New User and Need Help

[WSDR451]

Hello and thank you for reading!

I am a brand new user. I am attempting to communicate on a repeater using a Baofeng GM15 Pro. I am using the Radiodity CPS. I have verification that the repeater is receiving me, but I feel I am doing something wrong. I have programmed a second radio to the repeater, however the second radio is not receiving my transmission. 

Repeater name: Central PA 600 out of Harrisburg PA

Freq: 426.600

Input and Output: 123.0 Hz

My steps: I created a DIY channel for the repeater on the Radiodity CPS. I entered the Freq correctly. I then entered the input under the RX QT/DQT and the output under the TX QT/DQT. I have not messed with any settings on the radio itself. 

I turn the radio to the repeater channel, verify the repeater, talk again with my callsign and a "radio check", and nothing. the other radio I programmed does not receive it either.

I am BRAND NEW to this and I know that this is user error. 

 

Any thoughts or ideas??

 

Thank you from WSDR451!!!!

[Guest]

This question is asked often. So the basics. Is the radio on high power? How far away are you from the repeater?  Do you have line of sight to the repeater?   What antenna are you using?   Can you drive closer to the repeater to try again?   

[DONE]

When you key up are you hearing anything like a repeater tail (repeater continuing to transmit, ID or anything else) or is it just silence?

Are you certain about the input tone on the repeater?

Are you sure the repeater is up and working?  Do you hear others using the repeater in question?

 

[WRYZ926]

30 minutes ago, WSDR451 said:

My steps: I created a DIY channel for the repeater on the Radiodity CPS. I entered the Freq correctly. I then entered the input under the RX QT/DQT and the output under the TX QT/DQT. I have not messed with any settings on the radio itself. 

I turn the radio to the repeater channel, verify the repeater, talk again with my callsign and a "radio check", and nothing. the other radio I programmed does not receive it either.

Did you make sure to turn on "duplex" for the channel you programmed?  This is actually a common mistake when a person is new to radios and programing them.

GMRS repeaters use duplex in that the repeater receives on 467.XXX MHZ and transmits on 462.XX MHZ. Your radios will transmit on 467.XXX MHz and receive on 462.XXX MHz. So you will need to make sure that duplex is turned on, that the proper 5 MHz offset is on and that you are using the proper tones.

[WRUU653]

Another possibility is If you are listening for your voice on a second radio you will need to put some distance between it and the one you are transmitting on as they can interfere with each other. 

[WSDR451]

WRXP381: I believe the radio is on high. I am about 10 miles from the repeater. The map shows a pretty significant radius and I am near the middle and I do have line of sight. I am currently using an Abbree tape measure antenna. 

WRKC935: I do have positive tail on this repeater, and others that I have programed. It repeats back with the name of the repeater and the time. 

WRYZ926: I'm not seeing a setting for duplex on the radio or the CPS. Would it be called Freq Hopping Code?

WRUU653: I did not think of that. I will attempt that tomorrow with a distance of 4 miles tomorrow. 

[WRUU653]

52 minutes ago, WSDR451 said:

WRUU653: I did not think of that. I will attempt that tomorrow with a distance of 4 miles tomorrow. 

Give yourself at least 50’ 

[DenMRadio]

5 hours ago, WSDR451 said:

WRYZ926: I'm not seeing a setting for duplex on the radio or the CPS. Would it be called Freq Hopping Code?

 

No, he's talking about the frequency offset. To talk to a repeater you have to transmit on a frequency 5.0 MHz higher than the receive frequency. So on the GM15 Pro I believe that would be  menus 26 (Frequency offset direction, set to plus) & 27 (Frequency offset, set to 5.0).

[WRUU653]

3 hours ago, DenMRadio said:

No, he's talking about the frequency offset. To talk to a repeater you have to transmit on a frequency 5.0 MHz higher than the receive frequency. So on the GM15 Pro I believe that would be  menus 26 (Frequency offset direction, set to plus) & 27 (Frequency offset, set to 5.0).

GMRS radios typically have the offset already set on repeater channels 23 through 30 if not through 38. The DIY repeater channels should already have the offset built in. 

[WSDR451]

I have found the offset setting and have changed it to 05.000, however it will not let me save the setting. It says cancel and resets. Is this something I could fix if I used another CPS?

[WRUU653]

9 minutes ago, WSDR451 said:

I have found the offset setting and have changed it to 05.000, however it will not let me save the setting. It says cancel and resets. Is this something I could fix if I used another CPS?

Your repeater channels will already have the offset built in. 

[WSDR451]

I figured out that I was trying to use the repeater on the DIY channels I created, but couldn't change the offset. I made the corrections on the repeater channels and...success!!

 

Thank you everyone for your help!