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PMR446 & CB, 2-way Radio in the UKHow to Legally Use Licence-free Two-way Radio in Great BritainTwo-way radios (walkie-talkies) are a great way to keep in touch when using mobile phones is too expensive or impossible.
Not only are there no call costs, but for groups of more than two people keeping in touch using two-way radios is a lot better than using mobiles. With radio all radio users in the group hear all messages from the group – something that is difficult to organise using mobile phones that do not generally support more than two-way calling easily. In the UK there are two general types of two-way radio that can be used by members of the public without a licence. These are CB radios and PMR446 radios, and both of these are designed for short-range communications (1-2 miles). If the desire is for worldwide radio communications then amateur radio gives access to a much wider range of frequencies and equipment, but needs a modest training course and licence, though the licence fee is a one-off. PMR446These radios are small handheld units, operating at high frequencies (446MHz) so the required aerials are small, but transmission is restricted to clear unobstructed paths. These radios work very well in outdoor situations and are excellent for a family group to keep in touch with each other while hillwalking or in an amusement park. PMR446 radios do not perform particularly well in buildings or in cities, and are not very suitable for vehicle-to-vehicle communications. This is because the regulations specify that the aerial is non-detachable, so using a handheld in a metal vehicle is quite effectively screening it from the other radio. There are eight independent channels and about 38 selective call tones on each channel, so channels can be shared without mutual disturbance as long as the transmit periods are only about 5% of the time. PMR446 is harmonized across Europe so the radios can be used legally in most European countries on holiday, though a Google search PMR446 and the relevant country name should be made to confirm this (for instance Monaco does not permit its use). PMR446 radios should not be used in North America (USA and Canada) – there is a service called the Family Radio Service that uses similar but not exactly the same frequencies, and European radios would transmit in US amateur radio bands where the legitimate users would not welcome the intrusion! Conversely US Family Radio Service equipment is illegal to use in Europe. A pair of PMR446 radios retail for £30 upwards CB (Citizen’s Band)CB radio was first licenced in the UK in the 1980s and enjoyed a wave of general popularity, but has declined ever since. The requirement for operators to hold a CB licence was dropped in 2006, so CB is now licence-free in the UK. Because of the low frequencies used (around 27MHz) CB needs large aerials – CB handhelds are unwieldy at best but the dimensions suit vehicle operation very well. In the UK CB is still popular with truckers keeping in touch, and is very popular on farms for people working on the farm to keep in touch with base. Some vehicle-based small area businesses use CB to keep in touch, including some taxi firms and gardening contractors. All these users use the particular advantage of two-way radio to keep the whole team updated on the work in progress. For historical reasons the UK has 80 CB channels whereas in Continental Europe there are 40. There is a UK-specific set of 40 channels – radios will be stamped UK CB 27/81 or MPT1382. These are compatible with each other but not European radios. A second set of 40 channels may be used legally in Europe including the UK. These radios are stamped CEPT PR 27 GB. Nowadays many CB radios are multistandard, and offer the user an easy way to specify the country of operation enabling just the frequencies legal in that country. North American CB has important minor differences making US equipment illegal to operate in the UK. CB radios for vehicle use retail for about £50 up in the UK Amateur RadioAmateur radio offers potential worldwide operation, but the licence conditions are quite strict on communication being only between radio amateurs and no business radio traffic. A group wishing to keep in touch using amateur radio would have to get all radio users to pass the Foundation exam at least. Amateur radio is not an option for business users at all. Licence free radio is an attractive alternative to mobile phones for group communications outdoors. Costs are minimal after the equipment has been purchased. Of the two licence-free options in the UK, PMR446 is the best solution for handheld pedestrian, bicycle or horse riding usage, offering a range of about a mile in open terrain. CB excels at vehicle-to-vehicle use, offering a range of about two miles outside cities. Because of the good vehicle compatibility CB is also a good match for some small local business applications. Sources
The copyright of the article PMR446 & CB, 2-way Radio in the UK in Radio Technology is owned by Richard Mudhar. Permission to republish PMR446 & CB, 2-way Radio in the UK in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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