What is PMR446?
PMR446 is the harmonised European licence-free radio service. It uses the 446.0–446.2 MHz band, a maximum of 0.5 W ERP, handheld equipment and a defined channel plan. It is the band behind most European hotel, retail, event and light-site handhelds.
The appeal is simplicity: no licence application, no frequency plan, no renewal. The limitation is equally simple: low power, a handheld antenna and no repeater.
PMR446 is often described as “the European FRS”, which is close enough for a first conversation but misleading in procurement. The two services share a low-power, licence-free idea, but they sit on different bands, use different channel plans and have different rules about antennas and repeaters. A radio bought for FRS cannot be used on PMR446, and a PMR446 radio cannot be used in the US. Band version matters more than brand.
Frequencies and channels
The analog PMR446 plan uses 446.0–446.2 MHz with 12.5 kHz channel spacing, giving 8 analog channels. Digital PMR446 (dPMR) adds more channels in some markets. The exact channel list and permitted use can vary by country, so check the national regulator’s current plan.
The band is shared. You do not get an exclusive channel, and you cannot claim protection from other users. In a busy area, you may hear other businesses on the same channel.
The channel plan in detail
The analog plan is straightforward:
| Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Spacing | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 446.00625 | 12.5 kHz | Default / general |
| 2 | 446.01875 | 12.5 kHz | General |
| 3 | 446.03125 | 12.5 kHz | General |
| 4 | 446.04375 | 12.5 kHz | General |
| 5 | 446.05625 | 12.5 kHz | General |
| 6 | 446.06875 | 12.5 kHz | General |
| 7 | 446.08125 | 12.5 kHz | General |
| 8 | 446.09375 | 12.5 kHz | General / calling |
Digital PMR446 occupies the upper part of the band, with 6.25 kHz channels from roughly 446.103125 to 446.196875 MHz. The number of digital channels depends on the national plan: some markets provide 16, others allow 32. A digital radio may use dPMR or DMR Tier I, depending on its approval, so “digital PMR446” is not a single interoperability class. Two digital radios from different makers may not talk to each other even though both are “PMR446”.
That last point catches buyers who assume all licence-free radios are compatible. Before ordering a mixed fleet, confirm:
- the exact band (446.0–446.2 MHz, not 400–470 MHz);
- analog or digital;
- the digital protocol and channel plan;
- the channel spacing;
- the accessory and programming compatibility.
A radio that covers 400–470 MHz may include the PMR446 frequencies, but that does not make it legal to transmit there. The approval is tied to the equipment and the service.
Power, antenna and accessory limits
The core limits are:
- Power: 0.5 W ERP.
- Equipment: handheld, approved for PMR446.
- Antenna: fixed or handheld; external antennas and amplifiers are generally prohibited.
- Repeater: generally not permitted.
- Channels: the defined PMR446 plan.
Adding a high-gain antenna, a vehicle amplifier or a rooftop antenna takes the radio outside the exemption. If you need more coverage, the answer is a licensed system, not a bigger antenna on a PMR446 handheld.
ERP, not transmitter output, is the number that matters. A radio with a 1 W transmitter and a −3 dBi antenna produces about 0.5 W ERP; a radio with a 0.5 W transmitter and a 0 dBi antenna produces 0.5 W ERP. The limit is written around the radiated power, so replacing the antenna with a higher-gain type changes the calculation even if the transmitter setting is unchanged. This is why the rules focus on the antenna as much as the power setting.
Accessories that do not change the antenna system are generally fine: earpieces, speaker mics, belt clips, chargers and cases. Accessories that change the RF path — external antennas, amplifiers, vehicle adapters with an external antenna, rooftop installations — are the ones that take the radio outside the licence-free envelope.
Can a business use PMR446?
In the UK and EU, PMR446 is available for business use within its limits. It is common in retail, restaurants, small hotels, events and light site work. The radio is cheap, the deployment is fast and there is no licence administration.
It is a good fit when:
- the team is small and works in one building or open area;
- the users are close enough for handheld-to-handheld coverage;
- one or two talk groups are enough;
- privacy and recording are not requirements.
It is a poor fit when the site needs a repeater, multiple departments, encryption or recording.
PMR446 is also popular for temporary operations: a market stall, a pop-up event, a film unit, a small construction phase or a school trip. The absence of paperwork is the main attraction, and for a two-day event that is a legitimate advantage. The mistake is to let a temporary solution become the permanent system without re-checking the coverage and privacy requirements.
Coverage and battery expectations
A 0.5 W ERP handheld is a short-range device. Planning figures:
| Environment | Typical range | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Open ground, clear line of sight | 1–2 km | Antenna height, terrain, interference |
| Suburban street | 300–800 m | Buildings, trees, vehicles |
| Dense urban street | 200–500 m | Buildings, multipath, noise |
| Inside a building | One floor or one corridor | Walls, floors, fire doors |
| Basement or plant room | Often no coverage | Concrete, ducts, equipment |
| Inside a warehouse | 50–150 m, less across racking | Racking, stock, metal |
These are planning estimates, not guarantees. The practical range is often shorter in a busy area because the band is shared and the receiver has to cope with other transmissions. A radio that works at 500 m on a quiet industrial estate may struggle at 200 m in a shopping centre.
