LTE EARFCN Calculator
Convert LTE EARFCN to frequency, or a frequency to its compatible EARFCN, with band, duplex and channel bandwidth details.
What EARFCN is
EARFCN (E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number) is the integer LTE networks use instead of a raw frequency to identify a carrier. It is defined per band in 3GPP TS 36.101 table 5.7.3-1, with a reference low frequency and a starting channel number for both downlink and uplink.
How EARFCN maps to frequency
The conversion is linear: F(MHz) = F_low + 0.1 × (EARFCN - N_offset). Each 1 MHz step corresponds to 10 EARFCN numbers, since the LTE channel raster is 100 kHz.
Downlink vs uplink EARFCN
FDD bands have distinct downlink and uplink EARFCN ranges (for example Band 3 downlink 1200-1949, uplink 19200-19949). TDD bands like Band 38 to 43 use one EARFCN range for both directions, since the same frequency carries downlink and uplink at different times.
How LTE bands relate to EARFCN
Each band claims a contiguous block of EARFCN numbers, so the EARFCN alone usually identifies the band. This calculator still checks every band definition and lists all valid matches rather than assuming a single answer.
Worked example
EARFCN 6300 sits inside Band 20's downlink range (6150-6449). Applying the formula: 791 + 0.1 × (6300 - 6150) = 806 MHz, the downlink center frequency.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is EARFCN?
EARFCN stands for E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number, the channel number LTE uses to identify one specific carrier frequency inside a band, as defined in 3GPP TS 36.101 table 5.7.3-1.
How does EARFCN map to frequency?
Each LTE band has a downlink reference frequency and offset, and an uplink reference frequency and offset. The formula is F = F_low + 0.1 × (N - N_offset), in MHz, where N is the EARFCN and N_offset is the band-specific starting channel number.
What is the difference between downlink and uplink EARFCN?
FDD bands use two separate EARFCN ranges, one for the downlink (base station to device) and one for the uplink (device to base station), each with its own offset. TDD bands share a single EARFCN range because uplink and downlink use the same carrier frequency at different times.
How do LTE bands relate to EARFCN?
Every LTE band owns a fixed EARFCN range. Knowing only the EARFCN number is enough to determine the band, unless the ranges of two bands happen to overlap in the underlying frequency, which this calculator flags by listing every match.
What LTE band is EARFCN 6300?
EARFCN 6300 falls in the downlink range of LTE Band 20 (791-821 MHz) and resolves to 806 MHz downlink.
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