PMR446Secção 02
Walkie-talkies PMR446 (par)
Why: de uso livre, sem licença. Canal 3 sem tom para o Plano 3-3-3.
Practical guide · Base level · 11 min
Practical guideBase level · open to all11 min read
The 3-3-3 Plan and MeshCore: your neighbours' radio network
Channel 3, every 3 hours, for at least 3 minutes: the radio routine that connects neighbours over CB and PMR446 — plus text messages over LoRa on the MeshCore Portugal network, with no internet or operator.
Reviewed 23 Oct 2026
07·FThe 3-3-3 Plan and MeshCore
In 30 seconds
The essentials, in four points.
Ch. 3
On CB, channel 3 in AM (26.985 MHz). On PMR446, channel 3 with no tone (446.03125 MHz). That is where the network meets.
3 h
Every 3 hours: at 00, 03, 06, 09, 12, 15, 18 and 21 hours, switch the radio on and listen for at least 3 minutes before and after the hour.
Saturday
Nationwide weekly practice, at 21:00 on CB, PMR446 at 21:45 and, at the same time, messages on the MeshCore network. Without practice, nobody knows who can hear them.
LoRa
MeshCore sends text messages by radio, from device to device, with no internet or mobile operator. In Portugal it uses 433 MHz and 868 MHz, licence-free.
01What it is
A network of neighbours who listen at set times.
A radio is only useful if someone is listening on the other side — at the same time, on the same channel. The 3-3-3 Plan solves this with a rule that is easy to remember: channel 3, every 3 hours, for at least 3 minutes. Anyone with a citizens' band (CB) radio or a PMR446 walkie-talkie knows where and when to look for someone.
The idea comes from the United States and France. In Portugal it started in September 2019, led by Miguel Santos (station Mike 05), who added what the original lacked: a weekly practice. According to the project's website, more than 400 people in over 15 cities have taken part. Since September 2025, the practice has also run on the MeshCore and Meshtastic messaging networks.
Voice · far
Citizens' band (CB)
A radio at home or in the car, with an outdoor aerial. It reaches furthest and relays messages between weaker stations. Licence-free.
Voice · near
PMR446
Licence-free walkie-talkies for family and neighbours. Short range, but they fit in a grab bag.
Text · network
MeshCore
Small LoRa radios paired with a phone over Bluetooth. Messages hop from device to device until they arrive, with no internet.
02How it works
Channel 3. Every 3 hours. At least 3 minutes.
Where to listen and call
| Radio | Channel | Frequency | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens' band (CB) | 3 | 26.985 MHz | AM — USB if there is no contact in AM |
| PMR446 | 3 | 446.03125 MHz | No tone (no CTCSS or DCS) |
Times: 00, 03, 06, 09, 12, 15, 18 and 21 h. Listen for at least 3 minutes before and 3 minutes after the hour. If you have power to spare, stay 10 to 15 minutes: there may be calls outside the window.
1
Pick a station name. A short, uncommon nickname — you don't need to use your real name. Use the same one on the radio and on MeshCore.
2
Don't just listen: call. If nobody knows you're listening, nobody calls you. Example: “General call, general call, 3-3-3 Plan, this is White Wolf in Almada. Is anyone listening?”
3
Give your town, never your address. The town, neighbourhood or village is enough. Give your exact address only if you need help.
4
Short sentences and pauses. Press the button only while talking, wait 3 seconds between transmissions and never talk over anyone.
Typical range, according to the 3-3-3 Plan
| Station | AM | USB |
|---|---|---|
| CB base (home, outdoor aerial) | 15 km | 40 km |
| CB mobile (car) | 5 km | 10 km |
| CB handheld | 300 m to 1 km | — |
| PMR446 in town | 300 m to 1 km | — |
| PMR446 on a hilltop | 1 to 10 km | — |
Range depends mostly on the aerial and the spot. Go somewhere high, move away from walls, or use a window or balcony.
03In an emergency
Listen. Confirm. Pass it on.
In a real alert, it is no longer practice. Every 3 hours, from 3 minutes before to 3 minutes after the hour, call and listen on CB or PMR446 channel 3 — often with no coordinator, each station responsible for itself and its group.
