We love using GMRS radios to keep in touch off-road and while camping, yet the whole frequency vs. channel part can be a bit confusing, especially if you’re using one of the imported two-way radios*. If you’re new to GMRS radio, and are still trying to make sense of the different channels or frequencies on your transceiver, you’re not alone. We wanted to add this list of GMRS radio channels to help you understand which channels are best for different outdoor situations. Please note that not all radios use the same channel numbering system. The tables below show the channel numbering scheme used by Midland and other popular radio manufacturers.
Note: All channels, 1-22, are now shared between GMRS and FRS. Only GMRS radios – which require an FCC license – can use wide-band FM and full power for maximum range on some of these channels.
Channels 1-7
GMRS and FRS radios share channels 1-7. GMRS radios are allowed to use wide-band FM and up to 5 watts of power on channels 1-7. These are best used for communication within a limited area, and when a GMRS radio mounted in a vehicle needs to communicate with a FRS or GMRS handheld unit. We typically use one of these channels to keep in touch vehicle to vehicle, or vehicle to handheld, after setting up camp.
Channels 8-14.
Channels 8-14 are used by FRS and some GMRS handheld radios. The power and bandwidth limitations are the same for both services – 1/2 watt and narrow band FM only. No external antenna is allowed with these channels, which is why you won’t find them on any fixed-mount GMRS mobile radios. These channels are best for short-range communication between handhelds, so that you don’t add to congestion of longer range radio channels.
Channels 15-22
Channels 15-22 are of particular importance to licensed GMRS users in the overland community, because this is where full power, along with repeater stations are allowed. Both of these features are particularly useful when traveling off-road. GMRS radios may use up to 50 watts of power here, along with wide-band FM, which has better range and audio quality. FRS radios are limited to 2 watts and narrow-band FM only. As with the other GMRS channels, users of full-power radios on these frequencies must have an FCC license.
You may find local repeaters, (stations which re-broadcast your signal over a wider area), using channels 15-22. GMRS mobiles and base station radios may include extra “repeater channels”, which utilize channels 15-22 as the output channel, along with 8 separate input frequencies that are 5 MHz higher. Some GMRS users may refer to these input frequencies as “upper 15” etc., yet under no circumstances is it legal to use these for anything other than for accessing a repeater.
Other Names For GMRS Channels
Owners of GMRS repeaters are often technical type people, who use frequencies instead of channels in conversation. You may hear an exchange such as “I talked to him on the 575 machine.” What they are using is the latter part of the frequency, in this case 462.575 or channel 16.
Unofficial GMRS Channels For Travel and Off Road
There are has been some adoption of certain GMRS channels for off-road vehicle use – channel 16 (462.575) and for highway travel channels 19 (462.650) and 20 (462.675MHz) with a PL tone of 141.3Hz. Such use is not widespread or universal, so take any info about “official GMRS channels with a grain of salt. See our article about the “official” GMRS channel for 4×4 and off road use. The best channel to use for off road travel, etc., is always the one where you can use the lowest amount of power and still keep in touch – so as not to hog a channel across a wide area. Channels 1-14 are best to use for short distances, whereas 15-22 (where more power is allowed) are best for long distance communication.
*Can I Use A Baofeng UV5R For GMRS?
The FCC clearly states that no radio shall be used for GMRS – FRS use without being “type accepted” for that service. It’s illegal to use a Baofeng UV5R, or similar imported radio, to do anything other than listen to GMRS – FRS conversations. There are plenty of tutorials online about how to program these cheap radios to work with these services, yet in doing so you may be risking a very hefty FCC fine.
What Could Go Wrong?
If you do make a mistake, and program your Baofeng radio for wide-band FM on channels 8-14 – or worse – accidentally transmit on a law enforcement frequency, you could get a visit from the guys in black Suburbans, and you don’t want that.
All is not lost for those who enjoy using these inexpensive handhelds though. Baofeng now makes a type-accepted GMRS handheld, the UV5X, which we’ve just got back from field testing and will be detailing in an upcoming post.
The Best Thing About a Dedicated GMRS Radio
The best thing about having a radio that’s factory programmed and designed specifically for GMRS, is having all of the channels set up for you. You won’t have to worry about programming your radio wrong, or running afoul of the FCC, which can be a very expensive thing to do.
Please keep in mind that there’s a quite a lot of misinformation online, and don’t just assume you can program a Baofeng UV5R for GMRS – FRS from information found on the internet and be “OK”. Also, so called “SHTF” or “survival radio frequency lists” found online may also contain misinformation – such as including European PRS (Personal Radio Service), channels, which, if used in the USA, could get you into lots of trouble!
GMRS – FRS Privacy Codes In A Nutshell
So called “privacy codes” were designed to allow multiple users two-way radio services use the same frequency, without hearing each other. When you key your mic, a silent tone or digital code is transmitted, opening the receiver of the radio you want to talk to, so they can hear you, sort of like exchanging a “secret handshake”. These tones and codes don’t really offer privacy, they just keep you from hearing other radio transmissions.
Where they’re particularly useful, especially now that GMRS and FRS share the same channels, is when you need to keep unwanted radio traffic from driving you crazy, such as in a crowded city. At some point you may want to consider using these privacy tones and codes, but until you understand their limitations and disadvantages, it’s probably best you avoid them, if you want to be able to talk to other GMRS and FRS radio users where you are recreating. With that in mind, you can still transmit privacy tones that open another GMRS radio’s squelch, without setting up full privacy settings that keep you from hearing all radio traffic on a channel.
MURS Radio Frequencies
An alternative to GMRS – one that does not require a license – is MURS. The Mutual Use Radio Service uses VHF frequencies and external antennas are allowed, along with 2 watts of power. You can typically expect MURS radios to perform much better than FRS radios in the outdoors, especially if an external antenna is used (something you can’t do with FRS radios). See our article MURS Radio Frequencies for more info.
We hope this GMRS – FRS radio channel list and explanation is helpful to the overland community. Please be sure to get your $35 FCC license for GMRS before using your radio. See our post How to Get a GMRS License for more info on how to stay legal.
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