PMR446 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Page 1 of 5

PMR446
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PMR446 (Private Mobile Radio, 446 MHz) is a part of the UHF radio frequency
range that is open without licensing for personal usage in most countries of the
European Union. It has roughly the same use as FRS or GMRS in the United
States and Canada. Depending on surrounding terrain range can vary from a few
hundred metres (in a city) to a few kilometres (flat countryside). PMR446 is
primarily used in consumer-grade walkie-talkies similar to those used for
FRS/GMRS in the United States and Canada. Historically analogue FM is used,
but a digital voice mode is available, called Digital Private Mobile Radio
(dPMR),[1] which is not to be confused with Digital Mobile Radio.

Contents

Motorola T5022

1 History
2 Range
3 Usage worldwide
4 Technical information
5 PMR446 gateways
6 Law
7 Similar services in other countries
8 References
9 External links

History
The first steps towards creating licence-free short range radio communications were taken in April 1997
when the European Radio Communications Committee decided on a 446 MHz frequency band to be
used for the new radios. In November 1998 another 3 decisions followed which designated the new
frequency band for PMR446, established licence exemption for PMR446 equipment and established free
circulation of the PMR446 equipment. The first country which introduced these frequencies for licencefree use was Ireland and it did so on 1 April 1998. The United Kingdom introduced PMR446 service in
April 1999; since 2003 PMR446 has replaced the former Short-Range Business Radio (SRBR) service.
For an updated list of current status in different European countries see the page of European
Radiocommunications Office (http://www.ero.dk/818B7698-2D99-431F-8D20F41CA3B8AA56.W5Doc?frames=yes&) .
In addition to PMR446, some countries in the EU have begun to introduce LPD433 (Low Power Device
433 MHz) and SRD860 (Short Range Device 860 MHz) licence-free short range transceiver radios.
Both LPD433 and SRD860 are deployed as dedicated handsets and in combination with PMR446
handsets, as with the Alan 777.[2] These radios give an additional 69 channels (LPD433) and 126
channels (SRD860) which can be used with CTCSS or DCS to improve co-operation on shared
channels. These extra LPD and SRD channels have been introduced to reduce the burden on the 8
PMR446 channels over shorter distances (<1 km).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

6/9/2011

PMR446 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Page 2 of 5

Range
The range of PMR446, just like any VHF or UHF radio, is dependent on many factors like environment
(in-city range is far less than in an open field), height above surrounding obstructions, and, to a lesser
extent, weather conditions. The antenna type and location, transmit power and receive sensitivity also
affect range. However with PMR446 most of these variables are fixed at manufacturing to comply with
the PMR446 specifications.
Range may be many kilometres, e.g. from hilltop to hilltop, or only a few hundred metres, if for example
a hill or large metal object is in the transmission path between radios. The best known long distance
record is 535.8 km (333 mi) from Blyth in the United Kingdom to Almere, Netherlands.[3] However, this
was the result of enhanced propagation conditions, not a line-of-sight signal, and so is not representative.

Usage worldwide
PMR446 radios use frequencies allocated to U.S. amateur radio operators. PMR446 radios can only be
used in the United States under FCC amateur regulations by licensed amateur radio operators. The
conflicting allocations have been something of a nuisance to U.S. amateur operators due to use of the
equipment by European tourists in the U.S.
Instead, the U.S. and Canada uses the FRS system, which provides a similar service on slightly different
frequencies. FRS frequencies are allocated to the emergency services in Europe, notably the fire brigade
in the UK,[4] and may be subject to criminal action.
PMR446 compliant equipment may be used anywhere throughout Europe and Scandinavia except in
Italy, Montenegro and Serbia.

