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! 🙂
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
It's all radio! Absolutely right there! Welcome to the channel!
@mattdixon52992 жыл бұрын
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
@BryanTorok2 жыл бұрын
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.
@esuohdica2 жыл бұрын
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!
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
Good to hear! You'll breeze it! I'm gonna do my intermediate online.👍🏻Good luck!
@damiengirvan50207 ай бұрын
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....
@pmr4462 жыл бұрын
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.
@bearthrylls57592 жыл бұрын
.5
@2beer_OR_NOT_2beer2 жыл бұрын
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.
@mm3nrx2 жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
Most people down south won’t know where Castleford is!👍 Even less know where Cutsyke is where I’m from!😆🤷♂️
@damiengirvan50207 ай бұрын
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?
@damiengirvan50207 ай бұрын
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....
@26TM2052 жыл бұрын
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.
@NOWThatsRichy2 жыл бұрын
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.
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
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!
@jasonhowell53622 жыл бұрын
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
@RingwayManchester2 жыл бұрын
Oh it’s on!
@damiengirvan5020 Жыл бұрын
@mikesatur7969does anyone make videos like that?
@markp71292 жыл бұрын
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 😃👍😃👍😃👍
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
🤣🤣
@Dave64track2 жыл бұрын
Pretty good when you consider how big the antenna is it's something to look into it's very interesting this radio gear.
@Bones4692 жыл бұрын
So I guess that would be similar to our GMRS except no license needed kind of like our low power FRS?
@taylor7668USАй бұрын
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
@jelenkopasternak2372 жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
149 is growing over here in the UK although its illegal.. Some good nets n ops on 149!
@damiengirvan5020 Жыл бұрын
@@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?
@huwkelvinmorgan35752 жыл бұрын
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
@bearfreeman76046 ай бұрын
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 😎
@hfvhf9872 жыл бұрын
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.
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
Yeah love UHF SSB, it can be so quiet away from the noise so your chances of working weak signals is alot higher!
@anthonyfmoss2 жыл бұрын
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!
@taylor7668USАй бұрын
Pmr446 should be limited to 500mw and a non removable antenna but many people break the law
@Mike-H_UK2 жыл бұрын
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.
@gearlab7342 жыл бұрын
The minimum power output of that CRT Space u is five watts, they're not running 0.5 lol
@Mike-H_UK2 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@adamlunn81012 жыл бұрын
No fixed antenna either, who cares though 😎😎
@gearlab7342 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@gearlab7342 жыл бұрын
@@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
@VicGreenBitcoin2 жыл бұрын
The guy in the back reminds me ; "My Mom Calls It Bloomies"
@shornsparks200052 жыл бұрын
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
@4X4-RADIO Жыл бұрын
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 Жыл бұрын
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.
@caerffili_callin2 жыл бұрын
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.
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
Exactly!!! and thanks.🙏🏻
@zjonaitis4 ай бұрын
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.
@christophersmith11557 ай бұрын
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.
@pjohnwilliams69412 жыл бұрын
Hi, could you tell me the full name of the antenna he's using on the beamer, great video
@dx990uk22 жыл бұрын
Great video andy keep em coming👍73s
@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069 Жыл бұрын
Great video, new subscriber
@DAVIDGREGORYKERR2 жыл бұрын
Maybe a Slim-Jim Antenna for 446Mhz might work better.
@paulhowell50112 жыл бұрын
Another informative video. Be good when there is more activity in my area
@andykaye66652 жыл бұрын
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
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
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!
@chrisstone38612 жыл бұрын
He's not wrong Andy, loads of us up here! Evening Andy K, it's Chris from Headingley
@pmr4462 жыл бұрын
Good to see you here on this channel Andy K, From Danielle.
@warrenphillips692 жыл бұрын
This video made me anxious, I was thinking about the pizza getting cold.
@photosbycharles98802 жыл бұрын
Cold Pizza is better then Hot Pizza, I had the seat Warmer under the Pizza.
@DAP-JN3.162 жыл бұрын
Love these videos. Proper boys toys.
@640amthemix2 жыл бұрын
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 👍
@fintonmainz78452 жыл бұрын
Exactly the same idea except different frequencies because the FRS frequencies in Europe were already occupied.
@nealmorris65142 жыл бұрын
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 ?
@simonh870 Жыл бұрын
Good to see the space U works in a 1 series Bimmer. I need to get one for my M140i
@grahamwardandcd15946 ай бұрын
Does it matter if I put my uv5r on. Wide band or narrow band on pmr
@phillipsmiley5930 Жыл бұрын
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
@HenkKroonenburg Жыл бұрын
Is it not possible to switch on SSB to hear each other clearly?
