H8SPVMT

DANG! I forgot to check the date of the original post.......... Jason D. I live in Summerville, SC and hear the HOPKINS repeater often but can only hit it on "GOOD" days. I have heard several folks chatting on both repeaters Hopkins and the older Bowman 600 / Orangeburg area repeater(s). Kingstree is a good one too but I seldom hear anyone on it. Never thought too much to buy into the CSRAGMRS 725 as it doesn't reach me either. Being a mobile unit (Midland MXT400) and just far enough from all the repeaters that I have to travel prohibit any conversations I might hear. I have become friends with the owner of Bowman 600 over the last three/four years and check in with him during my travels up and down I-26 and similar rds. I HAVE gotten permission to use the aforementioned repeaters but seldom call on them just cuz I don't have anything but chit-chat and of course I am usually driving... and it takes priority. I usually leave my unit on SCAN just incase a call comes down the pike, it helps if I have the time to answer (If I have the necessary CTCSS, etc.... Unit is mounted in the JEEP for trips only.

It's been my experience that you might hear them, or in the case they are using another CTCSS setting you'll see the signal bar on your display indicate a signal reception from their radio. Pay attention to the, "listen first" as well.

A "No Reply" to me is a NO. when owner have replied to me with an email or notice I I print it out and file it with my GMRS information for use at later date as I might need it during my travels. I really don't fret about a No Reply. It is solely their equipment and I regard their action to be OK too.

I'm thinking that if you're breaking squelch you're close enough to have reception. I wonder if the operator/owner has the station on a split frequency from input to output. Just a wild haired guess! Make sure to remove any CTCSS/DPL on the receive channel.

I forgot to mention that this simple education lead me to learning open water navigation and GPSr use later in life.

Yes this would be a great idea for learning to use practical navigational skills minus the GPSr available today. My scout education prepared me for life back in the late 1960s as well. As a matter of fact, I still carry my first compass given to me for map reading to this day in my Jeep.

C'mon, Roger Beeps are like naked people lurking in the shadows as you travel down the highway. You never get to see a pretty one and only the ugly, un-interesting parts are exposed! And they cause the same people to scream at a volume and tone that no one listening wants to endure for even a minute.

This reminds me of the citizen beginning to pass a Tractor Trailer traveling below the speed limit on the interstate. With his blinker on citizen begins to get out into the left lane and pass the truck at the legal speed limit. Truck driver now speeds up to the speed limit too, preventing the the fellow to pass without speeding. Now all those that like to drive faster than the speed limit are blocked and blowing their horns. Whos at fault; everyone is traveling the speed limit? I say the truck driver, as he needs to slow down and allow the citizen to pass and clear the left lane. There are always people with what looks like good intentions. But they seem to disregard the laws after getting use to never getting caught or, having their actions reviewed by the officials.... Are the Sad Hams getting frustrated because they think GMRS users are in their way?

If you do not get the "squelch tail beep" after you release the PTT button the repeater isn't getting your signal so you'll have to get closer or, find a more open line of sight to the repeater. Just a guess.

Out by ourselves over the holidays and ran a portion of the South Carolina Adventure Route (SCAR). This one trail was very close to 1000 ft of mud. Total trip 240 miles.

GMRS used at the last couple of events I have attended with 200+ Jeeps have been quiet using only simplex. Maybe the mountains have something to do with that also. Still using CB's too on another event and the same lack of interference. Other than that fella yellin "A-U-D-I-O" when we reach the mountain tops anyway....

CH 19 Simplex only in my book.

Didn't you mean "Niner" is the NATO ....." Life is too short to argue with total strangers on the internet. Just had to steal this! Especially for this site. Merry Christmas!

"G-M-R-S" General "MOBILE RADIO" Service Seems pretty simple to me this would relate more to your current location (City/State should be broad enough) than, your home base location for simplex and repeater conversations. As a strictly mobile setup I give my current location when asked. This way it's understood I am traveling thru at the moment. I think it would be confusing if someone were to look my call sign and I am 3-500 miles from that location. Privacy behind the microphone? Never has been an issue for me.

If I understand this correctly the issue is that you have several repeaters that you use and many are on the same frequency/channel but different PLL (CTCSS/DPL) codes. I carry with me a list of the repeaters I plan to encounter on my trips with their individual information. Best I can come up with using the Midland radios. But it doesn't help much as many of these repeaters are near busy cities and I am too busy driving at that those times as well.

Dealing with my first repeater contact. One issue I had was understanding that just because I could hear the repeater, I thought it could hear me. Turned out my signal wasn't strong enough to reach the repeater on my mobile. This turned out fine once I found an area clear of trees and obstructions that blocked my signal as the repeater was (25-35) many miles away. Then I learned too that the signal on the repeater would actually change (drop out) in response to my opening the repeater after I attempted to call and let people know I was monitoring the repeater. This told me I was actually hitting the repeater but no one was there listening to their radios at that time. I don't know if your set-up is mobile or, stationery. Hope this helps.

2 years ago we tried our GMRS radios during a river crossing, all worked well. Kentucky Adventure Trail (KAT)

We did Greenbrier on it's inaugural event, mud festival and wet leaves all uphill it seemed, but fun. Crawled the creek it seemed for half a day! Retired Navy, had heard all about the place and wanted to see it for myself. NICE DIGS! Still doing the Williamsburg JJAMUSA now for 18 years... well will be 19 next year.

I'm officially retired now. We (wife & I) get out often as life allows but we try to stay away from the crazy stuff as we travel alone anymore. Getting too old for winching and shushing around in the mud. Learned a good lesson on that in a OK bean field while traveling on the Trans American Trail, alone.

See if I can post one here of my first 2001 TJ and 2017 Ruby. My JK in the front before the 2.5" lift and Bushwacker fenders and a Warn 9.5 winch. Sold the TJ to my friend behind us. Pic from a VA4WDA event near Lovington, VA.

I don't trailer mine and have to remember, "I drove it here and will have to drive it home" and even my 2017 Rubicon has parts now are no longer in production!

Ch. 16 and surf the the others. Spent a lot of time in Uwharrie NF years ago. Palmetto Jeep Club even owned a trail (SAWMILL) for winter maintenance before it was re-routed. Seen lots of changes pass thru that park. Did some (worked) Camp Jeeps too in VA. Mostly we wheel with VA4WDA and Williamsburg, TN, JJAM any more. Completed the Trans American Trail and others....

When I first started with this I had my unit turned on all the time I ran the Jeep. Not so much anymore. Many Jeepers were talking about using CH. 16 (4x4) but I never hardly hear anything there either. I guess this i really a business and family form of communications. Scanning doesn't bring up much either in S'ville.

Might I suggest you print out a copy of the (NEW) Operations Manual and instructions for the CTCSS & DCS code and operation/steps for a file to keep in the car for future use. I did this and it helped me alot -down the road-! Best wishes on the getting old and the new radio!