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RC car (and boat) frequencies
[This page talks about the standard FM frequencies used in
North America, and doesn't include 2.4GHz DSM]
A certain number of frequencies have been designated by law for use with radio control cars, and rc surface vehicles in general (such as boats and tanks etc.).
They fall into the 27MHz and 75MHz bands and each separate frequency has been given a channel number. This channel number, though, has nothing to do with the number of channels that an rc vehicle has, it's just the same word for a completely different thing ie a 2 channel rc car is not operating on frequency number 2, it means that it has control to 2 channels ie motor and steering.
RC models operating close to one another cannot do so on the same frequency because the radio waves being sent out from one transmitter will interfere with signals from the other transmitter.
For this reason, it's very important that you check to see whether anyone else is operating another rc model nearby, before you start running yours. By far the easiest way to do this is to use a 75MHz frequency checker.
If you join a club, there will normally be a 'peg board' frequency control system in operation whereby each member running their car has to notify other members which frequency they are using by marking their frequency, or channel number, on a board of all channel numbers.
A typical club peg board might look something like this...
This example is for the 75MHz frequencies, and as you can see wooden pegs pushed into the holes of channels 62, 66, 72, 78, 84, 86 and 89 indicate that these channels are being used by club members racing their models.
Designated frequencies in the 27MHz band
It's worth noting that frequencies within the 27MHz band have also been given a unique colour, as well as a number. These are:
| Channel # | Colour | Frequency (MHz) |
| 1 | Brown | 26.995 |
| 2 | Red | 27.045 |
| 3 | Orange | 27.095 |
| 4 | Yellow | 27.145 |
| 5 | Green | 27.195 |
| 6 | Blue | 27.255 |
Designated frequencies in the 75MHz band
These are not colour-coded, only numbered. They are:
| Ch.# / Frequency (MHz) | Ch.# / Frequency (MHz) | Ch.# / Frequency (MHz) |
| 61 / 75.410 | 71 / 75.610 | 81 / 75.810 |
| 62 / 75.430 | 72 / 75.630 | 82 / 75.830 |
| 63 / 75.450 | 73 / 75.650 | 83 / 75.850 |
| 64 / 75.470 | 74 / 75.670 | 84 / 75.870 |
| 65 / 75.490 | 75 / 75.690 | 85 / 75.890 |
| 66 / 75.510 | 76 / 75.710 | 86 / 75.910 |
| 67 / 75.530 | 77 / 75.730 | 87 / 75.930 |
| 68 / 75.550 | 78 / 75.750 | 88 / 75.950 |
| 69 / 75.570 | 79 / 75.770 | 89 / 75.970 |
| 70 / 75.590 | 80 / 75.790 | 90 / 75.990 |
It's so important that you check your frequency channel is clear before you switch on your own transmitter, or you may unwittingly cause a fellow rc driver to lose control of his or her vehicle.
See a frequency checker for 75MHz rc car frequencies.
Related pages
RC airplane frequencies - designated frequencies for RC aircraft.
Car rc systems - an overview of how they work.
Designated frequencies for the UK.
Designated frequencies for Australia.
