hitting repeater

fcr

Newbie
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
1
Location
worthington, IN
Using my HT, I can make contact with a local repeater. I know this because I hear the kerchunk and the repeater talks back giving me the current time and call sign. I have been announcing my call sign on and off at various times for the past two weeks and I have yet to make contact with anyone nor has anyone answered my call sign. Just at a loss as to why no contact from other hams.
 

hill

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,323
Location
Middle River, MD
Just because you can hit the repeater doesn't mean you signal is great. With a HT your signal can be marginal with noise that make copying it difficult.

Do you hear others using the repeater?

Try during drivetimes. Also consider joining the local radio club, since after they meet you will be more likely to make contact on the repeater.

Does this repeater have any nets on it. As these are a great time for new hams to get on the air.
 

jgorman21

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
512
Location
Glenmont N.Y.
Hello. A few questions.

What radio are you using?
How far away is the repeater and is it an “open” repeater?
What power setting are you using?
 

AK9R

Lead Wiki Manager and almost an Awesome Moderator
Super Moderator
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
8,852
Location
Central Indiana
Do you hear others using the repeater?
And, if you do hear others using the repeater, have you tried calling one of them? Depending on the nature of the conversation, it might be rude to just butt in. But, after the conversation winds down, try calling one of them using the format of "[their callsign], this is [your callsign]".
 

k6cpo

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2013
Messages
1,182
Location
San Diego, CA
Not all repeaters have people on them all the time. I have 94 different channels programmed into the radio I monitor the most at home. Of those 56 are repeaters. The others are a mix of amateur simplex, airport towers, railroad, Marine VHF and wildland firefighting agencies. I have the radio set on continuous scan and sometimes I don't hear anything on the amateur repeaters for hours at a time. It depends a lot on the time of day and day of the week.
 

paulears

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2015
Messages
667
Location
Lowestoft - UK
Why not ask for a signal report? "This is QWERTY in (name of where you are. Can any tell me how well I'm getting into the repeater?" Remember many people testing just announce their callsign when they are testing and not actually wanting a reply.
 

Whiskey3JMC

Keep your friends close & your radios closer
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jul 16, 2006
Messages
5,818
Location
Land of Wawa & cheesesteaks
I have been announcing my call sign on and off at various times for the past two weeks and I have yet to make contact with anyone nor has anyone answered my call sign. Just at a loss as to why no contact from other hams.
OK? Is the repeater normally active? Does it host a regularly scheduled net? Nets can be a good way to put your callsign out there & introduce yourself to the locals. Welcome to the RR forums
 
Last edited:

GlobalNorth

Active Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 2, 2020
Messages
1,880
Location
Fort Misery
Your best bet for a response is after work [1530 to 1730 - your time] and weekend afternoons and early evenings.
 
Top