People can't read my transmissions

[Thames]

I just gained access to a repeater in my area. When testing with a friend all they hear is static coming from me, but I can hear others on the repeater just fine. I'm very new to this... any suggestions?

Equipment:
BTECH GMRS-50X1
-Tuned to 462.550 with PL tone on Rx and Tx
-Mic gain is low
Antenna with 5/8 over 5/8 Wave 5.5dB Gain

 

[mmckenna]

I just gained access to a repeater in my area. When testing with a friend all they hear is static coming from me, but I can hear others on the repeater just fine. I'm very new to this... any suggestions?

Equipment:
BTECH GMRS-50X1

OK, if you can trigger the repeater, but the signal is just static, that sounds like your signal into the repeater is weak.

-Tuned to 462.550 with PL tone on Rx and Tx

Are you set for wide band FM (5KHz deviation, 25KHz channel width, whatever BTech calls it)?
What is your power level set at?

-Mic gain is low

Might be low deviation. If your radio is set to wide FM, then try increasing the mic gain a bit and see if that helps.

Antenna with 5/8 over 5/8 Wave 5.5dB Gain

Is it a UHF antenna designed for 462-467MHz?
Where is it mounted?
How is is mounted?
How high is it mounted?
Does it have a ground plane?
Did you check SWR with a proper meter?
What kind of coaxial cable and how long is it?
Are you confident all the connectors are properly installed?

 

[chief21]

Equipment:
BTECH GMRS-50X1
-Tuned to 462.550 with PL tone on Rx and Tx
-Mic gain is low
Antenna with 5/8 over 5/8 Wave 5.5dB Gain

Just to confirm... is that channel actually configured for repeater operation? Meaning RX on 462.550 and TX on 467.550. If you're transmitting and receiving on 462.550 only (as you suggest above), you can't be going through the repeater.

 

[Thames]

Are you set for wide band FM (5KHz deviation, 25KHz channel width, whatever BTech calls it)?
What is your power level set at?



Might be low deviation. If your radio is set to wide FM, then try increasing the mic gain a bit and see if that helps.



Is it a UHF antenna designed for 462-467MHz?
Where is it mounted?
How is is mounted?
How high is it mounted?
Does it have a ground plane?
Did you check SWR with a proper meter?
What kind of coaxial cable and how long is it?
Are you confident all the connectors are properly installed?

I am set at Wide/25KHz under Bandwidth setting.

I adjusted Mic gain (range 0-127) from 10 to 15, no luck.

It is a UHF antenna designed and factory tuned for GMRS freqs. It's mounded using a under eaves pole that wrap out around my gutter. It's about 5' above my roof which is about 30' from ground level. I did not ground it yet using any ground rod (i plan to but haven't had the ability yet). I do not have a SWR meter yet either, wasn't sure what one to buy. It's a 50' rg8x coax (bought off amazon). Connectors are solid.

 

[Thames]

Just to confirm... is that channel actually configured for repeater operation? Meaning RX on 462.550 and TX on 467.550. If you're transmitting and receiving on 462.550 only (as you suggest above), you can't be going through the repeater.

I am connected to a programmed repeater channel using 550. I only specified a CTCSS tone for the repeater after selecting the channel.

 

[KE5MC]

...snip...

I adjusted Mic gain (range 0-127) from 10 to 15, no luck.

...snip...

I have no experience with your radio, but from a general perspective given the range of 0-127 you setting is very low unless the mic is very hot. With the symptom of only hearing static from you, up the gain. I would start a 50.
Good Luck,
Mike

 

[IAmSixNine]

Mic gain would have nothing to do with static into the repeater.
Mic gain would have to do with the audio volume in the signal. In this case his signal is weak into the repeater. If he is going into a repeater. It was asked previously if he was going direct or with an offset.
"I am connected to a programmed repeater channel using 550. I only specified a CTCSS tone for the repeater after selecting the channel. "
That didnt answer the question. Are you using 462.550 or 467.550 when transmitting?
I dont have charts in front of me. Whats the loss on a 50 foot run of RG8x wire?
You are using a portable radio with 4 watts max rf output through 50 feet of wire.

 

[KE5MC]

We will have to agree to disagree based on the facts given.
I don't know what "static" means other that his voice is not heard. They could have said we hear you bring up the repeater, but all we hear is static. They didn't so I inclined to fill in the blanks especially with a gain of 15 out of 128, which is on the very low end unless the mic is hot. I agree other questions asked have not been well answered.

