Simplex vs Repeater

[WRWT491]

Still kind of new to GMRS and have one stupid question that a friend and I can not understand.  We are 15 miles away and we can hit each other 20w simplex.  He has a repeater that he can hook up to the exact same antenna he is using for his base.  The repeater is 40w after the duplexer.  When he hooks up the repeater I can not hit his repeater, even me on 50w.  Again we can hit each other just fine simplex on 20w zero issues clear as can be as if we are right next to each other talking, but he hooks up the repeater I can not hit it.  The repeater works just fine zero issues.  He can chunk the repeater with 20w 1 mile closer to his repeater and hit the repeater clear 8 miles from my place.  The only variable when we test is him swapping his base for the repeater.  Is there something we are missing or not understanding? 

[OffRoaderX]

• are you sure you are using the correct tones for the repeater?
• are you really certain it is working properly? ie; is the duplexer tuned correctly for the channel its using?

[BoxCar]

Definitely sounds as if it is a configuration issue. Does the repeater use tones? If so, remove the tone on the transmit frequency (462 MHz) and on the handsets receive (also the 462 MHz frequency). Be certain the HH transmit frequency has the same tone as the repeater's receive frequency (467 MHz). Does a HH open the repeater's receiver on the 467 frequency?

What antenna is the repeater using? Is the antenna tilted away from your location? That may cause the radiation pattern to be more elevated when using higher power. Try a different antenna with the repeater. Just some thoughts on trying to diagnose the issue.

[Socalgmrs]

Something is broken.  All a repeater is, is two radios and a duplexer.   It’s not magic.  It’s not anything else.   Something is wrong in the programming of your radios, the repeater programming, or the repeater has a mechanical issue.   I’d say that since you’re new and having to ask this question a repeater may not be something you should be messing with right now. If you can talk simplex a repeater is not really something that is needed at this time. 

[gortex2]

How do you know the repeater is working properly or duplexer is tuned correctly. Depending on duplexer there may be some desence on TX but if you can talk simplex fine then either its a configuration issue or a equipment issue with the repeater. 

 

[dosw]

How are you determining you can't hit it?

Need steps to reproduce the issue, including how your radio is programmed.

 

If he sets his own radio to listen to the repeater's input frequency can he hear you?

[SteveShannon]

We had a person on the forum a few months ago who connected backwards to the duplexer and had a similar result.  On the repeater the high frequency connection goes to the receiver side and the low frequency connection goes to the repeater transmitter. Your friend probably didn’t do that, but it wouldn’t be the first time.

Second, I second Boxcar in suggesting that you strip away all of the tones at first.  Once you know the repeater is working you can always reprogram them, ideally one at a time. If there are no tones and you are certain you’re transmitting to the repeater on the same frequency the repeater is receiving (one thing at a time) then make sure the repeater transmitter works.  When you’re done you should be able to verify each of the following steps:

1. handheld radio transmitting correctly 
2. repeater receives correctly 
3. repeater transmitter works
4. handheld radio receives from repeater 

Then add an input tone to the repeater and the same output tone to your handheld and test again.

Then add an output tone to the repeater and the same input tone to your handheld and test again.

[WRUU653]

2 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

All a repeater is, is two radios and a duplexer.   It’s not magic.

 Blasphemy I say!