Finding Repeaters?

[Tuberadios]

I have a Wouxun kg-935g & read manual & watched a couple videos but can't seem to find any repeaters.  Does anyone have any tips? Thanks 

I looked on mygmrs.com & noticed not many repeaters close bur I am pretty sure some are not registered because I can hear many on Boafeng uv5r.

 

Thanks for any tips.

[MichaelLAX]

Where do you live?

Which Channels/frequencies do you hear repeaters on your Baofeng?

[Tuberadios]

I am in Moorhead Minnesota 56560 across river from Fargo North Dakota 58103.

After you asked about what repeaters I listened to on my Baufeng uv-5r.... I remembered they are Ham radio repeaters! Sometimes I'm not always the brightest knife in the happy meal.

Is there a good way to scan for GMRS repeaters? 

 

[donniefitz2]

17 minutes ago, Tuberadios said:

I'm not always the brightest knife in the happy meal.

LOL. I'm totally using this. 

[MichaelLAX]

The good news is that there are only 8 repeater channels in the GMRS world

Create these 8 channels on your Baofeng and then scan them:

462.550

462.575

462.600

462.625

462.650

462.675

462.700

462.725

Set the transmit frequency for each of these channels as 467.xyz as needed to gain the GMRS split to transmit with also the necessary access tones. 

I would be surprised if your Baofeng can find a GMRS repeater that your 935G cannot. 

[WRPL668]

I live in a large people area. In New Jersey an in checking here in the repeater section, I found only three I think can reach. I’ve a Ocean 905G an I’m now approved with two of them. It’s extremely quiet here. Almost nothing local an the repeaters I’m approved is also very quiet.  With only 5 watts I can only do so much. But I keep trying. In your area there maybe not so many repeaters. Remember you must be able to reach them to connect. 
I do however wish you much luck. Keep us in the loop. 
bob

[kenster817]

New user dumb question. If i scan the 8 repeater channels what will I hear back if it finds a repeater ?

 

[Sbsyncro]

Maybe a dumb question, but have you looked here on MyGMRS.com for the repeaters listed in your area?  For example, I've scanned my area for hours listening and never heard anything.  Then I looked at the database here and found ones along my typical travel routes and programmed them into my KG-1000G.   Just for giggles, I kerchunked the nearest one (about 70 miles away) and to my astonishment I received a response from the repeater.  So I went on and announced myself and lo and behold there was a human there and we just did a quick radio check.  I confirmed that he was using the repeater in the location where I thought it was.   70 miles away in mountainous coastal central California terrain!  I'm still not sure I believe it, TBH...

[kenster817]

Yep...I did look on the map here and it doesn't show a repeater near me. You never said what kind of response you got from the repeater ?

[Sbsyncro]

Yep...I did look on the map here and it doesn't show a repeater near me. You never said what kind of response you got from the repeater ?

I can’t recall the technical term, but the repeater will transmit back briefly in response - the tone will open your radio’s squelch and you’ll hear “dead air” for a second. I should note that a lot of people frown on “kerchunking” repeaters. I did it because I thought there was extremely little chance of me actually hitting it, and frankly I hadn’t heard any traffic on that repeater for the 30 minutes or so I’d monitored it while working on some other stuff. when it did respond unexpectedly, I immediately identified myself and asked if anyone was monitoring the frequency. A moment later someone got on with me and we could firmed each of our physical locations.


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[wayoverthere]

51 minutes ago, Sbsyncro said:

I can’t recall the technical term, but the repeater will transmit back briefly in response - the tone will open your radio’s squelch and you’ll hear “dead air” for a second.

I think "squelch tail" is what you're thinking of.

[H8SPVMT]

22 hours ago, kenster817 said:

Yep...I did look on the map here and it doesn't show a repeater near me. You never said what kind of response you got from the repeater ?

Many refer to the repeater response to your keying the mike up and talking to a, Squelch Tail," but what is that?  "Silence and then a brief bit of s very lite beep.

If you are in doubt as to you radios' ability to actually reaching the repeater, try this.

Remove your squelch filter to where you can clearly hear the static and then call the repeater.  IF you get static back immediately on releasing your PTT button, your signal isn't reaching the repeater or, the repeater isn't recognizing the signal (you may not have the correct CTCSS code).

If  after releasing the PTT, you hear: dead silence for 1 -3 seconds & then static, then your signal did open the repeater and your golden.  The repeater may also automatically respond with it's ID.

Remember to always use your call sign when testing also and don't key up with just and open mike... GOOD LUCK!

 

 

[MichaelLAX]

Some repeaters are set to have no squelch tail; so "kerchunking" them will result in silence.  The only way to confirm these would be with a 2nd radio in range and set to transmit to this repeater with the proper tone.