Have The Muppets Crossed Over?

[scanhermit]

The cheap handy with the PTT taped down has some amusing merit. It's really a matter for Ofcom, who sadly won't do anything.

[DX-Digger]

If the purp is using external antenna and you can some how get to his coax, then a few map pins pushed through and then the plastic heads pulled off.
will work a treat. Or better still wire cutters and remove 2ft of his coax.

[scanhermit]

I remember the pin-through-the-coax trick. Never used it myself.

[scanhermit]

The PMR DJ was on again today - I could hear the bugger from the Kilburn White Horse, grrrr!

[scanhermit]

He's using some juice. Yesterday I could hear him in and out near Barnsley. By the time I got near Leeds he was loud and clear, alternate music and jabber.

Last time I was on Garrowby Hill he was making it difficult for a contact up on the moors. Come, friendly bombs!

[StormShadow]

I heard someone playing music on channel 8 as I drove from North East Leeds to J39 of the M1, mostly Elvis.

Have the Muppets escaped from CB and come to infest PMR446?

I wish they would infest 446 around here, its dead. They tend to go for the Ham Radio VHF/UHF repeaters like GB3AU probably because they lack the knowledge to get a decent PMR446 antenna hence why they go for the amateur repeaters.

[scanhermit]

Noooo you can keep em!

[scanhermit]

Local Muppet has moved out of his Ch8 cage and is going from channel to channel.

"Hello Mr Zelensky - can you lend me a drone?"

[rob42]

I heard someone playing music on channel 8 as I drove from North East Leeds to J39 of the M1, mostly Elvis.

Have the Muppets escaped from CB and come to infest PMR446?

I wish they would infest 446 around here, its dead. They tend to go for the Ham Radio VHF/UHF repeaters like GB3AU probably because they lack the knowledge to get a decent PMR446 antenna hence why they go for the amateur repeaters.

@StormShadow I don't understand your comments, becasue PMR446 is nothing to do with the GB3AU repeater (or any other AR, for that matter), so far as I know, that is. So how are PMR users going for amateur repeaters? I'm new to the topic, so clearly there's a gap in my knowledge, which is why I ask; so that I can learn. Possibly, I'm misunderstanding your post, so forgive me, if that's the case.

One of the biggest issues in my area, is the lack of parental guidance with the PMR HTs. Kids are on them as they are under the impression that the HT is some kind of a toy to be played with. This can become an issue, as there are also legitimate users, such as some farming businesses and I've even heard a motorcycle training company using both the PMR service as well as the FRS. The issue could be one of safety, if a trainer is trying to instruct a student and can't becasue some kid is playing about on the same channel.

As bad as got, back in the 70s and 80s, with the 27MHz CB system (at the outset, it was fine), at least there was a modicum of order, and kids were taught that the Radio System was not a toy.

[scanhermit]

I've even heard a motorcycle training company using both the PMR service as well as the FRS.

Isn't FRS the US license-free allocation?

[rob42]

Isn't FRS the US license-free allocation?

Thank you for that. Now that I come to check this, yes, it is. I grabbed those FREQs from some website that I found, when I first got my scanner and never really bothered to research them; I only do a FREQ lookup if I hear something and it was real clear that what I was hearing on 462.7250 MHz (listed as FRS CH22) was a Motorcycle Training Instructor. Further investigation shows that that FREQ is also listed as Baofeng CH07, which does require a operator licence in the UK. In fact it could be argued that the other one I heard (on the PMR channel, which may or may not be the same training organisation) is using that for a commercial purpose, which I don't think is strictly legitimate, but I don't know, to be sure. There was a road gang working on the A1M (it runs past my district) a couple of weeks back and they were using PMR HTs, so it seems that it's a free-for-all!

I have also (now) looked up the other channels that I have listed as FRS and here in the UK, there's some clashes with Marine Band UHF, such as 467.5625 MHz: Marine UHF 35 & FRS CH08; I'm sure that there will be others, but as I seldom (only once so far) hear any RT on that band, it's academic.

Thank you for bring that to my attention; I'm here to learn (and share) and I've learned something today, so that's a good day, for me

[Octane Red]

One of the biggest issues in my area, is the lack of parental guidance with the PMR HTs. Kids are on them as they are under the impression that the HT is some kind of a toy to be played with. This can become an issue, as there are also legitimate users, such as some farming businesses and I've even heard a motorcycle training company using both the PMR service as well as the FRS. The issue could be one of safety, if a trainer is trying to instruct a student and can't becasue some kid is playing about on the same channel.

As bad as got, back in the 70s and 80s, with the 27MHz CB system (at the outset, it was fine), at least there was a modicum of order, and kids were taught that the Radio System was not a toy.

To use your words from your later posting, yes, it is a free for all. Its licence free, so can be used for anything you want really, including kids playing on it.

For those looking for greater level of isolation, there are products like the Business Radio (Simple UK) licence through to technically assigned licencing. Whilst the latter should give exclusivity, with OFCOM back up if not, the Simple UK licence is still shared, with self co-ordination expected. So there shouldn't be random kids on it, and users should be savvy enough to co-ordinate channels and CTCSS / DCS or even digital, colour codes and what not.

[Antoni]

I don't mind children on PMR446. They are taking an interest in radio comms. They'll soon understand what it can and can't do and that it isn't magic. Reminds me of the old saying: It takes a village to educate a child. We are the village. We need recruits into hobby radio. The present ones are falling off their twigs.