Avoiding interference building a repeater

[WSCV533]

Hello all, probably got a stupid question for y'all to make fun of. I am slightly new still to GMRS. I got my Callsign about 3 months ago now. I have a simple 20' flagpole antenna and get good (~15 miles) simplex range for my needs. I'm trying to figure out how to avoid causing any interference when choosing what channel to set on my new repeater. There's a lot of repeaters within my range and my thoughts were on RP22 or 462.725 . I have not received anything on this channel and on the map the closest repeater to me that's on the same channel is about 50 miles away. I have tried keying up using the ctcss tones and get nothing, which leads me to believe it is out of range. I want to avoid disruption as much as possible out of respect for other GMRS operators. What's a fool proof method of avoiding interference? Obviously I will use "privacy" tones but is there more I can do to keep the air waves clear. I am almost ready to turn on my repeater system, but just wanted to ask this before I do.

 

Edit: Thank you all for your input. I appreciate your experience and support.

While this repeater will likely be open to all who draw near its primary purpose will be family communications between Pasco and Hernando Counties.

Edited May 29 by WSCV533

[WSCV533]

21 hours ago, marcspaz said:

 

There is a fire department near me that has a digital RF link between two locations on exactly 462 MHz.  They had a really dirty transmitter for months, causing interference with GMRS for about 6 miles around.  I was able to find out it was from them and got them to fix it.  At first, they swore I didn't know what I was talking about... but a few days later, it was resolved. 

 

You may have something similar going on there.  I would ask around to see if anyone local to you has a Kraken SDR or is familiar with RF triangulation, to see if you can find it.  It may be a matter of just having a convo with the right person to get it resolved.

Thanks, I'm pretty sure it's the EXACT same situation over here. New fire department opened up recently a few blocks from my house. I ain't gonna try to cause problems but I am certainly curious.

[WSCV533]

22 hours ago, MarkInTampa said:

550 maybe? - Clearwater is on that frequency, not sure if you are far enough away though

575 forget it! - Tampa 575 will stomp it
600 maybe? Tampa 600 is on it, but not quite as powerful as the 575 and 675 repeaters are but still pretty strong
625 nope - Spring Hill and is somewhat local to you
650 probably you best choice. There is a monster repeater in Sarasota on this frequency but you are more than far enough away. There might be something else on this near you, I'm 35 miles south and don't know what is around you for sure
675 nope - The new Tampa Bayshore repeater is another monster repeater in the area
700 most likely nope - nothing GMRS is on here but there is an illegal encrypted DMR repeater running on this frequency that has drove anybody trying to do a GMRS repeater away to another frequency
725 maybe? - but you said something is causing interference on this frequency

I agree that 650 is probably a good bet. I'll probably end up going through trial and error. I haven't hit the 650 repeater in Pasco/Wesley chapel from home, but at work I do. The way I see it, I am a new repeater. So I'll apologize and yield the channel if I start causing interference. Of course, the ideal scenario would be to not.

And yes, the Spring hill 625 repeater is only a handful of miles from my home so I absolutely cannot use that channel. Nice folks on that repeater.

As the antenna goes up higher, the signals certainly come through more.