WRXH357

So when using a SWR meter what's your process?? Do you tune the radio mid-band to check SWRs?? Do you tune the radio to your preferred channel to check SWRs?? Do you check SWRs at the highest radio output power setting ?? If I were to "tune" SWRs to Channel(s) 20, 21 or 6 ; do I really need to check channels 15 and 14??

Myself and another MYGMRS member ( @WRZP261) have been able to catch each other on the radio quite a few times. Today was one of those days. I was caught off-guard to hit the repeater due to my location and to get a response. We were both out running around so we were able to get some ranging estimates of our equipment and while using the local repeater. As the crow flies we held comms for about 25+ miles apart using the repeater with overcast/rainy weather clouds all around. Our local repeater reports (on MYGMRS) it's a 10 mile repeater. My location was easily outside that estimate, I believe his was inside that area. My location/driving was in a more rural setting, his more metro/urban. We didn't get through while on simplex. I'm sure he will add on any additional information or clarify anything. We are going to see if the ranging holds true during a clear day with lots of sunshine. Even if you think you are outside the repeater range load the settings and just call out, you just might get through to the repeater.

I replied to your PM. BTW it is pretty quiet around the NN/Hampton area on GMRS except for the business use radios.

Yea, it is what it is. Back to the airwaves!!

Is the repeater listed on MYGMRS map? Can you share that info?

Change TONE MODE to Tone. Move the value 225.7 to the TONE column. Verify ops.

Just wanted to drop this here since I didn't get your call sign. You stated you were on the HighRise Bridge. Asked me about being on MYGMRS. I lost your signal a little later, still never got the call sign.

I don't have any equipment to verify any real data. If you were local I'd love to get any meter/test equipment to see the results. Given the reports from the contacts I've made I'm not too worried. Yes, test equipment will tell the real story.

I'm running a Wouxun 24" Spring Mounted GMRS Antenna for Offroad Vehicles (ANO-058G) from BTWR. It's been used with a KG1000G+ getting get results from receive and transmit. I have not been able to get a meter to show SWR on my setup. No one speaks of any sort of issue when talking to people. I do wish the spring had a little less tension. I did drive under a low overhang and it sprung back with a bit of force. I think the biggest difference between what I have and the MIdland stuff is the overall length. Midland uses a tad longer "short" antenna at 28" compared to the 24" I have from Wouxun. The Melowave Overlander and the Midland MXAT04 are pretty close in overall height. Depending on your perspective you could say the Midland stuff is a knock off of the Melowave Overlander GMRS Mobile Antenna and Wouxun antennas. I think either one will do the work requested. Just spend what you want, where you want.

I'm on the other side in Newport News/Hampton. I can hit the repeater over here pretty easily. If you want to try some "over water" comms tests PM me.

It very well maybe the the local area and your squelch setting. I had to turn mine up to 2 or 3 (1-10 range) to keep it from stopping on channels. In a different area I'm getting hung up on Channel 3. There's something in those areas cause at home Channel 3 is just fine while scanning.

It's definitely an area thing if you listen to the broadcasts on MYGMRS Live Audio. Those MidWest Hub folks chat it up like people at a water cooler. I was down along the MS/AL/FL areas along the Gulf. There's people in that area who listen in or talk to whoever. Some are the repeater owners so I guess they are tuned in quite a bit. It's not as chatty as MidWest but they do get on the radio.

I've heard skip on AM (CB) all the time. I've spoke several times to people in FL from VA. Been driving through OK, hearing people in NYC. Again in OK I made contact with someone in PNW. While hanging out with people there's always conversations about people hearing others from (insert location). There was a guy out in CA I believe that ran a huge tower went by the name of "Motormouth Maul". There were days I heard him coming through on the skip. He's still around doing it on what seems to be VERY low wattage. His antenna:

Do you want a list by model name or highest cost to lowest?

The Wouxun is 24" from the spring base to the top. The Melowave was 47" from the spring base to the top. BTW both of these antennas came with the spring base and cable. Comparing the MIdland pricing to the Melowave @$159 and the Wouxun @ $79, the Midland antennas seem a tad high. I might have a moment where I try the Midland Grand Vista if I get enough scrap metal sold.

