Ham Help

[mikelite80]

Ok, new guy needs more help! I've finally gotten my FT-8800R installed and running. I've been listening for a couple days getting the feel for it, finding the popular local repeaters. Few days ago finally try to make some calls and get connected. I make a few calls, call for a couple radio checks and nothing! I've read parts of the manual and seems like I have everything set right. Most popular repeater seems to be 146.920, with a 162.2 tone. I've got the radio set with the 162.2 tone and ENC on, set to max power output, and it auto adjusts for the -.6k offset. Everything else is set to the defaults. I get the beep, it shows it transmitting on 146.320, but I never get anything back. I haven't been around anyone to try anything on simplex yet. I've tried doing some googling but no real luck. Seems like most things say to do what I've done, not much on what to do if it doesn't work! Thanks again guys!

Mike
KF7BMT

 

[MuddyOval]

Do you hear activity on the repeater? Sometimes there's just nobody listening or at least nobody who cares enough to respond.

 

[Cypher]

Sounds like you have everything set up correctly...

See if you can find some nets on these repeaters in your area and get involved. Some of the nets are club based, in which case you can also join a club. Many times if you find a net just politely jump in and as what it is all about. Usually the other operators are willing to discuss their club and or purpose of the net. It is a nice way to get started.

 

[crawler#976]

Mike

You might try the Mingus Repeater - it's one you'll need anyway. http://wb7tjd.org/irlp/

The Arizona Repeater Assc. (http://www.w7ara.org/Web/) maintains a network of repeaters. They include the Rim Link the joins the Mt. Ord with Pinal Peak, Mt. Elden in Flag, and Greens peak near Springerville. They cover most of the state. The CalZona Link allows you to contact San Diego via the White Tanks machine.

Hope these help!

I'm limited to 2M via HT at the moment or I'd try to set up a contact with you via the Rim Link. I can get the Mingus machine OK, but not Flagstaff from here.

Take care,

Mark

 

[mikelite80]

Thanks guys. I knew I had a problem when I tried to ID into a Net last night and they never copied any of my attempts. The repeater I named almost always has activity which I can monitor very clearly. I understood not getting replies when I was driving around just scanning and hitting some popular freqs.

There is a guy who is a member of the forum/net I lightly follow who offers to tune antennas for free since he has the big bad a** meter scope and stuff. I might hit him up and at least rule out the cable and antenna.

I'll keep playing with it. Maybe call for a radio check with a "Pretty please with a cherry on top"

Thanks guys!

Mike

 

[MuddyOval]

If you've got an antenna problem, you might not be getting out. A serious antenna problem can damage your rig, so I'd get it checked before too many attempts at transmitting.

 

[crawler#976]

Mike,

The 146.92 freq you posted is an ARA repeater on Mt. Ord, and I can hit it from here in Prescott Valley at 50W. Check your programming sequence, and I think you'll find an error somewhere! It takes a little while to figure out the best way to program a radio.

Mark

 

[Cypher]

Mike,

The 146.92 freq you posted is an ARA repeater on Mt. Ord, and I can hit it from here in Prescott Valley at 50W. Check your programming sequence, and I think you'll find an error somewhere! It takes a little while to figure out the best way to program a radio.

Mark

Awesome.. That is a pretty good shot Mark.

Mike, hope to catch on on the airways sometime! Good luck!

 

[gary in ohio]

If you key the mic, say YOURCALL testing and release the mic and dont hear a "beep" from the repeater then your not getting a signal to the repeater or your tones are off. Also look at the meter, does it look like the repeater is coming back to you when you transmit, your just not hearing it?

 

[mikelite80]

So found the problem. Well I called tech support and ask. On the 8800 to actually transmit the freq has to be stored into a memory. You can't just dail up and connect it has to be stored first. What is deceiving is the radio makes it look like you are transmitting but you aren't. He said it says this in the manual, but I RE read most of it and still didn't pick that up. Thanks for you help guys!

Mike

 

[Cabrito]

So found the problem. Well I called tech support and ask. On the 8800 to actually transmit the freq has to be stored into a memory. You can't just dail up and connect it has to be stored first. What is deceiving is the radio makes it look like you are transmitting but you aren't. He said it says this in the manual, but I RE read most of it and still didn't pick that up. Thanks for you help guys!

Mike

Really?

That does not make sense and I think it is incorrect. I also have the 8800. I just went out to the car and went to VFO mode and put in a local repeater frequency, then I put in the tone freq, and set it to ENC so it will send the tone. The radio is smart so it already had it set to Minus off-set.
This local repeater has a really neat function that lets you push in 699 while keying up and it gives you an "S" reading. I was S7 from my location.
I did not have it in memory mode.
You just need to make sure your radio has everything set up for repeater transmitting.

I hope you get it going.

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