Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

[sonicninja]

Hi all,
I have been given a used radio and before i buy the relevant accessories I want to know if I am actually legally allowed to use it for airsoft. I'm not really sure what im searching for so perhaps someone with a little more knowledge might be able to help.
Its a Motorola GP360.

Additionally, would i need to buy another matching radio for my teamate or could i use this together with my basic 8-channel motorola talkabout?

Many thanks

Keith

[Splitter]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

Do you know if its UHF or VHF and is it on the pmr 446 range that's a start

[sonicninja]

It's UHF and VHF, not sure about PMR. I'll try and have a look.

[sonicninja]

Yes, looks like it is PMR446.

[a_flea]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

That's a legal band. Your mate shouldn't need the same radio, as 446 is the standard 8 channel band in use with civvy PMRs, so unless his is not 446 then you'll have no worries.

EDIT: upon reading the specs on the Motorola specsheet, you can't use the radio without a license as it is multiband, it includes 446 in its spectrum but also has 136-174 MHz and 403-470 MHz full bands.

So you have a decision to make lol!

[crasstoe]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

Some radios use frequency rather than channel. This should help;

1	446.00625
2	446.01875
3	446.03125
4	446.04375
5	446.05625
6	446.06875
7	446.08125
8	446.09375

Sub channels can be set on frequency only radios by adjusting CTCSS, just so you're aware.

From 2012, all PMR446 radios should be limited to 180 seconds of maximum transmitting time. Radios may now have removable antennae as long as the ERP does not exceed 500mW. (Otherwise you are breaking the law)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMR446

[jonny lovegrove]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

theyre too powerful also, i have six GP340s i cant use as theyre far too powerful.

[seansamurai1]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

PMR446 license free, the band most Airsofters use, so you and your mate will be fine. PMR radios are 10 to a penny and all work with each other.

[jonny lovegrove]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

the most power you can use licence free is 500mW, the lowest setting on the GPs is 1W (1000mW) up to 5W (5000mW)

[sonicninja]

Thanks for your help all. I'm more confused than before, is this essentially a grey area?

[jonny lovegrove]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

no. theyre too powerful. full stop really. just the way it is.

[a_flea]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

Not a grey area, the radio is too powerful (can access a larger range of frequencies) so you need a license to operate it. Either get a license or get a different radio that is restricted to the 446 frequency. Unless you are involving aircraft and boats a few km away in your airsoft games then dual band radios are overkill...

[seansamurai1]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

Gotta love this forum sometimes, mountains and molehills.

After some google, the gp360 isn't a PMR at all.

However in amongst all the techno babble here, PMR radios are cheap and easy to source, Motorola also do a good line of 446 band radios.
XTN446, XTNi446, XTNiD446, many others like the talkabout series as well.
Your radio is the sort of things the marshals would use, bouncers, security guards etc

[sonicninja]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

Cheers everyone, appreciate the replies. The situation is I have a Devgru throat mic with Motorola Talkabout which dont seem compatible together (an issue ive raised on a different thread) so i had the GP360 lying around and wanted to see if it was a viable option. It seems like it is but and option with a bit of caution.

[No1_sonuk]

Re: Is my radio license free and ok to use for airsoft?

It's ILLEGAL to use it on the PMR446 frequencies because its minimum output power is over 500mW (0.5W).
To use it on another frequency, you'd need a licence from Ofcom. You CANNOT get a licence to use more power on PMR446 frequencies.