How to access a repeater?

[WSJV482]

WSJV 482 here, i just recently, as of 08/29/25, received my callsign. I am still confused about connecting to repeaters... On my radio, I have C-CTCSS, C-DCS, R-CTCSS, and R-DCS... What is the difference between these settings and the INPUT and OUTPUT tones listed on the repeaters' information pages and which do I use for INPUT tone (R-CTCSS or T-CTCSS) and which do I use for OUTPUT tone (T-CTCSS or R-CTCSS)? And, what is the INPUT frequency and what is the OUTPUT frequency? And how do I program them into my radio?   Thank you, any advice is appreciated!

 

In Christ's Love,

 

 

 

WSJV 482

[SteveShannon]

46 minutes ago, WSJV482 said:

WSJV 482 here, i just recently, as of 08/29/25, received my callsign. I am still confused about connecting to repeaters... On my radio, I have C-CTCSS, C-DCS, R-CTCSS, and R-DCS... What is the difference between these settings and the INPUT and OUTPUT tones listed on the repeaters' information pages and which do I use for INPUT tone (R-CTCSS or T-CTCSS) and which do I use for OUTPUT tone (T-CTCSS or R-CTCSS)? And, what is the INPUT frequency and what is the OUTPUT frequency? And how do I program them into my radio?   Thank you, any advice is appreciated!

 

In Christ's Love,

 

 

 

WSJV 482

Input and Output are relative to the repeater. So your transmission is the input to the repeater and you receive the repeater’s output. 
The settings on your radio are relative to your radio. So T-CTCSS (or T-DCS) is what you transmit, which is the input to the repeater. 

[WSJV482]

36 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Input and Output are relative to the repeater. So your transmission is the input to the repeater and you receive the repeater’s output. 
The settings on your radio are relative to your radio. So T-CTCSS (or T-DCS) is what you transmit, which is the input to the repeater. 

@SteveShannon, are there any repeaters near Cherokee, NC that I can access? How do I know if I'm accessing them when I transmit?

WSJV 482

[WSJV482]

39 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Input and Output are relative to the repeater. So your transmission is the input to the repeater and you receive the repeater’s output. 
The settings on your radio are relative to your radio. So T-CTCSS (or T-DCS) is what you transmit, which is the input to the repeater. 

so my T-CTCSS on my radio is the INPUT tone for the repeater?

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, WSJV482 said:

so my T-CTCSS on my radio is the INPUT tone for the repeater?

Exactly!

[SteveShannon]

10 minutes ago, WSJV482 said:

@SteveShannon, are there any repeaters near Cherokee, NC that I can access? How do I know if I'm accessing them when I transmit?

WSJV 482

I don’t know, but if you click on Repeaters on the menu bar you should be able to look them up either in the database or on the map. 
Many repeaters give a squelch tail, a short burst of static right after you activate them, but the most reliable way is to monitor the repeater and see if anyone is using it then ask for a radio check. 
Also, if you leave your R-CTCSS empty you’ll hear everything. 

[WSJV482]

1 hour ago, SteveShannon said:

I don’t know, but if you click on Repeaters on the menu bar you should be able to look them up either in the database or on the map. 
Many repeaters give a squelch tail, a short burst of static right after you activate them, but the most reliable way is to monitor the repeater and see if anyone is using it then ask for a radio check. 
Also, if you leave your R-CTCSS empty you’ll hear everything. 

What if everything is programmed correctly, I key up, and hear nothing??

[SteveShannon]

8 hours ago, WSJV482 said:

What if everything is programmed correctly, I key up, and hear nothing??

Then either you’re out of range, the repeater isn’t programmed to provide a squelch tail or courtesy beep, nobody else is listening at the moment (or nobody wants to respond), or you really don’t have everything programmed correctly.

1. You must be using a repeater channel which has the necessary offset for the transmission frequency. You transmit to the repeater using 467 MHz frequencies and receive from the repeater using 462 MHz frequencies.
2. You must transmit the right access tone, whether CTCSS or DCS. 
3. You can receive without any tone and you will hear everything but if you set a tone it must be the right one.
4. You must be within range.  You can probably hear the repeater farther than you can transmit to it.
5. You cannot count on transmitting on one radio while listening on another that’s set to the receiver frequency. 
    
6. Don’t give up; a lot of people have felt stymied.

[WRXB215]

40 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

You cannot count on transmitting on one radio while listening on another that’s set to the receiver frequency. 

Just to explain what Steve is talking about, this is called "desense." The two radios are so close that the transmitting radio causes the receive radio to go deaf to the signal from the repeater.

[WRTC928]

8 hours ago, WSJV482 said:

What if everything is programmed correctly, I key up, and hear nothing??

There are 4 GMRS and 6-8 ham repeaters close enough for me to hear. Many days, I don't hear anything from any of them. You may have to listen for a long time. If you listen for 12 hrs or so and don't hear anything (assuming your settings are correct), it's okay to key up and ask for a signal check. You may not get a response, but you should at least hear the squelch tail and/or courtesy tone. It's been my experience that if you ask for a signal check, someone will respond more often than not. Say something like, "This is WSJV482. I'm testing equipment. May I get a signal check, please?" Most repeaters are being monitored even when they're not actively in use and likely someone will be glad to help. If they do, thank them, tell them you're new and will be monitoring the repeater. Don't make it a long "get to know you" conversation the first time unless they ask. Sometimes I respond to a signal check when I'm in the middle of doing something else just so the other operator knows they're getting a signal out, but I don't really have time for a long conversation. Sometimes I'm just sitting in my recliner, and then I'll usually ask a couple of questions like where they're transmitting from, how long have they been in this area, what got them interested in GMRS/ham radio, etc. In that case, it's perfectly fine to have a chat.