GMRS transmission problem

[paul3callahan]

Hi, I’m Paul from Cincinnati.
I am new to GMRS, I got my license last February, been tinkering with handheld GMRS radios playing with them with my grandson.
I guess I fell down the rabbit hole. I bought 2 mobile
RADIODDITY DB40-G radios, one for a base station and one for my truck. I have all my radios cloned with one another. I have no trouble receiving or transmitting with my radios. This week I’ve been exploring out. I am receiving good clear transmissions from all around me, people that are 30 miles away. I get on, I give my call sign and ask for a radio check and I get no response from anyone I hear on that frequency. The school next to me is using radios that are on the same frequency and they are not receiving my transmission. I’m on here asking what am I doing wrong. Suggestions on fixing my issue.

 

[prcguy]

GMRS radios have at least 42 CTCSS (PL) tones and over 100 DCS (DPL) codes so users don’t have to hear people outside their group. A school will most certainly be using one of these codes so they don’t have to hear you. Some radios have a tone search mode so you still might be able to find the code and annoy the school.

Did you hear the school on a GMRS frequency or an FRS frequency? FRS is license free and ok for school use but a school would not be eligible for a GMRS license.

 

[hazrat8990]

You need to learn about CTCSS & DCS. The other stations are probably using one, so you are not opening the squelch on their radio.

 

[paul3callahan]

I hear all traffic on 462.72500 and 467.72500
Channels 22 and 30 on my radios.
My Baofeng has the search option which brings up none on the CTCSS pl tones on 462.72500, and I believe the 467.72500 is a repeater because it will show 136.5 pl tone.
So I was able to set an open channel to match the 462.72500 with no pl and TRX to 467.72500 136.5 pl
With that all my radios communicate with each other. But still not going outside my 1.5 acre lot.
I am wondering if I need a better antenna. But I would think my handhelds would transmit farther

 

[paul3callahan]

You need to learn about CTCSS & DCS. The other stations are probably using one, so you are not opening the squelch on their radio.

I have been reading up on CTCSS & DCS. I’ve even went as far as watched several YouTube videos on the subject. I do believe there’s something simple I’m missing. Just haven’t quite found it yet.
Thank you

 

[Hans13]

There are at least two 725 repeaters that I know of. One has a massive footprint. Which one are you trying to access; the SW group pay repeater or the free and much better one? The SW one is notorious for having nothing but crickets on it whilst the other one is pretty active. It's possible you are hearing the free 725 and transmitting on the pay 725... so, you naturally wouldn't get a response.

When I get a chance, I will check on my mobile radio and see what the free repeater PL tone is.

 

[wtp]

and it could be that they don't answer anyond they don't know.
walmart told their folks to do that when they used MURS.
467 input
462 output

 

[Hans13]

and it could be that they don't answer anyond they don't know.
walmart told their folks to do that when they used MURS.
467 input
462 output

No, they are all my friends and we have a gentleman's rule to answer all unanswered calls that we hear on that repeater. They would never not answer because they don't know you since they were most all strangers to one another before they met on that repeater or other repeaters. We aren't Walmart and we don't ignore people calling. We will, however, ignore intentional interference... we generally won't feed the trolls.

 

[wtp]

no problem Hans

 

[Hans13]

I was in a hurry and didn't notice that wasn't OP.... So, I broke the message up into two parts.

OP,

I checked my mobile and the tone for the free 725 in Cincinnati is 123.0 Hz.

It might be that you were calling out on the pay repeater (IDK what their PL is and don't care to know) but hearing traffic on the free repeater. If that is the case, they likely could not hear you as their squelch tones are set on a lot of their radios. You might also be catching a snippet of conversation when your squelch is open from the other repeater before it drops.

 

[Hans13]

no problem Hans

 

[paul3callahan]

I heard a few guys talking about a meet and greet at Winton Woods. I’m going to try and get on again today and see when that meet and greet is. The 462.725 repeater is an open repeater I found, and there are 3 repeaters it looks like. I will play around with them today.
Thanks all for your input. I will let you know what the outcome is.

 

[Hans13]

I heard a few guys talking about a meet and greet at Winton Woods. I’m going to try and get on again today and see when that meet and greet is. The 462.725 repeater is an open repeater I found, and there are 3 repeaters it looks like. I will play around with them today.
Thanks all for your input. I will let you know what the outcome is.

