Uniden GMRS480 Owner's Manual

Congratulations on your purchase of the Uniden GMRS480
GMRS480
(General Mobile Radio Service) radio. This product is a light-
weight, palm-sized radio. Use it at sporting events to stay in
• 8 GMRS/7 FRS Channels • 10 Memory Locations contact with family and friends, hiking, skiing, outdoors, or in
a neighborhood watch for vital communication. This compact,
• 38 CTCSS Codes • Battery Level Meter
state-of-the-art device is equipped with many features.
• Up to 5 mile range*
• Channel Monitor
• Ambient Temperature Display • Water Resistant
• 5 Selectable Call Tone Alerts • Channel Scan
Your package contains the GMRS480 radio, NiMH battery
• NiMH Battery Pack Included

• Keypad Lock

pack, AC wall charger, this reference guide, and a product
• Vibrate Alert for incoming calls
registration card. You can also operate the unit using 4 AA
alkaline batteries (not included). The following optional
• 7 NOAA Weather Radio Channels
accessories may be purchased from your participating
• LCD Display with Holographic Effect
Uniden dealer or call 1-800-554-3988 or visit us on the
• Optional Headset Accessories
web at www.uniden.com
• Earset Mic w/PTT Included
• AC Charger Included
Use of the GMRS480 (General Mobile Radio Service)
within the United States requires a FCC GMRS license.
*Range may vary depending on environmental and/or topographical conditions. An individual 18 years of age or older, is eligible for a
GMRS system license. You will need two forms from the
FCC, FCC Form 159 and FCC Form 605 Main Form and
Schedule F. You can find these forms online at:
www.fcc.gov/formpage.html or call 1-800-418-3676.
Your GMRS480 radio uses the NiMH battery pack or 4 AA
alkaline batteries. If alkaline batteries are used, we
recommend using Duracell Ultra alkaline batteries.
To install the NiMH Battery Pack:
1) Make sure your radio is off.
2) Remove the battery compartment
3) Place the pack in the compartment, paying close
1 Antenna 15 Weather Indicator
2 Monitor Button 16 Receive Indicator
3 PTT Button 17 Transmit Indicator 4) Replace the battery compartment and secure the clip
4 Up Key 18 Battery Level Meter
5 Down Key 19 Scan Indicator
5) The battery pack must be charged before using it for the
6 Menu/Select Key 20 Channel Indicator
7 Microphone 21 Vibrate Indicator
8 Speaker 22 Memory Operation Indicator
9 On/Off/Volume Control 23 Call Alert
10 Beltclip 24 Temperature Reading
11 Headset Jack 25 Lock Indicator
12 Weather/Lock Key 26 CTCSS Code
13 Call Key
14 Battery Cover
To install the alkaline batteries:
1) Make sure the radio is off.
2) Remove the battery compartment door by firmly
moving the clip away from the door allowing the
door to be removed.
3) Install 4 AA alkaline batteries (not included) into the
battery compartment. Be certain to follow the + and -
symbols in the compartment. Installing the batteries
incorrectly will prevent the unit from operating.
4) Replace the battery compartment door and secure the
clip back in place.
This unit has a battery level meter on the display to indicate
• Earset Mic w/ PTT - #HS2468
the status of the batteries. When the batteries in the unit are
low, the
• Vox Headset Mic - #HSV2469
periodically emit a tone. Replace the alkaline batteries
• NiMH Battery Pack w/AC Charger and
immediately or if you are using the NiMH battery pack, you
DC Car Charger - #BPCC80
must recharge the batteries in order to continue using
the radio.
Note: It is recommended that the radio be turned off while
charging. If the unit is turned on, the display will show a C
indicating charging.
In order to get the most out of your new radio, read this
reference guide completely before attempting to operate
the unit.
Your unit has (2) modes of operation.
1) GMRS Radio Mode
2) Weather Radio Mode
The Weather Radio Mode will be discussed later.

Turning the Radio On and Adjusting the Volume

door by firmly moving the clip away from
1) Rotate the on/off/volume control clockwise to turn the
the door allowing the door to be removed.
unit on and increase the speaker volume.
2) Rotate the on/off/volume control counterclockwise to
attention to the round alignment key. If the pack is
decrease the speaker volume and turn the unit off.
installed incorrectly, the unit will not operate and
the compartment door will not close properly.

Adjusting the Sound (Key Beeps)

Your radio emits a beep each time one of the buttons is
back in place.
pressed. To turn this sound off, press menu/select while
turning on the radio. To turn this sound on, press
first time. Insert the charger adapter into the accessory
menu/select while turning on the radio.
jack and allow 12-14 hours charging time to fully charge
the battery pack.

