I only hear static after hitting a repeater

[danmpar]

Good evening! I just got my GMRS license last week and have much to learn about this mode of communication. I ran a quick test tonight but do not know how to interpret what is happening. 

 

Method: 

I found a repeater 2.3 miles away from me with an Tx/Rx of 467.765/462.765 and a CTCSS of 141.3. I plugged that information into a btech gmrs v1 that is using an expertpower 7.5 inch SMA-F antenna and attempted a radio check. I hit the PTT button and stated my call sign and that I was, well, doing a radio check, then released the PTT button. 

 

EDIT: 

That was a typo. Definitely meant 462.725 and 467.725. My mistake. 

 

Result: 

Depending on variables I do not know how to track I get one of two responses from the radio.

1. static for about 3 seconds followed by the end of a transmission 

2. a series of beeps along with the static. The duration is similar most of the time but on occasion I'll only get one beep for a moment. Other times it seems to go on for what feels like 5 seconds. 

 

other details: 

I have a second btech gmrs v1 with the same antenna. I set it up to listen to the same repeater to see what's coming across. 

When I transmit off of radio #1 both radio #1 and radio #2 get static however none of the audio I state into radio #1 gets received by audio #2. 

To be clear--when I state "This is WRJV736 performing a radio test. Can anyone hear me?" into radio #1 what I get in radio #2 is static. 

 

I have left both radios on to listen to the repeater passively while writing this and once or twice I both radios received a transmission which consisted of static and a several second long chain of beeps. 

 

Question: 

What is going on exactly? What is the significance of the static with versus without beeps? 

Why does the audio I transmit from radio #1 get received as static in radio #2? Is there a step I'm missing or an equipment consideration I have not accounted for?

 

Thank you. 

Edited November 18, 2020 by danmpar

[PB30X]

Hopefully that’s a typo on the frequency pair you describe, otherwise you may have a radio shop program the radios for you. You may be hitting a business band, or emergency services department. Clearly those frequencies are NOT GMRS, so I can’t elaborate anymore as to what it is you are trying to do. I would suggest having someone else program your radio, before other legal consequences come upon you

[mbrun]

Good Day and welcome to GMRS.

 

First off you are in the right general area, but the frequencies you list are not official GMRS frequencies. Refer to the official list of frequencies and make sure you entered them correctly. For repeater use, you need use what are referred to as the main GMRS frequencies. The Rx frequency will being with 462, and the Tx frequency will be exactly 5MHz higher and begin with 467.

 

 

Regarding beeps, that may be Morse Code. Morse code is one method regularly used by repeaters to comply with FCC identification requirements. A repeater will transmit that every 10 to 15 minutes when the repeater is active and often immediately upon becoming active if it has been idle for more than 15 minutes. You could be hearing something else completely different if you are not using correct frequencies.

 

Now, assuming you had a typo and actually used the correct frequencies, one of the things you will learn about radio is what is called “desense”. Desense is the condition where a radio cannot operate properly when it receives strong RF signals that are different from its intended receive frequency. When using radios with a repeater, the radios transmit on one frequency and receive on another. If your handheld radios are sufficiently close to one another, the transmitting radio frequency may be overloading the. receiving radio which is trying to listen on a different frequency. If desense is your problem, you may find that separating the radios by a good distance (perhaps 50-100’ or more) will solve your problem. A good way to visualize desense is this. Imagine its night and you are trying to read the front license plate of a car from 100’ away. You can read it because the license plate is dimly lit and you have good eyes. Now someone turns the headlights on and suddenly you are blinded by those bright lights and consequently your eyes can no longer tune into that dimly lit license plate between them.

 

Lastly, it is very common for repeaters to continue transmitting for 1-2-5 seconds after you stop transmitting. This is done for a variety of reasons. One benefit of this to you when you are testing is that you can key-up, announce your callsign and that you are testing, then under. If you made it into the repeater you get the benefit of hearing that squelch tail from the repeater. Generally a good sign you got in. Never do this without announcing yourself.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Michael

WHRS965

KE8PLM

 

Good evening! I just got my GMRS license last week and have much to learn about this mode of communication. I ran a quick test tonight but do not know how to interpret what is happening.

 

Method:

I found a repeater 2.3 miles away from me with an Tx/Rx of 467.765/462.765 and a CTCSS of 141.3. I plugged that information into a btech gmrs v1 that is using an expertpower 7.5 inch SMA-F antenna and attempted a radio check. I hit the PTT button and stated my call sign and that I was, well, doing a radio check, then released the PTT button.

