WRAQ431

Actually I stand corrected, as I'm currently hearing and hitting the BTG650 Repeater out on Long Island in Selden, and as for the New London rig, I've sent numerous requests for the PL's for that one, and haven't heard anything back from him. Westerly huh? I'm always scanning the channels, scaring kids with their walkies off and listening to Johnnycake on Ch.22 GMRS usually. Yeah haven't heard anything GMRS other than local simplex, and for some reason BTG650's bombin' into Westerly tonight...don't hear much repeater action since the BTG675 went down...but yeah Selden as the crow flies has got to be around 75 miles away or so...

I've been trying to get access to one over in New London Ct. about 20 miles away. It's the only one I can 'hit' from where I'm at. All the one's here in R.I. don't have the coverage to get them from Westerly. And for the first 3 years I had my license I was also hearing one (BTG I think it was called) out on Long Island that initially sparked my interest in GMRS repeaters, but I haven't heard that one in 3 months. Last time I heard any traffic on that one someone was 'clunking' the repeater, and haven't heard anything from that one since...

Nope. I'm in Westerly, and the closest one to me that I can hit is in New London, and I've requested permission twice so far with no response. All the other one's are out of range for me. There's another one on Long Island I can hear sometimes, but it's another one you need permission to use, and I don't think it's even there anymore, as I didn't see it on the list, and the last time I heard it someone was clunking it about 2 months ago...

Yeah, outdoors away from everything would be best. I'm using 100' of RG58 out to a Mobile Antenna on a jig that includes a ground plane kit up on a repurposed flagpole, maybe 25 feet up, well away from the house and power lines, etc. Even if you could get the antenna out on a windowsill would be better...

I dunno, maybe I am just being crotchedy, but I usually have mine on 462.675 (Ch.20), as there's a repeater out on Long Island I can hear from my location in S.W. Rhode Island. I seldom if ever hear anyone on the FRS frequencies, my GMRS doesn't get them (Midland MXT90), so those are programmed into my scanner. I used to use an Anytone AT778UV for ALL those frequencies until I learned it wasn't Part 95 compliant, so back in the box it went until such time as I can obtain my Technician Ticket, which with any luck will be soon. The coverage on that Anytone is remarkable, to say the least. And despite what people say about range, with a converted Mobile Antenna and Ground Plane kit up on a repurposed flagpole I can hear a repeater in Madison Ct. (2 meter) from my location, and the distance as the crow flies has got to be around 70-75 miles away, and to my knowledge it's not linked with any repeaters that are closer, and the GMRS repeater out on L.I. is probably 40 miles away A.T.C.F. in Islip I believe. I am situated in a pretty good spot for East/West propagation, but North/South is a challenge, but despite that some days I'll get +10db on that Madison Ct. rig, a little less on Islip. According to the Directory here there's a GMRS Repeater pretty close to me in New London Ct. that I requested access to, have yet to hear back from the owner though. So when I decide on either a Btech, Wouxun (sp?) or the bigger Midland, I'll be able to access at least two GMRS repeaters close by...we shall see...

Hello all, Mat here, normally a C.B. Junkie who's been into GMRS since 2018, first post on this Forum. Honestly I don't know if it's just my particular area or what, but all I ever seem to hear on my Rig is kids with Walkie-Talkies, usually very young, jibbering away on them, and what I call 'beeping off', trying to all talk at the same time...apart from maybe 4 individuals who actually talk Simplex. And then come to find out, in my immediate vicinity I'm the ONLY ONE who's licensed (WRAQ431). I have to guess the beepers aren't licensed, Mom & Dad got the kids Walkie Talkies for Christmas or something, and the 'talkers' maybe got them for camping/outdoor stuff, as these GMRS radios are readily available at our local WalMart. Does anyone else put up with this kind of thing, or is it just me? Not so much 'putting up' with the people that actually hold a discussion, but those danged kids...ok, rant over...