Megahertz (MHz) is a common unit of frequency that represents one million cycles per second and is particularly known for its vital role in telecommunications and computing. The term hertz pays homage to Heinrich Hertz, the first person to conclusively prove the existence of electromagnetic waves. In radio broadcasting, the station dial numbers you tune into represent megahertz, which indicate the carrier frequency of the radio station. For example, a frequency of 101.1 MHz means the wave completes 101.1 million cycles every second!
In computing, the speed of the early personal computers was often measured in megahertz. Though we’ve progressed to gigahertz in modern-day processors, the megahertz era marked some groundbreaking advancements in technology. The original IBM PC, introduced in 1981, had a processor speed of just 4.77 MHz. Today, such performance pales in comparison, revealing the incredible strides in processing power over the decades.
Hertz (Hz), the unit of frequency, measures the number of cycles per second. It’s named after Heinrich Hertz, the physicist who first proved the existence of electromagnetic waves. In 1888, his groundbreaking experiments paved the way for the development of radio, television, and other communication technologies. Fascinatingly, the concept of frequency extends well beyond sound — it’s also crucial in physics, describing phenomena such as light waves and even the rotation of electron orbitals.
In our everyday lives, Hertz is everywhere. When you listen to music, the pitch you hear is influenced by the frequency in Hertz, with middle C on a piano vibrating at about 261.6 Hz. Even your household electrical system operates at frequencies of 50 or 60 Hz, depending on your region. This widespread influence underscores how integral Hertz is to both technology and daily experiences.
| Megahertz | Hertz |
|---|---|
0
MHz
|
0
Hz
|
1
MHz
|
1000000
Hz
|
2
MHz
|
2000000
Hz
|
3
MHz
|
3000000
Hz
|
4
MHz
|
4000000
Hz
|
5
MHz
|
5000000
Hz
|
6
MHz
|
6000000
Hz
|
7
MHz
|
7000000
Hz
|
8
MHz
|
8000000
Hz
|
9
MHz
|
9000000
Hz
|
10
MHz
|
1e+7
Hz
|
11
MHz
|
1.1e+7
Hz
|
12
MHz
|
1.2e+7
Hz
|
13
MHz
|
1.3e+7
Hz
|
14
MHz
|
1.4e+7
Hz
|
15
MHz
|
1.5e+7
Hz
|
16
MHz
|
1.6e+7
Hz
|
17
MHz
|
1.7e+7
Hz
|
18
MHz
|
1.8e+7
Hz
|
19
MHz
|
1.9e+7
Hz
|
20
MHz
|
2e+7
Hz
|
21
MHz
|
2.1e+7
Hz
|
22
MHz
|
2.2e+7
Hz
|
23
MHz
|
2.3e+7
Hz
|
24
MHz
|
2.4e+7
Hz
|
25
MHz
|
2.5e+7
Hz
|
26
MHz
|
2.6e+7
Hz
|
27
MHz
|
2.7e+7
Hz
|
28
MHz
|
2.8e+7
Hz
|
29
MHz
|
2.9e+7
Hz
|
30
MHz
|
3e+7
Hz
|
31
MHz
|
3.1e+7
Hz
|
32
MHz
|
3.2e+7
Hz
|
33
MHz
|
3.3e+7
Hz
|
34
MHz
|
3.4e+7
Hz
|
35
MHz
|
3.5e+7
Hz
|
36
MHz
|
3.6e+7
Hz
|
37
MHz
|
3.7e+7
Hz
|
38
MHz
|
3.8e+7
Hz
|
39
MHz
|
3.9e+7
Hz
|
40
MHz
|
4e+7
Hz
|
41
MHz
|
4.1e+7
Hz
|
42
MHz
|
4.2e+7
Hz
|
43
MHz
|
4.3e+7
Hz
|
44
MHz
|
4.4e+7
Hz
|
45
MHz
|
4.5e+7
Hz
|
46
MHz
|
4.6e+7
Hz
|
47
MHz
|
4.7e+7
Hz
|
48
MHz
|
4.8e+7
Hz
|
49
MHz
|
4.9e+7
Hz
|
50
MHz
|
5e+7
Hz
|
51
MHz
|
5.1e+7
Hz
|
52
MHz
|
5.2e+7
Hz
|
53
MHz
|
5.3e+7
Hz
|
54
MHz
|
5.4e+7
Hz
|
55
MHz
|
5.5e+7
Hz
|
56
MHz
|
5.6e+7
Hz
|
57
MHz
|
5.7e+7
Hz
|
58
MHz
|
5.8e+7
Hz
|
59
MHz
|
5.9e+7
Hz
|
60
MHz
|
6e+7
Hz
|
61
MHz
|
6.1e+7
Hz
|
62
MHz
|
6.2e+7
Hz
|
63
MHz
|
6.3e+7
Hz
|
64
MHz
|
6.4e+7
Hz
|
65
MHz
|
6.5e+7
Hz
|
66
MHz
|
6.6e+7
Hz
|
67
MHz
|
6.7e+7
Hz
|
68
MHz
|
6.8e+7
Hz
|
69
MHz
|
6.9e+7
Hz
|
70
MHz
|
7e+7
Hz
|
71
MHz
|
7.1e+7
Hz
|
72
MHz
|
7.2e+7
Hz
|
73
MHz
|
7.3e+7
Hz
|
74
MHz
|
7.4e+7
Hz
|
75
MHz
|
7.5e+7
Hz
|
76
MHz
|
7.6e+7
Hz
|
77
MHz
|
7.7e+7
Hz
|
78
MHz
|
7.8e+7
Hz
|
79
MHz
|
7.9e+7
Hz
|
80
MHz
|
8e+7
Hz
|
81
MHz
|
8.1e+7
Hz
|
82
MHz
|
8.2e+7
Hz
|
83
MHz
|
8.3e+7
Hz
|
84
MHz
|
8.4e+7
Hz
|
85
MHz
|
8.5e+7
Hz
|
86
MHz
|
8.6e+7
Hz
|
87
MHz
|
8.7e+7
Hz
|
88
MHz
|
8.8e+7
Hz
|
89
MHz
|
8.9e+7
Hz
|
90
MHz
|
9e+7
Hz
|
91
MHz
|
9.1e+7
Hz
|
92
MHz
|
9.2e+7
Hz
|
93
MHz
|
9.3e+7
Hz
|
94
MHz
|
9.4e+7
Hz
|
95
MHz
|
9.5e+7
Hz
|
96
MHz
|
9.6e+7
Hz
|
97
MHz
|
9.7e+7
Hz
|
98
MHz
|
9.8e+7
Hz
|
99
MHz
|
9.9e+7
Hz
|
100
MHz
|
1e+8
Hz
|
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