Midland GB1 PMR446 UK legal mobile transceiver - overview & CTCSS changing.

Today, it's nothing to do with CB radio, but PMR446, which is a 16-channel 500mW UHF allocation for licence free operation....as long as equipment sticks to strict guidelines, such as a non-removeable aerial. Unfortunately that stops us from checking the radio over into our test set too.
Most PMR446 equipment is of the hand-portable type ranging from little more than kid's toys to high performance rugged radios for security use.
Cheap sets usually have no CTCSS so you hear anyone else on a particular channel. However, higher in the range models have have CTCSS or DCS or both to mast interference from other users....they are still there, but with CTCSS or DCS you can no longer hear them.
We use some Retavis RT24 PMR446 radios around the place & want to have them able to communicate with the Midland GB1 featured here. It turns out than channel 1 on both devices is the same @ 446.00625Mhz, but the CTCSS codes are different. I discovered the Retavis radios use the CTCSS tone 114.8hz & in this video I reprogram the CTCSS code in the Midland GB1 to suit this.
We will be doing an 'on the air' test between two of these later on today over our usual teat route. The base radio will have the aerial cable through the window & mounted on a biscuit tin (for a ground plane) as high as convenient & the attached cable will allow. The vehicle set will have the aerial in the centre of the roof.
Recorded 5th December 2020
Richard, G0OJF,
Lincolnshire, UK

[@Ploggy.]

Great vid thanks for making and posting 👍

[@wisteela]

I love how small it is, and that flip feature is rather clever. 73 M7TUD

[@eddywiggins620]

I brought the last one of these from knights about 4yrs ago. The programming software which I got direct from midland ,on a mini disc doesn't work ,well not with XP service pack 3. I have yet to try it on Windows 7 Pro. I did run it on a van but the range I got was about 2 miles with the wind blowing it. Receive was remarkably good for that piece of wire called a mag mount lol

[@superpieton]

There is the same problem everywhere in Europe. In France, they use amateur radio transceivers on the PMR446 band, with sometimes 40 to 50 watts into high gain (dual band) colinear antennas. There is also illegal repeaters and a whole network of interconnected hotspot using Mumble via internet. Basically, it is Citizen Band #2, here...

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

We use PMR446 handhelds & a GB1 around the workshops & house here. Although we are mostly licenced amateurs & could use handhelds on 70cms for example, we can be more casual on PMR446. I have a scanner set to Ch1 that we tend to use connected to our Tannoy system. The idea is that anyone can pick up a handheld & put a call out & will be heard anywhere over the Tannoy system, you them pick up a handheld & turn it on & reply...it works great for us. There are times I hear the illegal high power pirates calling from 65 miles away. Our scanner is just on a loft aerial & normally pick up from leass than a mile away. I do wish Offcom or whstver they're called this week would clamp down on this.....and of course illegal operation on Citizens Band too. Richard, G0OJF, UK

[@BoB4jjjjs]

Radio is Radio, so I am happy no matter what you do. I saw a set advertised that puts out 50 watts. Programmable. That can lead to all sorts of problems to other users, but some people don't care about others. Some think it is like the old AM CB days, it is an illegal and a bit of fun. This could cause more problems than the old AM CB radios. I think the fixed aerial is nonsense, how do you repair the coax if you can't change it. The length of that coax, is any power going to even get to the aerial? Well there will be but only a fraction of it. What is the point of giving you a manual that has no information on it?

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Yes, the selfish pirate users don't realise/care that illegal operation can cause an important message not to get through & loss of life can result. I remember a case in Bradford when someone decided they could have reverse frequencies on their taxi radio so instead of car to base, they could talk car to car. Two of them went to sheffield chatting away car to car using it like a CB radio. Meanwhile in Sheffield, the ambulance service was on the same frequency & loss of life was a result....that was around 1999. Richard

[@BoB4jjjjs]

@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 It is the increase in power that can cause a problem, someone trying to get through and can't due to someone using to much power blocking communication. It is not a problem up here, but i can see it coming. Problem is they use it as a CB and it is not a CB. It is fine on low power, but as soon as others use high power it becomes impossible to get through. Not a frequency I am interested in using, but I see these sets being advertised as a CB and they are not a CB!

[@ep1929]

Got quite a few in North West England using modified amature radios on PMR 446. They are pushing power as they can be heard across wide areas (20 miles +)

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

@@ep1929 They need reporting to Ofvom then. Simples. It's a 1/2W service. Richard

[@BoB4jjjjs]

@@ep1929 This will end is a sad way. I don't mind so much that they use a few watts, but pushing a lot of power out is just being selfish and may cause a lot of bother for legit users. They may well be stamped on from a great height yet. This is used for small business and private users and if they can't use it and know who is blocking them, they will and should be reported. They would be better sticking to CB where they don't appear to care these day. But one of these days there will be a problem caused that results in an accident or loss of life and there will be a clamp down. I heard one user saying he was using 500 watts on CB, next it will be 1Kw and the problems high power can cause locally to other users will end up in them being reported. At the moment nothing appears to be happening, but it only needs one user to cause a problem and a clamp down will start. At the moment Ofcom appear to be happy to sit in their comfy chairs and lean back and count the money coming in. But at some point they will be forced to do something about it.

