BTECH V-1 Help

[wren421]

I may be new to GMRS, I'm not new to radio.  Here's a problem I've not encountered before.    I have the radio set to the proper frequency and proper PL.  I'm within 4-5 miles from the repeater and I here it full quieting.  I hit the mic, throw out my callsign and am told "you're not making it".  I often hear a squelch tail AFTER I'm done keying, a half second of silence then a quick, brief blip from the repeater.  I just don't get it..

Ed, WREN421 / N1YLN

[Radioguy7268]

Are you set for wideband (25kHz) or Narrowband 12.5?  If you're transmitting a narrowband signal into a wideband repeater (which most GMRS machines are) - then you'll sound like a weak signal getting in.

[marcspaz]

I have the same problem with both my HT's, due to elevation and LOS limits.  I am only 3 miles away (LOS) from a repeater and need 40/50 watts to hit it, but in another direction, I can hit a repeater 22 miles away with 5 watts, because nothing is in the way.

 

Have you done a topo eval?  Some members here have shared some online resources that are pretty cool for a quick review.

[rodro123]

Try this site for a nice topo map https://www.ve2dbe.com/rmonline_s.asp

[scottmckinney67]

Here's the one I used.  https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/rf-line-of-sight/

[TonyAldo]

Interesting I had the same problem today. Key up, talk, tail end of the repeater blip. I turn on my other GMRS to the same repeater and I don't hear my self, I just hear the repeater tail end. It is just a matter of being a weak signal and out of sight? Supposedly this repeater has a 13 mile radius and I was maybe 8 miles away.

 

Is the fix to get a better antenna?

[WRAF213]

It depends on how the repeater is set up. Some have a really sensitive squelch threshold, others require a lot of quieting before the repeater unmutes. Some repeaters also have insensitive receivers, resulting in you hearing the repeater much better than it hears you. Combine a touchy squelch with a deaf receiver and you'll have a repeater that you sound very scratchy into, but you'll always hear the repeater's tail clearly.

[chuckn]

I am awaiting shipment of a BTECH V1 and was thinking I would have access to a repeater to communicate, not just listen. 

[wren421]

Thank you for your ideas.  I do have it set for Wide FM.  I'm going to try a few experiments this week.  I'm going to drive closer to the repeater location.  Try a dual band antenna I use for the 70cm band and possibly get an adapter to try my ham mobile dual band antenna.  I'll keep you posted.

[wvanbrink]

I am awaiting shipment of a BTECH V1 and was thinking I would have access to a repeater to communicate, not just listen. 

You will be able to access repeaters with the V1. 

 

One word on repeaters. Where I live most of the repeaters are on top of mountains and are easy to access. We have 2 or 3 here in town that are only a few miles away but because their antennas are at rooftop height they are nearly impossible to reach from my house.

[chuckn]

You will be able to access repeaters with the V1. 

 

One word on repeaters. Where I live most of the repeaters are on top of mountains and are easy to access. We have 2 or 3 here in town that are only a few miles away but because their antennas are at rooftop height they are nearly impossible to reach from my house.

I just got a notification from BTECH that my March order will arrive Monday, April 20. Hopefully, the owners manual will show me how to access repeaters.