Posted: 6/17/2009 6:47:59 AM EDT
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I got my license several months ago and still haven't been able to make a contact! I just have a Yaesu FT60-R so I know my range isn't all that great. I can usually get on and hear people talking but when I try jump in or call on the same station after they're done I get no response. What am I doing wrong? I have my automatic repeater shift on... maybe that's the problem? I'm pretty sure I was on a repeater station, though. I'm in the Salt Lake City area. Anyone know Any help would be MUCH appreciated. Until I can figure this thing out, this thing is just a useless brick!
Thanks! |
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Let's chat sometime. I'm in West Jordan. The ARS is usually correct with the repeaters in the SL Valley. I think the only one that needs a specific shift is one of the ARES repeaters. I've got my HT on in the car going to and from work. It's a Yaesu VX-7R with the rubber duck antenna so it has the same 5W output on 2m that the FT-60 has. What repeater are you trying to hit? Running across I-215 I can hit one off of Antelope Island. I talk quite a bit to a few guys that work on HAFB on my way to work. Dan/KE7IDU ETA: Check this website for CTCSS settings for Utah repeaters. |
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Quoted:
is your ctcss set properly? To the OP, If the tone is not set, the repeater will ignore you. You will hear others, but they won't hear you via the repeater. And this is not necessarily a way for repeater owners to close a repeater to other users, but sometimes for good reason. I'll give you one... a nearby repeater's antenna is on the same tower as their local Police Dept. Intermod from the PD antenna triggers the repeater... or it did. Now that it is set to use a tone, it ignores the PD signal and only responds to ham signals with the correct tone. It solved a problem for that repeater. In another nearby city there are some repeaters on the same frequencies as repeaters in another city that should be far enough away not to interfere... but if a ham is between those two cities, his signal may trigger two repeaters. By using different tones, that can be prevented. And in fact, the ham can set the same frequency in two different memory channels, but with two different tones. So Mem Ch 3 might be set for Smithville repeater, with a tone of 103.5 hz, but Mem Ch 15 might be set for Hillsboro repeater with a tone of 107.2 hz. And the ham that travels between or through those communities can hit one and not the other. (What they actually did, one city has all the repeaters in city and surrounding 'burbs set to 114.8 hz. The other city 107.2 hz) So, it is not necessarily meant to lock you out. Get a copy of the ARRL Repeater Directory, or look up your state's repeaters online. Or just ask other hams... I am sure someone will come up with a list for you... perhaps with comments, "this repeater is really good, up on a hilltop, I can hit it all the way to..." or "that repeater is only 50' up in a guy's back yard, and..." And if all you have is the rubber ducky, that may be your problem, too. I talked to a friend, with his Yaesu handitalkie of only 5 w, but hooked to the coax in his shack, leading up to the yagi on a rotor on top of his 50' tower... I was in a town 50 miles away and we had no problem talking. I thought he had some noise, but it turned out to be the A/C blowing nearby. He turned off the A/C and it was full quiet. There is a thread here about using a thin cable going from your handy to your rooftop or vehicle antenna. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=624656 |
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Quoted: Glad you got it working. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Busy week at work. When are you usually on? I've got my radio on as much as the wife will tolerate but almost always during my morning/evening commute.Thanks for the help, guys. I actually just figured it out and made my first contact today!!! It was a problem with the tones. I read up in the manual about how to enable them and presto! It worked! Thanks again for the good info, all! 73, Patrick KE7VGW Dan/KE7IDU |