Posted 16 February 2007 - 10:33 PM
PMR446 European Walkie Talkies
"PMR446" is a European Union standard for radios approved for use in the UK and the European Union. They have 8 channels, and a maximum range of around 2 miles in open country. No PMR446 radio can have more than 500mW of transmission power, so all makes and models effectively have the same maximum range.
PMR446 walkie-talkies can be used in any of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway (from 2005), Poland, Portugal, Romania (channels 3,4,5,6 only), Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom. Other countries, including the Russian Federation, Norway and Latvia should be included fairly soon.
The European radio agency CEPT maked CB sets are also legal to use in the above countries
Only half a watt compared to CB's 4 watts? you say...its not all about power with radios..
The PMR446 specifications state that radios must have a maximum power output of 0.5 watt. Although this doesn't sound much when compared to the 4 watts allowed for CB, you must remember that at 446 MHz aerials are much smaller and can be more efficient than at the 27 MHz CB frequency.
The frequencies that CB and PMR446 use have considerably different characteristics. Signals at the CB frequency of 27 MHz tend to be absorbed by buildings, hills, and large obstacles. At 446 MHz signals have better penetration of large obstacles. This makes them ideal for use in buildings or heavily built up areas. The CB frequencies also suffer much more from interference than do PMR446.
Just some info for you you can always have both as pmr446 units are very cheep in Tesco LOL
