landscape · 2 pages · US Letter or A4 · prints fine in black and white
PACE comms card (filled example)
A comms plan for your household or group: four ways to reach each other, in order, with the exact frequency, tone, check-in windows and the trigger to move to the next level. Page 2 holds the channel plan, brevity words, rally points and roster.
- Write the plan with your group, then give everyone the same card.
- Program every radio from the channel plan in the same memory order, and test each channel before you need it.
- Pick check-in windows people will actually keep, and say exactly what triggers moving down a level.
- Practice once a month: check in on Primary, then walk the plan down to Emergency.
- GMRS needs an FCC license (no exam; it covers your immediate family). Ham needs a license for each operator who transmits. MURS is license-free at 2 W.
Everything on the example is made up: serials, names, phone numbers and lots are placeholders.
War Box
PACE comms card
Group / planMaple Hollow neighbors (example)
Effective2026-11-01 0600
Review by2027-02-01
TimesLocal time, 24 h
Net controlBASE (home station)
Check-in format (same order every time)Call sign · Location · Status (GREEN / AMBER / RED) · Needs · Next check-in
PACE plan work down the levels in order; everyone carries the same card
| Level | Method and device | Frequency / channel | Mode | CTCSS tone | Call signs and ID | Check-in windows | Move to next level when |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPrimary | GMRS: HG-5 HTs (5 W) + BASE MG-50 (50 W, mast antenna) | GMRS ch 17 462.6000 MHz simplex | FM | 103.5 Hz TX + RX | BASE, MOBILE 1, MOBILE 2 ID: GMRS call WRXX000 (sample), every 15 min + at end | Daily 0700 / 1200 / 1900, :00-:05 During an event: every hour, :00-:05 | 2 missed check-ins in a row, or ch 17 unusable for 10 min |
AAlternate | MURS: HM-2 HTs (2 W). License-free, so unlicensed members can join | MURS ch 3 151.9400 MHz simplex | NFM (11.25 kHz) | 100.0 Hz TX + RX | Same tactical calls No FCC call sign needed | :10-:15 after a missed Primary window | No answer by :15, or MURS unusable |
CContingency | 2 m ham: MOBILE 1 AM-250 (50 W), BASE AD-25 HT (5 W). Licensed operators only | Call 146.5200, then QSY to 146.5500 simplex | FM | None | Tactical call + FCC call (N0CALL placeholder) ID every 10 min + at end | :20-:30 after a missed Alternate window | No contact by the next scheduled window, or all radios down |
EEmergency | In person: go to the rally point, leave a written note | Rally point ALPHA, then BRAVO | — | — | — | ALPHA: hold 30 min BRAVO: 0800 + 1600 daily, hold 60 min | Last level. If ALPHA is unsafe, go straight to BRAVO |
Radios, antennas and power every radio on the plan, with what it runs on
| Station | Radio (make, model) | Power out | Antenna and feedline | Battery / supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASE | Varlund MG-50 GMRS mobile (example), run as base | 50 W max; 15 W on the local net | 6 dBi fiberglass vertical (462-467 MHz) on a mast, top ~25 ft AGL. 50 ft LMR-400 (~1.4 dB loss), arrestor at entry | 13.8 V 30 A supply, 100 Ah LiFePO4 floated behind it, takes over in an outage |
| BASE | Aldermoor AD-25 2 m / 70 cm HT (example) | 5 W high / 1 W low | 15.6 in dual-band whip. Backup: roll-up 2 m J-pole hung high | 1,800 mAh Li-ion pack + 6× AA battery shell |
| MOBILE 1 | Aldermoor AM-250 2 m mobile (example) | 50 W high / 10 W low | 5/8-wave 2 m mag-mount (~48 in, ~3 dB), roof center, 17 ft RG-58 | Truck 12 V, fused leads straight to the battery |
| BASE, MOBILE 1, MOBILE 2 | Varlund HG-5 5 W GMRS HT (example), 3 units | 5 W high / 1 W low | 15 in whip. Stock stubby as backup | 2,000 mAh Li-ion pack + AA battery shell |
| BASE, MOBILE 1, MOBILE 2 | Varlund HM-2 2 W MURS HT (example), 3 units | 2 W (MURS max) | 19 in VHF whip (151-154 MHz). Stock antenna as backup | 1,500 mAh Li-ion pack + AA battery shell |
| Spares and charging | 24× AA lithium for the shells (rotate yearly) · spare Li-ion pack per HT · USB-C and 12 V chargers for every HT · 100 W folding panel + 10 A controller tops up the base LiFePO4 (~5 A in full sun) · 500 Wh power station runs the HT chargers | |||
Before you need it
Every radio programmed from the channel plan (page 2) and tested on every channel
Batteries charged, spares packed, and a way to charge them without grid power
Everyone in the group has this card and knows the check-in windows
Run the plan once a month: check in on Primary, then walk it down to Emergency
Licenses current: GMRS for the family, ham for each operator who transmits
Licensing
GMRS needs an FCC license (no exam; it covers your immediate family). Ham frequencies need an FCC amateur license (Technician or higher) for anyone who transmits. MURS is license-free on certified radios, 2 W max. GMRS power depends on the channel: up to 50 W on main channels 15-22 (ch 17 included) and repeaters, 5 W ERP on 1-7, 0.5 W on 8-14. Anyone can listen. GMRS and ham rules ban codes meant to hide a message’s meaning, so keep brevity words plain and shared.