 

[nd5y]

Another possibility is that there is nothing wrong with the OP's station but the repeater is a POS.

 

[IAmSixNine]

Or the people or persons receiving the transmission were aways out and getting static to..
Lots of variables.
KE5MC i was not disagreeing with your assessment of his mic gains being low - was merely pointing out loc mic gain would not cause static. Thats more indicative of being to far away from repeater, bad power out put or bad antenna. If he was full signal into the repeater then we can address the low audio possibilities.

 

[KE5MC]

New setups always has possibility of multiple points of failure. I picked up on the piece of information that seemed out of place. One man's static is another man's tinnitus. That's a personal observation and my tinnitus is behaving itself today.

 

[Thames]

Mic gain would have nothing to do with static into the repeater.
Mic gain would have to do with the audio volume in the signal. In this case his signal is weak into the repeater. If he is going into a repeater. It was asked previously if he was going direct or with an offset.
"I am connected to a programmed repeater channel using 550. I only specified a CTCSS tone for the repeater after selecting the channel. "
That didnt answer the question. Are you using 462.550 or 467.550 when transmitting?
I dont have charts in front of me. Whats the loss on a 50 foot run of RG8x wire?
You are using a portable radio with 4 watts max rf output through 50 feet of wire.

Sorry to clarify, the channel is set correctly with the correct offset for the repeater. The radio I have is the BTECH mentioned above which is 50w on high power setting and the pre-programmed channel is set with the standard repeater frequencies (using standard offset for .550). Also, I was transmitting on high power at the time.

I'm not familiar with the loss in that cable... from reviews on the cable I see reported 1.25 dB loss.

 

[Thames]

We will have to agree to disagree based on the facts given.
I don't know what "static" means other that his voice is not heard. They could have said we hear you bring up the repeater, but all we hear is static. They didn't so I inclined to fill in the blanks especially with a gain of 15 out of 128, which is on the very low end unless the mic is hot. I agree other questions asked have not been well answered.

I was getting clear response back in my attempt stating they could not read me. This suggested I was properly communicating with the repeater but the quality was not good...

Sorry for all the newbie responses... learning as I go. First time playing with radios was 2 weeks ago.

 

[Thames]

Another possibility is that there is nothing wrong with the OP's station but the repeater is a POS.

It's possible but I hear good traffic over it often. I'm suspecting it may be my location to the repeater as well. I do not have line of sight, it's having to travel over some hills but I was hoping my 50w radio would be able to do it...

 

[Thames]

New setups always has possibility of multiple points of failure. I picked up on the piece of information that seemed out of place. One man's static is another man's tinnitus. That's a personal observation and my tinnitus is behaving itself today.

I had multiple people hearing and reporting the "static"

 

[KE5MC]

Always good to have an Elmer at your side. Remote "Elmering" is always a challenge. Reasonable cable run and loss with 50w should get it done. Especially as you can hear the repeater. Any chance of locating a inline watt meter to see if your are really outputting 50w? Alternate test is if your power supply has an ammeter. Key down should show at around 10 amps. At least a big jump from 1-2 amps on receive up on key down.

 

[Thames]

Always good to have an Elmer at your side. Remote "Elmering" is always a challenge. Reasonable cable run and loss with 50w should get it done. Especially as you can hear the repeater. Any chance of locating a inline watt meter to see if your are really outputting 50w?

Would love to find someone local to help be troubleshoot... I am attempting to join a local club.

I do not have a watt meter but would like to buy one and SWR meter. Just need a suggestion on a good one.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I would replace the feedline, maybe just a short length for troubleshooting.

I doubt the length is the problem, short just for convenience and keeping cost down.

 

[KE5MC]

Join the club first. Find out from them what's best and/or use theirs.

Diamond SX40C is a nice cross-needle meter. Forward power on one needle, reverse on the other and where they cross is VSWR. I had one a while back and recall at the top of the frequency range a small correction factor is needed.

 

[n1das]

It sounds like it's not a transmit power issue or an antenna issue. What needs to be determined is what freq is your radio actually transmitting on. Is it transmitting on 467.55 to get into the repeater or is it transmitting on 462.55, i.e., simplex on the repeater output? You can listen with a scanner to test what freq your radio actually transmits on when you key the mic.

It could also be there is nothing wrong on your end and in a dead spot for the repeater to hear you. The repeater could also be a POS.


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