Whistler TRX-1 No Repeater Reception

[ScannerHam]

Here is an odd one: I no longer hear an NXDN repeater on 463.5375 MHz. The repeater came in loud and clear last week, then went silent. I am hearing the mobiles and base on the input loud and clear. The users on the repeater are chatting with each other and the base. Everything sounds fine other than not hearing the repeater output. I checked my settings on the TRX-1 (Frequency, Scanlists, DG Mode, Rx Mode, Sq Mode, and NXDN selection) which are all OK - nothing has changed from last week when I heard the repeater. Listening to the repeater input and output on an analog scanner, I hear the mobiles and base as a digital signal (noise) on the input but nothing on the output. It seems strange that they are using the repeater input in simplex mode?

Other than this repeater, the TRX-1 receives other NXDN and DMR UHF repeaters. I have been a listener for many years and never ran into a problem like this one.

Thanks for any information as to why this is happening.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Perhaps they have another frequency you aren't aware of or don't have programmed

 

[hill]

Maybe the repeater is transmitting at reduced power.

If you know it's location you can drive near it and see if then receive the repeater.

 

[hill]

Didn't see all your comments, so now have some more information.

The repeater could be down and the users are using talkaround. This would have then transmitting and receiving on the repeater ouput.

 

[Ubbe]

Wouldn't talk around be configured to work on a conventional repeaters output frequency? Then they will automatically be listening to any simplex transmissions when the repeater goes down.

/Ubbe

 

[Chronic]

Take the antenna off and try useing a paper clip for an antenna , see if repeater works

 

[tvengr]

Where is the repeater located? Whose repeater is it? Can you provide a link or FCC licence?

 

[IC-R20]

Wouldn't talk around be configured to work on a conventional repeaters output frequency? Then they will automatically be listening to any simplex transmissions when the repeater goes down.

/Ubbe

If you're close enough to wherever the simplex transmissions are taking place and they're using enough power yes. Like if you're more than a few miles away and don't have an outdoor mast or live on a hill then you wouldn't hear then if it was just handheld traffic. That happened to me with the security at my local hospital when they found out I was listening in but luckily I live only 1 mile away with not too many buildings in between so I still heard them most of the time except in the basement levels.

 

[ScannerHam]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. Here is an update:

• Heard the repeater output once today. The short transmission sounded muffled, scratchy and almost unreadable.
• The simplex transmissions continue on the repeater input, very strong and readable, but nothing on the repeater output. The users "seem" to be talking to each other on the input, although there have been comments like "I can't hear you" multiple times. This is odd as the repeater output is usually used for simplex communications as already mentioned.
• The repeater is located about 12 miles away on a high hill. Always had a great signal on the output and mobiles on the input.
• My antenna system is working fine as I can hear other UHF repeaters from the same repeater site and further away loud and clear. I am using a discone 40 ft up fed by 9913 coax.
• I listened to frequencies licensed to the repeater owner and there is no related radio traffic on those frequencies.
• I checked the repeater output and input on multiple receivers, no difference in reception.
• Some local mobiles heard using a rubber duck on my handheld receiver, nothing heard on the output. My office/radio shack is located in the basement.
• My guess is that the repeater is running at reduced power and hopefully the repeater owner will be fixing the problem soon.

I will continue to listen next week, as the user is a transportation company, so there is not much activity on weekends. I might drive to the repeater site to listen to the repeater output and input.

 

[ScannerHam]

I am receiving the repeater loud and clear. The repeater was fixed earlier this week. Still not sure why users were using the repeater input to talk to each other, unless the radios are configured that way when the repeater is down (very odd). Thanks to everyone for your suggestions..