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Then we'll move on to the real thing - equipment designed for the use of the public for their
own personal and/or business purposes, either licensed or totally free-for-all.
A scanner enthusiast may wish to check for the frequencies of foreign handhelds, in
case somebody local is using such unapproved equipment
(If your country's laws permit this scanning **IF!** ) due
to the portable nature of these transceivers.
This page attempts to keep track of the array of low power
systems available to the public (excluding telephones) such as
CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS, SRBR etc.
Commercial equipment designed for the professional mobile radio market
is not included here, even if it is often available second-hand
(expensive when new!) with programming software too. Modified amateur
equipment is easier to come by and often covers the same bands, and
anyway it could be harder to tell what is genuine or not on these
land mobile allocations.
UK systems are included here too, for the benefit of those overseas.
International
VHF Airband 118-137 MHz
- 760 AM channels at 25kHz spacing, with newer sets handling 8.33kHz steps in Europe.
Handhelds can be bought for 300 GBP or less. Receive coverage from 108-118 also, for
info/weather broadcasts and navigation signals. I strongly discourage any unauthorised
use of these channels.
Maybe some would argue that the glider or balloon channels are fair game, even if only
during bad weather. Bear in mind many scanner folk listen there! In the UK there are
many private airline channels at 129.7 to 132 approx - sensible operation there with
callsigns might just go almost unnoticed? I still wouldn't recommend it though. Even if
you think you've found a clear spare channel (from lots of monitoring) you never know
if you're suddenly going to be blaring from a speaker somewhere where that channel is
monitored for standby purposes. Even if not, are you sure you won't cause interference
to local air traffic via intermodulation images? It isn't worth it! This whole band is
VERY carefully planned on an international basis. Please don't upset the system - lives
could be at risk.
VHF Marine band 156-163 MHz,
FM channels, 25kHz bandwidth, 25W max. A 28 channel sequence from 156.05 to 157.40
(50kHz steps) with paired channels internationally (shore at +4.6MHz : 160.6** to 162),
not all of which pairs are used in the USA.
In 1972 channels 60 to 88 were added in between the existing ones, from 156.025 to
157.425 - private channels may also be found between 155-156, at 161, and from 157.45
to 158.5 paired (or not) with 162-163 approx.
As with Airband radios, it's best if you don't use these radios for anything other
than their intended purpose. If you prevent coastguards hearing a call for help you
could be putting lives at risk.
The paired channels would be useless for illicit purposes handie-to-handie in
"international mode"...
...sets with an International/USA switch could be used for single-channel
use of the 156-157MHz part of a international paired channel -
but not 20, 24-28, 64, 84-87 -
UK sets may feature private channels M (157.85) and M2 (161.425) for common Marina use.
Common private Nordic channels for leisure boating are
155.500, 155.525 and 155.650 MHz, and
155.625, 155.775 and 155.825 MHz fishing.
Denmark private : P1 155.375, P2 155.575, P3 155.450, P4 155.800.
Use of intership channels would be the least likely to cause serious problems, but
Marine handhelds are intended for use on the water by licensed persons!
(USA: intership for recreational boaters : 68, 69, 71, 72 and 78A, with 9 for calling.
Commercial ship bridge-to-bridge & bridges/locks : 13. Harbors/pilots : 14.
Coast Guard Liaison Channel : 22A. Public Correspondence : 24-28 and 84-88)
UHF marine on-board systems -
2W max. Usually used with paired frequencies, with a repeater.
Finland : 457.600 and 467.6 : "user certificate required"
Amateur Radio handhelds. Most common is
equipment for 2 metres (144MHz) and 70cm (430MHz), although some
handies cover 6 metres (50MHz) where antennas are unwieldy
and inefficient (or worse still - 10 metres - 28MHz), or even 23cm (1290MHz) which is rather too
microwave for good portable use. Handies may be single band, dual,
or up to all four in one!
Non-standard allocations such as the USA 220MHz and 900MHz bands, or the UK
70MHz band tend not to feature on mass-produced equipment.
Amateurs tend not to welcome intruders to their bands, so be sure that
unauthorised use will be discovered and dealt with! These folk can be very
good at finding signal sources :o)
Most amateur HF transceivers can be "opened up" to full AM/SSB/FM coverage over the
range up to 30MHz or sometimes even up to beyond 54MHz. A jumper or diode(s)
may be removed from the circuit board to enable this. This is usually how Echo
Charlie operators pirate the 6.67 MHz band, or how freebanders cover 11 metres.
In the same way VHF/UHF handhelds can often be made to cover extended ranges.
