PMR446 vs CB vs Ham Radio: UK Emergency Comms Guide
When mobile networks go down in a power cut, handheld radios keep you in touch. Here is how licence-free PMR446 and CB compare with licensed amateur radio for UK households and off-grid homes.
When a storm brings lines down and the mobile masts lose power, a handheld radio is the simplest way to keep in touch with family, neighbours and the people on your land. In the UK you have three legal options: licence-free PMR446, licence-free CB, and licensed amateur (ham) radio. This guide compares them for UK emergency and off-grid use, with honest ranges and what each one is good for.
One thing to clear up first: many radio guides online are written for the US and recommend GMRS or FRS radios. Those services do not exist in the UK, and using US GMRS radios here is illegal. Stick to the options below.
UK emergency radio options at a glance
| Option | Licence | Power | Aerial | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMR446 | None | 0.5W | Fixed, built in | A few hundred metres to 2 to 3km | Family and neighbours, around a property |
| CB (27MHz) | None | Up to 4W (FM) | External aerial allowed | A few km handheld, more with a car or base aerial | Vehicles, farms, rural areas |
| Amateur radio | Free Ofcom licence after an exam | Depends on licence level | Any, including home-made | Local to worldwide, via repeaters and HF | Wider area, community emergency nets |
Ranges are for typical real-world use. Hills, buildings and woodland cut them down; standing on high ground with a clear view can stretch them a long way. Ignore the "up to 10km" claims on the box.
PMR446: licence-free and simple
PMR446 radios work on 16 shared channels around 446MHz. They are licence-free across the UK and Europe, and you can buy them in any outdoor shop or supermarket. The rules keep them low-powered (0.5 watts) with a fixed aerial, which is why they are so easy to use: pick a channel, press to talk.
That simplicity is the point in an emergency. Children, older relatives and neighbours can all use them with a minute's explanation. In built-up areas expect a few hundred metres to around a kilometre; across open fields 2 to 3km is realistic. Digital PMR446 radios also exist and can sound clearer, but they will not talk to the common analogue ones.
PMR446 walkie-talkie twin pack
The quickest way to give everyone in the house a radio that works when the mobile network is down. No licence, no setup.
What to look for: PMR446 on the box (licence-free in the UK), rechargeable batteries with a USB or drop-in charger, and a weatherproof rating if you will use them outdoors.
Agree a main channel and a backup channel in advance, and write them on a card in your emergency kit. Busy channels are common near campsites and events, so a privacy code (CTCSS) helps filter out other users, though it does not make the channel private.
CB radio: licence-free with more range
CB (Citizens' Band) on 27MHz has been licence-free in the UK since 2006. You get two sets of 40 channels: the UK "27/81" channels and the EU channels. FM at up to 4 watts is the standard mode.
CB's big advantage over PMR446 is that you can fit a proper external aerial. A handheld on its own only manages a few kilometres, but a car with a roof-mounted aerial, or a base station with an aerial on a mast, can cover much more of a rural area. That makes CB a good fit for farms, smallholdings and anyone who drives between sites. Channel 19 is the traditional calling channel and channel 9 is widely recognised as an emergency channel, although nobody is guaranteed to be listening.
Handheld CB radio (UK/EU)
Licence-free, with the option of a proper external aerial on a car or building for much better range than PMR446.
What to look for: UK 27/81 and EU (CEPT) channel sets, FM as standard, and a socket for an external aerial.
Amateur radio: the most capable option
Amateur radio gives you the most range and flexibility, but you need to pass an exam first. In the UK the exams are run by the RSGB and the licence itself is issued free by Ofcom. There are three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Full. Each one allows more power and more bands. The Foundation exam is aimed at complete beginners, can be taken online, and Morse code is no longer required.
With a licence and a dual-band handheld you can use the 2m (144 to 146MHz) and 70cm (430 to 440MHz) bands, including the network of volunteer repeaters on hills and tall buildings. A handheld that only reaches a few kilometres on its own can often reach a repeater 20km or more away, which then relays you across a much wider area. Higher licence levels add HF bands, which can reach the rest of the country without any repeaters or internet.
Dual-band 2m/70cm amateur handheld
Once you hold an amateur licence, this gets you onto local repeaters and RAYNET-style emergency nets.
What to look for: 2m and 70cm coverage, a removable aerial so you can fit a better one, and a programming cable or app. Only transmit with it once you are licensed.
If you like the idea of helping in emergencies, look up RAYNET-UK, the volunteer network of licensed amateurs who provide radio support to emergency services and local councils.
A note on cheap Baofeng-style radios: they are legal to buy and listen with, but you need an amateur licence to transmit, and only on amateur bands. Using them on PMR446 channels is illegal, because they are too powerful and have removable aerials.
Which should you choose?
- Most households: start with a set of PMR446 radios. They are cheap, legal for everyone and need no setup.
- Rural properties, farms and vehicles: add CB with a good external aerial for extra range.
- If you want real resilience: get one person in the household licensed in amateur radio. It is the only option here that can reach beyond your local area.
Many prepared homes use all three in layers: PMR446 for day-to-day chat around the house and land, CB in the vehicles, and one licensed amateur who can listen to regional nets and pass messages further afield.
Keep your radios powered
Most modern handhelds charge over USB-C or from a drop-in charger. In a long power cut, a power bank or portable power station will keep them going; a set of rechargeable AA batteries is a good backup for radios that take them. Charge everything when bad weather is forecast, and check your radios every few months so they are ready when you need them.
20,000mAh power bank
Keeps USB-charged radios and phones going for days without mains power.
What to look for: 20,000mAh or more, USB-C in and out, and a charge level display.
Do not forget to listen as well as talk. A wind-up or battery broadcast radio tuned to your local BBC station is often the best source of news about power restoration, flooding and road closures.
Wind-up and solar emergency radio
Two-way radios let you talk; a broadcast radio tells you what is happening. Local BBC stations carry power cut and flood updates.
What to look for: FM and DAB if you can, wind-up and solar charging, and a USB output for topping up a phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use US GMRS or FRS radios in the UK?
No. GMRS and FRS are US services and their frequencies are used for other purposes here. Use PMR446 for licence-free handhelds in the UK.
Do I need a licence for walkie-talkies in the UK?
Not for PMR446 or CB. You do need a licence for amateur radio, and for business radio systems.
How hard is the amateur radio Foundation exam?
It is designed for beginners with no technical background. Most people prepare with a short course or study guide over a few weeks, and the exam can be taken online.
What range will I really get from PMR446?
Plan on a few hundred metres to about a kilometre in towns, and 2 to 3km over open country. Height helps more than anything else: a hilltop or upstairs window can add a lot.
Products mentioned in this post
- PMR446 walkie-talkie twin pack - The quickest way to give everyone in the house a radio that works when the mobile network is down. No licence, no setup. See on Amazon
- Handheld CB radio (UK/EU) - Licence-free, with the option of a proper external aerial on a car or building for much better range than PMR446. See on Amazon
- Dual-band 2m/70cm amateur handheld - Once you hold an amateur licence, this gets you onto local repeaters and RAYNET-style emergency nets. See on Amazon
- 20,000mAh power bank - Keeps USB-charged radios and phones going for days without mains power. See on Amazon
- Wind-up and solar emergency radio - Two-way radios let you talk; a broadcast radio tells you what is happening. Local BBC stations carry power cut and flood updates. See on Amazon