GMRS/FRS In The United States Vs. PMR446 In Europe

[JASII]

I recall several years back that the FRS radios in the US were similar to the PMR446 radios in Europe. They were analog, limited to 0.5 watts, maybe even non-removable antennas, etc. However, I just read that PMR446 has DMR. Has anybody used the DMR PMR446 devices? How well does analog and digital co-exist?

With the changes in the US, I understand that FRS is still analog, but allows up to 2 watts. In Europe, did they remain at 0.5 watts and add DMR or did the increase the allowable transmit power level, too?

 

[bill4long]

I recall several years back that the FRS radios in the US were similar to the PMR446 radios in Europe. They were analog, limited to 0.5 watts, maybe even non-removable antennas, etc. However, I just read that PMR446 has DMR. Has anybody used the DMR PMR446 devices? How well does analog and digital co-exist? With the changes in the US, I understand that FRS is still analog, but allows up to 2 watts. In Europe, did they remain at 0.5 watts and add DMR or did the increase the allowable transmit power level, too?

Still 500mw. They don't have the non-removal-antenna limitation.

PMR446 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Wauk620]

Digital dPMR446 uses 32 digital voice channels separated by 6.25 kHz from each other with 4-level FSK modulation at 3.6 kbit/s. These frequencies overlap the original 16 analog voice/digital voice frequencies and operate in the same 446.0 to 446.2 MHz frequency range of the original analog PMR446 service.

There are 8 frequencies allocated for analog radios, 16 frequencies for dPMR digital radios and 8 frequencies allocated for DMR digital radios.

Licence Free channels are only to be used on licence free certified radios. These usually have a fixed antenna but only put out 500mW (0.5W) of power.

It is illegal to program and use high power business radios on PMR446 channels unless you can find a way to restrict their power to 500mW. There is currently no high power business radio that can be restricted to less than 1W – therefore no professional grade high power business radios that can be legally programmed to operate on PMR446 channels.

The following channels are for use on DMR radios. If your radio supports dual time slot, you can also use TDMA to create two voice channels per frequency.

> Read more: TDMA Article on Wikipedia

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

I hope this information is helpful. WRAR311

 

[robertmac]

Right in the amateur radio 70 cms simplex area.

 

[n3obl]

Right in the amateur radio 70 cms simplex area.

Not in the UK. UK band plan appears to be from 430-440mhz.

 

[robertmac]

Not in the UK. UK band plan appears to be from 430-440mhz.

Yes I know that but title is US vs Europe so before people in NA feel they can use these here, just saying.

 

[bill4long]

Yes I know that but title is US vs Europe so before people in NA feel they can use these here, just saying.

People in USA can use them here.... if they have a ham license.

 

[robertmac]

People in USA can use them here.... if they have a ham license.

But since this is posted in GMRS and not ham just pointing out to those that will illegally use them in NA who are not hams. Have heard too many already.