GMRS from A to Z

The complete GMRS guide.

History, licensing, tones, antennas and good habits, all in one place, with local details for Cuyahoga Falls.

A short history

1949The FCC creates the General Mobile Radio Service for personal and family use.
1996Family Radio Service starts as a license-free radio service beside GMRS.
2017FCC rule changes cover your whole immediate family under one license and allow repeaters to work with modern radios.
2021The license fee is lowered and no exam has ever been required.

Feature	FRS	GMRS
License	None	Required, valid ten years
Cost	Free	One-time FCC fee
Power	Up to 2 W on most channels	Up to 50 W on main channels
Antenna	Must be built in	Can be changed or external
Repeaters	No	Yes
Typical range	Under a mile or two	Miles, and more with a repeater

Fees and screens change, so follow the FCC site for the latest steps.

1
Get an FRN
Register with the FCC's CORES system to receive an FCC Registration Number.
2
Apply in ULS
Log in to the Universal Licensing System and file the GMRS license application.
3
Pay the fee
Pay the one-time fee with a card. There is no exam.
4
Receive your call sign
It is usually issued within a few days. Call signs start with K or W and have letters and numbers, like WSFW755.
5
Share with family
Your immediate family may use your call sign under your license.
6
Renew in ten years
Set a reminder. A lapsed license cannot be used to transmit.

Repeaters and many simplex users rely on tones to keep the channel clean.

CTCSS or PL: A continuous sub-audible tone, like 141.3 Hz, that opens the repeater and quiets your radio.
DCS: A digital code instead of a tone, doing the same job.
Why it matters: Using the wrong tone means you will not open the repeater or you will hear nothing.
Our tone: 141.3 Hz on both the repeater and the simplex channel.

Stock antenna
Short and convenient, but gives the least range.
Upgraded handheld antenna
A longer whip can add a noticeable boost.
Mobile antenna
Mounted on the roof of a car, it gains height and a ground plane.
Base antenna
Mounted high on a mast, it gives the best coverage.
Quarter wave
At GMRS frequencies a quarter wave is only about six inches long.
Radio horizon
Signals travel roughly line of sight. Height matters more than almost anything.

Use these words to spell your call sign clearly: W-S-F-W 7-5-5 is Whiskey Sierra Foxtrot Whiskey seven five five.

Listen before you talk: Wait for a pause. Press and hold the push-to-talk key a moment before speaking.
Identify: Give your call sign every 15 minutes and when you finish.
Be brief: Short calls leave room for others and keep the repeater available.
Use plain words: Skip codes. Just say what you mean.
Respect others: No profanity, music or arguing. Keep it family friendly.
Do a radio check: Ask how you sound when you are new or testing a setup.