You can control the transmitting power of the radio. Low (1 W) is used for local transmissions, and high (25 W) is used for distance and distress transmissions.

When two signals broadcast on the same frequency, a VHF radio receives only the stronger of the two signals. You should transmit calls other than distress calls using the lowest power setting that allows you to communicate, to reduce the possibility that your transmissions interfere with the transmissions of others.

In the USA channel band, transmissions on channels 13, 17, 67, and 77 must be low (1 W) by default.

In the Canadian channel band, transmissions on channels 13, 15, 17, 20, 1066, 67, 75, 76, and 77 must be low (1 W) by default.

In the International channel band, transmissions on channels 15, 17, 75, and 76 must be low (1 W).