GMRS channel to frequency differs across radios

FCC Part 95.1763 defines GMRS frequencies, but channel numbering and presentation can vary by manufacturer and model generation. In practice, many current FRS/GMRS radios use a common 22 channel layout, while some older or vendor-specific models (such as intercoms) use a different ordering. For reliable interoperability, verify the channel-to-frequency mapping in the manual for the specific radio model.

GMRS arbitrary channel to frequency mapping contrasts with some other radios with FCC fixed chanenl to frequency mapping like:

  • 27 MHz CB radio FCC Part 95.963
  • 88–108 MHz FM broadcast radio FCC Part 73.201

There are only 22 simplex channels assigned to GMRS. When a GMRS radio has more than 22 channels, the additional channels are often used for repeater inputs, or they may be duplicates of the simplex channels with specific CTCSS tones or DCS codes assigned to them.

Here’s a specific example of non-sequential channel to frequency mapping from a circa 2001 GMRS radio, the Audiovox GMRS-2000.

Channel Frequency (MHz)
1 462.5625
2 462.5875
3 462.6125
4 462.6375
5 462.6625
6 462.6875
7 462.7125
8 462.575
9 462.625
10 462.675
11 462.550
12 462.600
13 462.650
14 462.700
15 462.725

Many modern FRS / GMRS radios have a channel to frequency mapping like:

Channel Frequency (MHz)
1 462.5625
2 462.5875
3 462.6125
4 462.6375
5 462.6625
6 462.6875
7 462.7125
8 467.5625
9 467.5875
10 467.6125
11 467.6375
12 467.6625
13 467.6875
14 467.7125
15 462.550
16 462.575
17 462.600
18 462.625
19 462.650
20 462.675
21 462.700
22 462.725