Using FRS in Europe

[jungle]

Does anyone know if you can take a couple of the low power FRS radios and use them in Europe to communicate with family. Is this Legal there? Has anybody done this? Thanks

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by jungle

Does anyone know if you can take a couple of the low power FRS radios and use them in Europe to communicate with family. Is this Legal there? Has anybody done this? Thanks

I do not think that any European country has a service like FRS.
Certainly not on the same frequencies, using teh same equipment.

Ham radio is your best bet for a service you can take with you almost anywhere (however in some countries you do need prior permission).

[n3bxv]

I would say it's probably not a good idea unless you get official information from the regulatory agency in the countries youre going to visit.
Personal experience- While I was stationed in Germany there were problems with GI's bringing US speced Cordless Phones and Baby Monitors to Germany and the devices interferring with local emergency service communications.

Chuck

[UPMan]

Europe does have a low-power radio service, but they use much less power and different frequencies. If you try to use FRS, you could be interfering with public safety comms, business operations, media, etc.

Just wait 'til you get over there and spend the 30 Euros for a pair.

[DaveH]

The service in Britain and (at least parts of) Europe is PMR446.
It uses 8 channels in the low 446MHz range (which is not a ham
band over there, only 430-440MHz), CTCSS, 500mW. Radios are
remarkably similar to FRS because some of them such as
Mototrola's are variants on a basic design.

Dave