Collection: Product Page Licence Free
Radio transmitters, including two-way radios, and the VHF or UHF frequencies they operate on, are governed, licensed and co-ordinated by ComReg in Ireland. But not every two-way radio has to be licensed; some can operate on specific, licence-free (PMR446) frequencies. Here's a complete guide to explain more about licence-free radios.
- PMR stands for Personal Mobile Radio
- 446 refers to the UHF frequency range 446MHz, on which licence-free radios are permitted to operate.
- Licence-free radios are generally lower-powered, handheld radios with a maximum power output of 0.5 watts. This gives them a much shorter range than their licensed counterparts.
- Licence-free radios are more often referred to as "walkie talkies" than their higher-powered, licensed counterparts. It doesn't matter whether you call them walkie talkies or two-way radios.
- Depending on the surrounding terrain, the range can vary from a few hundred metres in a built-up area to a few kilometres in open ground. Typically, think line-of sight range for outdoor activities on a small site.
- You can use licence-free radios for business or personal use on a specific range of 16 UHF frequencies in Ireland, the rest of the European Union and the UK.
- PMR446 frequencies are only allowed to be used by lower-powered, shorter range licence-free radios; it's highly illegal to program a higher-performing business radio to these frequencies - these are supposed to operate under a ComReg licence.
- In the USA and Canada, the closest equivalent to a licence-free option is FRS or GMRS
Licence-free two-way radios are manufactured with the permitted range of frequencies already programmed in. Power sources can vary, from basic models which use AA cells, to more advanced models which use Li-Ion rechargeable packs.