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Any Columbia, SC GMRS users?

citizensoldier16

By citizensoldier16
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citizensoldier16 Newbie

citizensoldier16

Posted
Posted

First time posting, and I got my FCC license about a week ago.  

 

I live in the Blythewood area of SC, near Columbia.  There are a number of repeaters in the area, including NE Columbia, Lexington, Little Mountain and Hopkins, yet I never seem to hear very much traffic on any of them.  

 

I have made a few contacts here and there, but its mostly silent every time I transmit.  I'm on the repeaters probably 2-3 times per day.  My usual times are 0500-0545 and 1800-1830, but it varies every day.  Some days I'm on during the day even.  

 

Currently I'm running a Midland MXT-115 mounted in my vehicle, but I plan on buying a Baofeng handheld in the near future, as I have been educating myself on using the CHIRP software.  Quick question about that - does CHIRP work on a Mac computer?  

 

If anyone here is in the central SC region, I'd love to hear from you!  I go back and forth between the Columbia/Lexington repeaters (linked) and the Little Mountain/Hopkins repeaters (also linked).  

 

 

Jason D.

Blythewood, SC

WREX979

Elkhunter521 Rookie

Elkhunter521

Posted
Posted

Hi Jason, welcome to the forum.

Midland radios are tough to use on gmrs. They are narrow band. They do not support split pl tones. I have 2, a 275 and a 400. Midland decided to make them the same as their handhelds.

Most repeaters you will find are wideband. They will also support split pl tones, Midland will not.

 

I also have a baofung hand held, its not a bad radio, people here will say otherwise.

 

My advise to you is to read every post about ccr radios (Cheap Chinese Radios) and decide from an informed view point AFTER you have read their input!

quarterwave Enthusiast

quarterwave

Posted
Posted

Hi Jason. I don't want to repeat the previous reply, but I'll support his response. 

 

Midland has told me they intend to "update" the product line this year and that the Micro Mobiles will be wideband capable. They basically screwed the pooch. and didn't mean to, on those, with the oversight being that wideband GMRS repeaters (which are 99% of them) don't play nice with narrowband only radios. The split PL thing has never been a big deal to me, as in 30 years of working with radio commercially, and being a GMRS licensee for 25, I have never used or setup any repeater in any service with split PL's. I see the reason why someone would, but I have not. 

 

I own a good many mobiles and portables, and a MTR2000 repeater...all have a "M" on them, so I am spoiled. 

 

I have a couple of Boafeng 888's that I kind of play with on a secondary repeater, and a UV5R, they all have their place. It's all about expectations. 

WRAF213 Newbie

WRAF213

Posted
Posted

My personal repeater runs split tones, and several other private repeaters around me run split tones. It's almost exclusively commercial radios being used on those. That said, nearly all of the GMRS activity happens on repeaters without split tones. Having that capability isn't essential for a first radio, but a need might arise later on.

  • 4 years later...
H8SPVMT Collaborator

H8SPVMT

Posted
Posted

 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.

 

 

  

 

  

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...
UncleYoda Community Regular

UncleYoda

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, AndyOnTheRadio said:

I'm Andy and I live in Lexington, SC and am new to GMRS. Just introducing myself.

You might get a better response by asking something specific.  Don't be like that other guy who kept posting his ID and never said anything meaningful.  I listen to the local repeaters sometimes but don't talk on them.

MaxHeadroom Contributor

MaxHeadroom

Posted
Posted

The Columbia 725 repeater is actually one of the best in the area and Patrick is awesome to get access from.

Little Mountain 600 I am involved in but the repeater owner has closed all access for years now since its decently loaded when the occasion arises.

I am hoping to put one more up in the area just to try and bridge the gap between the two on the south side of Lake Murray so if anyone has leads on sites I am definitely interested.

UncleYoda Community Regular

UncleYoda

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, MaxHeadroom said:

The Columbia 725 repeater is actually one of the best

I'm hearing digital on 725 now so I can't stand to monitor it anymore.  It does have good coverage but he needs to kill that linking once and for all.

Quote

Little Mountain 600 I am involved in but the repeater owner has closed all access for years now since its decently loaded when the occasion arises.

That would work the best for me but it being closed off to new members is what kept me from getting GMRS license 10 years earlier.

Quote

I am hoping to put one more up in the area just to try and bridge the gap between the two on the south side of Lake Murray so if anyone has leads on sites I am definitely interested.

How far up the lake?  There is still the 550 on the Lexington side of the dam right?  And 625 on the Ballentine side should cover the lower half of the lake on the water and waterfront (and the owner is friendly).  And there's a 575 in Batesburg-Leesville but it's not open.  If you could get approval (big if), putting it on the same tower as the 147.000 would be my best suggestion.

AndyOnTheRadio Explorer

AndyOnTheRadio

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

How far up the lake?  There is still the 550 on the Lexington side of the dam right?  And 625 on the Ballentine side should cover the lower half of the lake on the water and waterfront (and the owner is friendly).  And there's a 575 in Batesburg-Leesville but it's not open.  If you could get approval (big if), putting it on the same tower as the 147.000 would be my best suggestion.

I have yet to hit the 550 on the DAM and I'm within 2.5 miles of it. I'm not sure if it's up and running or the tone I found is an old. I got within 10 miles of the 650 in Leesville today and could not hit the repeater. I'm striking out all over. 😁

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