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by gorgoiler 1444 days ago
This is not technically true. These radios can — and most commonly do — use the unlicensed UHF bands (PMR446 in the EU, FRS 462Mhz in the US.)
2 comments

Even if used on the unlicensed bands it’s still illegal to transmit in those frequencies without a license as the UV5R doesn’t comply with the restrictions of license free radios. I.e it exceeds the max allowed power and has a detachable antenna.

However, there’s nothing illegal about using the uv5r to receive. And in reality if you only use it on the pmr446 frequencies you’re very unlikely to get busted.

I am licensed up to 10W but this is still good to know!
Nobody cares about the ism band, I doubt anyone has ever been "busted" using under a watt.
You're probably not going to be busted, but FRS is very much not ISM band
Can vs will. Usually idiots turn up on 2m with them.