Outdoor Adventure USA

Picked up a FT-270 the other day at HRO as it was what fit into the current budget. I have an outstanding invoice and once that gets paid, I'll head back for the 350. Anyway, I'm playing around a bit with the radio in the hopes that I might be able to join in on tonight's Net. However, I can't seem to hear anything. I programmed in the KPRA repeater frequency and tone but get nothing. I also programmed in one of the PARC repeaters and I get to listen to Morse code. I have programmed in the correct CTCSS tones for both. The radio is only 5W but if I can reach the PARC repeater, I should be able to hear something on KPRA from North County, yes?

I'll be driving up to Riverside this afternoon. Planning on taking the radio with me so I'll see if I can get anything while on the road.

HAM radio is a pretty cool little community. Can't believe the number of phone calls I've received this week congratulating me on getting my license. Bec is laughing hysterically at the messages...

Sean:

Yes, it's true. You never know which of your friends have a good (or twisted) sense of humor until you become a ham.

At your location in North County, with an HT, your chances of hitting the repeater are a little dicey. If you have some elevation and a clear shot, you might make it, but it will be a stretch. Hooking up some sort of a beam antenna will obviously help. We have some members who check in from SD on a regular basis, but, as I recall, they all have all upgraded to some sort of an external antenna.

If you can hit any repeater, then you likely have set up Keller correctly. In Riverside, you should be able to hit the repeater with ease. We'll look for you tonight.

DaveK wrote:Yes, it's true. You never know which of your friends have a good (or twisted) sense of humor until you become a ham.

That's because you're all a bunch of HAMs... Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'll see if I can check in from the road this evening.

smslavin wrote:Picked up a FT-270 the other day at HRO as it was what fit into the current budget. I have an outstanding invoice and once that gets paid, I'll head back for the 350. Anyway, I'm playing around a bit with the radio in the hopes that I might be able to join in on tonight's Net. However, I can't seem to hear anything. I programmed in the KPRA repeater frequency and tone but get nothing. I also programmed in one of the PARC repeaters and I get to listen to Morse code. I have programmed in the correct CTCSS tones for both. The radio is only 5W but if I can reach the PARC repeater, I should be able to hear something on KPRA from North County, yes?

Did you set the repeater for tone encode, or tone squelch ? Most repeaters use tone encode, which uses the CTCSS tone to "unlock" the repeater for incoming transmission; Tone squelch will require the repeater to produce a CTCSS tone to "unlock" your receive circuit in your radio, or you won't hear the relayed transmission...

smslavin wrote:HAM radio is a pretty cool little community. Can't believe the number of phone calls I've received this week congratulating me on getting my license. Bec is laughing hysterically at the messages...

Yeah, we're an interesting bunch, all right...but in an emergency, we might be all you'll have

Another common problem is an incorrect split either + or - check the frequency when you are transmitting.

Hope you get it worked out.