@andykirby Жыл бұрын
Hi, SSB doesn't make things clearer it is a different mode to FM, AM etc...
@HenkKroonenburg Жыл бұрын
@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.
@damiengirvan50207 ай бұрын
@@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.....
@INTHEMIX742 жыл бұрын
suprised people havent followed the australian new zealand model here...we have 477mhz uhf cb radio here as well as 27 mhz
@26TM0342 жыл бұрын
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
@johnnorth93552 жыл бұрын
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 :-) .
@pmr4462 жыл бұрын
More users on PMR channel 8 here in Yorkshire than 70cm and 2m combined.
@sweeneyTodd-de4by2 жыл бұрын
Great video had to subscribe, can you recommend me a radio for a beginner please?
@vladimirzivadinovic3941 Жыл бұрын
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)
@fthorup5 ай бұрын
yes - yes it is
@wrxs17812 жыл бұрын
You need to open a FRS/GMRS repeater for your area.
@pmr4462 жыл бұрын
Here in the UK we have PMR446 which is our equivelant to FRS/GMRS.
@ourhudlathome88852 жыл бұрын
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.
@photosbycharles98802 жыл бұрын
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.
@zukispur54932 жыл бұрын
Fantastic fantastic hobby.
@saradegrassi4649 Жыл бұрын
Hi, Is It very hot, when you transmit for a long time, in hi or middle Power?
@tonybalm15132 жыл бұрын
I take it you were using a 2/70cm co-linear for your antenna?
@peterevans819410 ай бұрын
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?
@andykirby10 ай бұрын
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.
@peterevans819410 ай бұрын
@@andykirby Thanks Andy that's much appreciated...
@deenunya77352 жыл бұрын
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 ?
@andyc6642 жыл бұрын
I’m very interested in one of these radios how do they compare to cb radio
@gearlab7342 жыл бұрын
The minimum power output on the CRT space is FIVE WATTS lol
@adamlunn81012 жыл бұрын
😂😂
@RonanCantwell2 жыл бұрын
He's just allowing for the 10dB losses in that cheap coax. It's a pro thing 😉
@PaulTaylor12 жыл бұрын
@@RonanCantwell I see the wink, but there's absolutely no way 5 watts is reaching that antenna lol.
@RonanCantwell2 жыл бұрын
@@PaulTaylor1 Yep. More than likely losing a large percentage in the crappy coax. Particularly at those frequencies. Still, at least some is getting out.
@gearlab7342 жыл бұрын
@@RonanCantwell lol
@christophersmith11552 жыл бұрын
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
@anthonyfmoss2 жыл бұрын
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?
@andykirby2 жыл бұрын
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.
@anthonyfmoss2 жыл бұрын
@@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!).
@kustje2 жыл бұрын
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.
@kerozin5202 жыл бұрын
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.
@MarkPentler2 жыл бұрын
@@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
@richardothen43392 жыл бұрын
we run a 446 net every monday from 20:00 channel 14 south cost net
@cinny22222 жыл бұрын
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?
@GateKommand2 жыл бұрын
UHF will penetrate into buildings better though I reckon!
@paulshuff22732 жыл бұрын
blimey seems alot money for such short range
@CrowMoto2 жыл бұрын
Good Video! Is it legal in the UK to use PMR446 with Hamradio devices and more than 0,5 Watts?
@K.BERGER2 жыл бұрын
It is not but no one cares
@BillyNoMates19742 жыл бұрын
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
@manoffunk2 жыл бұрын
No they haven't
@BillyNoMates19742 жыл бұрын
@@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
@MarkPentler2 жыл бұрын
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.
@Superfandangoo2 жыл бұрын
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)
@RingwayManchester2 жыл бұрын
Who’s Andy Burby?
@M7BXR2 жыл бұрын
Lolza
@Chris-hy6jy2 жыл бұрын
Ofcom should change the regs for PMR446 to 5w and allow external antennas.
@jugoslavnamljidjiu90212 жыл бұрын
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
@MarkPentler2 жыл бұрын
just to say 13:52 made laugh a lot
@frequencywatchers8 ай бұрын
DAM!N Its So Cool To Be Rich :( !
@lasermod2012-vx8cx11 ай бұрын
What radio is he using at 2:29
@killerbites39632 жыл бұрын
Hahaha had Lewis seen this yet ?
@JohnSmith-wl8cv Жыл бұрын
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
@gregs74902 жыл бұрын
Is 446 a licensed frequency
@K.BERGER2 жыл бұрын
PMR 446, you don’t need any licence to transmit on this frequency
@zjonaitis4 ай бұрын
No license required, however the radio must be licensed specifically for PMR446, otherwise it's illegal.
@zjonaitis4 ай бұрын
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.