All frequencies. All tones. All yours.
Every new GMRS operator makes a few mistakes early on. Most are harmless, but some can prevent you from communicating effectively or annoy other operators. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Many blister-pack radios at retail stores are FRS-only, even if the box claims "35-mile range." These radios are limited to 2W, have fixed antennas, and cannot access GMRS repeater channels. Before buying, confirm the radio is specifically GMRS-capable. Look for FCC Part 95E certification. See Choosing a Radio for recommendations.
You program a repeater's frequency, key up, and... nothing happens. The most common reason is a missing CTCSS (PL) tone. Most repeaters require a specific tone to open the squelch. Without it, the repeater hears your signal but ignores it. Check repeater directories for the required tone and program both TX and RX tones.
GMRS repeaters use a +5 MHz offset — you transmit 5 MHz above the repeater's output frequency. If your radio is set to simplex (no offset) or has the wrong offset direction, you'll transmit on the output frequency and the repeater won't hear you. See Repeater Offsets for details.
Related to the offset issue: if you manually enter the repeater's input frequency as your transmit frequency without setting proper duplex mode, you'll be transmitting where the repeater transmits. You need to listen on the output and transmit on the input — your radio's offset setting handles this automatically when configured correctly.
FCC rules require you to state your callsign at the start and end of each communication and every 15 minutes during longer conversations. Forgetting to identify is a common habit from FRS use, where no callsign is required.
Keying up on a repeater without saying anything — just to test if you can hit it — is called "kerchunking." It's considered poor etiquette. If you want to test, say your callsign: "WRYZ123, radio check."
If you're talking to someone a quarter mile away, you don't need 50W. Using excessive power can cause interference for other operators on the same channel. Start on low power and increase only if needed.
Always listen for 15-30 seconds before keying up on any channel. You might not hear both sides of a conversation, especially on a repeater. Transmitting over someone else's conversation is called "doubling" and is one of the fastest ways to frustrate other operators.
It sounds obvious, but heading out with uncharged batteries is surprisingly common. GMRS handhelds drain fast on high power. Always charge the night before, and carry a spare battery pack for anything beyond a short outing.