WE PUSHED PMR446 RADIO TO THE LIMIT!!!

[@BryanTorok]

Interesting radio idea. Here in the USA 446 falls right in our 440MHz/70cm Amateur Radio band so the radio would be legal for licensed Hams. While repeater use is most common, we also use simplex for short range comms in groups.

[@Transmission1]

Great video Andy. I subscribed to your channel after watching your CB and PMR experiments. It's great to see someone with so much enthusiasm for all aspects of the radio communication hobby. Remember - it's all radio! 🙂

[@andykirby]

It's all radio! Absolutely right there! Welcome to the channel!

[@mattdixon5299]

Nice one Andy- loving all the radio vids. I’m licensed too but enjoy playing with all the different stuff whether it be PMR, CB or ham. Cheers! 2E0MLD

[@esuohdica]

I was gonna suggest this as a natural follow on to your recent videos! In other news, I have FINALLY signed up for the foundation course thanks to your recent videos highlighting the remote course and online exam options, so thanks!

[@andykirby]

Good to hear! You'll breeze it! I'm gonna do my intermediate online.👍🏻Good luck!

[@damiengirvan5020]

I really enjoy your music Andy.... But what i enjoy more is that your a ham that's not afraid to talk about people experimenting on PMR446 and 11m.... Nobody really cares about it.... And it gets more people into radio.... I love the stuff that you and ringway does.... That's why i always go back to the old video's to watch again....

[@pmr446]

Brilliant video Andy, I love to see PMR446 being promoted. CRT Space U's are fantastic radios for 446 and 70cm. 73's Danielle 26DC260.

[@bearthrylls5759]

.5

[@2beer_OR_NOT_2beer]

I’m using the Team Mico mobile, which looks like the same radio with different branding. It’s clear, loud and a good choice if one needs a good mobile device. There’s also a VHF version for Freenet 149MHz here in Germany which has 1 Watt.

[@jasonhowell5362]

furthest i got out of pmr 446 was into blackpool from wolverhampton, the guy i was speaking to was at the top of blackpool tower

[@damiengirvan5020]

Andy what would be a good ham radio to put in my car for a bit of high power on PMR446? I like to talk to my nephews up the road.... And what would be a good antenna? My car is a Peugeot 206cc.... So I think I either have to put the antenna on the boot lid or on the roof the beside the radio antenna..... Any advice?

[@mm3nrx]

I live in Castleford and the PMR band is crazy busy here, a lot do run power and good antennas. Channel 8 is where most sit.

[@johncrouch8988]

Most people down south won’t know where Castleford is!👍 Even less know where Cutsyke is where I’m from!😆🤷‍♂️

[@NOWThatsRichy]

This just came up in my recommends, after watching a few CB radio vids, Interesting stuff with the PMR 446 radios, I've recently dug out an old Cobra 446 handheld, only a cheap one, used to use them when camping many years ago, It used AAA batteries, I've just done a quick mod on it, so it can run from a 5volt USB supply, works fine, although not heard much activity in my area yet, (Portsmouth), I tried listening on ch8 on Sunday but no one seemed to be on here.

[@andykirby]

Nice! You know what you gotta do next?! Modify it with an external antenna! Dipole in the loft and I reckon you start hearing activity, check some of the pmr 446 Facebook groups to see if there's any local stations!

[@RingwayManchester]

Oh it’s on!

[@damiengirvan5020]

​@mikesatur7969does anyone make videos like that?

[@Dave64track]

Pretty good when you consider how big the antenna is it's something to look into it's very interesting this radio gear.

[@damiengirvan5020]

Andy have you ever thought about doing a podcast? You are an entertaining speaker..... I don't know how you coped with ham radio.... But you would be very good on a radio show or a podcast.... You would have so much interesting stuff to talk about....