Technical information
Analogue PMR uses eight FM channels separated by 12.5 kHz
from each other. Per regulation, maximum power, like FRS, is
500 mW ERP and equipment must be handheld with a fixed
antenna. CTCSS is usually used, with more upmarket models
also featuring DCS.
PMR Channel Frequency (MHz)
1

446.00625

446.01875

446.03125

446.04375

446.05625

446.06875

446.08125

446.09375

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

6/9/2011

PMR446 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

dPMR446 uses sixteen digital voice at 3.6kbps and 4-Level FSK
modulation channels separated by 6.25 kHz from each other.[5]
These overlap with DMR Tier I channels.[6]

Page 3 of 5
A professional grade PMR446 radio

dPMR446 Channel Frequency (MHz)

1

446.103125

446.109375

446.115625

446.121875

446.128125

446.134375

446.140625

446.146875

446.153125

10

446.159375

11

446.165625

12

446.171875

13

446.178125

14

446.184375

15

446.190625

16

446.196875

PMR446 gateways
Recently some users have implemented the simplex repeater system, a cheap and easy way to extend
the radio range by using extra radios connected to a small repeater controller. This is also known as
"Parrot" or "ATX-2000".[7]
PMR446 gateways extend the range of PMR446. These gateways are connected through internet using a
client/server VoIP system such as eQSO or the Free Radio Network (FRN
(http://www.freeradionetwork.eu) ). Repeaters and gateways are prohibited in the UK.[8]

Law
Decision ERC (98) 25 (http://www.licencefree.com/docs/DEC9825E.pdf)
Decision ERC (98) 26 (http://www.licencefree.com/docs/DEC9826E.pdf)
Decision ERC (98) 27 (http://www.licencefree.com/docs/DEC9827E.pdf)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

6/9/2011

PMR446 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Page 4 of 5

Similar services in other countries

See also Kort Distanse Radio and Family Radio Service as examples of similar personal UHF radio
services available in other areas.

References
1. ^ "DMR (digital mobile radio), dPMR (digital private mobile radio) glossary - Applied Technology
Ltd" (http://www.app-tech.co.uk/Glossary/DPMR_DMR.htm) . App-Tech. http://www.apptech.co.uk/Glossary/DPMR_DMR.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
2. ^ "Alan 777
transciever" (http://web.archive.org/web/20070503121040/http://www.cte.it/product_detail/8872/Alan_777.ars)
CTE. Archived from the original (http://www.cte.it/product_detail/8872/Alan_777.ars) on 2007-05-03.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070503121040/http://www.cte.it/product_detail/8872/Alan_777.ars.
3. ^ "Delboy's DX Contact UK to
Amsterdam" (http://web.archive.org/web/20080209180929/http://www.delboyenterprises.dsl.pipex.com/446_2003/U
Delboy Enterprises. 5 August 2003. Archived from the original
(http://www.delboyenterprises.dsl.pipex.com/446_2003/UK_Amsterdam_DX_Contact.htm) on 2008-02-09.
http://web.archive.org/web/20080209180929/http://www.delboyenterprises.dsl.pipex.com/446_2003/UK_Amsterdam
4. ^ "Can I bring my FRS / GMRS Radio to Europe - Austria, Germany, Switzerland : British Expat Discussion
Forum" (http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301925) . Britishexpats.com. 2005-05-10.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301925. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
5. ^ "dPMR: A low cost digital successor to PMR446 is on the
Horizon" (http://www.cmlmicro.com/press/briefs/dpmr_1.htm) . Cmlmicro.com.
http://www.cmlmicro.com/press/briefs/dpmr_1.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
6. ^ "PMR446 Frequencies - Analogue and
Digital" (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.ling/radio/begin/frequencies/PMR446/pmr446_freq.htm) .
Homepage.ntlworld.com.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.ling/radio/begin/frequencies/PMR446/pmr446_freq.htm. Retrieved 201011-18.
7. ^ "Anfy preview" (http://www.atx2000.altervista.org) . Atx2000.altervista.org.
http://www.atx2000.altervista.org. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
8. ^ "Business Radio
Information" (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/business_radio/information/ofw57/)
Ofcom. Archived from the original
(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/business_radio/information/ofw57/) on 2008-0405. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/business_radio/information/ofw57/. Retrieved
2010-11-17.

External links
PMR Radio (eQSO for PMR) (http://www.pmr-radio.net/)
PMR446 long distance records
(http://www.delboyenterprises.co.uk/pmr446/pmr446_records.htm)
Free Radio Network (http://www.freeradionetwork.eu/)
446PMR.com - Zimer Communication Group (http://www.446pmr.com)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446"
Categories: Bandplans | Radio hobbies
This page was last modified on 1 June 2011 at 01:31.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms
may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

6/9/2011

PMR446 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Page 5 of 5

Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit

organization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

6/9/2011