Repeater
- Thread starter BrianBro
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Generally, but there are mitigating factors.
- The height of the transmitting antenna.
- The gain of the transmitting antenna. Rubber duck antennas on handhelds typically have very poor gain.
- The height of the receiving (repeater) antenna.
- The gain of the receiving antenna.
- A clear path between the transmitter and receiver with no buildings, mountains, or dense foliage.
- The sensitivity of the receiver.
WB4CS
Member
Another thing to consider, what band are you using? 2 Meters? 70 cm?
Need a little more info to give an educated guess, and as W9BU stated there's no definite yes or no answer. The only way to really know the answer is to try it and see.
Need a little more info to give an educated guess, and as W9BU stated there's no definite yes or no answer. The only way to really know the answer is to try it and see.
Danny37
Member
Most HTs or portable radios are 5 watts, generally within a 5 mile distance between a transmitter and a repeater is workable. However the land scape, obstructions, antennas play a huge role in RF. Like in NYC if your running a 5 Watts simplex on portable your lucky if you make it up to a mile. But I hear in other places open areas, line of sight people reach 2-3 miles on simplex. So many factors play a role in RF, your best bet like others have mentioned is to experiment and see the results you get.
I remember once I was in Queens on a ems call and couldn't make it to a repeater that was less than two miles away, the landscape was basically hilly. We use UHF, all I had to do was walk 10 feet up a slope and was able to contact the dispatcher loud and clear, walked right down and lost her again. RF is very complex when it comes to reception.
I remember once I was in Queens on a ems call and couldn't make it to a repeater that was less than two miles away, the landscape was basically hilly. We use UHF, all I had to do was walk 10 feet up a slope and was able to contact the dispatcher loud and clear, walked right down and lost her again. RF is very complex when it comes to reception.
KD2DLL
Active Member
Do you know the callsign and or frequency of the repeater? Maybe someone may pop in here that knows the machine and may be able to get you a specific answer for that repeater.
But from my best guess, I would say you can make it, but like others have mentioned, it depends on multiple factors. There's one repeater I can hit with 5 watts on my HT that's nearly 60 miles away but it's on a pretty good peak. There's another about 5 miles away that I can hit because I don't have a direct line to it (hills in the way).
glideslope
Member
Most I've ever got out of simplex 5w communication was 150 miles. Then again, I was at 25,000 feet doing Aeronautical Mobile! 
AC2OY
Member
Brian as most stated allready that is a hard question to simply answer! I live about 12 miles away from New York City and the one machine I always wanted to hit I could not. That was K2QH. However I can in fact hit one located on top of the Chrysler Building?! You would have a better chance with a sftermarket antanna but the only way to know for sure is try! Good luck!!!
TheSpaceMan
Member
Put an antenna outside and as high as you can! You can easily homebrew a 2 meter ground plane. Most likely you should be able to hit a repeater 10 miles away on just 4 watts.
sphipps
Member
If you don't have your ticket yet... get with someone who is a member of the local amateur radio club in your area and ask them to come to your location with a HT and try to hit the repeater in question. Most hams will be more than happy to assist and that's really the only way you're going to find out.
When I lived in Kansas City and had my ticket... I could hit every repeater in the metropolitan area using a 5 watt HT with stock antenna. That's probably a 30 to 40 mile radius.
When I lived in Kansas City and had my ticket... I could hit every repeater in the metropolitan area using a 5 watt HT with stock antenna. That's probably a 30 to 40 mile radius.
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W2PMX
Member
From a hiogh building (IIRC it was something on the order of 35 stories or more) on the New Jersey palisades, I was able to get into the RCARC machine in Port Jefferson, NY, a distance of about 50 miles, with a 2 watt HT and a rubber ducky. But considering the heights of the 2 ends, that's about line of sight.Most I've ever got out of simplex 5w communication was 150 miles. Then again, I was at 25,000 feet doing Aeronautical Mobile!
AC2OY
Member
Nice that's impressive!!!
Project25_MASTR
TX-COMU
I've gone 20 miles (while in a car) with a 4W UHF handheld from around Ropesville, TX to Brownfield, TX. Always using UHF repeaters 15 miles out with my Icom and Motorolas.
As far as repeater locations go, I'm in a pretty good place. Lubbock has a few repeaters that are way, way, way up there on the towers. There is a 2m repeater that only runs 5W out of the antenna (of course it's 50W at the transmitter 1100 feet below) and is useable on a HT for a good 20-25 miles if you have a semi decent antenna on the HT. All just depends on terrain and obstructions. I rarely use 2m now that I play mainly with 70cm, GMRS and now 900 MHz.
As far as repeater locations go, I'm in a pretty good place. Lubbock has a few repeaters that are way, way, way up there on the towers. There is a 2m repeater that only runs 5W out of the antenna (of course it's 50W at the transmitter 1100 feet below) and is useable on a HT for a good 20-25 miles if you have a semi decent antenna on the HT. All just depends on terrain and obstructions. I rarely use 2m now that I play mainly with 70cm, GMRS and now 900 MHz.
n5ims
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I used to regularly work a repeater (distance of about 85 miles) using my Yeasu FT-207 HT with just the factory ducky antenna. The reason for that success was that repeater was near the top of a 1500' TV tower and I was on the roof of a 16 story building (about 260' above the ground). Although the repeater was clear from the roof on the HT, I could barely hear it in my car parked in the lot below, even with a gain antenna.
As you can see it's possible, but many factors will be in play to determine just how successful you'll actually be. With the minimal information provided a definite answer is pretty much impossible. About all we can say for certain is your success range will be somewhere between total failure and complete success (yea I know, not much help there, sorry). 4 watts from a basement to a poorly designed/installed repeater 10 miles away with low power in a bad location - results probably not too good. 4 watts from a tall hill with a clear path to a well designed and installed repeater 10 miles away with descant antenna height in a good location - results nearly certain to be successful.
The best advice is to try it and see. Chances are you'll have at least some success and probably learn more about your radio in the process!
Free space path loss will not be a problem, if that's what you're asking.
As has already been said, it's possible with a few "buts" thrown in. If it's pretty well flat and no obstructions in the way (hills etc.) it's 'do-able'. After that it's a guess. A nice high antenna can't do anything but help.
- 'Doc
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Rt169Radio
Member
If you have good enough height and a good base antenna you should be able to do 10 miles with 4 watts easy enough. I used to use 2 watts and talk on a repeater 30 miles away.
PhotoJim
Member
I have a 3/8-wave mag mount antenna on my car for the time being, connected to a 5-watt handheld radio (with a speaker mic added) and I can hit a repeater about 70 km (~40 miles) away cleanly. It all depends on where you are and where the repeater is. This is a phenomenally well-located repeater but I typically use it from a medium-sized city (225K people) so there are buildings and such in my way, and I can still use it. It's noisy but people can comprehend me and I can comprehend them.
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