WRAR689 is Wayne's repeater in Anderson. It is a free repeater.
WPTU754 is Joel's repeater (I guess in Wyoming on the water tower?) and is a pay only group repeater.
WSCP709 is Eric's repeater in White Oak. It s a free repeater with a massive footprint.

There is another 725 repeater in the area with a smaller foot print. You can sometime hear it come in on the squelch tail of Eric's repeater. It is part of that group and is pay only. Since you posted that you were using a 136.5 tone, I presume that was the one you were transmitting on.

Open up your squelch to carrier only and use 123.0 Hz on transmit and then you can reach Kevin (WRQL434) and the group. Kevin is the one spearheading the get-together at Winton Woods. He organized it last year.

Edited for additional: There are more than just 2 free repeaters in the area but nothing matches the footprint and traffic of the free 725. When you make contact, ask the group about the other free repeaters. You could also get on Wayne's (WRAR689) 600 repeater or call for him on the 725 and ask him.

 

[paul3callahan]

I programmed the 3 repeaters in this morning and was able to get a contact back on 762.725.

 

[MaineGuy]

GMRS repeaters use 'regular' output channels - you will hear them fine, but you won't be able to have a conversation with them because you aren't transmitting on the input channel.

FRS/GMRS combined channel chart - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

All perfectly good and legal - maybe a bit inconsiderate at worst.

You will need to set up your radios for the repeaters you want to use.

It can be a bit confusing - you can use channel 22 as a 'regular' / simplex channel, or set it up for a repeater that outputs on channel 22. Your radio will transmit on a different frequency - 467.7250 for channel 22 for example.

I have set up a memory bank on my radio that only has non repeater use simplex channels labeled just as 'Channel 15' for instance, and 'Blinn Hill Dresden 16' for channel16, because it is used by a nearby repeater. The Blinn Hill channel is set up for repeater use - transmitting on the proper input frequency, and receiving ( listening ) on channel 16. I also set up the CTSS ( squelch tones ) here - 179.9



I set up a channel not used by my local repeaters as simplex - same frequency for transmit and receive.
No CTSS tones here - you could if you wanted though:



Good luck!

 

[MaineGuy]

FYI - For even more fun - and / or confusion:

Most of the repeaters here are linked. All the linked repeaters will transmit you no matter what repeater you are using to input.

Everyone here in central Maine, southern Maine, and parts of New Hampshire can talk to each other.

I usually have my radio on scan mode, so I have to look to see what channel I heard something on. I will change my channel / repeater I use as I travel depending on which one I can reach best.

 

[Hans13]

I programmed the 3 repeaters in this morning and was able to get a contact back on 762.725.

Awesome.

However, if you are not a paid member of the SW group, you should not be transmitting on the WPU754 repeater. AFAIK, his repeater is for members of the group only, except for their weekly net.

 

[paul3callahan]

I will find out more details but it says it’s an open repeater.

 

[KK4JUG]

GMRS repeaters use 'regular' output channels - you will hear them fine, but you won't be able to have a conversation with them because you aren't transmitting on the input channel.

All perfectly good and legal - maybe a bit inconsiderate at worst.

You will need to set up your radios for the repeaters you want to use.

It's not inconsiderate at all. Most people who have GMRS licenses use their radios for the reason the FCC created the service: family communications. I have 4 radios that I haven't turned on in 2 or 3 months. I didn't buy them to talk to you. I bought them to talk to family at family functions. I'll be using them in June at a family reunion. If one wants to use a radio to make new friends, I suggest getting into CB or getting an amateur radio license.

 

[MaineGuy]

To your point: The repeater outputs will be busier. I try to find a free channel regardless.

I choose to avoid channels that are in use by nearby repeaters as a convenience for myself as much as for others.

I've had a few contacts where I was on a repeater channel, but unknowingly listening to someone in simplex.
Some other repeater users eventually told us that they could only hear one side ( me ) of the conversation.

I switched over to my ( same ) channel entry I set up for simplex, and all was well. No need to use the repeater for a guy a mile away from me.

There are several other channels I can easily use in simplex mode. It's not that busy here, so it mostly doesn't matter.

When I'm talking with nearby family members ( simplex ), we usually just start on 18, and maybe hop to another channel if someone else is actually using it.

Half the time we're using the linked repeater network anyways - I can talk with my family all across the bottom of the state here.