Navigating through the Menu

To access the advanced features of the GMRS480, your
radio has a menu function.
1) To enter the menu, press and hold the menu/select
button for 1 second.
2) Additional presses of the menu/select button will
advance through the menu until exiting to "normal"
operating mode.
3) Other methods of exiting the menu function are:
icon will flash and the unit will
a. Press and hold the menu/select button for 1 second
again.
b. Press PTT.
c. Wait 10 seconds until the unit automatically returns to
"normal" mode.

Choosing a Channel

Your radio has 15 channels and 38 CTCSS codes you can
use to talk to others. In order to speak to someone, each
of you must be set to the same channel and CTCSS code.
To choose a channel:
Press the or button to increase or decrease the
channel number displayed.

Choosing a CTCSS Code

Each of the GMRS/FRS channels 1-15 may have any one
of the codes 0-38 selected. Code "0" indicates no CTCSS
code selected and your radio can receive a signal
regardless of the code settings of the transmitting radio.
1) Enter the menu. Advance through the menu, the
CTCSS code on the LCD display will flash.
2) Press the or button to increase or decrease the
code number displayed.
3) Exit the menu to return to "normal" mode.

Talking on Your Radio

To talk to others using the radio:
1) Press and hold the PTT button and speak in a clear,
normal voice about 2-3 inches away from the
microphone. While you are transmitting, the
icon will appear on the display. To avoid cutting off
the first part of your transmission, pause slightly
after pressing the PTT button before you
start talking.
2) When you are finished speaking, release the PTT
button. You can now receive incoming calls. While
receiving, the icon will appear on the display.
Transmitting a Call Alert Tone Using the Memory Feature
Your GMRS480 radio is equipped with 5 selectable The Memory Feature allows you to store up to 10 frequently
call tones that will be transmitted when the call used channels. Each channel can have a unique CTCSS code
button is pressed. assigned to it. When the Memory feature is turned on, the
menu is automatically expanded to enable memory program-
To select a call tone:
ming [refer to the User Programming Menu].
1) Enter the menu. Advance through the menu
To select the Memory Feature:
until the CALL icon on the display is shown. The
current call tone number (1-5) will be indicated. 1) Enter the menu. Advance through the menu until the
SAVED icon on the display is shown. You will see
2) Press the or button to increase or
on or of blinking indicating the memory feature status.
decrease the number to the desired call tone.
Each tone will be heard through the speaker. 2) Press either the or
on or of.
3) Exit the menu.
3) If on is selected, press menu/select to advance to the
To transmit the selected call alert tone, momentarily
Memory Programming menu.
press the call button. The selected tone will automat-
ically be transmitted for a fixed length of time.
4) The current memory location 1-10 will be flashing on
the display. Press the
the locations. When you pass location 10 an E will flash
Vibrate Alert for Incoming Calls
indicating that you can press menu/select to exit the menu.
Your GMRS480 radio is equipped with a vibrator
5) Press menu/select to advance to the channel selection.
that can be used for notification of an incoming call
The channel saved in the selected location will be
alert from other Uniden radios equipped with the
flashing on the display.
same feature.
6) Press the or button to chose the desired channel
for memory. To erase a location, simply choose "0" for
To select the vibrate alert:
the channel.
1) Enter the menu. Advance through the menu, the
7) Press menu/select to advance to the CTCSS selection.
icon will appear on the display along with on
or of indicating the vibrate alert feature status. The current CTCSS assigned to the channel will be
flashing on the display.
2) Press either the or button to toggle
between on or of. 8) Press the or button to choose the desired
CTCSS code.
3) Exit the menu.
9) Press menu/select to program another memory location

Channel Scan Feature

or press and hold the menu/select button to exit the
menu. If no key is pressed after 10 seconds, the radio will
Your GMRS480 radio has a channel Scan feature
return to normal mode.
that allows you to easily scan all 15 channels. When
an active channel is detected, the unit will pause on
When the Memory feature is on, only those stored channels
that channel until the channel is clear. Then after a
will be available after exiting the menu. You can now select any
4 second delay, the unit will continue scanning.
of the memory channels to be used by the radio by pressing
Pressing PTT while the scan is paused on a channel
the and button. In addition, entering the scan mode will
will allow you to transmit on that channel.
scan only the memory channels. The memory will remain in
use until you enter the menu and turn the Memory feature off.
To turn on channel scanning:
Press and hold either the or button until the Keypad Lock
icon appears on the display. The channel
To lock the keypad, press and hold the WX/lock button until
number on the display will rapidly cycle through the
the icon is displayed. To remove the keypad lock, press and
channels.
hold the WX/lock button until the icon disappears.
To turn off channel scanning:
Ambient Temperature Display
Press and release the or button.
Your radio will periodically display the ambient temperature
either in degrees F° or degrees C°.
To change this setting:
1) Enter the menu. Advance through the menu until the
icon appears on the display. The letters F or C will be
blinking indicating the selection.
button to toggle between
or button to scroll through