2 metre sets may cover as much as 120 to 180 MHz or more, in 5kHz steps,
but keeping the 25kHz bandwidth. Fortunately FM doesn't come through too well
on AM airband sets, lessening the risk of bogus air traffic control calls
(yes, slope detection, I know!).
Similarly 70cm sets may cover up to 400 to 490 MHz or more. There is scope for
much interference to private systems, especially as CTCSS can be used,
but most owners seem to respect the rest of the spectrum. Trunked PMR systems
are harder to break into. Some use of expanded equipment occurs with businesses
that either intentionally or in ignorance think they can get away with using a "spare" channel.
27MHz CB Citizens Band 26.965 to 27.405MHz as used in many countries.
These channels were introduced in the USA in 1958 and 1977, with gaps for model
control. The channels have been adopted in other countries since, with some
countries using lower or higher bands between 26 and 28MHz, sometimes keeping the
same sequence order gaps as this made transceivers easier to convert from existing designs.
AM/SSB modes are legal in the USA and some other countries (some in Europe),
with FM used on these frequencies in the UK
and Europe (harmonised standard known as CEPT or EURO). Elsewhere the modes/channels are in
all sorts of combinations worldwide, some with only 22 or 23 channels,
or other subsets. Usually 4W for AM/FM and 12W for SSB.
For much more detail, please visit http://www.geocities.com/euro446/rf-man/cb
This next table shows which countries use the USA/EURO 26.965-27.405 channels,
and others. EURO = CEPT PR 27 : ERO decisions (98)11 and (96)02 from recommendation
T/R 20-09 (Chester 1990).
A Euro SSB standard is planned - ETS/EN 300433 - although finding anything on-line
is a bit difficult, it seems to be a huge secret!
Some CB-ers don't care much for legalities, and use extra unauthorised channels
(some of which may be legal in some countries) which can extend from 25MHz
to over 28MHz much to the dismay of amateurs and other
services. Here are some of the 11 metre "Freeband" channels (Calling on 27555 and 26285),
note that channels 3A,7A,11A,15A and 19A are used also (the gaps for models) and that
many operators simply use any frequency they like with converted amateur equipment :
Also, in many countries with harsher economies, businesses may use CB equipment
for communication because it is so much cheaper. The UK CB-ers are finding more
and more Eastern European or Russian sounding traffic!
Interestingly, the USA where it all started, doesn't allow
communication over ranges greater than 153 miles!
National
Australian 55MHz LPD in the 54-56MHz band, 2.5mW max. 5 channel handies made by
Realistic.
There's an Australian/NZ 477MHz CB "Personal Radio Service" using
476.425 - 477.400 MHz (5W). Repeaters allowed, shift +0.75MHz to TX.
Austria I'm really not sure about these, more info needed!
Can anyone explain this lot to me?! Please!
Botswana, South Africa 29MHz - 23 AM channels within 29.7-30MHz, 12.5kHz spaced,
as used by 4x4 off-roaders.
Brasil 27MHz CB - 20 extra channels,
the USA/CEPT channels extended up to 27.605 MHz, 7W AM and 21W SSB.
A Czech
PDF document from 2005 lists a number of Low Power allocations for portable-only use...
In China / HK, 409MHz SRPR public channels (20) within 409.750-409.9875 (12.5kHz, 500mW)
- 6th December 2001.
See a Hong Kong PDF at
http://www.ofta.gov.hk/ad-comm/rsac/paper/rsac5-2002.pdf
The European 433MHz LPD (10mW) band
bounded by 433.05 and 434.79 MHz (or 433.92MHz +/- 0.87).
This band can be used in most Euro countries for remote control and telemetry,
and in some also for voice. Voice modes not allowed in Denmark, Finland, Hungary,
Latvia, Luxembourg, UK.
Handhelds tend to have 69 channels at 433.075 - 434.775 MHz, 25kHz spacing/bandwidth,
with CTCSS. This falls within the amateur 70cms band (in all regions), in the UK's
repeater outputs/inputs and simplex FM segment ( 433.8-434.35 (channels 30-52) is probably
the least used part where you'd go unnoticed - apart from the heavily used 433.92 area).
Amateurs are Secondary Users of this band and are not supposed to listen to any
other users, even to work out whether they may be licenced Primary Users or intruders -
it's none of their business, rather it's up to the Primary Users or OFCOM to deal with
(amateurs may perhaps be entitled to monitor use of their PRIMARY *unshared* bands, but
a licencing difficulty remains that an amateur is not allowed to listen to any other user
apart from specific general services such as BROADCASTING - and most definitely not allowed to
listen to unlicenced users. If it becomes apparent that a user is not using amateur callsigns
within a reasonable period, the amateur must cease listening because he cannot verify that the
station is another amateur). So it's questionable whether an amateur has a legal 'leg to stand
on' to hound you off the air or report you. You *could* be a military cadet, for example :-)
The European 446MHz PMR446 (500mW) system - most of Europe including the UK.
