GMRS radio guide

Learn the radio before you buy one.

GMRS is easy to enjoy once you know a handful of ideas. Here are the radios, the habits and the words you will hear on the air.

Choosing a radio

Handheld
Pocket size, about 5 watts. Easy to start with and good around town. Pair it with a better antenna for more reach.
Mobile
Mounts in a vehicle with a roof antenna and 25 to 50 watts. The best way to use a repeater from the car.
Base station
A mobile radio at home with a power supply and an outdoor antenna. Strongest signal from a fixed spot.

A quick illustrated look at the two ways to talk on GMRS in Cuyahoga Falls.

A simplex node is a small station that listens and talks on one frequency, with no repeater offset. Ours is on 462.550 MHz with PL tone 141.3.

What it isA radio on one shared frequency with no repeater. Anyone in range hears you and you hear them.
Our nodeCall sign WSFW755, operated by Josh in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Our channel462.550 MHz, PL tone 141.3 Hz, narrowband FM.
Why use itGreat for car-to-car, neighborhood chat and events, and it works when no repeater is in reach.
Node versus repeaterA repeater retransmits on a second frequency from a high site. A simplex node transmits only on its own channel, so range is shorter but the setup is simple.
Getting the best rangeGet high, get clear of buildings and trees, and use a better antenna. Low power is fine at close range.
EtiquetteListen first, keep calls short, and give your call sign every 15 minutes and when you finish.

RadioA GMRS-capable radio set to 462.550 MHz with tone 141.3 Hz.
AntennaAn outdoor antenna as high as possible with a good feedline is the biggest upgrade.
Power supplyA steady 13.8 volt supply for a base radio, or a battery for a portable node.
IdentificationA node must still identify with its call sign, WSFW755, at least every 15 minutes.
PlacementClear of metal and trees, with a view over the area you want to cover.

Six steps to get your radio on the WSFW755 repeater and simplex channel.

1
Get the right radio
Use a GMRS-capable radio that supports CTCSS tones and split frequencies, or the repeater will not open for you.
2
Pick your method
Type channels in by hand from the keypad, or use the radio maker's free programming software with a cable.
3
Save the repeater channel
Receive 462.675 MHz. Transmit 467.675 MHz. Set the transmit and receive tone to 141.3 Hz. Name it WSFW755.
4
Save the simplex channel
Receive and transmit 462.550 MHz with tone 141.3 Hz. Name it SIMPLEX.
5
Set bandwidth and power
Use narrow bandwidth (12.5 kHz). Start on low power and use high only when you need it.
6
Test it
Key up, say your call sign and ask for a radio check. If you hear a quick tail when you release, the repeater heard you.

I hear nothing: Check that you are on 462.675 and that the receive tone is 141.3. Turn the squelch down to hear if anything is there.
The repeater does not open: The transmit tone is probably missing or wrong. Confirm 467.675 transmit with 141.3 Hz.
People hear me broken up: Move to a higher, clearer spot and try high power. Check the antenna is tight and the right type.
I only hear one side: On simplex you only hear people near you. That is normal. Use the repeater for farther contacts.

GMRS is regulated by the FCC under Part 95. This is a friendly summary, not legal text. Read the official rules for the full picture.

License: You need an FCC GMRS license before you transmit. One license covers you and your immediate family. It lasts ten years and there is no exam.
Identification: Give your call sign at least every 15 minutes during a conversation and at the end of it.
Power: Up to 50 watts on the main 462 MHz channels. Several 462 MHz channels are limited to 5 watts, and the 467 MHz channels to half a watt.
Repeaters: Repeaters work on specific paired channels. Get the owner's permission and follow the repeater's rules before you use one.
Equipment: Use FCC-certified GMRS radios with FM voice. Do not use encryption or secret codes.
Content: Keep it clean. No profanity, obscenity, music or broadcasting, and no advertising.
Emergencies: Calls for help always come first. Clear the channel and help where you can.
Penalties: Breaking the rules can mean fines or losing your license, so keep within the limits.

A good antenna helps more than extra power. Higher and clearer of obstacles is better.
Check that your radio is a GMRS radio that can store a tone. Some license-free radios cannot use repeaters.
Use low power when you can. It saves battery and keeps the repeater clear for others.
Listen before you talk, and leave a pause so someone can break in.
Do a radio check on a net night. Say your call sign and ask how you sound.

Repeater: A station on a tower that receives your signal on one frequency and retransmits it on another, extending your range.
Simplex: Direct radio-to-radio contact on one frequency, with no repeater.
PL tone (CTCSS): A quiet sub-audible tone that opens a repeater or squelch. Ours is 141.3 Hz.
Offset: The gap between a repeater's transmit and receive frequencies. GMRS repeaters use 5 MHz.
Net: A scheduled on-air gathering with a host who takes check-ins.
Call sign: Your unique FCC-issued identifier, spoken to identify yourself.
Squelch: A filter that silences the speaker when nothing useful is being received.
73: Radio shorthand for best regards.