2500 | 4 |
| | 70 | 498-504 | 499.2500 | 4 |
| | 71 | 504-510 | 505.2500 | 4 |
| | 72 | 510-516 | 511.2500 | 4 |
| | 73 | 516-522 | 517.2500 | 4 |
| | 74 | 522-528 | 523.2500 | 4 |
| | 75 | 528-534 | 529.2500 | 4 |
| | 76 | 534-540 | 535.2500 | 4 |
| | 77 | 540-546 | 541.2500 | 4 |
| | 78 | 546-552 | 547.2500 | 4 |
| | 79 | 552-558 | 553.2500 | 4 |
| | 80 | 558-564 | 559.2500 | 4 |
| | 81 | 564-570 | 565.2500 | 4 |
| | 82 | 570-576 | 571.2500 | 4 |
| | 83 | 576-582 | 577.2500 | 4 |
| | 84 | 582-588 | 583.2500 | 4 |
| | 85 | 588-594 | 589.2500 | 4 |
| | 86 | 594-600 | 595.2500 | 4 |
| | 87 | 600-606 | 601.2500 | 4 |
| | 88 | 606-612 | 607.2500 | 4 |
| | 89 | 612-618 | 613.2500 | 4 |
| | 90 | 618-624 | 619.2500 | 4 |
| | 91 | 624-630 | 625.2500 | 4 |
| | 92 | 630-636 | 631.2500 | 4 |
| | 93 | 636-642 | 637.2500 | 4 |
| | 94 | 642-648 | 643.2500 | 4 |
| | 100 | 648-654 | 649.2500 | 4 |
| | 101 | 654-660 | 655.2500 | 4 |
| | 102 | 660-666 | 661.2500 | 4 |
| | 103 | 666-672 | 667.2500 | 4 |
| | 104 | 672-678 | 673.2500 | 4 |
| | 105 | 678-684 | 679.2500 | 4 |
| | 106 | 684-690 | 685.2500 | 4 |
| | 107 | 690-696 | 691.2500 | 4 |
| | 108 | 696-702 | 697.2500 | 4 |
| | 109 | 702-708 | 703.2500 | 4 |
| | 110 | 708-714 | 709.2500 | 4 |
| | 111 | 714-720 | 715.2500 | 4 |
| | 112 | 720-726 | 721.2500 | 4 |
| | 113 | 726-732 | 727.2500 | 4 |
| | 114 | 732-738 | 733.2500 | 4 |
| | 115 | 738-744 | 739.2500 | 4 |
| | 116 | 744-750 | 745.2500 | 4 |
| | 117 | 750-756 | 751.2500 | 4 |
| | 118 | 756-762 | 757.2500 | 4 |
| | 119 | 762-768 | 763.2500 | 4 |
| | 120 | 768-774 | 769.2500 | 4 |
| | 121 | 774-780 | 775.2500 | 4 |
| | 122 | 780-786 | 781.2500 | 4 |
| | 123 | 786-792 | 787.2500 | 4 |
| | 124 | 792-798 | 793.2500 | 4 |
| | 125 | 798-804 | 799.2500 | 4 |
| | 126 | 804-810 | 805.2500 | 4 |
| | 127 | 810-816 | 811.2500 | 4 |
| | 128 | 816-822 | 817.2500 | 4 |
| | 129 | 822-828 | 823.2500 | 4 |
| | 130 | 828-834 | 829.2500 | 4 |
| | 131 | 834-840 | 835.2500 | 4 |
| | 132 | 840-846 | 841.2500 | 4 |
| | 133 | 846-852 | 847.2500 | 4 |
| | 134 | 852-858 | 853.2500 | 4 |
| | 135 | 858-864 | 859.2500 | 4 |
| | 136 | 864-870 | 865.2500 | 4 |
| | 137 | 870-876 | 871.2500 | 4 |
| | 138 | 876-882 | 877.2500 | 4 |
| | 139 | 882-888 | 883.2500 | 4 |
| | 140 | 888-894 | 889.2500 | 4 |
| | 141 | 894-900 | 895.2500 | 4 |
| | 142 | 900-906 | 901.2500 | 4 |
| | 143 | 906-912 | 907.2500 | 4 |
| | 144 | 912-918 | 913.2500 | 4 |
| | 145 | 918-924 | 919.2500 | 4 |
| | 146 | 924-930 | 925.2500 | 4 |
| | 147 | 930-936 | 931.2500 | 4 |
| | 148 | 936-942 | 937.2500 | 4 |
| | 149 | 942-948 | 943.2500 | 4 |
| | 150 | 948-954 | 949.2500 | 4 |
| | 151 | 954-960 | 955.2500 | 4 |
| | 152 | 960-966 | 961.2500 | 4 |
| | 153 | 966-972 | 967.2500 | 4 |
| | 154 | 972-978 | 973.2500 | 4 |
| | 155 | 978-984 | 979.2500 | 4 |
| | 156 | 984-990 | 985.2500 | 4 |
| | 157 | 990-996 | 991.2500 | 4 |
| | 158 | 996-1002 | 997.2500 | 4 |
| FOOTNOTES |
 | These channels are congruent with television broadcast channels 2-13. Channel designations, boundary frequencies, and carrier frequencies are identical. These channels are used to carry NTSC video signals. |
 | This 4-MHz channel (designated Cable Channel 1) can be used for aural or control carriers, but it cannot be used for a 6-MHz NTSC video signal. |
 | These channels overlap the FM Broadcast Band. Some cable companies use them to carry three NTSC video signals; some companies use the entire bandwidth (88-108 MHz) for cable FM radio service. |
 | These channels overlap non-broadcast services. They are usually used for NTSC video signals, but they may be used for data carriers to provide such services as internet access, telephony, and private data networks. |
 | These channels overlap the VOR (VHF Omni-directional Radio Range) aeronautical radio navigation system. Carriers operating in these channels must be offset +0.250 MHz to avoid conflict with VOR transmitters. Example: the nominal Channel 98 visual carrier frequency is 109.25 MHz. Applying the required offset yields109.2500 + 0.0250 = 109.2750, halfway between VOR frequencies at 109.2500 and 109.3000 MHz. |
 | These channels overlap the aeronautical mobile band. Carriers operating in these channels must be offset +0.125 MHz to avoid conflict with aeronautical mobile transmitters. Example: the nominal Channel 14 visual carrier frequency is 121.25 MHz. Applying the required offset yields 121.2500 + 0.0125 = 121.2625 MHz, halfway between Aeronautical Mobile frequencies at 121.2500 and 121.2750 MHz. |
 | This channel overlaps the aircraft Instrument Landing System. Carriers operating in this channel must be offset +0.250 MHz to avoid conflict with ILS transmitters. Example: the nominal Channel 42 visual carrier frequency is 331.25 MHz. Applying the required offset yields 331.2500 + 0.0250 = 331.2750 MHz, halfway between ILS frequencies at 331.2500 and 331.3000 MHz. |
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