Meshtastic vs PMR446 and CB radio

Licence-free voice radios (PMR446, UK CB) against Meshtastic's multi-hop text mesh: bands, power limits and what each is for.

At a glance

	PMR446	CB (UK 27 MHz)	Meshtastic (EU_868)
Licence	None, if the equipment meets the licence-exempt conditions	Licence-exempt, operation in line with IR 2027	None within IR 2030 limits
Band	446.0 to 446.2 MHz	26.965 to 27.405 MHz (EU/CEPT) and 27.60125 to 27.99125 MHz (UK band)	869.40 to 869.65 MHz default slot
Maximum power	0.5 W ERP	4 W carrier; with an integral antenna, carrier power and ERP both limited to 4 W	500 mW e.r.p. in 869.40 to 869.65 MHz; 10% duty cycle
Modes	Analogue: 16 channels at 12.5 kHz. Digital: 16 channels at 12.5 kHz and/or 32 at 6.25 kHz. Speech and tones; digital adds data. 180 s transmit timeout	Angle modulation (FM) in the IR 2027 table	LoRa data: text, position, telemetry
Voice	Yes	Yes	No
Hops	Simplex, peer to peer; no repeaters	Single-frequency simplex	Multi-hop mesh; hop limit default 3, maximum 7
Message size	Not applicable	Not applicable	About 200 bytes
Range	Described as short-range; Ofcom gives no figure	Ofcom gives no figure	LongFast link budget of 153 dB (22 dBm transmit, 0 dB antenna gain); community record 331 km is a claim
Encryption	No rules found in the sheet	No rules found in the sheet	AES-CTR channels; default key is public
Cost	Not sourced	Not sourced	Boards from roughly £25 to £40 (LocalMesh's self-reported, indicative figures)

Key differences

Voice versus data

PMR446 and CB are voice radios with a single hop and no store-and-forward. Meshtastic is a data mesh: relays can bridge gaps between people who are not in direct range, but it cannot carry speech and messages are limited to about 200 bytes. See what you can actually do.

Power and range

The maximum powers are 0.5 W ERP for PMR446, 4 W for CB and 500 mW e.r.p. for the Meshtastic slot, but Ofcom quantifies no range for PMR446 or CB, so we give none. Range for any of them depends heavily on terrain and antenna height; see antenna placement and the link budget tool for LoRa.

Rules that catch people out

PMR446: Ofcom's sheet says equipment designed for base-station use, or configured as an internet gateway, is unlikely to meet the exemption. US FRS radios are not licence-exempt in the UK. Modifying a radio (for example adding an antenna connector) must stay within the ERP limit.
CB: UK-band channels differ from EU/CEPT channels, so check the equipment is approved for UK channels.
Meshtastic: 915 MHz kit is wrong for the UK, and Turbo presets are not available in EU_868. Antenna gain counts towards e.r.p.
PMR446 is non-interference and non-protected: the user must choose a channel that does not cause interference. We did not confirm equivalent wording for CB.

Encryption

We found no encryption rules in the Ofcom sheets we read. Meshtastic documents AES-CTR channel encryption, but its default channel key is public. See privacy and encryption.

In the UK

All three are licence-free if the equipment complies. Buy complying UK or EU PMR446 models, buy CB equipment approved for the UK channels, and set Meshtastic to region EU_868. None needs an amateur licence.

Hardware for Meshtastic is covered in the hardware buyer's guide; setup in flash Meshtastic.

Which should you choose?

Handheld voice on a hike, site or event: PMR446.
Voice from a vehicle or base with a larger antenna: CB.
Text and location between people who are often out of direct range, with relays filling gaps: Meshtastic. See Meshtastic.

FAQ

Do I need a licence for PMR446 in the UK?

Not if the equipment meets the licence-exempt conditions in Ofcom's information sheet. Base-station and gateway-style use is unlikely to qualify.

Do I need a licence for CB radio in the UK?

CB is licence-exempt when operated in line with Ofcom's IR 2027. Check that your equipment is approved for the UK channels.

Can Meshtastic replace walkie-talkies?

No. It sends text and position, not voice, and messages are about 200 bytes. It suits situations where people are rarely in direct range.

Is Meshtastic legal in the UK?

Yes, within IR 2030 limits, using the 868 MHz band (region EU_868) and not 915 MHz. No licence is needed.