-=> JIMMY ANDERSON wrote to TONY LANGDON <=-   
      
    JA> I just learned last week about MURS - it's a 1 watt maximum, I believe,   
    JA> family type walkie style service. No license needed.   
      
   Ahh, OK.  A combination of legislation and marketing have turned our UHF CB   
   service into a versatile all round service.  Traditionally, UHF CB was much   
   like 27 MHz, with mostly mobile radios with a 5W power limit.  There were   
   portables, mush like their amateur cousins (in fact, the first one - the Icom   
   IC-40 - was a modified IC-4E design).   
      
   Legislation wise, the authorities initially permitted Selcall for selective   
   calling, but later on, CTCSS and DCS have been permitted and are built into   
   every UHF CB now.  Selcall is still available, but not common, and rarely heard   
   on the air now.   
      
   Marketing wise, a lot of newer UHF radios range from the traditional 5W mobile   
   and portable models down to FRS/PMR446/MURS style radios built for the UHF CB   
   band with power outputs ranging down as low as 200 mW.  These small, cheap and   
   lightweight radios have proven popular for community groups managing public   
   events.  I've used UHF CB myself for this purpose in recent years.     
      
   I now have a small "fleet" of UHF CBs - one mobile in the car, 2 5W handhelds,   
   2 2W handhelds and 2 200mW handhelds.  The latter pre-date the 80 channel band   
   changes and will need to be replaced next year.  As they're used for public   
   charity events, it will be best to keep above board, and those 2 radios are   
   showing signs of their age anyway, so natural upgrade cycles work out well   
   anyway. :)   
      
      
   ... The difference between haste and waste are the leading letters.   
   --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49   
    * Origin: Freeway BBS - freeway.apana.org.au (3:633/410)