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← First week GMRS · GMRS channels

GMRS · Programming

GMRS programming guide

Channels, tones, and repeater offsets trip up every new GMRS operator. Follow this week-long path — then keep the programming checklist on your phone for the next radio you buy. Jargon? See the radio glossary.

Long-form walkthrough: book ch. 4 — setup & programming · ch. 2 — GMRS license · free GMRS card

  1. Day 1: Download the free GMRS reference card. Read GMRS channels tool — note simplex vs repeater input/output pairs.
  2. Day 2: Confirm your FCC GMRS license is active. Label radios with your callsign or GMRS license ID per Part 95.
  3. Day 3: Choose software — CHIRP (free, many radios) or manufacturer CPS (Radioddity, Retevis, BridgeCom, etc.). See CHIRP cheat sheet if your radio is supported.
  4. Day 4: Program simplex channels first (family property test). Set power, bandwidth, and channel names before touching repeaters.
  5. Day 5: Add local repeater pairs — input/output, PL tone encode and decode. East TN: frequency guide or GMRS Tennessee page.
  6. Day 6: Walk the GMRS programming checklist — saves progress offline on this device.
  7. Day 7: Run a family comms test simplex, then through a repeater. Document a PACE plan — GMRS as primary or alternate vs cell.

CHIRP vs manufacturer software

CHIRP works across dozens of radios, imports CSV lists (like the East TN CHIRP CSV), and clones memories between identical models. Best when you want one workflow for ham and GMRS radios.

Manufacturer CPS unlocks radio-specific features — APRS, roaming, Bluetooth, firmware updates. Use the vendor cable and driver; export a backup image before you edit.

Either way: verify offset direction, PL Hz, and power level against the repeater owner or glossary entries for CTCSS and offset.

Programming checklist GMRS channels CHIRP cheat sheet First week GMRS