Boost II

iTrader: (1)

In America (land of bigger and better) you get radio sets which claim 7-10 mile range. Would there be a problem using these in the UK? Why do all the ones here only say up to 3km range?

Scooby96

Probably because everyones back yard in the U S of A is more than 3km wide!

Luke

A lot of them can be "Tweeked"... Will try to find internet site that I used... very easu get about 4 real miles. Up to 6 in the real open.

DanTheMan

Its probably due to some poxy UK law stating the maximum output cannot be more powerful than a gnats chuff.
I'd have no problems with using a US model, there are that many "argos specials" available now that the DTI would have a hell of a job proving that you were using an illegal rig.

I always remember using sideband CB's (Stalker9) from the states, excellent and powerfull bits of kit but a nightmare for setting off house/shop alarms and alledgedly they play havoc with aircraft ILS systems so I used to stop broadcasting when the planes started circling my aerial in the garden

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

Cheers for the opinions

PG

good place to buy these ?

Rob D

These radios come under the "PMR 446" License, which in brief means License Free Walkie Talkies.
In spring of 1999 the Government with the European Union agreed to free up the frequency 446 MHz for non-licensed hand portable radio use. So you can use these radios in most of Europe but not in countries such as the USA. It is a short range voice only communication system which provides a basic, but very effective radio service for both the business and non business user. The radios need no license and there are no call charges to pay. It can be used by anyone of any age.
The frequencies are shared which means you may get interference in heavily used areas. To reduce this there are up to 8 channels available, each with 38 different codes, this gives a maximum of 304 channel options. Changing channels and/or CTCSS tone should reduce interference from other users.
To conform to PMR446 legislation - radios must be hand portable, with a non- removable antenna and a maximum output power of 500mw

So the main point being a fixed antenna and a max power output of 0.5W which restricts the range of the radios.

Rob.

Luke

think mine now kicks out about a watt

russell hayward

Stalker 9 ?

I've still got a Ham International Concorde 3 in the loft !

PG

If bought in the USA would digi 2 ways work here ?
are the prices that much different ?
Which ones represent good value, spec and tweekability ?

DanTheMan

cool, yeah Stalker 9 FDX and boy do you remember the power of the burners we used to have, at one point I was running a monster kilowatt burner powered by a switch mode power supply with a 1/2 wave mast in the garden. The bedroom lights used to dim when I keyd up but you could DX all over europe.

Makes you laugh when these are .5 watts

10-10
Dan

Luke

My "Yankie" set cobra


Cobra Micro Talk.PR900DX. Complete with chargers >Mike /earphone. Voice activated etc. Non squelch setting for more power. Easy to tweek... If the wind is in the right direction reccon I could get 7 miles..

Built well

Got them from Sears for about £45.00 a pair. Much better than the junk over here.

[Edited by Luke - 8/29/2003 7:41:19 PM]

PG

thank you Luke

Boro

iTrader: (1)

I was well into cb's when i was a lad, Cobra 148 GTL-DX, burners, base mics, and full waves mmm mmm mmm brings back memories of sending QSL cards all over the world. And all the italians LOL!

I see argos are doing these kiddie radios (.5w) LOL for £29.50.

boomer

To answer the original question - well if PMRs had, say, a 500 mile range, then you would never get a word in edgeways as there are only 8 frequencies in use

mb