So Bumpkin you are using the Puxing 888 are those the ones from Hong Kong as featured on eBay, if they are, are they compatible with the British frequencies
Yes, but you need to be careful when ordering as the are VHF and UHF versions of the same radio. You need the UHF one for PMR use, 400-480MHz. PMR is a Europe-wide standard, not just UK and uses the following eight frequencies.
446.00625 MHz
446.01875 MHz
446.03125 MHz
446.04375 MHz
446.05625 MHz
446.06875 MHz
446.08125 MHz
446.09375 MHz
These obviously fall nicely plumb in the middle of the available range of the UHF Puxing PX888 (and PX 777, it's still available predecessor).
The radio comes un-programmed. You can do this using the keypad or purchase a USB programming lead and do it via your PC. I ordered a lead after the radio but programmed via the keypad due to impatience before it arrived. Not difficult via the keypad, though the handbook isn't particularly easy to understand.
I have programmed the eight open PMR channels and the default 16 Kenwood pre-set channels. These combine the above frequencies with CTCSS and DCS tones to suppress transmissions from other users on the same PMR channel. There are another 104 free programming slots out of the 128...
See here for some explanations of things like CTCSS tones etc.
and can you pick up others using other PMR's
Yes, no problem. The PX888 is fully programmable within the 400-800MHz range. However, it's best to only set and use pre-sets within the PMR bands.
Additionally the radio is not Ofcom approved operating outside of their
allowable parameters so is technically illegal:
1/
Max output 0.5W ERP - PX888 is adjustable from 1W to 4W. As you'll likely be using the transceiver with users with only 0.5W sets there's little point in running 4W. The difference between 0.5 and 1W is neglidgeible in the real world and that alone is unlikely to draw attention to you.
2/
The antenna must not be removable out of the box - This is not the case with the PX888.
Further details
can be found here
For mobile use you are unlikely to be keyed up in one spot for very long so the possibility of you giving cause for complaint by other users (who in the main are clueless anyway) isn't really a problem. If you were a static position and running higher output you might keep swamping the transmissions of a local business user such as a night club or building site and they would be justified in lodging a complaint against you which could lead to Ofcom monitoring and then prosecuting you, or maybe just confiscating the kit and giving you a slap on the wrist. Running the PX888 on low power (1W) this wouldn't, in practice, really be a problem anyway. If you're a business user yourself then get fully Ofcom compliant kit.
I've been using mine for over a year now and it seems a solid bit of kit. Well made and having dropped it onto a tiled floor from shoulder height with zero damage can report that it's pretty robust. Used mainly on the bike in the UK and abroad with other users employing a range of other transceivers.
I bought my radios 2nd hand off eBay but I got accessories from
this Hong Kong supplier, shipping took about 7-9 days. Their prices seem pretty good at the moment as they're priced in US dollars, currently the PX888 is $75.50, that's about £46, including shipping. Be aware that you may need to pay import duty.
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