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Frequency to NR-ARFCN Converter

Enter a frequency in MHz to get the corresponding 5G NR-ARFCN on the 3GPP global raster and auto-identify the matching NR band (FR1 and FR2), per 3GPP TS 38.104 §5.4.2.1.

Valid range: 0 – 100,000 MHz

NR-ARFCN
633,333
Raster Δf_global: 15 kHz
Frequency: 3500 MHz
Matching NR bands (DL)
n77·C-band extended·TDD(FR1)n78·C-band·TDD(FR1)

NR band DL reference

BandDL (MHz)DuplexFRDescription
n121102170FDDFR12100 MHz IMT
n318051880FDDFR11800 MHz DCS
n5869894FDDFR1850 MHz
n726202690FDDFR12600 MHz IMT-E
n8925960FDDFR1900 MHz E-GSM
n20791821FDDFR1800 MHz DD
n28758803FDDFR1700 MHz APT
n3825702620TDDFR12600 MHz TDD
n4023002400TDDFR12300 MHz TDD
n4124962690TDDFR12500 MHz BRS/CBRS
n6621102200FDDFR1AWS-3
n71617652FDDFR1600 MHz
n7733004200TDDFR1C-band extended
n7833003800TDDFR1C-band
n7944005000TDDFR14.5 GHz
n2572650029500TDDFR228 GHz mmWave
n2582425027500TDDFR226 GHz mmWave
n2603700040000TDDFR239 GHz mmWave
n2612750028350TDDFR228 GHz US mmWave

About frequency-to-ARFCN conversion

The 5G New Radio air interface addresses every carrier frequency through a single integer — the NR-ARFCN — computed on a piecewise global raster. Below 3 GHz the raster step Δf_global is 5 kHz; between 3 GHz and 24.25 GHz it widens to 15 kHz; above 24.25 GHz, in the FR2 mmWave range, it is 60 kHz. The reference formula is F_REF = F_REF_Offs + Δf_global × (N_REF − N_REF_Offs), with offsets (0, 600000) and (24250.08 MHz, 2016667).

This converter takes a frequency in MHz, snaps it to the nearest raster point, and cross-checks it against the downlink ranges of every common 3GPP NR band so you immediately see which band (or bands — n77 and n78 overlap, n41 and n7 overlap) the frequency belongs to.

Typical users

RF planners validating carrier plans, spectrum analysts mapping unknown emissions to NR bands, drive-test engineers reconciling scanner frequencies with OSS configuration, and protocol engineers decoding ARFCNs from RRC logs.

Related tools

How to look up an NR-ARFCN from a frequency

  1. Enter the frequency. Type the carrier frequency in MHz (for example 3500 or 28000).
  2. Convert. The tool maps it to the nearest NR-ARFCN using the correct raster for that range.
  3. Check the band match. Read the matching NR band(s) and the FR1/FR2 designation to confirm the allocation.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the NR-ARFCN for a given frequency?
Rearrange the global formula to N_REF = N_REF-Offs + (F_REF − F_REF-Offs) / ΔF_Global. Enter the frequency in MHz and the tool selects the correct range, divides by the right raster (5, 15 or 60 kHz) and rounds to the nearest valid ARFCN.
Which NR band does my frequency fall into?
A frequency can sit inside more than one band (for example 3500 MHz is in both n77 and n78). The tool cross-checks your frequency against the downlink ranges of the common 3GPP bands and lists every band it matches, so you can pick the one your deployment uses.
Why doesn’t my frequency land exactly on an ARFCN?
The NR channel raster is discrete, so an arbitrary frequency rarely falls precisely on a grid point. The result is rounded to the nearest raster step, which means a tiny offset between your input and the exact ARFCN centre frequency is normal.

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