Tag: gmrs
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The Frequencies Every Ham Radio Should Have Programmed for SHTF
The exact frequencies I keep programmed into every radio I own, from NOAA weather to GMRS, MURS, CB, and ham simplex calling channels, so I’m never scrambling to find them when it matters.
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What Is AMRRON? The American Redoubt Radio Operators Network Explained
AMRRON is a volunteer network of licensed and unlicensed operators built to keep information moving when normal communications fail. Here’s what it actually is and how it works.
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Radio Field Cards: Quick-Reference Programming Guides
Part of our Handheld Radios (HTs) guide. I keep pulling up the same four questions on every new radio that lands on the bench: how do I program a repeater, how do I get into VFO mode, how do I adjust power, and how do I scan. Every radio buries these in a different menu…
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1987: GMRS Established as a Licensed Family Radio Service
Part of our The Evolution of Amateur Radio timeline series. Not everyone who wants a two-way radio wants to study for an amateur license or learn Morse code or memorize band plans. The FCC recognized that gap decades ago, and GMRS is one of the results: a licensed service on UHF frequencies near amateur’s 70cm…
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When the Repeater Goes Silent: Your Backup Plan for Grid-Down Comms
Part of our Emergency Communications and Preparedness guide. Repeaters are one of the best parts of this hobby. Stick a repeater on a tower or a mountain and suddenly two handhelds that couldn’t hear each other across town can talk clearly across a whole metro area. Under normal conditions, this is exactly what GMRS and…
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MURS vs GMRS vs FRS: Which One (or Combination) Actually Fits Your Family
I write a lot about GMRS and FRS on this site, but MURS almost never comes up, and that’s a gap. It’s the license-free service most people have never heard of, and for certain family and neighborhood comms setups it’s worth understanding alongside the two everyone already knows. The Quick Version FRS is license-free, low…
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GMRS Radio: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about GMRS radio: the $35 license, real-world range, repeaters, and which radio to actually buy first.
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GMRS Is Great for Family Comms, But It Won’t Save You When SHTF
GMRS gets recommended constantly in prepping and family communication circles, and for good reason. But it’s not a complete emergency communications plan by itself.
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A Comms Plan Your Non-Ham Family Members Can Actually Use
A simplified emergency comms plan for the family members who will never get licensed and never want a full radio lesson.
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GMRS Antennas: What Actually Improves Your Range
More watts get all the attention, but antenna height and gain do more for your GMRS range than a bigger radio ever will. Here’s what’s actually worth upgrading.