Introduction to Radio Communications with Focus on GMRS

Why spend a thousand hours on Youtube when you can just learn how to use your radio all in one day?

Develop critical radio communication skills that might save your life someday in this hands-on course. You’ll learn from passionate instructors who will help you build a deep understanding of how to use your new radio skills for family outings, neighborhood, business, emergency communications (EmComm), or even to augment or replace cell phones.

Course Benefits:

• Hands-on activities to build radio muscle memory
• Get customized ideas on how to install a mobile radio in your vehicle or home base station.
• Walk away with a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ID and a pending General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license and callsign good for 10 years ($35 FCC fee).
• Opportunity to become an Amateur (Ham) radio operator at your leisure
• Radio etiquette on-air (How not to make a fool of yourself talking on repeaters)
• Learn how to use the equipment you already have, and get recommendations on buying the right equipment for your situation.
• Find and program into your radio all the channel frequencies in your area.

Topics you will learn:

• How to choose the best radio and frequency band for your situation
• How to program your radios
• How to scan and listen to people talking on any frequency
• On-air etiquette (How to avoid making a fool of yourself)
• Find and communicate through local repeaters
• Synch various brands of radios
• Keep your family or group in contact wherever you go without cell phones
• Antenna theory and mounting options
• Battery packs
• Battery saving and charging tips
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations
• Decode acronyms and other radio jargon
• Radio Direction Finding (RDF) or triangulation

What to bring:

• Mac or PC laptop or tablet (so you can create your own FCC account). Please arrive with fully charged equipment—we may not have enough wall sockets available
• Any radios and/or antenna you may already own (old or new)
• Any radio chargers you may own
• Any radio programming cables you may own
• Any radio programming software you may own