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Communications · Short-range radio for the estate and neighbours · comms-8

Choose a licence-free or simply licensed handheld radio service

Handheld two-way radios let people talk across fields, barns and woodland with no network at all. Pick the service that is legal where you live.

How

  1. US example: FRS needs no licence. It has 22 channels, with 2 W on channels 1 to 7 and 15 to 22 and 0.5 W on channels 8 to 14. The FCC says channels 8 to 14 usually reach less than half a mile (about 0.8 km).
  2. US example: GMRS uses the same band with more power and repeaters, but needs an FCC licence (age 18 or over, valid 10 years). Family members of any age may then use the licensee's system. The FCC gives typical range as 1 to 25 miles depending on station type, terrain and repeaters.
  3. UK and Europe example: analogue PMR446 uses 446.0 to 446.2 MHz at up to 0.5 W ERP. Ofcom says radios must not be modified, for example by adding an antenna connector, and base station use is unlikely to comply.
  4. Australia example: UHF CB runs on a class licence with no individual licence. The 2025 class licence sets a maximum transmitter power of 5 W on UHF CB channels, and notes most modern sets have 80 channels. Channels 5 and 35 are reserved for emergencies and channel 11 is the calling channel.
  5. CB on 27 MHz is another option where it is legal. UK example: licence-exempt with compliant radios. UK channels (27.60125 to 27.99125 MHz) are FM only; CEPT channels (26.965 to 27.405 MHz) allow FM, AM and SSB.
  6. UK CB limits are 4 W for FM, 4 W ERP for AM and 12 W PEP for SSB. Ofcom says amplifiers ('burners') and converted radios are illegal. CB rules differ by country, so check yours.
  7. Buy radios that take a spare battery pack or standard cells, and buy at least one per adult plus a spare.
  8. Treat range claims on the box with caution; test on your own land (comms-9).

Do these first

Sources

  1. Family Radio Service (FRS). US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accessed 2026-11
  2. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), accessed 2026-11
  3. IR 2009: Analogue and Digital PMR446 information sheet. Ofcom (UK), accessed 2026-11
  4. Citizen band radio stations class licence. Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), accessed 2026-11
  5. Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2025. Australian Communications and Media Authority, Federal Register of Legislation, accessed 2026-11
  6. Citizens' Band (CB) radio: information and operation (guidance, March 2018). Ofcom (UK), accessed 2026-11

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