[@markp7129]

Wow Andy, I can’t believe your using Amateur Radio Kit……….Joking, joking. Hehe. Awesome video as usual mate, keep up the good work, promoting Radio in all forms 😃👍😃👍😃👍

[@andykirby]

🤣🤣

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

The guy in the back reminds me ; "My Mom Calls It Bloomies"

[@26TM205]

Hi Andy, Your biggest issue with your test is you are using RG58 coax. The losses at 446 are very bad. Ok the mobile is only 0.5W so if you could double it to just 1W you would gain 3db, however you would then probably lose at least that in the Rg58 coax making it then probably radiate 0.5W. Even RG8 is very lossy at 446MHz. An interesting experiment, which with better coax you could probably double your distance.

[@Bones469]

So I guess that would be similar to our GMRS except no license needed kind of like our low power FRS?

[@Mike-H_UK]

It's simply amazing how far you guys get with 0.5W mobile........ You must do a great job of matching all the impedances, SWR etc.

[@gearlab734]

The minimum power output of that CRT Space u is five watts, they're not running 0.5 lol

[@Mike-H_UK]

@@gearlab734 Yeah, there was hint of non-accusatory sarcasm In my comment ;-) However, he MUST be using 0.5W because he doesn't want the thought police after him.

[@adamlunn8101]

No fixed antenna either, who cares though 😎😎

[@gearlab734]

@@Mike-H_UK Yes, I noted the non-accusatory sarcasm, but wasn't 100%. I think the law is way too strict about radio power anyway. I mean half a watt, what a joke.

[@gearlab734]

@@adamlunn8101 I wish the channel owner well, he makes good videos and his endless porky pies about bending power output rules on electric bikes and radio really make me laugh. He's an anti hero lol

[@huwkelvinmorgan3575]

Great radio test very interesting to watch it would have been interesting if both ends of the conversation tried using circular polarization antennas i think that for mobile use it would work really well with receiving different reflections off objects of the 446mhz as the polarization constantly changes and wavers about circular polarization would deal with it and give a much more even signal on TX and RX. and another thing i heard that digital PMR446 is much better on receiving weak signals now Andy if you ran the exact experiment again but with digital just to see if it works better . cheers and beers for mic whisky 5 uniform foxtrot Oscar

[@shornsparks20005]

Love it mate I'm not a professional radio guy by a long means but I suppose somebody will try to say you're doing something wrong but keep up the good work what you put some BNC connectors on 446 radios and they work fantastic with small dipoles on the roof

[@jelenkopasternak237]

i hope you Guys get Freenet on 149MHz with 1W over there in the UK. It has become the new CB over here in Germany, the Range is Awesome and no qrm at all!! Greetings from Germany!!!

[@biggedybiggedybong8032]

149 is growing over here in the UK although its illegal.. Some good nets n ops on 149!

[@damiengirvan5020]

​@@biggedybiggedybong8032what's the score with 149mhz in the UK? Do they just use the freenet channels? I must program them in and have a listen... Who uses that frequency over hear?

[@hfvhf987]

UHF works really well when used right, it can be a really fun part of the spectrum to use. It's a shame 70cms isn't used more on simplex, in my area all the repeaters are UHF but no one ever seems to use it simplex and i have no interest in repeaters.

[@andykirby]

Yeah love UHF SSB, it can be so quiet away from the noise so your chances of working weak signals is alot higher!

[@anthonyfmoss]

That explains why continual CQ-ing on UHF calling frequency hasn’t had a single response. Haven’t had much on 2m either. Andy and his like appear to be the only ones interested in speaking to ordinary guys!

[@pjohnwilliams6941]

Hi, could you tell me the full name of the antenna he's using on the beamer, great video

[@caerffili_callin]

Great video and remember if it wasn't for people like me pirating 11m back in the 70's and campaigning/protesting, we would not have got legal CB in 1981. All the negative people should keep this in mind.

[@andykirby]

Exactly!!! and thanks.🙏🏻

[@zjonaitis]

Back in 70's there were Amateur Radio with a plenty of radio spectrum to choose from. CB (Citizen Band) became pirate radio and still is. Now it's time for PMR446 to be come the pirat radio too. Sad.

[@Taylor7668US]

Pmr446 should be limited to 500mw and a non removable antenna but many people break the law it can be a gateway to amateur radio many of us started on 446

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Maybe a Slim-Jim Antenna for 446Mhz might work better.

