nOOb here - can't get to repeaters

[M5Fan]

Using KG-935G Plus on 5W repeater channels with correct tone and can't seem to reach two closest repeaters - one, 11-14 miles away, the second 18-21 miles away in Texas (flat but congested in N Dallas areas). 

I'm assuming my antenna (stock) is not helping and I need an extendable J-pole and antenna of some sort. Not wanting exterior antenna (HOA and wife forbids); something I can put up and take down in my home office easily. 

Advice? Thanks

[dosw]

Confirming:

 

You hear them but they don't hear you, and you don't hear the kerchunk when you key up the repeater?

 

How are you verifying they can't hear you? Is it by asking for a radio check while you know people are active? Or are you listening for the kerchunk on the radio you transmitted with? Or do you have two radios in close proximity, one to transmit and one to listen?

 

Different troubleshooting tactics apply to each.

 

 

[TrikeRadio]

If you are in an urban area with a lot buildings between you and the repeater (or each trees), or indoors, and the repeater is not up pretty high.. yeah you could have trouble getting that far to it. A better antenna will for sure help, getting it up higher and in a clear area with line of sight will help.

as mentioned above you mgiht be able to hide the antenna in an attic space (test it with a temporary setup first) ... and it would be good as mentioned above if you go physically closer to the repeater to a better location and just confirm that your radio is setup correctly to access it.
 

[M5Fan]

3 hours ago, dosw said:

Confirming:

 

You hear them but they don't hear you, and you don't hear the kerchunk when you key up the repeater?

 

How are you verifying they can't hear you? Is it by asking for a radio check while you know people are active? Or are you listening for the kerchunk on the radio you transmitted with? Or do you have two radios in close proximity, one to transmit and one to listen?

 

Different troubleshooting tactics apply to each.

 

 

I hear nothing; no kerchunk

Have asked for radio checks - dead air

I do have a Yaesu with MARS mod that I can listen / Tx from on GMRS as well. What process could I follow to see if it's setup to the repeater correctly or not? Set the KG-935G+ on RPTR channel 16R (467.5750) and other on 16 (462.5750) ... I've tried this and also get nothing on the Rx unit. 

Have RT Systems software for all units. Maybe I need to call them?

Thanks for the help, all. Sorry to bother with such an elementary question. 

[OffRoaderX]

1 hour ago, M5Fan said:

Maybe I need to call them?

No, that wont solve anything.

Follow these steps, EXACTLY:

1. Confirm that the repeater is up/active/turned on
2. Confirm that you have the correct channel & TX/Transmit tone
3. Ignore the RX(Transmit) tone and REMOVE it from both radios
4. Confirm that you are correctly saving/writing your changes to the radio by looking/confirming the changes ON the the radio itself
5. Get close enough to the repeater that you can SEE it
6. Get your two test radios at least 50 feet apart and test

If after all that, its still not working, then using GMRS radios/repeaters may not be for you.

[M5Fan]

14 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

No, that wont solve anything.

Follow these steps, EXACTLY:

1. Confirm that the repeater is up/active/turned on
2. Confirm that you have the correct TX/Transmit tone
3. Ignore the RX(Transmit) tone and REMOVE it from both radios
4. Confirm that you are correctly saving/writing your changes to the radio by looking/confirming the changes ON the the radio itself
5. Get close enough to the repeater that you can SEE it
6. Get your two test radios at least 50 feet apart and test

If after all that, its still not working, then using GMRS radios/repeaters may not be for you.

Thx, up until the last statement. That’s productive. 

[Socalgmrs]

Yea you might just be too far for your set up.  Have you driven closer to the repeaters  to test?   I’d stear very clear of j poles.  Yuck.     Do you have an attic?   If not even a mag mount on a pizza sheet near a window will help a bunch.  A base station would be best for more watts since you can’t get a really good antenna up high.    
 

some people will get upset about this next part but….a move to freedom out of the commie hoa might be a good choice as well.