8 channels, 12.5kHz bandwidth. Designed for unregulated use by
anybody. Some countries require licenses and/or business use only.
The European 868-870MHz SRD band.
Intended for general Short Range Devices and Alarm systems, ERC/DEC(01)04 :
http://www.ero.dk/documentation/docs/doc98/official/pdf/DEC0104.PDF
- implemented by some Euro admins (incl. UK) - Germany doesn't allow
voice or any audio.. http://www.ero.dk/documentation/docs/implement.asp?docid=1463
Finland - 68-72MHz RHA68 - low power system.
"Common channels for hobby usage in general" (RHA68 4.2.2000). 5W. (6.4.1998)
More details wanted! Thanks :o)
In France - 446.9MHz RPS (Radio Professionnelle Simplifiée) is an SRBR.
License-free, 500mW, 3 12.5kHz channels.
German 26MHz CB - an extra 40 channels to make 80 in all.
Straight 10kHz spaced sequence from 26.565 to 26.955 :
The German 149MHz 'Freenet' LPD system - 1997 to 2005.
6 channel handies (3 new channels added January 2007).
500mW max, simple license, 12.5kHz. Not for use in
border regions.
Hungary 26MHz CB - an extra 40 channels.
Mid band -450kHz, i.e. Lo Band.
India : 27MHz CB.
India : 350MHz SRR.
Short Range Radio at 2W.
see http://www.dotindia.com/wpcc/NFAP/remarks.htm
(google for 350.2250)
In Indonesia, 142MHz , 60 channels 25kHz spaced within 142.0375-143.6375.
"The new frequency allocations (142 & 476 MHz) were regulated in a decision by the Director General of Posts and Telecommunications in decreee Number 92 Year 1994 on Implementing Regulation of the Inter-Citizens Radio Communications." 10/15/25W?
In Indonesia, 467MHz , 40 channels within 467.425-477.400?
seen as spec for Maxon handheld http://www.maxon.co.kr/uploads/productreport/m-222p.pdf
In Italy, 43MHz LPD contains 24 channels from 43.3
to 43.5875 (12.5kHz), max 5W. From 1998. For specific purposes :o)
See this catalogue : http://www.intek-com.it/catalogo/pag15.html
Italy, 49 & 53MHz unconfirmed (rumour dept.)
"Italian 7 metres - 49.1 to 49.5 MHz FM - 20 channels are legal with 5 watts.
Calling channel is 49.250 MHz."
"Italy - Pirate 6 metres? 53.5 to 53.950 MHz all modes,
FM calling channel 53.75 MHz,
SSB calling channel 53.525 MHz."
Any info gratefully received! See details at bottom of this page. Thanks.
Japan, 27MHz CB - 8 channels, 500mW, AM.
Antenna : whip less than 0.199m - cannot use ext.antenna.
Japan, 154MHz. 9 Channels, 20kHz spaced.
Japan, 348MHz 20 channels for business use, 1W, 12.5kHz FM.
Radios must be equipped with a control ROM for Auto-Callsign and Digital ID by 1200bps/4800bps MSK.
Japan, 421MHz 19 channels 12.5kHz FM.
Japan, 422MHz 11 channels for business use, 10mW, 12.5kHz FM.
Radios must be equipped with a control ROM for Auto-Callsign and Digital ID by 1200bps/4800bps MSK.
Japan, 422MHz UHF CB "Specific Low Power Radio" - 10mW for
hobby/leisure.
Newly-authorized in 1989, mostly used for handhelds. 12.5kHz spacing, 9 single channels
and 9 paired on 421/440 MHz.
Radios must be equipped with a control ROM for Auto-Callsign and Digital ID by 1200bps/4800bps MSK.
Japan, 465MHz, 12.5kHz spaced
Japan, 903MHz "Personal Radio", 5W, 158 12.5kHz FM channels
from 903.0125 to 904.9875 - external antennas are permitted.
Radios must be equipped with a control ROM for Auto-Callsign and Digital ID by 1200bps/4800bps MSK.
