Your guide to PMR446

Walk down the high street of any UK town and chances are you’ll spot someone using a PMR446 radio. The handsets are ubiquitous; mostly because they’re cheap and easy to buy.

In recent years their presence in the leisure market has soared – with families utilising them for things like cycling trails and camping trips – but they also remain highly popular with business customers. However, PMR446 radios aren’t appropriate for all business uses so how do you establish whether or not the handsets meet an individual firm’s needs? What are the pros and cons of PMR446 radios and what do potential purchasers need to look for before they take the plunge?

One of the major attractions of PMR446 handsets is their flexibility. That’s why you will find them used in lots of different environments, says Donnie MacLeod, sales engineer at security system installer Scottish Communications Group.

“From retail through to restaurants, small businesses, hotels and sports centres – you will see them in just about every business sector in some form,” says MacLeod. “We also supply to colleges and local healthcare authorities. There aren’t just two to three key market areas where you will find the bulk of PMR446s, because they’re incredibly flexible.”