UHF/VHF

[bigpeter666]

I am in the process of setting up a security company i will have static guards on sights and a couple of mobile guards in vans whats best as i have a couple of uhf baofengs 888s but is VHF Better and i take it you can get either VHF or UHF base stations for inside the vehicles. I have no plans on going digital

[DistantSignal]

I'd use UHF personally. BF888s are for on site I take it? What license are you using?

[muk]

And what kind of range are you expecting/needing

[bigpeter666]

i need quite a range for the mobile unit and yes the baofeng were for use on the sites one person did suggest using pmr446 but not sure about them as too many people use them

[bigpeter666]

i was just looking st the licencing page on line its not easy to follow

[DistantSignal]

£75 for a 5 year UK Simple license. You'll be allocated a frequency and CTCSS code.

[madman1027]

i need quite a range for the mobile unit and yes the baofeng were for use on the sites one person did suggest using pmr446 but not sure about them as too many people use them

What kind of range are we talking, several hundred meters? a few miles?
I notice you mentions sites (plural, more than one), how far are these sites from yourself? are they permanent sites? do you have access to install antennas? do personnel need to contact each other, just base or both?
it all makes a difference as to what set up you may need, how it will be configured & most importantly your costs.

[bigpeter666]

the sites are about 2 miles from each other no we have to use hand helds only only on the sites plus the mobile van that will be going between all the sights

[madman1027]

HH to HH between sites even on VHF could be temperamental depending on whats between you but would be much more reliable than UHF.
Worth getting a couple of dual banders & having a couple of people with a licence test reliability back & forth around both sites?

[thelad]

Am not sure why you would need radio coms over 2 miles? Why not just get 2 pay and go mobiles?

[bigpeter666]

would prefer to use walkies but i spoke to some one the day who said to use tetras as theyre more secure. I was looking a dual band baofeng

[muk]

Tetra, more secure but far more expensive and extremely limited range without a repeater. If you want medium level of privacy use dmr with or without encryption

[bigpeter666]

i have programmed all of my baofeng 888s to the pmr frequency and used the ctcss codes for a bit of encryption i have also switched on beat shift as well

[radiogaga]

CTCSS provides no encryption or security, a cheap scanner will hear all on that frequency, it has nothing to open therefore just receives. Also be aware that despite being enabled in the software not all 888's have Beat Shift. Also, 888 are very common so anyone could if they wish very quickly hear what you have to say by enabling the inversion.

I would say go down the RT3 (or family) route with a Simple Licence at £75. As previously said some level of security, you could add encryption and relatively cheap and semi secure(ish) except for the determined.

Not sure what you're guarding, no do I care to know but Tetra isn't the plug and play that the 888's are. The Motorola Tetra CPS does require a degree of understanding.

You should have a licence if you are using a PMR frequency, unless you are talking about 446, in which case your odds of eavesdropping a significantly increased.

[bigpeter666]

i am talking about 446 yes and its static sites plus even security we will be doing