[@bearfreeman7604]

Dood, Was Hertfordshire area rep for 934mHz UK club. 'Gotts' back on 27mHz fm during lockdowns. Thort about getting ticket back but not much activity on local box GB7SV. Usually on RM net ch. 39 Saturday eves 7.30 - 9.30. Rogee m8 😎

[@nealmorris6514]

Hi Andy, just subscribed already thinking about buying that FT DX 10, in danger of showing my ignorance but any reason why you chose to use the IC-705 for this ?

[@Taylor7668US]

Pmr446 should be limited to 500mw and a non removable antenna but many people break the law

[@saradegrassi4649]

Hi, Is It very hot, when you transmit for a long time, in hi or middle Power?

[@paulhowell5011]

Another informative video. Be good when there is more activity in my area

[@andykaye6665]

Get yourself up north Andy into gods own back garden almost all of Yorkshire is using pmr Give us a shout if you do Andy K Yorkshire United Radio

[@andykirby]

Yeah I know, I listen on the SDR's!!! You guys have a lot of hills up there which defo helps! I'll try and boost activity down here anyway!

[@chrisstone3861]

He's not wrong Andy, loads of us up here! Evening Andy K, it's Chris from Headingley

[@pmr446]

Good to see you here on this channel Andy K, From Danielle.

[@HenkKroonenburg]

Is it not possible to switch on SSB to hear each other clearly?

[@andykirby]

Hi, SSB doesn't make things clearer it is a different mode to FM, AM etc...

[@HenkKroonenburg]

@andy kirby I know what SSB is but from my experience on 11 meters back in the days you can transmit much further than on FM because of the QRM! Especially when the signal is weak.

[@damiengirvan5020]

​@@HenkKroonenburgI want to know about this also.... I might buy a reasonably good ham radio rig and test it out on PMR446.... I also want to test some slow scan television... But I can do that with a walkie talkie and a phone app.....

[@peterevans8194]

Is there any reason not to use a simple 1/2 or 3/4 wave length antenna for PMR? Would such antenna offer any benefits over a basic 1/4 wave length twig?

[@andykirby]

1/2 wave is a good choice for a homebase antenna as it doesn't need a ground plane, offers a nice radiation pattern and is a manageable size. 5/8 wave antennas are the other preferred antenna choice as they offer more gain over a 1/4 wave and 1/2 wave antenna.

[@peterevans8194]

@@andykirby Thanks Andy that's much appreciated...

[@4X4-RADIO]

UHF Spectrum is valuable £££££ to OFCOM If they can see a reason to take 70cm of Amateurs they will look for one. OFCOM are not ignoring PMR446 they will let it grow, and then one day say.. "You don't need 70cm, you have PMR446" They won't draw a distinction between you and the ones who work EME / DX on SSB It will be Good Bye 70cm

[@benitopussolini544]

Totally correct,the worse gang of organised criminal scum n existence goes by the name of government,and they will do their best to take all we have.why is this?, because we allow it! (Most people do anyway)and that's the problem.

[@tonybalm1513]

I take it you were using a 2/70cm co-linear for your antenna?

[@gearlab734]

The minimum power output on the CRT space is FIVE WATTS lol

[@adamlunn8101]

😂😂

[@RonanCantwell]

He's just allowing for the 10dB losses in that cheap coax. It's a pro thing 😉

[@PaulTaylor1]

@@RonanCantwell I see the wink, but there's absolutely no way 5 watts is reaching that antenna lol.

[@RonanCantwell]

@@PaulTaylor1 Yep. More than likely losing a large percentage in the crappy coax. Particularly at those frequencies. Still, at least some is getting out.

[@gearlab734]

@@RonanCantwell lol

[@johnnorth9355]

The only reason to use PMR is that you don't have a licence that allows you to use 2m or 70cm which are both superior given the low power requirements of PMR. The lack of users is a bonus however :-) .

[@pmr446]

More users on PMR channel 8 here in Yorkshire than 70cm and 2m combined.

[@deenunya7735]

Not doing the Mod to up the Power .those litle Fellas do boot up good Can the Icom Alpha Tag the Channels as well as showing Freqs or is it either or Either ?

