LPD and extra 8 PMR channels

Been having a listen to the LPD frequencies and the extra 8 PMR446 channels and so far heard nothing. Does anyone actually use them? Also, whats the purpose of the LPD allocation as seems pointless as a means of communication. Or am i missing something?

I have had some good contacts on pmr, Lee, on the regular channels. Never heard anyone on the other 8 channels yet.

When the tropo is high, I've worked stations in France on the higher PMR channels. But apart from those, nothing.

I use pmr radio when out and about I have a crt 7u mobile radio and a home made antennas and get out well and here a few , at 1600ftasl ok the mobile radio puts out some very good power , but the best way is get some height and a good antenna and you will hear lots when there is a lift on.

Have heard a load of very quiet voices too quiet to make out and QSO with without really straining the ears, but I'll persevere because I read a post whereby someone said - "Am on South Beach on 446 does anyone want to talk" and nobody did! (South Beach, Blyth, Northumberland) - so I bought a Baofeng UV82 and here we are.

next week I will be out on Thursday night, should pick up some dx on pmr it will be chan 8.

We changed over to the higher channels for the Southern and South-East PMR net recently. Channel 14 instead of channel 8 where we used to do it.

What kind of equipment and power output are people using please?

I hear PMR on high band around here, think its the barge crew.

Lee,

Your very unlikely to hear voices on LPD channels, as the initials suggests low powered Devices, mainly car fobs or any small remote controls for garage doors,blind etc etc.

ch1-8 pmr446 lots of standard users and kids
ch9-16 pmr446 only heard france when theres a lift on.

A small handy on top of a hill with a mini beam should get you a fair few miles with no power.
(did i say "beam"- no I meant standard no removable stock antenna.  )

LPD American system aint it? Zero use in UK.
PMR is European.

LPD channels are in use throughout Europe/UK/USA/other,

see below for more details:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LPD433#:~:text=LPD%20hand%2Dheld%20radios%20are,a%20total%20of%2069%20channels.

Someone should notify Ofcom then.

I have heard local businesses/workmen using the LPD frequencies I cant say they were very interesting to listen too the odd time they bob up I am sure one of them swore like a trooper which always makes me cringe.

Some local businesses are using PMR near me, I installed an mobile antenna in a friend's loft just last week using two old TV ariels as a ground plane and I could hear them from his place too on his little UV5R I'm pretty sure it's a garden centre.
There are busy docks near me for the refinery they have a couple of frequencies they use near PMR-70cm area which is always handy when settings antennas up I find, they talk to the ships captain on these about cargo to be loaded and how long they estimate it will take etc.

I had a quick look just out of personal curiosity more than anything, you can buy a UK Light Business Radio Licence for £75 for 5 years which covers an unlimited number of radios which appear to be higher power and more frequencies avalable over both UHF and VHF.

MrTang wrote:

Someone should notify Ofcom then.

but why notify Ofcom its a slippy slope and if it gets out it was you ,,,,,,,

Always a risk doing the right thing!
But more risk not doing the right thing
“Courage is knowing the danger and still saddling up”

I don't bother with the LPD channels, and I don't think anybody else does either. In my opinion if you want LPD then take the foundation exam. Otherwise its PMR446. Also we don't want hundreds of channels where everybody is spread out otherwise nobody will hear each other if people are on different channels. 16 channel PMR446 is more than enough. Channel 8 calling channel. It would be nice to have VHF CB 4 channels is all we'd need somewhere around 150 MHz