 

Result:

Depending on variables I do not know how to track I get one of two responses from the radio.

1. static for about 3 seconds followed by the end of a transmission

2. a series of beeps along with the static. The duration is similar most of the time but on occasion I'll only get one beep for a moment. Other times it seems to go on for what feels like 5 seconds.

 

other details:

I have a second btech gmrs v1 with the same antenna. I set it up to listen to the same repeater to see what's coming across.

When I transmit off of radio #1 both radio #1 and radio #2 get static however none of the audio I state into radio #1 gets received by audio #2.

To be clear--when I state "This is WRJV736 performing a radio test. Can anyone hear me?" into radio #1 what I get in radio #2 is static.

 

I have left both radios on to listen to the repeater passively while writing this and once or twice I both radios received a transmission which consisted of static and a several second long chain of beeps.

 

Question:

What is going on exactly? What is the significance of the static with versus without beeps?

Why does the audio I transmit from radio #1 get received as static in radio #2? Is there a step I'm missing or an equipment consideration I have not accounted for?

 

Thank you.

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[danmpar]

That was a typo. Definitely meant 462.725 and 467.725. My mistake. The original post has been edited just now to reflect the change.

[danmpar]

More importantly I just finished reading your explanation. Thank you for the clarification. The desense phenomenon is a new one for me. I'll mess around with it a bit more tonight with some meaningful space between the two radios and see if that makes a meaningful difference and report back here once I have something to say. 

 

Thanks again

[1URFE57]

You're getting those static if you're on the edge of repeater's coverage range if you're in the correct repeater frequency you will having any problem hearing your transmission to your other radio. and on the positive note don't worry if you miss up something its all about learning, experimenting and having fun!.

[tchr01]

I think I have a similar problem. Me and another family member are sharing my call (WRNU678) to do some test transmits through a repeater that we can both seem to hit. We both hear the squelch tone after keying up clearly, very minimal static if any. We are both on the edge of the repeaters range and about 12mi crow flies to the repeater

When I transmit through the repeater on HT1, the other HT2 can hear me no problem. When the other HT2 transmits to me via the repeater, my HT1 squelch breaks on my radio, but I only hear static for as long as the other HT2 is keying up. We had a videochat going while doing this to confirm.

We both confirmed the proper tones for TX/RX were input, so why would HT1 only hear static from HT2 in this scenario? 

Thanks!! - Matt

Context/gear the same on both HTs:

• HT1
  • Baofeng UV-5X (GMRS Specific)
  • 50ft RG58 (I know cheap-o but it seems to get out)
  • Homemade groundplane cut only for GMRS
• HT2
  • Baofeng UV-5X (same as above)
  • 25ft LMR400
  • Homemade groundplane (same as above)

[KAF6045]

You mention ground planes and coax, but do not mention the antenna.

Have you tried swapping out components? In this case, the easiest would be to swap the radios themselves, and try again. If the "problem" moves with the radios you have a clue that one might be faulty. If it doesn't move, I'd take an antenna analyzer (UHF range capable) and check the SWR and other aspects of the systems (connect the analyzer to the coax after removing the radio). At the least, try with a VHF/UHF power/SWR meter (MFJ-847, say) and examine the output power from the radios (you'll need a short coax jumper to go from radio to meter). {I'm not too certain of the calibration -- my Kenwood TS-2000 is rated 50W on 70cm, but this meter showed only 33W into a dummy load... OTOH, on 2m the rig is rated 100W and the meter showed 81 while my Diamond SX-200 watt/SWR meter showed 85 [the SX-200 doesn't cover UHF], so two meters were close on that band}

[tchr01]

Thanks! Good call on the radio swap test. I built two diy groundplane antennas (basic design) seen here modeled from https://m0ukd.com/. I had some parts so figured we'd try these to see if we can hit the repeater at all, and if we can, then maybe upgrade to an Ed Fong vertical cut for GMRS. Haven't hooked them up to any meters yet. All my meters and regular go-to kit is for 11m. I just put up a 11m inverted vee off my shed that is killer for DX.

Anyway, I'm starting to think that there is just enough signal for HT2 to hit the repeater and trigger the squelch trail, but the transmission is just poor. We experimented with around the property too with different possible locations to trigger the repeater. The fun part too is HT1's groundplane antenna is only 5ft off the ground with houses around but can talk to HT2 through the repeater no problem!