How long would you last?

[NorthernRaider]

This is where my small group will be talking if Cell and Landlines go bang when TSHTF.

Analogue PMR446 covers band 446.0–446.2 MHz and digital dPMR/DMR cover 446.1–446.2 MHz; CEPT envisions that the digital band may be extended onto analogue band in the future.

Radios may now have removable antennas in some countries as long as the ERP does not exceed 500 mW, for example in the UK.[7] The general ECC decision[8] however still requires integral antennas and the actual implementation varies between different countries.

Analogue FM

Analogue PMR uses sixteen FM channels separated by 12.5 kHz from each other. Per regulation, maximum power, like FRS, is 500 mW ERP and equipment must be used on a mobile basis. CTCSS is usually used, with more upmarket models also featuring DCS.


PMR Channel

Frequency (MHz)

1 446.00625
2 446.01875
3 446.03125
4 446.04375
5 446.05625
6 446.06875
7 446.08125
8 446.09375
9 446.10625
10 446.11875
11 446.13125
12 446.14375
13 446.15625
14 446.16875
15 446.18125
16 446.19375

Digital FDMA[edit]

Digital dPMR446 uses sixteen digital voice channels separated by 6.25 kHz from each other with 4-level FSK modulation at 3.6 kbit/s.[9]


dPMR446 Channel

Frequency (MHz)

1 446.103125
2 446.109375
3 446.115625
4 446.121875
5 446.128125
6 446.134375
7 446.140625
8 446.146875
9 446.153125
10 446.159375
11 446.165625
12 446.171875
13 446.178125
14 446.184375
15 446.190625
16 446.196875

Digital TDMA

Digital DMR Tier I uses eight digital voice channels separated by 12.5 kHz from each other with 4-level FSK modulation at 3.6 kbit/s.[10]


DMR Tier I Channel

Frequency (MHz)

1 446.10625
2 446.11875
3 446.13125
4 446.14375
5 446.15625
6 446.16875
7 446.18125
8 446.19375

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", "ATX-2000" or just "Echo Repeater" after how it sounds repeating every transmission it receives.[11]

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).