[@grahamwardandcd1594]

Does it matter if I put my uv5r on. Wide band or narrow band on pmr

[@wrxs1781]

You need to open a FRS/GMRS repeater for your area.

[@pmr446]

Here in the UK we have PMR446 which is our equivelant to FRS/GMRS.

[@INTHEMIX74]

suprised people havent followed the australian new zealand model here...we have 477mhz uhf cb radio here as well as 27 mhz

[@warrenphillips69]

This video made me anxious, I was thinking about the pizza getting cold.

[@photosbycharles9880]

Cold Pizza is better then Hot Pizza, I had the seat Warmer under the Pizza.

[@ourhudlathome8885]

It would be interesting to see how he got on if he went through Burnham Green on the way back, I bet he'd have been 5 over 9 from there.

[@photosbycharles9880]

So at one point I was at Watton at Stone Train station, I wish I had followed the road down to Stevenage going pass the station.

[@640amthemix]

PMR seems to be a similar service to the FRS service here in the states. Great way to promote the radio hobby whatever service you are using 👍

[@fintonmainz7845]

Exactly the same idea except different frequencies because the FRS frequencies in Europe were already occupied.

[@vladimirzivadinovic3941]

Isn't it illegal to transmit on PMR446 frequencies on non-type approved radio? (one that does not have a non-removable, integrated antenna, and with output limiter to 0.5W EIRP)

[@fthorup]

yes - yes it is

[@anthonyfmoss]

Andy, I’m in SE Luton. Not sure where you are mate. You were talking 10k from Stevenage? I can join in an 8 at 8 PMR net on Sundays. Have some kit that should get me some reasonable distance from here. Will I reach you do you think?

[@andykirby]

Hi Anthony, we are in the hertford area, you are welcome to join in, it would be great if you can reach us and likewise! I can hit Luton on CB freqs so it might be possible. Can you do SSB on 446? Just thinking if FM struggled.

[@anthonyfmoss]

@@andykirby Andy, I’ve a handheld but verified here on YT as having 8w output. I’ve also one of those 2m / 70cm magmount antennas with 6.3 db gain on 440Mhz. This should give me a multiplier of 4x. The roof of my big Skoda a good ground plane. I may have to drive a bit closer in your direction though. Sadly, I don’t have a base unit with SSB (as yet!).

[@andyc664]

I’m very interested in one of these radios how do they compare to cb radio

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

Great video, new subscriber

[@26TM034]

Nice vid.. We are going to DX on Ch 12 and 14 this year 2022.. See if we can rack up some good miliage.. Tropo good a few times last year over to France a few times.. Normandy from Yeovil ish

[@simonh870]

Good to see the space U works in a 1 series Bimmer. I need to get one for my M140i

[@christophersmith1155]

I WISH FRS/GMRS WAS MORE POPULAR HERE IN THE USA. EUROPE HAS 0.5 or 1/2 OF A WATT. WE ARE ALLOWED 2 WATTS AND COULD REALLY BENEFIT AND ENJOY IT WITHOUT A LICENSE. ON GMRS WE ARE ALLOWED 5 WATTS ON CHANNELS 1-7 AND 50 WATTS ON CHANNELS 15-22 WITH A LICENSE.

[@kustje]

Did you know that also a registered radio amateur is only allowed on PMR446 with no more than half a watt of broadcasts power and may only use a walkie-talkie type 446 whose antenna is attached to the device without another antenna being connected using a coax cable, this law is an exception in the European Union even for radio amateurs, so a registered radio amateur is not allowed to use his own radio because it can transmit more than 0,5Wbritain. Years ago Great Britain signed that European law. But now the cat comes out of the sleeve. Since you are no longer part of the European Union, you do not have to follow these rules until you make your own law.

[@kerozin520]

Having coax cable and external antenna is still legal as long as there's no detachable connector. You can get legal mobile pmr446 radios with roof mounted antennas. No one really cares tho, where I live ham, cb, pmr are all barren deserted wastelands.

