[A head scratcher - long distance repeater access through a mountain]

5 hours ago, Sbsyncro said:

Interesting read, but the weird thing (the "head scratcher", if you will), is that I can contact this particular repeater any time I want.  It is not behaving like some rare atmospheric "window" that allows a brief period of refraction/deflection of the signal.  I've done it on a sunny, cloudless days and on a partially overcast days. (never was it foggy). 

Now my line of sight situation is not as dramatic as that post by MBRUN you quoted, but it still looks "impossible" on paper...   Its pretty interesting to me that I can jump on and talk with this repeater any time I want with good signal strength on both sides...

I think the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys may be part of the reason for this. 

 If you are in the city getting over the mountains would still be a factor, but I would think it very

possible from Camino Cielo. Could it be your signal is getting around Pt. Conception over the ocean?

I know the area well, I lived in the area for most of my life. so it's interesting that it is always possible

for you to make contact. 

 

[Is There A Road Channel For GMRS?]

12 hours ago, MichaelLAX said:

Or if you set NO receive tone, you can hear them. 

Yes, The way I understand it is,  you will hear them, but they will not hear you

if they have a code set..

I do not have any codes set on my radios

[Is There A Road Channel For GMRS?]

On 3/11/2022 at 7:12 PM, marcspaz said:

@Sbsyncro @IdahoJohn  It sounds like you guys lucky with where you drive.  To talk 20 miles you need to be 275' above the other radio with no obstructions and 40 miles, you need almost 1,100' of elevation above the other radio. 

 

I travel all around the country for work and R&R. Those conditions don't exist in a vast majority of the country.  Which is why I asked the question.

A little late to respond here, But, yes I am in a Hi Desert valley and

the testing we have done is across said valley and from the valley floor.

When I scan in this area I do hear truckers running together as well as travelers

on the interstate from time to time.

also some businesses with hand held radios with low power and

very short range.  most seem to have privacy codes activated so cannot

hear you unless you have the same code entered.

Then there are the kids on FRS  LOL

 

[Is There A Road Channel For GMRS?]

1 hour ago, marcspaz said:

 

Real question... how many of you have road tested simplex where you frequently drive?

 

I have, and it sucks. Depending on terrain, I get 1 to 5 miles.  On the highway, it's usually 1 mile because of the rapid elevation changes and LOS obstructions.

 

 

 

I have done quite a few tests with a pair of Midland MXT115 radios.

Admittedly we are in a high desert valley, so we have very good 

conditions. We can maintain contact for 15+ miles across town on a regular

basis. I have also tested across the valley and am able to have clear

communications over 40 miles with only a few spots passing through

towns that coms. fade out. this on 15w with roof mounted antennas.

If we travel behind a butte range is cut down. 

Antenna and Line of sight is everything.

[Jeeps & Radios]

So, I posted earlier in this thread, with my Jeep set up.

But thought I'd update.

This weekend we did some radio testing.  Truck to Truck,

both trucks running Midland MX115 radios,

one with the small antenna supplied with

the radio and the other with a 5db gain antenna.

both are roof mounted with mag bases. One truck parked as a base and

the other driving in our direction starting at 35 mi away.

With 15w, Clear comms. over 35mi all across our valley,

the only place we lost contact was passing through a small

town on the valley floor 22 miles out, with buildings blocking our signal.

Next time  we will test with the mobile driving away from the base.

So, overall I am pleased with out set up. and now will start collecting

items for a set up in the house.

 

 

[Jeeps & Radios]

93 Wrangler YJ 4.0

 

Cobra 75 inside the dash with a Firestick on a standard right tail light mount

 

Midland MXT115 where the ashtray used to be with a PCTEL Maxrad  NMO on a standard left tail light mount.

 

CB works fine,  But almost no activity in my area 

 

GMRS can easily talk simplex over 13 miles so far, even across town.

[New Guy, Twin Falls Idaho]

Ooops

 

I’m the owner of a couple machines in Idaho falls, and west Yellowstone,

I also have a 220 ham machine set up on one of the mountaintops,

Id like to see about helping out in twin... maybe linking sone machines up for a bigger foot print, both gmrs and ham 220.

 

That would be great, and very generous of you!

 

There is a GMRS repeater I have found in the area on .625 that may be useful for you, it is open, and I can't find

any information.   It may be on one of the dairies possibly west of Twin in the valley here, but it is very weak.

 

I believe the local HAM club has an active repeater, but not sure.

[New Guy, Twin Falls Idaho]

Since you don't have repeaters you may want to see about getting better antennas for your vehicles.

 

I like the NMO connectors that you can permanently mount in the center of the roof.

The antenna is easily removable or changeable.

 

All of my Ham 70cm/440 antennas seem to match OK on my GMRS radio.

So I just use my ham antennas for the car.

 

 

The Ham guys have a few repeaters in your area in ID Falls and Iona, Roberts and Menan buttes.

So maybe you'll want to try getting a ham license.

 

I have GMRS because my wife is not a ham..... yet.

Also fishing buddies etc. can use FRS.

You just can't have too many radios.

 

Vince

 

 

Update,

 

I have upgraded antennas,

 

So we have been testing the radios in our vehicles ( We added another in the wife's DD) and I am very

happy. we can connect across all the valley here over 13 mi  across the downtown area.

 

Our next step will be a spot to set  up a radio in the house with an outdoor antenna to have a 

neighborhood watch with our like minded neighbors.

 

I feel I'm starting to slide down the slippery slope and end up with Ham.... LOL

[New Guy, Twin Falls Idaho]

I am the owner of the repeater in Mountain Home.  Unfortunately, it has been offline for a while.  I used to have an elevated site that would possibly reach out to Twin.  I also have a 220 MHz amateur repeater that was on the hill and I had regular contacts with hams in Twin on that machine.  Unfortunately, amateur radio politics ended up pissing off county officials and they kicked me off the site.  I'm working on getting access again but it's a slow process when you are trying to work with folks who are ignorant of all things RF. 

 

I found that there are repeaters in Caldwell and Kuna that are on the same frequency that I selected so I will be changing the frequency when I put it back on the air.  I am moving it from 550 to 675.  Once I have it back on the air, I hope that everyone in southern Idaho uses it.  It troubles me to spend a ton of time, money, and effort on a machine just to hear it sit idle with no traffic.  I have close to $4000 in my 220 machine and it gets used for less than ten minutes a week I'd say.  Sad.

 

 

Ah, I hope you are able to get the repeater back in service, I have family in Boise and explore the desert between Twin and Boise

so it will be useful to have working.

 

So far from the top of some buttes I have reached out about 20 mi simplex, range is less from lower locations.

[New Guy, Twin Falls Idaho]

Hi All

 

Thought I'd introduce myself. I'm John

If this is in the wrong place please forgive me and feel free to move my post to a better forum/Thread.

 

Been lurking and reading for a little while.

I've picked up a GMRS radio and License to go in my Jeep for exploring the High Desert with friends as most are

moving away from the old trusty CBs.

 

I've been testing the set up in my DD and like it fine. In fact I am thinking of keeping it in the daily,

adding one to the wife's car and a third for the Jeep.

 

I see there is a repeater in the Mountain Home area near me I could hit at times when out exploring

if I can get permission.

 

Just wondering if there are any others in the Twin Falls area and the best way to find them.

 

Also Anybody here in my area?