HFU HF Underground

General Category => Amateur Radio => Topic started by: ThaDood on July 07, 2021, 1851 UTC

Title: A license-free Kenwood HT that's in the 446MHz HAM Band?
Post by: ThaDood on July 07, 2021, 1851 UTC

Huh??? Found this interesting. Kenwood has a license-free HT that operates from 446.000MHz to 446.100MHz, at 1/2W ERP, in the 70cm HAM Band? When was this allowed? https://www.kenwood.com/sg/com/lfr/pkt-23/   Thought it 1st to be FRS, then I'd seen the 446MHz FREQ spec's. Looks like a neat simplex-only HT.
UPDATE:   Ah... Thank you Sparx! (Added reply below.) That would explain a few things there.

Title: Re: A license-free Kenwood HT that's in the 446MHz HAM Band?
Post by: Sparx on July 07, 2021, 1922 UTC

PMR446 is a license-free service in Europe.

Title: Re: A license-free Kenwood HT that's in the 446MHz HAM Band?
Post by: RobRich on July 08, 2021, 1522 UTC

On a related note, another license-free option many overlook in the USA is the MURS band. VHF with up to a 2-watt limit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Use_Radio_Service

There are nicer MURS radios with lots of various features, but I know the entry-level Retevis RT27V handheld is a quite affordable option. I never bought anything directly from the company site, so YMMV, but right now it is apparently on sale for under $20.

https://www.retevis.com/RT27V-MURS-Business-Radio

Title: Re: A license-free Kenwood HT that's in the 446MHz HAM Band?
Post by: NJQA on July 09, 2021, 1417 UTC

Many of the Retevis products are available on Amazon (though the RT27 is not as cheap as the factory is selling it). I have found that almost all of the Retevis radios have programming software available, though sometimes I have to email them to get it.