1
Look for your family and group first. Agree beforehand who calls, on which radio and at what times. Write it in the family plan.
2
If someone asks for help, note where they are and call 112. If you can't call, ask another station to do it. Don't go to the scene if it puts you at risk or gets in the way of firefighters and police.
3
Confirm before spreading an alert. Only pass on information from an official source or confirmed by other means — commercial radio, TV, Civil Protection warnings. A false alert causes panic.
4
State the area clearly. The project's example: “Local alert in Tomar, road M351 between Carril and Serra, closed due to fire. Alternative via M351-1.” Simple instructions, exact area.
5
If you have power, keep listening longer. A battery-powered base station can bridge people who are far apart.
04Practise
Saturday at 21:00. This is where you learn.
Weekly practice (mainland Portugal time)
| Time | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 21:00–21:10 | CB, channel 3, AM | General calls. Coordinators, where they exist, organise the contacts. |
| 21:10–21:45 | CB, channel 3, USB | More range for radios with sideband. |
| 21:40–21:45 | CB | The coordinator asks each station which contacts it made. |
| 21:45–22:00 | PMR446, channel 3 | No coordination: go somewhere high and call. |
| 21:00–22:00 | MeshCore, channel #plano333 | Up to 3 messages: *CQ Plano 333, station name, city, area*. |
On first contact, ask whether there is a coordinating station in your area. If not, make the general call yourself.
1
Keep contacts short. Under 30 seconds. If you want to chat, agree to move to another channel and leave channel 3 free.
2
Log everything on paper. Stations, places and signal. In a power cut, a notebook still works.
3
Try the *Off Grid* practice. If your radio runs on battery rather than mains, add /O to your station name — for example, White Wolf /O. It's the best way to test whether you'd cope with a blackout.
4
Train the family too. The project recommends that more than one person in each household can use the radio and knows the times.
05MeshCore
Text messages by radio, with no internet or operator.
MeshCore uses LoRa radios: small, low-power devices that send short messages over many kilometres. Each person has one, paired with their phone over Bluetooth. Along the way, repeaters — often solar-powered, on high ground — pass the message on until it reaches its destination. Everything happens over radio: MeshCore never uses the internet.
In Portugal, the MeshCore Portugal community runs the network, a coverage map, an app in Portuguese (LusoApp) and its own firmware (LusoFW). The devices operate as short-range devices under ANACOM's licence exemption, as long as they keep to each band's power and transmit-time limits.
The two bands of the Portuguese network
| 433 MHz | 868 MHz | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 433.375 MHz | 869.618 MHz |
| Maximum power | 10 mW | 500 mW |
| Data rate | ≈ 0.7 kbps | ≈ 2.3 kbps |
| ¼-wave aerial | ≈ 17 cm | ≈ 9 cm |
| On the network | Most used | Growing |
There are radio bridges between the two bands: joining one gives you access to the other. A 433 MHz device cannot be turned into an 868 MHz one — the hardware is different.
1
1. Check the map before buying. The MeshCore Portugal map shows which band has more repeaters near you. If unsure, the site recommends 433 MHz, the most compatible with the existing network.
2
2. Install the app. The MeshCore app or LusoApp, in Portuguese. Keep an offline copy for when there is no internet.
3
3. Buy a radio for the right band. For example, a Heltec Mesh Node T114, a LilyGo T-Echo or, with a keyboard, a LilyGo T-Deck. Check the band before you pay.
4
4. Flash the firmware and pair. With the site's installer, over USB. Then pair the radio with your phone over Bluetooth and send your first message.
5
5. Join the channels. #plano333 for the Saturday practice, your district's channel (for example #lisboa or #porto) and #public.
Anyone who wants to help the network can test coverage and share the results, or set up a solar repeater on high ground: MeshCore Portugal publishes a parts list and an assembly guide.
1
Do you want to talk to family or neighbours in the same area?
Yes
PMR446 walkie-talkiesA pair is enough to start. Channel 3, no tone, and practise on Saturdays at 21:45.
No
2
Do you want to reach other towns by voice?