[@MyNameIsPetch]

Looking for something like this for use on a canal narrowboat to communicate with other crew members that may have walked off further down the towpath. Would you recommend anything else over this product?

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

This is the only legal one on the UK market that I am aware of. Other fixsed mobile sets that porport to be PMR446 seem to be business radios programmed with these channels. The licencing states that radios must be a maximum powr output of 0.5W (500mW) & have a permanently attached aerial. That's exactly what this does. Richard, G0OJF, UK

[@MyNameIsPetch]

@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 Thanks Richard. This one doesn't seem much better than just using 2 of the little handheld walkie talkie radios. I'd hoped having this in combination with a single handheld radio would offer better range but your other video on this radio has put me off that idea. I know the 0.5W is the license-free limit, but is getting a license something worth looking into? I'm just thinking if there's a long tunnel between the boat and the person walking ahead the signal won't be great. I'll try a couple of 'walkie talkie' radios to begin with and see how I get on

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

By all means get a UK general licence, best way to go. PMR446 is designed for an 'on site service. I use them on the 1-acre site here with no snags whatsoever, but that doesn't mean PMR446 works for everyone. Richard

[@poisonousmarrownexsusgamin1804]

can the magmount aerial be put on a metal pole? is there a way to extend the aerial cable via a chocky block?

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

If we had a pole exactly as long as the cable allows, it may improve matters, but requires a groundplane, hence my biscuit tin. It isn't permitted to mess with the aerial or cable which is why it's permammently attached in the first place. A chock block would become a dummy load at those frequencies! We are going to try another on-the-air test & will try & get the aerial higher & not use the CTCSS. I can gain an extra foot height by putting the radio on something that high on top of the windowsill...like two boxes of cornflakes! Remember that everything we do here is always totally legal. There are other youtubers that do the dodgy stuff! I've no intension of wrecking my church & communications career. Richard

[@poisonousmarrownexsusgamin1804]

@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 Thanks. The only issue I have is height. My pole which has an old half wave 27MHz antenna on it is 18feet. My house is two storey. I live down in a dip so at the moment my height is not might. :(

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Basically, they are little more range than a hand-portable, but have the convenience of being able to be used in a car or at home without worrying about batteries being flat. Richard

[@peterlynch1861]

I got one a couple months ago work for a while then now I can’t get anything on it it turn on and scran I thought it could be the programing on it l I ready to bin it

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Not still under warranty?

[@michaelloughlin734]

These radios are okay for what they are we just use ours close call it does the job fine bit silver foil wrapped around a baked bean can radiates just fine.

[@brandonrayfield5238]

Does this radio come programmed with 8 channels or 16? If anyone knows would be helpful thank you.

[@juhka09c]

I think GB1-R comes with 16 channel. I have original GB-1 witch came 8 chennel.

[@Gintaras64]

Can CBS stations work with PMR 446 Walkie talkies?

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

No. CB radio is on 27Mhz. PMR446 walkie talkies are, as the name suggests, on 446Mhz. Richard

[@Nathan1975Liggy]

I thought it stood for Personal Mobile Radio not Private Mobile Radio

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Well there you go! The business radio service in the United States is LMR just to confuse matters "Land Mobile Radio" whereas here in the UK business radio is PMR "Private Mobile Radio". Richard, G0OJF, UK

[@Nathan1975Liggy]

@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 You learn something new in this great hobby every day. Thanks for that. 73 de 2E0LIG

[@phillipsmiley5930]

@@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21 UK Private mobile radio became PBR Private business radio maybe 20 years ago. I would have preferred LMR, much more discriptive

[@nottjohn9418]

I was rather hoping to find out a way of making 25w! 😅

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

PMR446 is a 500mW service. Richard, G0OJF, UK

[@tipstricksss1453]

25 Watts is illegal to use on PMR446 and it is a fairly good way to go if you want to be caught. A lot of illegal PMR users settle at 4 to 5 watts but anything more than that, your just asking for trouble. I generally use the UK 70cms band for UHF stuff and you can run more power legally and with antennas of your choice. Take the Foundation course, get an amateur license. Its easy and costs hardly anything.

[@erdalakdogdu4762]

BU CİHAZI NERDEN ALABİLİRİM ?

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

The ones I bought csame from Knights. They have a website:- www.kcb.co.uk Richard, UK

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

Nice little set, however seems pointless. I class PMR446 as CB ch 8 being used as a calling channel. I use a Baofeng at 1 watt which I know is illegal, however I just can't get on with the little handset's.