PMR446, the popular short-range UHF radios enjoyed in much of Europe, could be enjoyed much less in Germany this month after changes enacted by the regulator BNetZa. The regulator will prohibit operators from using any external antennas with their radios and from using the radios as base stations.
PMR operators will also lose the ability to use their radios as repeaters or as Internet gateways -- two functions widely available to amateur radio operators. The PMR radios, which operate on 16 frequencies within the 446 MHz band, will be only be permitted to be used for so-called "peer-to-peer" or person-to-person mode.
Explaining these changes on his YouTube channel Funkwelle - the German word for "radio waves" - Art Konze DL2ART told viewers that he expected PMR operating to drop off, saying [quote] "the only alternative that remains is to get into amateur radio." [endquote] He said that holders of the new N-class entry level licence have the ability to use relays and Internet gateways and can communicate worldwide. Art reminded viewers that these changes closely follow similar restrictions placed earlier this year on Freenet, Germany's licence-free personal mobile 2-way radio service.
