Interested in your own Licensed Channels?
If your club or team is looking to set up private communication channels, we’re here to make the process simple and stress-free. Our fully certified RSM (Radio Spectrum Management) engineers will guide you every step of the way, handling the technical details and legal requirements on your behalf. This ensures your team gets the channels it needs quickly, without the hassle.
What are the Likely Costs?
Simple and Affordable Licensing
Getting your own licensed channels is easier and more affordable than many people think. Here’s how it works:
One-off setup cost
Our certified engineer handles the entire registration process with RSM (Radio Spectrum Management NZ). This includes organising your organisation as an official RSM client, applying for your channels, and ensuring they don’t clash with local services. We also confirm where your channels will be used and what they’re for. At the end of this process, your organisation owns the channels. The one-time cost is usually between $500 & $1500.Ongoing annual fee
After setup, RSM will send you a yearly invoice for the license. Currently, the annual cost is approximately $150, and a single license can encompass multiple channels.
Do I Get Sole Use of My Channel?
In short, no. Radio licences in New Zealand are issued on a shared access basis, which means you don’t automatically have exclusive use of a channel. However, as part of the setup process, our engineer will carefully select and coordinate your channels to give you the best possible chance of enjoying uninterrupted use. While sole use can’t be guaranteed, we do everything we can to minimise the likelihood of interference.
What Are the Advantages of a Licensed Channel?
Licensed channels offer your team significant benefits that unlicensed options cannot provide. With a licence, you can:
Transmit at up to 25 watts of power, providing greater range and clearer communication.
Access digital modes (DMR), which offer superior audio quality, reliability, and battery efficiency compared to analogue.
For clubs and teams, this means stronger coverage, clearer conversations, and more dependable communications when it matters most.
What About Free or PRS Channels?
PRS (Public Radio Service) radios might seem convenient, but they come with significant drawbacks. Think of them as the modern equivalent of old CB radios — open to anyone who buys one off the shelf. That means your race team’s communications could end up sharing a channel with complete strangers.
Additionally, PRS radios are limited to just 5 watts of power, resulting in significantly reduced range. They also only support analogue, which lacks the clarity, coverage, and efficiency of modern digital (DMR) radios.
The difference is night and day. With DMR, you’ll enjoy clearer audio, up to double the range, and significantly better battery life. Once you try it, you’ll see why analogue feels like old technology.
