Retevis 87 repeater

[WRWY990]

I am getting no distance from my repeater. What am I doing wrong?

 

[OffRoaderX]

Based on all of the detailed information you have provided, I would say "probably a lot of things"

[back4more70]

Are you following the instructions for the RT87 but the repeater is an RT97? 

[WRWY990]

I have 2 Retevis  RA87 connected through a Fumei 50w duplexer on CB200 antenna 35 ft in the air. This set up will not talk more than 2 miles. The radios talk about 20 miles on the same antenna when not connected as repeaters.

[SteveShannon]

15 minutes ago, WRWY990 said:

I have 2 Retevis  RA87 connected through a Fumei 50w duplexer on CB200 antenna 35 ft in the air. This set up will not talk more than 2 miles. The radios talk about 20 miles on the same antenna when not connected as repeaters.

When you say the setup will not talk more than 2 miles do you mean that 1. Transmissions from the RA87 cannot be heard beyond that range, or

2. The repeater will not receive transmissions from other radios beyond that range, or

3. Both. 

[WRXB215]

You loose a lot of wattage through the duplexer and the radios themselves are probably not well isolated. To date, I don't think I've ever seen a useful field test from such a setup.

[OffRoaderX]

21 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

To date, I don't think I've ever seen a useful field test from such a setup.

EDIT: 
Upon reflection, never mind.

Edited March 15 by OffRoaderX
nevermind

[OffRoaderX]

40 minutes ago, WRWY990 said:

I have 2 Retevis  RA87 connected through a Fumei 50w duplexer

Is the duplexer correctly tuned for whatever frequency you are using?

and are your two RA87s properly shielded to prevent de-sensing each other?