Battery life is a relative strength. A 0.5 W transmitter draws less current than a 4–5 W business handheld, so a 1 500–2 500 mAh pack often delivers 10–16 hours at a light duty cycle. A busy event with 20–30% transmit time will be closer to 8–12 hours. For shift work, a spare battery or a charging station is still the safe plan.
Interference, privacy codes and channel discipline
PMR446 has 8 analog channels, which is not many for a busy area. In a city centre, retail park or exhibition hall, several businesses may be on the same channel at the same time.
CTCSS and DCS codes are the usual response. A CTCSS code is a low-frequency tone transmitted with the voice; the receiver only opens its speaker when the tone matches. A DCS code is a digital equivalent. These are often called “privacy codes”, but they provide no privacy:
- they stop your radio from hearing other users;
- they do not stop other users from hearing you;
- they do not encrypt the audio;
- they do not reserve the channel.
Anyone with a radio in monitor mode can hear the conversation. For guest names, room numbers, security incidents or staff personal details, that is not acceptable.
Channel discipline helps more than codes:
- Assign channels by zone or function. Front desk on one channel, housekeeping on another, events on a third. Do not let every radio default to channel 1.
- Use a calling channel and a working channel. Agree that channel 1 is for initial contact, then move to the assigned working channel.
- Keep calls short. PMR446 is a shared, half-duplex service; long transmissions block everyone else on the channel.
- Listen before transmitting. A simple habit that avoids talking over another user.
- Label the radios. A number and a channel card on each unit reduces “which channel are you on?” traffic.
- Review the plan when the site changes. A channel plan that worked with 10 radios may fail with 25.
Why hotels and warehouses outgrow PMR446
The limits that make PMR446 licence-free also limit coverage. In a multi-floor hotel, the signal dies at the concrete walls, stair cores and basement. In a warehouse, racking and steel create dead spots. A PMR446 handheld cannot be connected to the indoor antenna system or repeater that would fix those areas.
There is also a privacy problem. PMR446 channels are shared, and a privacy code is not encryption. A nearby hotel, taxi or scanner user can hear room numbers, guest names and operational details. For guest information, that is not acceptable.
A full-service hotel usually moves to DMR with a repeater, department talk groups and encryption. The hotel walkie-talkie guide covers the five-department configuration.
The same pattern appears in warehouses. PMR446 works in a small loading area; it fails when the site needs aisle coverage, a repeater and separate groups for receiving, picking and dispatch. The warehouse radio guide covers the coverage and capacity design.
PMR446 vs DMR
| Dimension | PMR446 | DMR (licensed) |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | None | Business licence |
| Power | 0.5 W ERP | 4–5 W handheld |
| Repeater | Generally not permitted | Yes |
| Talk groups | Shared channels | Two per 12.5 kHz carrier |
| Privacy | None | Encryption available |
| Coverage | Single building / open area | Site-wide with repeater |
| Cost | Lowest | Medium |
PMR446 is the right starting point for a small, simple site. DMR is the right answer when the radio becomes part of the operation.
The cost comparison is not only the radio price. A PMR446 fleet has almost no system cost: no repeater, no licence, no coordination, no installation. A DMR fleet carries those costs, but it also carries capacity, coverage and privacy that PMR446 cannot provide. The right comparison is total cost against the requirement, not unit price against unit price.
Approvals, band versions and what to verify on the label
A PMR446 radio sold in the UK or EU should carry the appropriate market-access marking and be supplied with a declaration of conformity. The label and documentation should show:
- the frequency range, 446.0–446.2 MHz;
- the maximum RF power, 0.5 W ERP;
- the equipment class and intended use;
- the manufacturer or importer responsible for the declaration;
- the country or region the radio is approved for.
Do not assume that a radio advertised as “PMR446” is approved for every European country. The service is harmonised, but national implementations can differ, especially for digital channels and output power. Check the current plan for the country of deployment, and keep the declaration of conformity with the project file.
For a business buyer, the label is also a defence. If a radio is later found to be non-compliant, the declaration and the purchase record show that the equipment was supplied for the intended service. Buying a 400–470 MHz “professional” radio and programming it to PMR446 frequencies is not the same thing as buying an approved PMR446 handheld, even if the frequencies match.
What to check before buying
- Confirm the radio is approved for PMR446 and your country.
- Check the channel plan and whether digital PMR446 is permitted.
- Do not add external antennas or amplifiers.
- Test coverage in the actual building before buying a large fleet.
- If you need a repeater, privacy or recording, plan a licensed system instead.
Add to that list:
- Battery and charging. Confirm runtime at a realistic duty cycle and that the charger is suitable for the country.
- Accessories. Earpieces and speaker mics must fit the model; a cheap radio with a poor earpiece will not be used.
- Durability. For site work, check the IP rating and the operating temperature, not just the price.
- Channel programming. Confirm the radios can be programmed to the plan and locked so users do not drift.
- Spares. A 10–20% spare pool is cheaper than a shift without radios.
- Exit path. If the site may grow, choose a supplier that can also provide a licensed DMR system later.
For the licence-free comparison across PMR446, FRS and MURS, read license-free walkie-talkies. For the licensed route, read business radio licence.