Yes
CB radio with an outdoor aerialAt home or in the car. Channel 3 in AM and USB — and know channel 9 for distress.
No
3
Do you want written messages over distance, without big aerials?
Yes
MeshCoreCheck the map, choose the band with coverage near you and join the #plano333 channel.
No
Start by listeningA PMR446 walkie-talkie and the Saturday practice show you, cheaply, who is within reach.
06Common mistakes
Six ideas that fail when it matters.
Myth
“The radio is stored away, so I'm covered.”
Without practice you don't know who can hear you, or your real range from home. The Saturday practice exists for exactly that.
Myth
“Channel 3 is the official distress channel.”
The citizens' band distress channel is 9. Channel 3 is the meeting point of the 3-3-3 Plan, a volunteer initiative.
Myth
“On PMR446, any tone will do.”
The 3-3-3 Plan uses channel 3 with no tone. With a tone switched on, you won't hear anyone who doesn't use it.
Myth
“Listening is enough.”
If you don't call, nobody knows you're there. Make a short general call.
Myth
“The most powerful LoRa radio reaches furthest.”
Power is legally capped. The aerial, its height and the repeaters around you matter far more.
Myth
“I heard it on the radio, so I'll pass it on.”
Confirm it with an official source first. A wrong alert can put people in danger.
07Equipment
What you need to join the network.
To start, a pair of PMR446 walkie-talkies. For more range, add a CB radio with an outdoor aerial, or a LoRa radio for MeshCore. And backup power for all of them.
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CBSecção 02
Rádio CB (banda do cidadão)
Why: isento de licença. Com AM e USB (banda lateral) chega mais longe no canal 3.
CBSecção 02
Antena CB magnética para carro
Why: uma boa antena conta mais do que a potência do rádio.
MeshCoreSecção 05
Rádio LoRa Heltec T114 (433 ou 868 MHz)
Why: rádio de bolso para o MeshCore, com pouco consumo. Confirma a banda antes de comprar.
EnergiaSecção 04
Bateria externa 20 000 mAh
Why: para o telemóvel e o rádio LoRa quando falta a luz.
Quick card
Print it. Stick it by the radio.
Fill in your station name and your MeshCore radio's band, and stick it by the radio.
3-3-3 Plan · K72 card
1CB: channel 3 in AM (26.985 MHz) · no contact: USB
2PMR446: channel 3, no tone (446.03125 MHz)
3Listen: 00 · 03 · 06 · 09 · 12 · 15 · 18 · 21 h — 3 min before and after
4Practice: Saturday, 21:00 · PMR446 at 21:45
5MeshCore: channel #plano333 · band _____ MHz
6Station name: ______________
7Emergency: 112 — always first
07·F · k72plus.comEMERGENCY: 112
- 3-3-3 Plan — What it is and how it works (in Portuguese) — channels, frequencies, times, alerts, range
- 3-3-3 Plan — Weekly practice (in Portuguese) — times, first practice, good practice
- 3-3-3 Plan — Mesh 3-3-3 (in Portuguese) — practice on MeshCore and Meshtastic since 27/09/2025
- 3-3-3 Plan — Off Grid practice (in Portuguese) — /O suffix, battery-powered stations
- 3-3-3 Plan — History (in Portuguese) — started in Portugal in September 2019
- MeshCore Portugal — Home — bands, parameters, getting started, devices
- MeshCore Portugal — 433 MHz or 868 MHz (in Portuguese) — power, data rate, aerials, bridges between bands
- MeshCore Portugal — Channels and services (in Portuguese) — public channels, district channels
- MeshCore Portugal — Transmit power and limits (in Portuguese) — ANACOM regulation, licence exemption
- ANACOM — Network licence exemption (PMR446, in Portuguese) — 446.0–446.2 MHz, 500 mW, built-in aerial
- ANACOM — Station licence exemption (in Portuguese) — citizens' band, channel 9 for distress
Reviewed 23 Oct 2026 · Next review: Apr 2027 · Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
The 3-3-3 Plan and MeshCore Portugal are volunteer initiatives, not official services. This guide does not replace official guidance. In an emergency, call 112.