repeaters

[49er]

I was looking for a repeater near me looks like nothing close to me i live near the north carolina border I95 north near south of the border. i can find repeaters at Myrtle beach conway sc etc. but nothing close to me. I found a repeater in my town but off line. is there a repeater near dillon sc that is not listed for gmrs radios WRFT938

[tweiss3]

If its not listed, you may have a hard time finding one if it's there.

 

You could spend some time listening to channels 15-22, and if the repeater is set up correctly, it should identify itself every 15 minutes, usually by Morse Code, but could use plain spoken English. This identifier should be the owner's call sign, which you could identify and attempt to contact the owner. 

 

Please do NOT go up to the owner's door and knock, that's just rude. 

[berkinet]

..,if the repeater is set up correctly, it should identify itself every 15 minutes...

This is not exactly accurate. The repeater must only identify every 15 minutes when in use. In fact, many repeater controllers have an option to identify at regular intervals or only when in use.

[tweiss3]

This is not exactly accurate. The repeater must only identify every 15 minutes when in use. In fact, many repeater controllers have an option to identify at regular intervals or only when in use.

 

While true, I've found that most do still identify every 15 around here.

[49er]

I have been scanning must not be to popular in our area always quite. not even repeater channels saying anything.  

[tweiss3]

You probably aren't going to find much random chatter you can join in on. Unlike HAM, GMRS is consider commercial and is usually a a specific user to specific user.

[49er]

thanks for the responces

[GuySagi]

Hi 49er, I'm moderately close to you—southwest of Fayetteville, NC. I share your frustration. I've nothing to connect with on my side of the border, either, which stinks. I have to ask, did you pickup your GMRS as a hurricane backup system? Not being nosey. I was just hoping to phase out my MURS backup comms with GMRS' repeater possibilities and that's not panning out like I planned so far.  

[ProJoeGo]

I'm new to the GMRS radio circles. I can hear people talking, but when I press my ptt, and state my call sign and say I've installed a new radio at my home this is a test, does anyone copy? it's dead quite, no response.Whats next? I have set up a new MXT-400 and 2 GXT 1000's

[berkinet]

I'm new to the GMRS radio circles. I can hear people talking, but when I press my ptt, and state my call sign and say I've installed a new radio at my home this is a test, does anyone copy? it's dead quite, no response.Whats next?

 

There are a number of possible causes for what you are reporting, including the possibility the people just don't want to talk to you. 

 

However, the two most likely causes are:

1. You are hearing a repeater, but you are transmitting simplex (i.e. on the repeater's transmit frequency) when you should be transmitting on a frequency 5mHz higher, on the repeaters receive frequency.
2. The person you hear has set a tone filter (PL/Tone/DCS, etc.) on their receive and you are not sending the required tone.

Note that with a repeater, you will usually have to transmit the correct tone to operate the repeater.

 

This topic is commonly discussed on this forum. Talk a look around at some older threads and I am sure you will find a lot of information.