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Which radio is right for me?
Short UK-oriented chooser for family, road, sea, hobby or work use.
Open chooser →Realistic range
What actually affects coverage — terrain, height, power, frequency and more.
Range explainer →Guides & etiquette
Licence-exempt options, channel etiquette, modes and antennas in plain English.
UK guides →What is Push-to-Talk?
Push-to-Talk is a half-duplex communication method: press a button to transmit, release to listen. Only one person speaks at a time on a channel or talkgroup. This simple model powers everything from children's walkie-talkies to professional public-safety systems and modern internet apps.
Note: Radio type, frequencies, power limits and operating rules vary by country and service. Public-safety and professional systems are more heavily regulated than the consumer examples on this site. Always check the rules for your location and equipment.
Explore Each Radio Type
Every page includes an interactive virtual radio with a unique look matching that radio type. Change channels, hold PTT and hear tones offline after the page loads. Live voice (WebRTC) needs an internet connection, HTTPS and microphone permission.
PoC & Network Radios
Smartphone and dedicated cellular/Wi‑Fi PTT (PoC) devices. Nationwide/global range where data coverage exists.
Open + Virtual Radio →US CB Radios
Classic 27 MHz Citizens Band. Trucker culture, off-road, no license needed (FCC).
Open + Virtual Radio →UK CB (27/81 + CEPT)
UK channels FM/PM only; CEPT also permits AM & SSB. Ofcom regulated.
Open + Virtual Radio →Freeband
Frequencies outside legal CB. DX culture — transmitting is generally illegal.
Open + Virtual Radio →FRS
Family Radio Service — simple UHF walkie-talkies, short range, no license (FCC).
Open + Virtual Radio →GMRS
Higher power + repeaters. One low-cost FCC license covers the whole family.
Open + Virtual Radio →MURS
VHF multi-use service. External antennas allowed — great for business & rural (FCC).
Open + Virtual Radio →Ham (UK)
UK Ofcom licence (Foundation → Full). VHF/UHF & HF, repeaters, higher power than CB/PMR.
Open + Virtual Radio →Marine VHF
Dedicated maritime channels including distress Channel 16. Essential on boats.
Open + Virtual Radio →PMR446
UK licence-exempt use needs compliant gear (0.5 W ERP, integral antenna). Analogue is widely usable in Europe; digital rules differ by country.
Open + Virtual Radio →Commercial LMR
Business and public-safety two-way radios. Licensed, rugged, feature-rich.
Open + Virtual Radio →Groups & field use
Facebook radio groups, Fylde/Blackpool networks, and a live project using PTT radio.
Community & links →Field case study
Westby Chimney
PTT radio is used on this live project for field coordination. A practical example of the radio types described on this site.
Visit Westby Chimney → Community groups →Local groups, networks & related resources
Fylde Coast / Blackpool / Preston area groups, mutual support boards, virtual radios and community pages (pttradio.co.uk and Facebook only).
Fylde Coast Crew
- PMR446 Fylde Coast Crew virtual radio — Interactive PMR446 simulator plus local crew information.
- Fylde Coast Crew Facebook group — Local chat, nets and PMR446 activity around the Fylde.
- Network Yorkshire 446 — Sister virtual PMR446 page for the Yorkshire network.
- Delta Tango International DX Group — Facebook group focused on DX and longer-distance activity.
- SHTF Radio Networks — Preparedness / emergency-oriented radio networks group.
BPFRG — Blackpool, Preston & Fylde Radio Group
Lancashire-coast community for licence-free, CB, amateur, marine VHF and PoC operators — open to enthusiasts worldwide.
Join the Facebook group → BPFRG tools & virtual radio →
- Facebook group — Official BPFRG group (~2.1k members). Friendly chat, advice and all things radio. Private group; anyone can find and request to join.
- BPFRG full site — Main site for the Blackpool, Preston and Fylde Radio Group.
- BPFRG home — Group home page.
- BPFRG virtual radio — Browser-based virtual radio simulator.
- Radio knowledge base — Reference material and explanations.
- Channel charts — Frequency and channel charts.
- Community page — Local community information and links.
- BPFRG forum — Discussion forum for the group.
- Safety information — Radio safety guidance.
- Westby page — Information related to the Westby Chimney project.
- PMR446 page — Dedicated PMR446 information.
- BPFRG site shortcut — Alternate entry point to the BPFRG site.
Global SDR Hub
- Global SDR Hub — Guide to listening to worldwide online SDR receivers.
- Global SDR Hub home — Hub landing page.
- Directories & maps — Places to find live SDR receivers.
- Featured receivers — Highlighted online SDRs.
- Platforms — Overview of KiwiSDR, WebSDR and OpenWebRX.
- KiwiSDR section — KiwiSDR platform details.
- WebSDR section — WebSDR platform details.
- OpenWebRX section — OpenWebRX platform details.
- Legal notes — Important points about listening via online SDRs.
Give a Breaker a Break — mutual support
- Give a Breaker a Break — Mutual support board for radio operators around Blackpool, Preston and the Fylde.
- How it works — Explanation of the mutual support board.
- The board — Current help requests and offers.
- Post a request or offer — Form to add your own entry.
- pttradio.co.uk home — Main portal linking the various radio projects.
Quick Comparison
Need a fast overview? Visit the full comparison table →