Tools/Radio Frequencies

Radio frequencies.

Channel reference for the radio services overlanders and off-roaders actually use. Designed to print to a single folded glovebox card on letter or A4.

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General Mobile Radio Service

UHF · 462 / 467 MHz

The most common off-road convoy radio service in the US. Higher power and repeater access make GMRS the practical step up from FRS for trail communications. License is by individual but covers your whole family.

License: FCC GMRS license required ($35, 10 years, covers immediate family). · How to get a GMRS license →

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
1	462.5625	5W	Shared with FRS 1
2	462.5875	5W	Shared with FRS 2
3	462.6125	5W	Shared with FRS 3
4	462.6375	5W	Shared with FRS 4
5	462.6625	5W	Shared with FRS 5
6	462.6875	5W	Shared with FRS 6
7	462.7125	5W	Shared with FRS 7
8	467.5625	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
9	467.5875	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
10	467.6125	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
11	467.6375	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
12	467.6625	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
13	467.6875	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
14	467.7125	0.5W	Low power, simplex only
15	462.5500	50W
16	462.5750	50W	Common off-road convoy ch.
17	462.6000	50W
18	462.6250	50W
19	462.6500	50W
20	462.6750	50W
21	462.7000	50W
22	462.7250	50W
RPT15	467.5500→ ch. 15	50W	Repeater input
RPT16	467.5750→ ch. 16	50W	Repeater input
RPT17	467.6000→ ch. 17	50W	Repeater input
RPT18	467.6250→ ch. 18	50W	Repeater input
RPT19	467.6500→ ch. 19	50W	Repeater input
RPT20	467.6750→ ch. 20	50W	Repeater input
RPT21	467.7000→ ch. 21	50W	Repeater input
RPT22	467.7250→ ch. 22	50W	Repeater input

·Channels 1–7 share frequencies with FRS at lower power for FRS users.
·Channels 8–14 are simplex only at 0.5W maximum — short range by design.
·Channels 15–22 allow up to 50W and may be used as repeater outputs.
·RPT15–22 are the matching repeater input frequencies (+5 MHz offset).

Family Radio Service

UHF · 462 / 467 MHz

Short-range, low-power UHF for family / group communication. No license required and the radios are cheap, but range is realistically a mile or two in open terrain. Shares frequencies with GMRS.

License: License-free (FCC Part 95 Subpart B).

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
1	462.5625	2W	Shared with GMRS 1
2	462.5875	2W	Shared with GMRS 2
3	462.6125	2W	Shared with GMRS 3
4	462.6375	2W	Shared with GMRS 4
5	462.6625	2W	Shared with GMRS 5
6	462.6875	2W	Shared with GMRS 6
7	462.7125	2W	Shared with GMRS 7
8	467.5625	0.5W
9	467.5875	0.5W
10	467.6125	0.5W
11	467.6375	0.5W
12	467.6625	0.5W
13	467.6875	0.5W
14	467.7125	0.5W
15	462.5500	2W
16	462.5750	2W
17	462.6000	2W
18	462.6250	2W
19	462.6500	2W
20	462.6750	2W
21	462.7000	2W
22	462.7250	2W

·FRS users on shared GMRS channels are capped at 2W (or 0.5W on 8–14).
·Hand-held GMRS-capable radios can also receive FRS users on shared channels.

Multi-Use Radio Service

VHF · 151 / 154 MHz

Five license-free VHF channels, max 2W. Often penetrates terrain better than UHF (FRS/GMRS) in wooded areas. Less crowded than CB or FRS but radios are less common.

License: License-free (FCC Part 95 Subpart J).

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
1	151.820	2W	Narrowband (11.25 kHz)
2	151.880	2W	Narrowband (11.25 kHz)
3	151.940	2W	Narrowband (11.25 kHz)
4	154.570	2W	Wideband ("Blue Dot")
5	154.600	2W	Wideband ("Green Dot")

Citizens Band

HF · 27 MHz

40-channel HF service. Long associated with truckers and overlanders. Range is highly variable — propagation can carry hundreds of miles, or fall flat in five. Largely supplanted by GMRS for off-road convoy use, but still common on highways.

License: License-free (FCC Part 95 Subpart D).