"Skip" isn't always an exact thing from my experiences. As an example: I get skip in one area quite clear, move 100 yds and it goes away. Move back...skip rolls in. My thoughts: 1) There is a repeater (not known) which is networked. 2) Skip as you described. 3) Combination of the two : A repeater in a different area (hence closer) that is on the skip I say this as I experienced something of the same sort driving on the interstate in GA/SC. Both people were talking over repeater frequency, both were not within a reasonable LOS by their own admissions. I don't recall them suggesting the network possibility. One was in TN driving East, the other in IN as I recall. Honestly this is what I love about radios. As example one day I'm talking to someone in TX, the next day NY, then nothing for weeks. Then I'm talking to the Bahamas a few days later.

Going by the looks of the antennas they replicate the Melowave Overlander and the Wouxun 24" Spring Mounted GMRS Antenna for Offroad Vehicles (ANO-058G). I'm using the Wouxun 24" right now on a bracket mount on the cab of my truck. Using the KG1000G+ I got some solid contacts while on the Gulf Coast of AL/FL with the repeaters/operators. At one point I was easily 30+ miles from the repeater by the owners report. I'll be out tomorrow taking some measurements on the Melowave and Wouxun to see what specifics they are using for the dimensions.

Isn't it possible that a local repeater can be "networked" (or whatever it's called) to another repeater, hence repeaters chained together for hundreds of miles??

Okay. Sounds like I'll double check my "travel" setting. I'll keep it labeled as such so I can give a shout out while rolling down the road. Thanks for all the replies. I'm liking the GMRS thing, sometimes I wish it was easier.

Not sure if you got this working but I noticed something. Under the VFO Settings why do you have REPEATER set to On? I thought that was only used if you were using the radio as a repeater.

I'm fairly new to the whole GMRS thing. Been on the radio (so to speak) for a few months now. I've been able to connect over repeaters and some simplex connections. I have yet to really hear anyone using the "Travel" channels. To which I see/read PLENTY of people arguing about the "Travel" channels. Why all the hate/discontent about what channel/frequency/tone to use?? Am I missing something? I have programmed a channel with the (what I believe is) the "old school" travel channel settings. Do I need to add more channels setup up for "travel"?? (sigh)

Anyone around the area using GMRS on the regular?? Seems like an area that would get usage, but there's just crickets. Since I was using my radio in another area with good reports, I want to think it's programmed for the VA area correctly. Or is it just there's really not too many users? Thanks in advance.

Anyone else out there using the Plus and RTS for their radio programming? Do you know if you can share programming files for use between different radios? Say I'm on the East Coast heading West, could a user send me their file for their area so I could just program my radio as I travel??

I was under the impression that the "travel" channels/settings were in Simplex. Whereas a repeater setup would use an offset of either Plus or Minus My programming allows (at least on a screen) for me to configure say 462.675 as Simplex with 141.3Hz Tone.

So I'll try to keep the question simple so I can understand how all this works in the GMRS world. For the record the radio I'm using is the KG-1000G+ which has been really awesome so far. Here's my "issue": I get approval to use #1 repeater in my area along with access to #2 repeater in my area. As far as I can tell through MYGMRS these repeaters are easily 50+ miles apart. They both use the same configuration of tones. I loaded my radio with both repeaters to know which one I was receiving on. I use the scan feature on the radio to run through the GMRS channels as well as those that I loaded into the radio. I tend to travel between these two repeaters, yet I do get some receive through the "middle" or far end range. In short sometimes during a scan stop the radio shows #1 repeater yet it's #2 repeater who is actually talking. Okay. Now I'm confused to the whole "repeater access" thing. I got the radio setup, it will communicate on either repeater, yet #1 has not been approved while #2 has been approved. Now adding more confusion there's TONS of open repeaters that use the same frequency and tone. Do I need to add each individual repeater as a channel in my radio?? I'd have 100 channels all on the same frequency/tone just to use a different name to ID the repeater. That would seem to slow down my scan rate. Or should I just "batch" repeaters under one radio channel name?? It seems like they all have the same phone number yet it depends on were I'm driving through to "see" the caller ID. I know this post might be all over the place so I'll answer any questions to help you help me.