[@MarkPentler]

@@kerozin520 is there a source for this distinction that we can look at somewhere? Are you saying you could wire a coax feedline right onto the PCB and have the wire come out and technically it is still "on-radio"? Thing is, even modifying the radio like that I thought means it's no longer legal but it's all a bit confusing

[@sweeneyTodd-de4by]

Great video had to subscribe, can you recommend me a radio for a beginner please?

[@dx990uk2]

Great video andy keep em coming👍73s

[@richardothen4339]

we run a 446 net every monday from 20:00 channel 14 south cost net

[@paulshuff2273]

blimey seems alot money for such short range

[@GateKommand]

UHF will penetrate into buildings better though I reckon!

[@CrowMoto]

Good Video! Is it legal in the UK to use PMR446 with Hamradio devices and more than 0,5 Watts?

[@K.BERGER]

It is not but no one cares

[@phillipsmiley5930]

If you are going to operate illegally on 446 why not do the same on 143.5MHz, which some hang gliders do, mostly using Baofeng UV3R

[@zukispur5493]

Fantastic fantastic hobby.

[@BillyNoMates1974]

Have the laws been relaxed on PMR446 regarding antenna's ? When I looked years ago, you couldn't buy a base station AND had to use the supplied antenna with the radio. btw, nice to see my old neck of the woods before I moved

[@manoffunk]

No they haven't

[@BillyNoMates1974]

@@manoffunk It would seem you can buy mobile rigs with separate antennas for cars. nice. I may want to have a play now that I can get a mobile rig for the car

[@MarkPentler]

essentially nobody seems to give a shit anymore about antennas or power levels, fuck all the shops or businesses using it, "they can buy a business licence" etc. I get some of the arguments about being able to use more and why you shouldn't care that much about it, but that one always gets me.

[@Superfandangoo]

There is no longer a stipulation for fixed antennas only that the Homebase antenna has no ERP gain, 1/2 watt PEP still (that’s from radio into coax)

[@lasermod2012-vx8cx]

What radio is he using at 2:29

[@RingwayManchester]

Who’s Andy Burby?

[@M7BXR]

Lolza

[@cinny2222]

Pity you didnt turn the Watts up at the Furthest Point..see if any Difference in reception Not Long Ordered one Has the Ant to be Swr,d In and where from?

[@christophersmith1155]

i would run PMR at 40 to 50 watts. it is 70cm band. alot of equipment available. here in the USA we have GMRS channels 1-7 is 5 watts. 8-15 is 0.5 watts and 16-22 is 50 watts

[@DAP-JN3.16]

Love these videos. Proper boys toys.

[@Chris-hy6jy]

Ofcom should change the regs for PMR446 to 5w and allow external antennas.

[@killerbites3963]

Hahaha had Lewis seen this yet ?

[@gregs7490]

Is 446 a licensed frequency

[@K.BERGER]

PMR 446, you don’t need any licence to transmit on this frequency

[@zjonaitis]

No license required, however the radio must be licensed specifically for PMR446, otherwise it's illegal.

[@jugoslavnamljidjiu9021]

That is nothing we have pmr connection 180 km but from peak of the mountain to other mountain with 0,5 wats motorola talkabout to baofeng uv 82hp that is a record

[@MarkPentler]

just to say 13:52 made laugh a lot

[@JohnSmith-wl8cv]

Is this legal home base not legal not fixed antenna and its used on a multiband radio tut tut Ding Dong and it's not the Avon Lady it's Ofcom yoy should not be encouraging illegal radio txing being a radio ham

[@frequencywatchers]

DAM!N Its So Cool To Be Rich :( !

[@dodegkr]

Such a wind up merchant, fixed antenna only

[@zjonaitis]

I've always admired your channel and your enthusiasm playing with radio. However, now I think you have slipped and fell. Being a conscious citizen by promoting illegal use of PMR446 even for the purpose of testing this video jeopardize a whole amateur radio community by promoting illegal use of radios instead of encouraging one to get a ham radio license and enjoy a broad range of radio spectrum, freedom of experimentation, fun and the sense of true ham spirit. I still believe you will find your courage to remove this video. Wish you the best.

[@zukispur5493]

Fantastic fantastic hobby.