PMR446

From HFUnderground

PMR446 (Europe) - analog and digital license-free low power radio service, similar to FRS and GMRS in the United States and UHF CB in Australia and New Zealand. Harmonized throughout Europe and the UK. 500mW power limit. CTCSS, DCS and other selective calling and squelch systems are allowed in analog mode, digital "group" (selective calling) permitted in digital voice mode. Originally assigned 8 channels, then expanded to 16 analog/digital channels + 32 digital only voice/data channels in the 446.0 to 446.2 MHz range for a total of 48 available channels (in digital voice mode, not counting selective calling/group calling features available in analog and digital voice modes). In Europe this frequency spectrum is not part of the 70cm amateur band.

PMR446 channel 1 446.00625 MHz is the de facto calling frequency. These frequencies (both analog and digital) are heavily used in urban areas throughout Europe, much like other personal radio services are in other parts of the world.

Analog and digital voice frequencies

(digital TDMA voice also allowed on these 16 channels)

Digital FDMA

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 PMR446 service.

Further reading

• ETSI EN 300 296
• CEPT ECC Decision of 28 October 2005 on harmonised frequencies, technical characteristics, exemption from individual licensing and free carriage and use of digital PMR 446 applications operating in the frequency band 446.1- 446.2 MHz (ECC/DEC/(05)12) [1]