PMR 446 info

Motorola T5022

PMR446From 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.

Contents1 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■

HistoryThe 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 licence-free 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-8D20-F41CA3B8AA56.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).

Page 1 of 5PMR446 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

6/9/2011http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

RangeThe 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 worldwidePMR446 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 informationAnalogue 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)1 446.006252 446.018753 446.031254 446.043755 446.056256 446.068757 446.081258 446.09375



A professional grade PMR446 radiodPMR446 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]

dPMR446 Channel Frequency (MHz)1 446.1031252 446.1093753 446.1156254 446.1218755 446.1281256 446.1343757 446.1406258 446.1468759 446.15312510 446.15937511 446.16562512 446.17187513 446.17812514 446.18437515 446.19062516 446.196875

PMR446 gatewaysRecently 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]

LawDecision 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) ■



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

References^ "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.app-tech.co.uk/Glossary/DPMR_DMR.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-18.

1.

^ "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.

2.

^ "Delboy's DX Contact UK to Amsterdam" (http://web.archive.org/web/20080209180929/http://www.delboyenterprises.dsl.pipex.com/446_2003/UDelboy 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

3.

^ "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.

4.

^ "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.

5.

^ "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 2010-11-18.

6.

^ "Anfy preview" (http://www.atx2000.altervista.org) . Atx2000.altervista.org. http://www.atx2000.altervista.org. Retrieved 2010-11-18.

7.

^ "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 2008-04-05. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/business_radio/information/ofw57/. Retrieved 2010-11-17.

8.

External linksPMR 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.

■



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



Documents

PMR 446 info