Waveguide size chart
Every standard rectangular waveguide from WR-430 to WR-10: frequency range, cutoff, inside dimensions and where each size is used in satellite earth stations.
Find a waveguide size
Enter an operating frequency to see which WR sizes cover it.
Any highlighted size works; match the flange on your amplifier or feed (Ku-band BUCs are usually WR-75, Ka-band WR-28 or WR-34). Cutoff is the TE10 mode cutoff; below it the guide won’t propagate.
Rectangular waveguide chart
EIA WR sizes, TE10 mode. Highlighted rows cover your frequency.
| Size | Band | Range (GHz) | Cutoff (GHz) | Inside (in) | Inside (mm) | Typical satcom use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR-430 | L/S | 1.70–2.60 | 1.372 | 4.300 × 2.150 | 109.22 × 54.61 | L/S-band TT&C |
| WR-340 | S | 2.20–3.30 | 1.736 | 3.400 × 1.700 | 86.36 × 43.18 | S-band TT&C, weather |
| WR-284 | S | 2.60–3.95 | 2.078 | 2.840 × 1.340 | 72.14 × 34.04 | S-band radar, extended C receive |
| WR-229 | C | 3.30–4.90 | 2.577 | 2.290 × 1.145 | 58.17 × 29.08 | C-band receive (3.4–4.2 GHz) |
| WR-187 | C | 3.95–5.85 | 3.152 | 1.872 × 0.872 | 47.55 × 22.15 | C-band receive / feeds |
| WR-159 | C | 4.90–7.05 | 3.712 | 1.590 × 0.795 | 40.39 × 20.19 | C-band transmit (5.85–6.725 GHz) |
| WR-137 | C | 5.85–8.20 | 4.301 | 1.372 × 0.622 | 34.85 × 15.80 | C-band transmit, Ext. C, INSAT |
| WR-112 | X | 7.05–10.00 | 5.260 | 1.122 × 0.497 | 28.50 × 12.62 | X-band (7.25–8.4 GHz) |
| WR-90 | X | 8.20–12.40 | 6.557 | 0.900 × 0.400 | 22.86 × 10.16 | X-band, Ku receive (lower) |
| WR-75 | Ku | 10.00–15.00 | 7.869 | 0.750 × 0.375 | 19.05 × 9.52 | Ku-band receive and transmit |
| WR-62 | Ku | 12.40–18.00 | 9.488 | 0.622 × 0.311 | 15.80 × 7.90 | Ku-band, DBS uplink (17 GHz) |
| WR-51 | K | 15.00–22.00 | 11.571 | 0.510 × 0.255 | 12.95 × 6.48 | DBS, Ka receive (lower) |
| WR-42 | K | 18.00–26.50 | 14.051 | 0.420 × 0.170 | 10.67 × 4.32 | Ka-band receive (17.7–21.2 GHz) |
| WR-34 | Ka | 22.00–33.00 | 17.357 | 0.340 × 0.170 | 8.64 × 4.32 | Ka-band transmit (27–31 GHz) |
| WR-28 | Ka | 26.50–40.00 | 21.077 | 0.280 × 0.140 | 7.11 × 3.56 | Ka-band transmit, Q receive |
| WR-22 | Q | 33.00–50.00 | 26.346 | 0.224 × 0.112 | 5.69 × 2.84 | Q-band (37.5–42.5 GHz) |
| WR-19 | U | 40.00–60.00 | 31.391 | 0.188 × 0.094 | 4.78 × 2.39 | Q/V-band gateways |
| WR-15 | V | 50.00–75.00 | 39.874 | 0.148 × 0.074 | 3.76 × 1.88 | V-band uplink (47–52 GHz) |
| WR-12 | E | 60.00–90.00 | 48.372 | 0.122 × 0.061 | 3.10 × 1.55 | E-band |
| WR-10 | W | 75.00–110.00 | 59.014 | 0.100 × 0.050 | 2.54 × 1.27 | W-band |
How the sizes work
A rectangular waveguide carries the TE10 mode above its cutoff frequency, set by the broad inside dimension a:
fc (GHz) = c / (2a) = 11.803 / (2 · a in inches)
recommended band ≈ 1.25·fc to 1.9·fcNear cutoff, loss and dispersion rise sharply; near 2·fc the next mode can propagate. The WR number is the broad wall in hundredths of an inch.
Choosing waveguide for an earth station
- Match the BUC, SSPA or TWTA output flange; most C-band transmit chains use WR-137 or WR-159, Ku-band WR-75, Ka-band WR-34 or WR-28.
- Keep runs short and pressurized with dry air to avoid moisture loss; see our waveguide dehydrators.
- Use flexible waveguide for the final connection to the feed, and a transition when two sizes meet.
Need waveguide built to length?
Digisat builds rigid and flexible waveguide, bends, twists, transitions and switches from WR-28 to WR-430 to order.