In Korea, 448MHz FRS consists of 25 channels - 15 from 448.75 to 448.925 (12.5kHz, 500mW)
and 10 more at 449.15 to 449.2625 -
http://hitop.net/hitop/pr/uhfcb.htm
In Malaysia, 477MHz FRS consists of 39 channels within 477.5-478 (12.5kHz, 500mW).
See a PDF at
http://corona.cmc.gov.my/legislation/acrobat/puB109.pdf
or a text version thanks to Google's cache.
Author: Firdaus
Netherlands 170MHz more info needed!
UPDATE : "used for Driving schools (at least it used to be), it's either been disused by now
or it may still be in use by motorcycle driving instructers. Greetings, Greg" - many thanks!
New Zealand 26MHz CB (mid band -635kHz with gaps etc.)
SSB from 27.610 upwards (http://pca.cc/RADIO_FREQS/cb_freqs.html)
Norway 5W hunting radios (jaktradio).
The Philippines, Singapore & Brunei 325MHz SRRS 40 channel service that operates
325.0 to 325.4875 (300mW? 2.5W?).
Poland, 154MHz. 4 channel service, pro only?
"CTCSS or DCS is required. RF power limit is 1W. Only portable radios and no external antenna"
Romania 27.5MHz CB - extra channels - rumour?
Singapore - 477MHz "Multi-channels Localised Radio (1W)
South Africa - 464MHz short range business radios, 5W.
Sweden - 31MHz service, details not fully known.
24 FM channels, irregular 10kHz spacings. Maximum power 3.5W for some channels, 1W on others.
From 1993?
Sweden, 155MHz unconfirmed (rumour dept.)
25kHz FM, 5W - June 2001
155 : "Jordbruksföretag får här tillstånd på två kanaler som ofta användes som jaktradio. Till skillnad mot 27 och 31 MHz kan man helt ostört ha radioförbindelser med högsta kvalitet på dessa kanaler. Ett enkelt tonselektiv användes som gör att man inte störs av andra jaktlag. Selektivet bygger på en kontinuerlig ton under talfrekvensområdet, s.k. pilotton eller tonsquelch, även kallat CTCSS. Detta selektiv hindrar ej avlyssning. Små behändiga apparater med perfekt ljudkvalitet och bra räckvidd. Dock förekommer billiga fabrikat av sämre kvalitet. Kräver tillstånd."
152 : "Vargar och andra sällsynta djur förses i forskningssammanhang med en liten radiosändare för att man skall kunna lokalisera djuret i naturen. Systemet kan även användas för att pejla sin jakthund med. Genom att man låter denna sändare skicka ut korta bärvågs pulser med låg effekt kan man få lång batteri livslängd. Genom att nyttja en känslig mottagare med smala filter, (CW mottagare) samt en riktantenn kan man uppnå avsevärda räckvidder. För att lyssna behövs en mottagare med SSB eller CW läge, samt möjlighet att justera frekvensen i mindre än 100 Hz steg. En bärbar riktantenn som man kan vrida polariteten på är en fördel. Frekvenserna är inte tillståndspliktiga. Utrustningar av detta slag ser man ofta i TV naturprogram. Frekvenserna är"
Any tranlations/info gratefully received! See details at bottom of this page. Thanks.
In Sweden, 444MHz SRBR is a 6 channel service, 1W.
Switzerland, 430MHz SRBR - 3 channels, 500mW, CTCSS,
from 1999 (?), license is 84/year per pair. Also used in neighbouring Liechtenstein.
Switzerland, 933/934MHz CB - 80 channels, 5W, from 1983 until end of 2003
on a NIB Non Interference Basis.
Taiwan, 467MHz - 14 channels, 12.5kHz spaced
Thailand, 78MHz CB - 80 channels, 10W, from 1998 (96?)
Thailand, 245MHz CB - 80 channels, 10W, from 1998 (96?)
UK CB (27/81) (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man,
Channel Islands) allocated in 1981 - the CEPT channels were allowed
a few years later making 80 in all at 27MHz. 4W FM. Straight 10kHz spaced sequence. UK CB licenses cost 15 GBP,
optional callsigns available in 2anaa format where a=alpha n=numeric e.g. 2A1BC.
The UK 49MHz LPD band
at 49.82 to 49.98 (boundaries) may be used for voice - very low range though,
very low power (10mW) and inefficient antennas.
Typical frequencies - as used by the Maxon 5 channel set:
This band is extensively used for baby monitors, which complicates matters even
further.
The UK 461MHz SRBR Short Range Business Radio service
continues until 31.Dec.2003 - 500mW max. Licensed use only, although not necessarily
business only. Handhelds, CTCSS, 12.5kHz channels.
