UK radio guides

• UK CB (27/81 + CEPT) — Licence-exempt with compliant equipment. UK 27/81 channels are FM/PM only; CEPT channels also allow AM & SSB (within power limits).
• PMR446 — Licence-exempt short-range UHF (446 MHz), 0.5 W ERP, integral antenna only. Great for sites, events, family.
• Not OK without the right licence: freeband / out-of-allocation CB, business/commercial channels, amateur bands, marine distress misuse.

If you need more range, power, or HF — look at an Ofcom amateur licence (Foundation first).

• UK CB CH 9 — Widely treated as emergency/assistance by users, but it is not an official or continuously monitored emergency service. Contact the emergency services directly when needed; keep CH 9 clear of casual chat.
• Marine VHF CH 16 — Distress, safety and calling only; then move to a working channel.
• Ham calling — e.g. 145.500 / 433.500 MHz — call, then QSY (change frequency).
• Listen first. Identify as required by your service. Do not jam or play music. Privacy tones are not encryption.

• FM — Clear local voice (PMR, much UK CB, ham VHF/UHF).
• AM — Classic CB-style; can be noisier.
• SSB — Longer distance on HF/CB when conditions allow; needs more skill.
• DMR / digital PMR — Digital voice on some PMR446 and ham gear; needs matching settings.

• Height and clear line-of-sight matter more than radio adverts.
• PMR446: must use the integral antenna — no external aerials.
• CB / ham: mobile mag-mounts and home antennas are common; learn safe installation and (for ham) good RF practice.
• SWR meters help on CB/ham setups — aim for a low SWR on your operating frequency.

• UHF (PMR/FRS-style): often hundreds of metres to a few km in towns; better in open country.
• CB (27 MHz): local miles typically; occasional long “skip” when the ionosphere allows — not reliable day-to-day.
• Ham HF: designed for longer distances with the right licence, antenna and conditions.
• Internet/PoC: follows mobile data/Wi‑Fi — excellent until the network fails; keep RF options for resilience.

First UK CB mobile: compliant radio → antenna match → power/grounds → listen on CH19/local → learn CH9 etiquette.

PMR446 event kit: charged batteries → agree channel + CTCSS → test range on site → spare radios.

Foundation ham: club course → exam → Ofcom licence → call sign → local 2 m FM before complex HF.

Companies generally need licensed business / Ofcom spectrum products, not amateur bands. Ham radio is a personal hobby licence with strict non-commercial rules. Site security and logistics should use legal business radio or PMR446 within its limits.

• PTT — Push-to-talk
• CTCSS / DCS — Tone/code squelch; does not encrypt speech
• ERP — Effective radiated power (legal limits often use this)
• Duplex / offset — Repeater input vs output frequency difference
• Net — Organised group session on a frequency
• QSY — Change frequency
• PoC — PTT over cellular/data