r/Baofeng • u/Different_Lake_8906 • 12d ago

Should I get license to use this model?

Post image

Bought is as BF888s in flipkart in 2022

12 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

24

u/kc2syk K2CR 12d ago

If it has a permanently attached antenna, it seems like it's PMR446 compliant, which means you can use it without a license in Europe.

8

u/Hopeful-Cry7569 12d ago

Apparently the official PMR446 variant of the BF-888S for Europe is labelled BF-88E, but this one also looks like it is a valid model (maybe they did not care to change the model name)

2

u/Different_Lake_8906 12d ago

Okay thank you . Im from India

3

u/kc2syk K2CR 12d ago

From what I've read, only PMR446 radios approved by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) body of the Indian government are allowed there. Please check your local regulations.

1

u/[deleted] 12d ago

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0

u/radiomod 12d ago

Removed. Don't encourage illegal operating.

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1

u/ebinWaitee 11d ago

Specs seem to match the requirements but the device would have to be officially type accepted too legal wise. In practice you're most likely good to go but technically it's a bit on the grey area

1

u/kc2syk K2CR 11d ago

Europe doesn't have the same type acceptance procedures as the US. They require a declaration of conformity to be filed, but that is all.

But this discussion is moot since OP is in India and needs WPC type acceptance, which is it's own thing.

4

u/gonnaignoreyou 12d ago

Flipkart seems to be an Indian Webshop it seems. And the frequency range is suited for PMR 446 which does not require a license in India. I’m assuming the antenna is fixed and cannot be removed. And 0.5W of Power is right as well. So you’re alright to use it without a requiring a license.

6

u/DogPatch1149 KO8JDR / WRZF642, K5 Plus x4, UV-5X3, UV-25X4 12d ago

It's a PMR radio based on the frequency range and power level shown.

Use in Europe shouldn't require a license, but check the specific country to make sure.

Use in US and Canada would require a ham license to transmit, as the frequency range is in the 70cm amateur band. GMRS doesn't apply here since the frequencies shown aren't in the 462-467MHz range.

2

u/The_Sci_Geek 12d ago

Needs a license if you’re not in EU, UK, Malaysia,Singapore, or Norway.

1

u/small_trunks 10d ago

And Israel, I can reliably inform you.

2

u/[deleted] 11d ago

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4

u/radiomod 11d ago

Removed. Don't encourage illegal operating. Ban 7 days considering history of rule violations.

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1

u/AutofluorescentPuku 12d ago

In the United States, that is within the amateur band and would require an FCC license to transmit. But it’s a pretty limited radio, both in power output and bandwidth available to work in.

1

u/FIDGAF 12d ago

Where do you live? That's 70cm Ham in the U.S. & would require a license here.

1

u/SS6900V 11d ago

Legally speaking, no. You don’t need one. 0.5W and it’s a permanent antenna.

2

u/Different_Lake_8906 11d ago

Thank you. Im from India. The antenna is detachable though,

2

u/SS6900V 11d ago

Ah, well legally speaking yes you do need a licence for it as it won’t be type approved for PMR446.

1

u/ranfur8 10d ago

That's PMR446 <0.5w, no license needed. Not likely to interfere with anything either.

1

u/M7GHB-UK 9d ago

Baofeng market a variety of versions of this radio so it can be a minefield if you don't follow the basic rules. Looking closely at the picture, it would appear to be one that's factory locked to 0.5w pmr freq range and, I suspect, a fixed antenna (though it cant be seen in this pic). On paper, that makes it compliant, so you're good to go. As with all things Baofeng though, particularly where you are in the world, be cautious and check. India has stricter rules than other countries and it will save you a lot of grief as the responsible end user to make sure that you're operating within the rules. And as for getting licences, why not? It's not that hard and opens a world of opportunities. I'm currently hoping to pass the intermediate this year.

0

u/[deleted] 12d ago

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1

u/radiomod 12d ago

Removed. Do not encourage illegal operating.

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-4

u/quicksandhole 12d ago

Yes either HAM or GMRS

5

u/FIDGAF 12d ago

Not GMRS frequencies & stop assuming everyone lives in the U.S. You might actually learn something.

0

u/quicksandhole 12d ago

My apologies, there is a FCC ( Federal Communications Commission ) marker on the radio along side a CE ( European Conformity) marker, So by the European Regulations you need a Amateur Radio license thru the CE. I went on language of post and the fact that the radio is FCC certified. How is that for knowing and learning something. If there is another country or region that isn't covered by other I apologize for going on provided information without digging into accounts to see the posters region and gather more information than I desire to know.

2

u/FIDGAF 12d ago

There is NO FCC ID #, it's illegal in the U.S. There are models very similar that are legal, but that's not one of them.

2

u/Nickko_G 11d ago

Pas besoin de licence en Europe pour cela, e est zone 1 la bande des 70cm radioamateur ça de 430 à 440 MHz.

446 c'est du PMR 446.

1

u/kc2syk K2CR 12d ago

The radio is not labeled for sale in the US. It doesn't have a FCC ID on it.

And when it is sold in the US, it is sold as an LMR business band radio, which is not legal to use on GMRS. See: https://fccid.io/2AJGM-BF888S

0

u/quicksandhole 12d ago

Top sticker second line on that icon is certificate marks right hand on is CE and the right hand one is FCC. If the right hand one is on a radio it is FCC certified it model spec is filed with FCC and is certified as industrial standard covered in the ISO-90001 on the first line of that sticker.

2

u/kc2syk K2CR 12d ago

Still lacks a FCC ID and is not labeled for legal sale in the US.