The UK 934MHz CB band (934/81)
Legal from 2.Nov.1981 to 31.12.1998 and was lost to the expansion of cellular phone bands.
8W, 20 channels, 50kHz spaced, 25kHz bandwidth. Was included in the 15 GBP CB license.
The USA 150MHz/UHF 'Dot' system.
Common commercial frequencies, used (and abused) throughout the US
for all kinds of things. "Dot" stickers are used by the manufacturer
or distributer to indicate the frequency of otherwise identical transceivers.
Joe Montierth reports : (thanks!)
Ritron decided that to make things easy, they would sell mainly on channels
that had been set aside by the FCC as low power channels. They picked a few
of the most popular frequencies, and "color coded" them so that the end user
just had to remember a "color dot". 154.57 might be "blue dot" and 154.600
might be "blue dot" (etc). This caught on, and other manufacturers started
making low cost radios, and selling them with the same "color dot" scheme."
These radios were only available from radio dealers to begin with, but ended
up being sold to the public with little regard for licensing. The abuse of
these channels has led to the call for MURS.
Additional itinerant frequencies include 27.49, 35.04, 43.04,
151.505, 158.400, 469.500, 469.550 and 853.4875 MHz.
Use of this equipment in the UK has been detected.
The USA 150MHz MURS Multi-Use Radio Service, introduced late 2000.
This allows 2W unlicensed use on two existing (abused) 154MHz business frequencies,
and on three new ones in between existing 30kHz spaced business channels. +/-2.5kHz maximum
deviation on the 151 channels. An original 12.5kHz bandwidth allowance on the existing 154 channels
was raised to allow +/-5kHz deviation.
Rules : http://www.provide.net/~prsg/mursrule.htm
The USA 218-219MHz IVDS service is
interesting : http://ftp.fcc.gov/wtb/prs/ivds.html
The USA Defense Dept. 396-399MHz ISR (Intra-Squad Radio) handhelds.
Icom supply more than 13,000 IC-4008M radios after having won the contract in 2000.
14 channels, 12.5kHz FM, < 500mW. Contract details :
The USA FRS Family Radio Service (June 1996) 462/467MHz service
uses two UHF band segments with channels interleaved
between the USA GMRS channels at 462.55 - 462.725 and 467.55 - 467.725 MHz.
Deregulated, 12.5kHz bandwidth, max. power 500mW.
The USA GMRS General Mobile Radio Service (1989) 462/467MHz service
uses two UHF band segments at 462.55 - 462.725 and 467.55 - 467.725 MHz.
Canada allows 2W GMRS (no repeaters) since sept 2004
( http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08202e.html )
For non-Americans, I'll explain the word interstitial (rhymes with initial)
which you may see in conjunction with GMRS, refering to channels between other channels
i.e. the channels shared with FRS.
Note that 467MHz frequencies are only allowed as repeater inputs or FRS channels.
Repeater outputs and higher powered GMRS single-freq.-simplex must take place on
462MHz.
An old USA 900MHz V-Link System - a toy manufactured by Yes! Entertainment,
a now bankrupt toy manufacturer. 19 channels, no CTCSS or DCS.
Here's an idea - consider all the various recent
new varieties of low power business radios, everything on this page in fact.
It may well happen that many of these radios get taken to other countries and used
there, where the allocations differ. Interference could be a problem. Many
manufacturers use the same casing for radios destined for different markets, and
it can be difficult to tell which is which. The difference between an FRS and PMR446
set may only be obvious if you know that FRS has 14 channels whereas PMR446 has 8.
However, many countries now have differing 3-channel SRBR services!
Many of these new services use frequencies in the amateur 70cm band - either in
the 440-450 segment which is a potential intrusion for the USA/Canada, or even
within the globally common 430-440 part of the band.
I believe the international amateur community should call for a compulsory marking
scheme to assist the identification of these handhelds. In Europe a CEPT compliant
CB has to be marked as, for example "PR 27 GB" in the UK. Would it not be easier if
handhelds had to have a clear marking such as "446 EU", "433 EU",
"430 CH", "444 SE", "448 KR", "446.9 FR", "462/7 USA", "461 GB",
"325 S", "43 IT", "149 DE", "477 AU" ... ?
Any further info welcome! Please leave a message on the board at
http://www.voy.com/176326/ or post to Usenet
newsgroup uk.rec.radio.cb - message title "For RF-man", thanks.
When I last played here it was 22 Oct 2009.
This page looks just fine with the most popular browser MS Internet Explorer. If
something doesn't work in other browsers.. shame! Do keep your system patched and
up to date, though!!
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