I dug out the owners manual. Apparently it is a GMRS-only radio, having a removeable antenna and channels 1-7, A, B, C, and S. "S" is "scan" and "C" is listed as the emergency channel (462.675 MHz). I am not really looking to get into ham radio, at least at this time. Right now I am just looking for something capable of signaling a low flying search plane or helicopter, and it would only be used for emergencies.