Where is the traffic? Zero chatter in Maine.

[Shin75]

Hi,

I live in mid-coast Maine. I just got my license, radio, base station set up and have been scanning several hours, not one conversation heard. Zero. Not one station responds to a call for "radio check". Zero. Is there really a GMRS network? I did get automated "responses" off two repeaters with in 12 miles, but have yet to talk to a human. Is this network only used when the power is out or during hurricanes and natural disasters or when the aliens have landed? Put your phones down and turn on your radios!

[kidphc]

I found for me, it was a bit of my equipment. The better antennas I got the more chatter I started hearing.

 

Then it became a lot about the luck of the draw. What I mean is sometimes things lit up like a Christmas trees other times it was dead as a door knob. I mean almost a month before I heard anything on a particular repeater, then it was nonstop for hours.

 

Continue calling out and monitoring. You will hopefully get someone out there.

 

Also, when you say automated response are you talking about repeater ids?

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Shin75]

Hi well what I assumed was a reply after I released my PTT, I received a transmission with no words, like someone keyed a mike without speaking. I only experienced that on the two repeaters that I have set up with the proper codes near me, nothing like that on any other channels. I'm assuming that is the repeater keying back to me.

[kidphc]

Ok that sounds like you tones are set properly. Usually referred to a repeater tail, if there was a delay when you released the ptt.

 

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[berkinet]

Keep in mind that many, maybe even most, people get into GMRS specifically to talk to family and close friends and have no interest in general chatting on the air. If you are truly looking for finding people to chat with over the air, you probably should at least take a look at amateur radio.

[kidphc]

That is the truth. Shockingly enough it is a bit cheaper to get ham gear at times also. Most people use the test an excuse. Really, with a bit of studying it is more of a formality.

 

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[SnoopCoop]

Hello my Maine Friend.  Years ago I had a "camp" on Long Pond up in Maine and traveled to and fro from Connecituct to your area, so I am somewhat familiar with southern and central Maine.  Now for the past 18 years I have been residing in south Martin County, Florida just north of West Palm Beach.   Here is the scoop as far as I see it.  THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH JABBER (talk-talk) TRAFFIC on the repeater channels;  not like CB, even down in my populated area.  I can hear on the north repeater all the way up to Indian River County and on the south repeater all of Palm Beach County.  There are MANY people in between.  Pretty Quiet!!      Now if I scan.... On the simplex channels with all the businesses around,  I hear a fair share of business talk but mostly something to do with the work,  "turn on the water" or "turn it off dummy!".  Stuff like that. 

 

Just have to hang in there.  By the way, I run a Midland MTX275 (15watts) with a 6db gain midland antenna on my Jeep roof.  It is amazing how far away I can hit the repeaters. 

[Shin75]

Hi everyone,

I really want to thank all the responses. I guess I was expecting a lot more chatter and was not seeing it.

 

Wife and I did some local comm checks (1.5 to 4+ miles) and my 30 foot mast, an Ed Fong J-Pole antenna and my cheap little Midland Micromobile MXT115 did really well, except where a hill blocked the signal. I was using a hand held Midland X-Tra Talk GMX1000 in my vehicle and had to be outside to connect. More times than not the handheld couldn't reach, but the MXT115 could. At least we confirmed we were transmitting well. Probably will put a Micromobile in the vehicle eventually.

 

Thanks again for the replies!

 

WRHX906 Out!

[SnoopCoop]

I read you have it figured out and that is great. Permit me to address something. Maybe someone will disagree with me but I wouldn't call your MXT115 cheap. I have the same radio but the controls are in the mike head. It's the MXT275 pushing out the same 15 watts. While Midland and others have higher wattage radios, much rests with the antenna. Just this afternoon I was at the famous Jupiter Fl lighthouse with my vehicle in Palm Beach County and hit with acknowledgement the Fort Pierce Repeater 575 in St. Lucie County. My guess without referring to a map; 50 miles.