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
1	26.965	4W AM / 12W SSB
2	26.975	4W AM / 12W SSB
3	26.985	4W AM / 12W SSB
4	27.005	4W AM / 12W SSB
5	27.015	4W AM / 12W SSB
6	27.025	4W AM / 12W SSB
7	27.035	4W AM / 12W SSB
8	27.055	4W AM / 12W SSB
9	27.065	4W AM / 12W SSB	Emergency / motorist assistance
10	27.075	4W AM / 12W SSB
11	27.085	4W AM / 12W SSB
12	27.105	4W AM / 12W SSB
13	27.115	4W AM / 12W SSB
14	27.125	4W AM / 12W SSB
15	27.135	4W AM / 12W SSB
16	27.155	4W AM / 12W SSB
17	27.165	4W AM / 12W SSB	Trucker east-west (regional)
18	27.175	4W AM / 12W SSB
19	27.185	4W AM / 12W SSB	Trucker north-south / highway
20	27.205	4W AM / 12W SSB
21	27.215	4W AM / 12W SSB
22	27.225	4W AM / 12W SSB
23	27.255	4W AM / 12W SSB
24	27.235	4W AM / 12W SSB
25	27.245	4W AM / 12W SSB
26	27.265	4W AM / 12W SSB
27	27.275	4W AM / 12W SSB
28	27.285	4W AM / 12W SSB
29	27.295	4W AM / 12W SSB
30	27.305	4W AM / 12W SSB
31	27.315	4W AM / 12W SSB
32	27.325	4W AM / 12W SSB
33	27.335	4W AM / 12W SSB
34	27.345	4W AM / 12W SSB
35	27.355	4W AM / 12W SSB
36	27.365	4W AM / 12W SSB	SSB calling (LSB)
37	27.375	4W AM / 12W SSB
38	27.385	4W AM / 12W SSB	SSB calling (LSB)
39	27.395	4W AM / 12W SSB
40	27.405	4W AM / 12W SSB

·Channel 9 is reserved for emergency / motorist assistance.
·Channel 19 is the de facto trucker highway channel.
·SSB allowed up to 12W PEP; AM limited to 4W carrier.

Amateur Radio · 2-meter band

VHF · 144–148 MHz

Common simplex frequencies in the 2m band. 146.520 is the national calling frequency — start there to make contact, then move to a working channel. Repeater frequencies are coordinated regionally; check a repeater directory for your area.

License: FCC amateur license required (Technician class minimum to transmit).

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
—	146.520	—	National 2m simplex calling frequency
—	146.460	—
—	146.490	—
—	146.550	—
—	146.580	—
—	147.420	—
—	147.450	—
—	147.480	—
—	147.510	—
—	147.540	—
—	147.570	—

Amateur Radio · 70-centimeter band

UHF · 420–450 MHz

Common simplex frequencies in the 70cm band. 446.000 is the national calling frequency. UHF tends to outperform 2m in built-up or rocky terrain due to shorter wavelength reflections.

License: FCC amateur license required (Technician class minimum to transmit).

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
—	446.000	—	National 70cm simplex calling frequency
—	446.025	—
—	446.050	—
—	446.075	—
—	446.100	—
—	446.125	—
—	446.150	—
—	446.175	—

Marine VHF

VHF · 156–157 MHz

Useful in coastal, lake, or river crossings. Ch. 16 is monitored by the Coast Guard for distress and is the international hailing frequency.

License: License-free for recreational use in US territorial waters; ship station license required for international voyages.

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
16	156.800	25W	International distress, safety & calling
9	156.450	25W	Boater calling (alt to 16)
13	156.650	1W	Bridge-to-bridge navigation safety
22A	157.100	25W	USCG liaison & maritime safety info
70	156.525	—	Digital Selective Calling (DSC) — data only

NOAA Weather Radio

VHF · 162 MHz (receive-only)

NOAA broadcasts continuous weather information from over a thousand transmitters across the US. Most modern handheld radios include WX channels; a different one will be active depending on which transmitter is closest.

License: Receive-only — no license required.

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power
WX1	162.550	—
WX2	162.400	—
WX3	162.475	—
WX4	162.425	—
WX5	162.450	—
WX6	162.500	—
WX7	162.525	—

National emergency reference

Mixed

Reference frequencies monitored by aviation, maritime, and rescue services. Use only in actual emergencies if you don't hold the relevant license.

License: Transmit only with proper license / under genuine emergency.

Ch.	Frequency (MHz)	Power	Notes
—	121.500	—	International aviation emergency ("Guard")
—	243.000	—	Military aviation emergency
—	156.800	—	Marine VHF distress (Ch. 16)
—	406.000	—	PLB / EPIRB beacons (transmit only — for context)