WRZS512

I have an Ed Fong gmrs antenna up 25 ft on a pole and I live back in the woods. I understand that line of sight is the best way to receive and transmit, i can get about 3 miles from my base at home to my handhelds which is about all you can expect without a repeater. I plan to install one in the next month, my friend is about 2.5 miles away and he can receive me perfectly but i can't receive him on my base, but can on my handhelds. my question is can i do anything else to receive him better. i haven't seen anything that i can use to increase my receiving ability. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I will be raising my antenna about another 15 to 20 feet soon, but these tall pines are still gonna block me out i think. Thanks for any input, Kevin WRZS512 Outer Banks, NC

Hey Randy, I am new to the GMRS world and bought a baofeng uv5r and a baofeng GMRS 9r. My question is have you had any questions about the 9r not transmitting on channel 15. wondering if it is fixable. Thanks for any help you may have. Kevin

Trying to get a few people together to talk on the outer banks. Don't know of too many people that us GMRS down here. There is just two or three of us that talk. If you got a radio & a call sign give us a shout on channel 16 or 19. Usually in the evenings. Thanks & hope to talk soon. WRZS512