Why won’t your GMRS or Ham radio work in an emergency? Because unless it’s properly programmed, you won’t be able to talk to anyone with significant range — even if you hear them perfectly. In this video, I break down exactly why scan mode is NOT enough and why unprogrammed radios will fail you when it matters most. Whether you’re using a Baofeng, UV-5R, GMRS handheld, or any VHF/UHF radio… if you can’t hit local repeaters, you can’t communicate. #hamradio #gmrs #baofeng I’ll explain: - How repeaters actually work - Why two frequencies (uplink/downlink) matter - What a “tone” is and why it’s the key - Why your radio won’t transmit back when scanning - When simplex does work — and why it’s limited - How to program your radio for real emergency use If you’ve ever wondered why scanning isn’t enough, or why your radio feels “dead” during emergencies, this breaks it down in simple, beginner-friendly terms. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Why your radio won’t work out of the box 0:28 – The scanning myth (and why it fails) 0:50 – What repeaters are and how they work 1:20 – Why repeaters require programming 2:22 – Why you can hear but can’t talk back 2:55 – Simplex mode: when it can work 3:27 – Why simplex is limited during emergencies 3:55 – What happens if you never program your radio 4:22 – Final thoughts ? Need Help Programming Your Radio? I offer a service where I pre-program radios with repeaters custom for your area, pre-programmed and ready to go in the event of an emergency: https://citizensurvivalplan.com/discount/HOLIDAY15?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Femergency-radios https://citizensurvivalplan.com/products/baofeng-k5plus-pre-programmed-radio https://citizensurvivalplan.com/products/baofeng-uv25-pre-programmed-radios https://citizensurvivalplan.com/products/btech-uv-50x2-mobile-radio-custom-programmed https://citizensurvivalplan.com/products/custom-radio-programming-chirp-file ? Use Code HOLIDAY15 for 15% off all pre-programmed radios now through 12/31/25. ▶️ Related Videos How Radio Repeaters Work & How to Connect to One https://youtu.be/XFvJcJD4-Is Radio Bands Explained https://youtu.be/3rz10lRc-HQ Every GMRS Radio Setting Explained https://youtu.be/y7zEixMDTTI Radio Rules the FCC Doesn't Really Care About & Why https://youtu.be/vCtU_PM9_wE Find and Program Repeaters & Emergency Services Into Your Radio with CHIRP https://youtu.be/-Tkk6fJaczM How Far Can GMRS Radios Go? https://youtu.be/0Blvvj0G9iY Radio Basics for Preppers https://youtu.be/SLyZy5OuirM ? Like this content? Subscribe to our channel for more radio content and practical prepping tips: https://youtube.com/@citizensurvivalplan?si=YLjUzgiD48Qv1Z-y