Guide to Business Band Frequencies: Color Dots, MURS, GMRS/FRS, Itinerant & More
Daniel E Conderman 
Staying in touch over short distances doesn’t always require a ham license. Between MURS, FRS, GMRS, “color dot” business channels, itinerant allocations, and retail star channels, there’s a wide swath of spectrum available for local communication. The key is knowing which frequencies are license-free, which require an FCC Part 90 business license, and which fall under GMRS rules.
This guide lays out the most common bands and frequencies in clear tables, along with practical notes for real-world use.
1. MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) — License Free
- Band: VHF (151–154 MHz)
- Power: 2 W max
- License: None required
- Restrictions: No repeaters, no digital modes, fixed antenna only
| Channel | Frequency (MHz) | Nickname | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MURS 1 | 151.820 | – | Good rural simplex |
| MURS 2 | 151.880 | – | Small businesses |
| MURS 3 | 151.940 | – | Community events |
| MURS 4 | 154.570 | Blue Dot | Retail use (e.g., Walmart) |
| MURS 5 | 154.600 | Green Dot | Store communications |
2. FRS (Family Radio Service) — License Free (with certified radios)
- Band: UHF (462–467 MHz)
- Power: 0.5–2 W depending on channel
- License: None, but radios must be FCC-certified FRS
- Notes: Shared with GMRS
| Ch | Frequency (MHz) | Power Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 462.5625 | 2 W | “Bubble pack” radios default |
| 2 | 462.5875 | 2 W | |
| 3 | 462.6125 | 2 W | |
| 4 | 462.6375 | 2 W | |
| 5 | 462.6625 | 2 W | |
| 6 | 462.6875 | 2 W | |
| 7 | 462.7125 | 2 W | |
| 8 | 467.5625 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 9 | 467.5875 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 10 | 467.6125 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 11 | 467.6375 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 12 | 467.6625 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 13 | 467.6875 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 14 | 467.7125 | 0.5 W | Narrowband |
| 15 | 462.5500 | 2 W | GMRS overlap |
| 16 | 462.5750 | 2 W | White Dot |
| 17 | 462.6000 | 2 W | GMRS overlap |
| 18 | 462.6250 | 2 W | Black Dot |
| 19 | 462.6500 | 2 W | GMRS overlap |
| 20 | 462.6750 | 2 W | Orange Dot |
| 21 | 462.7000 | 2 W | GMRS overlap |
| 22 | 462.7250 | 2 W | Busy in metro areas |
3. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) — License Required
- Band: UHF (462–467 MHz)
- Power: Up to 50 W
- License: Personal FCC license required (covers family)
- Special: Access to repeater inputs/outputs on 467/462 MHz pairs
GMRS Repeater Inputs (467 MHz):
- 467.550, 467.575, 467.600, 467.625, 467.650, 467.675, 467.700, 467.725 MHz
GMRS Repeater Outputs (462 MHz):
- 462.550, 462.575, 462.600, 462.625, 462.650, 462.675, 462.700, 462.725 MHz
Note: These correspond to FRS ch 15–22 frequencies, but GMRS users can run higher power and link repeaters.
4. Business “Color Dot” Frequencies
Originally used with stickered radios so workers didn’t have to remember MHz numbers. Some migrated into MURS, others still require Part 90 business licenses.
| Name | Frequency (MHz) | Band | License | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Dot | 151.625 | VHF | Part 90 | Construction |
| Purple Dot | 151.955 | VHF | Part 90 | Event crews |
| Blue Dot | 154.570 | VHF | None (MURS 4) | Retail, Walmart |
| Green Dot | 154.600 | VHF | None (MURS 5) | Store use |
| White Dot | 462.575 | UHF | GMRS (FRS ch 16 ≤2 W) | Common “Dot” reference |
| Black Dot | 462.625 | UHF | GMRS (FRS ch 18 ≤2 W) | Popular |
| Orange Dot | 462.675 | UHF | GMRS (FRS ch 20 ≤2 W) | Often tied to emergencies |
| Brown Dot | 464.500 | UHF | Part 90 | Up to 35 W |
| Yellow Dot | 464.550 | UHF | Part 90 | Up to 35 W |
5. Letter & Star Channels (UHF Itinerant)
Used in retail chains and “bubble-pack” business radios. Require a Part 90 license.
| Nickname | Frequency (MHz) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| J Dot | 467.7625 | 2 W limit |
| K Dot | 467.8125 | 2 W limit |
| Silver Star | 467.8500 | Nationwide retail |
| Gold Star | 467.8750 | Large business comms |
| Red Star | 467.9000 | Mobile crews |
| Blue Star | 467.9250 | Retail chains |
6. Itinerant VHF/UHF Channels
Licensed under Part 90 for temporary “roving” use (events, fairs, construction).
VHF Itinerant
- 151.505
- 151.5125
- 151.700
- 151.760
- 158.400
- 158.4075
UHF Itinerant
- 451.800 / 456.800
- 451.8125 / 456.8125
- 469.500 (pairs with 464.500 Brown)
- 469.550 (pairs with 464.550 Yellow)
7. Quick Rules Recap
- MURS: License-free, 2 W max, VHF only
- FRS: License-free, ≤2 W, fixed antennas only
- GMRS: License required, up to 50 W, repeater access
- Part 90 Itinerant/Dot/Star: Business license required; power varies
- Retail “Star” channels: Require Part 90 license, but you’ll hear them in big-box stores nationwide
8. Practical Use & Tips
- Retail monitoring: Listen around 467.850–467.925 for store comms
- Event crews: Expect VHF dots (151–154 MHz) or UHF stars
- Family outings: Stick to FRS or MURS for legality
- GMRS clubs: Use repeaters on 462/467 pairs for long-range links
- Etiquette: These are shared channels. CTCSS/DCS tones hide chatter but don’t make conversations private
