OK hows this for a PMR 446

[Lightspeed]

NR's specification is so restrictive that there is no solution that will meet it available in the UK.

NR's range requirement with minimal antennas is too great. ( being Pedantic that's not true. NR's specification was line of sight, and there are many many options that can do that. Actually a couple of cheapo PMR44s purchased from Tesco will easily achieve tens of miles line of sight mountain top to mountain top.)

The intek MT 5050 is one of the very best PMR446 license free radios on the market. It is certainly not a toy. But, as soon as you make the modifications to get higher power that NR mentions , the radios immediately become illegal to operate in the UK, wether as a licensed Amateur or not.

FamilyGuy: Please look back through other threads in this section. CB is a very valid choice if you want license free equipment. If you want a highly capable legal PMR446 the MT 5050 is a good choice, and its ability to operate at ultra low power on what are known as the LPD ( Low Power Device) frequencies could be really useful in keeping in touch with similarly equipped stations in the very near to you, without letting the whole neighborhood hear your transmissions. Earlier today Bug Out Bag mentioned the Midland Basecamp, this is often overlooked but is a great emergency radio for PMR446 as it has a self contained hand generator, light, Broadcast receiver, it also is LPD capable, and also receives Marine band I believe.

For anyone considering purchasing an Intek MT 5050 with the intention of making the high power mod, for the same 70 quid, you could purchase a far more capable Walkie-Talkies such as the Baofeng UV5r. Only last week I reviewed an upgraded Baofeng, which for the same money as the Intek can do the following:

Transmission
* All Amateur 2m and UHF bands ( Intek only operates on part of the UHF Band)
the 2m band is an excellent band for medium range low powered communications, which is why Amateurs are so protective of it.

*Receive and transmit on VHF marine Band ( intek cannot even receive)
*Receive and transmit on PMR 446 Frequencies ( as per Intek)

Standby time
Calculated almost a week continuous standby time using the high capacity battery option included in the compared price. I'm not sure what the Intek can do, but on paper it looks like only 24hrs standby.

Extras included on the UV5r in the comparative price
*Computer programming cable and software
*External Speaker Mike
*High Gain HT antenna
*Antenna adaptor to allow the radio to connect to external antennas
*12v power adaptor enabling it to be run directly from any 12v supply

The UV5r has many many advanced features that the Intek does not. Ah a 4/5w hand held emergency radio it beats the Intek in almost every way.

NOTE THAT IF MODIFIED, THE INTEK IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE TO USE ON PMR 446 FREQUENCIES IN THE UK, WHILE THE UV5R IS ALSO ILLEGAL TO OPERATE ON PMR446 FREQUENCIES, IT IS LEGAL TO BE OPERATED ON THE HAM BANDS BUY AMATEUR LICENSE HOLDERS.[i][u]