War Box
PACE comms card
Radio and channel plan program these memories into every radio in the same order
| Mem | Name | RX MHz | TX MHz | Duplex | CTCSS TX / RX | Mode | Power | Service | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GMRS17 | 462.6000 | 462.6000 | Simplex | 103.5 / 103.5 | FM | High | GMRS | Primary net |
| 2 | GMRS19R | 462.6500 | 467.6500 | +5.000 | 131.8 / 131.8 | FM | High | GMRS | Area repeater (example; use its published tone) |
| 3 | GMRS20 | 462.6750 | 462.6750 | Simplex | 141.3 / 141.3 | FM | High | GMRS | Monitor: traditional travelers' / emergency channel |
| 4 | MURS3 | 151.9400 | 151.9400 | Simplex | 100.0 / 100.0 | NFM | 2 W | MURS | Alternate net |
| 5 | MURS1 | 151.8200 | 151.8200 | Simplex | None | NFM | 2 W | MURS | Spare |
| 6 | 2M CALL | 146.5200 | 146.5200 | Simplex | None | FM | High | Ham | National 2 m simplex calling. Call, then move |
| 7 | 2M WORK | 146.5500 | 146.5500 | Simplex | None | FM | High | Ham | Contingency working freq (check your area band plan) |
| 8 | 70CM CL | 446.0000 | 446.0000 | Simplex | None | FM | High | Ham | National 70 cm simplex calling |
| 9 | WX1 | 162.5500 | — | RX only | — | FM | — | NOAA | Weather radio, receive only |
Brevity words plain shorthand, not codes
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| STATUS GREEN | All safe. No needs |
| STATUS AMBER | Safe, but need help or supplies. Not urgent |
| STATUS RED | Emergency. Need help now. Give location next |
| GO ALTERNATE | Switch to the next PACE level now |
| RALLY ALPHA / BRAVO | Move to that rally point |
| WAIT ONE | Stand by, I'll come back to you |
| SAY AGAIN | Repeat your last message |
| WILCO | Understood, will comply |
| LIMA CHARLIE | Loud and clear |
| OUT | Done talking. No reply needed |
Rally points
| RP | Where | Route in | Hold / windows | Sign left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALPHA | Home: north fence gate (example) | — | Hold 30 min, then BRAVO | Note in the mailbox |
| BRAVO | Community center lot, Oak Ln (example) | Oak Ln. Alt: creek trail | 0800 + 1600 daily, hold 60 min | Orange tape on lot sign = been here, gone to CHARLIE |
| CHARLIE | Out of area: relative's house, ~40 mi west (example) | Highway west. Alt: state route | Arrive and stay. Check in when any comms work | — |
Roster
| Call sign | Who | Radios | License / FCC call | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASE | Household A (example) | GMRS base, ham HT, go-bag HTs | GMRS WRXX000 · Ham N0CALL | 555-0100 |
| MOBILE 1 | Household A, truck | 2 m mobile, GMRS HT, MURS HT | GMRS WRXX000 · Ham N0CALL (2nd op) | 555-0101 |
| MOBILE 2 | Household B (example) | GMRS HT, MURS HT | GMRS WRXX001 | 555-0102 |