Callsign format for PMR446?

[andrew30]

Hey,
been wondering about this - do you all use your CB/11m callsign format on PMR446 bands? Seeing that PMR is more local, there is more traditional approach with a callsign consisting of a op name + qth, for example "Jake Plymouth", but it's a regional habit in my area, and not sure how far away it reaches.

Which calls do you guys/gals use on PMR446/433/ISM bands?

[Mitch]

Mine's usually "Can you hear me misses" with the handhelds, being line of site. Gets about 100 yards (metres) around the local housing estate so no need to ID, turn a corner and it's "eh, what did you say?". I only use it for local. Max range is about a mile if there's no obstructions, like in the countryside.

[bigpimp347]

PMR ??
you mean 446 Childrens CB band ??
people rarely use callsigns on CB so why on 446 ??
just use it normally as you would a CB, if there is a group of you then use handles or call signs.
around here it's just 'oi pedo' if you use 446.
seeing as it's mostly kids of 60 plus year old amateurs.

[andrew30]

Well, it's no real achievement to do 100-200km QSOs on this band. It's mostly for hilly areas, but it performs very well in line of sight. I'd assume forming local ragchew nets on it, is no stretch of imagination.

[bigpimp347]

Well, it's no real achievement to do 100-200km QSOs on this band.

worked a guy in France on 446 a few years back.,
i was only on 50w vertical X300
he was on 400w and a four stack though, but hey..

[andrew30]

Nice! FM or something narrower?

That 200km figure was meant on stock 500mW/27dBm power. Had 180km qso on 1st of Jan actually.

[Mikel]

On 11m and 446, I usually say 'it's Mike here from Caerphilly' but if they come back with a callsign I usually use my Charlie Tango one 163CT140.

I usually have conversations within a 30 mile radius around the local south Wales area and over into Somerset.

Last summer 446 was alive with activity and a few of the local guys worked into France on a regular basis when on top of the local hills with low power and a mobile co-linear.

Not a bit like 70cm, where all you can hear are the tumble weeds blowing buy and the odd repeater ident or if you do hear anyone its usually someone with one foot in the grave discussing tomato plants, prostate problems or bigpimp talking about paedo's again.

[bigpimp347]

Last summer 446 was alive with activity and a few of the local guys worked into France on a regular basis when on top of the local hills with low power and a mobile co-linear.

Not a bit like 70cm, where all you can hear are the tumble weeds blowing buy and the odd repeater ident or if you do hear anyone its usually someone with one foot in the grave discussing tomato plants, prostate problems or bigpimp talking about paedo's again.

you obvious don't listen on 70cms during the weekly UKAC.
that said 70cms is pretty much dead, although we have a local group of 'don't give a sh1ts' who like to cross band from the ISS/Raynet frequency and use a repeater INPUT on 70cms to talk back on.

and with the recent lifts on VHF and UHF the past few weeks there's been quite a bit of UHF activity, and you don't need to be on 'high ground' to work any DX.

[Mikel]

To be fair 70cm is a big band at 10 megs wide, so what's that, 3,120 channels with 12.5kHz channel spacing ? (if my maths are correct!).

PMR446 on the other hand is 16 channels (analogue) with 12.5kHz channel spacing, so it doesn't take much to fill it up.

It is easy to claim 70cm is dead and unless you have a decent band-scope/SDR then that's how it will appear at times.

Pity they got rid of the 934Mhz CB allocation in 1999, I bet the Chinese radios and antennas would have been cheap for that band these days.

[stanogs68]

PMR ??
you mean 446 Childrens CB band ??
people rarely use callsigns on CB so why on 446 ??
just use it normally as you would a CB, if there is a group of you then use handles or call signs.
around here it's just 'oi pedo' if you use 446.
seeing as it's mostly kids of 60 plus year old amateurs.

oi paedo got me im in stiches

[paulears]

I'm confused? PMR446 is over the counter, licence free - and there are no callsigns, bar whatever the users, normally close enough to shout want to call themselves? When strangers do hook up, they normally avoid giving any clues as to who or exactly where they are? I'm at a loss to understand a need for callsigns, and there certainly is no format anyone must use. Have I missed the point?