Repeater question

[ForestGal]

I haven't had to go to San Bernardino or anywhere south, since I got my radio about 3 weeks ago.  It's a handheld one, with an antenna about 13 inches long, in addition to the rubber duck one that came with it.  Does anyone know, at approximately what point, driving down LPC, does the Table Mountain repeater fade out, and I would have to switch to Keller Peak to hear anything?  And would it make a difference which antenna was on the radio?  And would it help if the radio was standing up, instead of laying on the car seat? 

Sorry if this sounds stupid to most of you, but I'm brand new at this....

[Wrightwood]

Not stupid questions at all as it's all new to you right now.

Going down Lone Pine Canyon you should be able to get Table Mountain 2 meter repeater in "most" parts until you hit the lower s-curves. When you head down the I15 you will have a few spots that you'll hit Table Mountain but it's touchy. By the time you get to Blue Cut that will be about it for Table Mountain. Some parts of San Bernardino/Redlands will work on Table Mountain but then again it's touchy especially with an HT.

You should be able to get the Keller Peak 2 meter repeater all the way down Lone Pine Canyon and will loose it in the s-curves at the bottom. On the I15 heading down towards San Bernardino you'll get it most all of the way. When you hit the I15-I215 interchange you'll do fine with Keller.

Yes the bigger antenna on your radio will help and having it standing straight up is the way it's designed to work 

[ForestGal]

Thanks, Wrightwood!    So, basically, it would just be wise to turn to Keller before I leave the house, assuming that nothing drastic is going to happen in the 3 miles from my house until I start down LPC?    Where exactly is Blue Cut?  I know it's somewhere between Cleghorn and Kenwood, but not sure where.

I assume that for Victorville/Apple Valley, that the Table Mtn. repeater is the best choice?  I've been listening an awful lot, and have heard conversations from VV, Pearblossom, etc.  Seems as if the Table Mtn. 2 meter is a very strong repeater.

Holy cow, a month ago, I couldn't even have typed what I just did, this is a whole 'nuther language.... 

[RobertW]

I assume that for Victorville/Apple Valley, that the Table Mtn. repeater is the best choice?  I've been listening an awful lot, and have heard conversations from VV, Pearblossom, etc.  Seems as if the Table Mtn. 2 meter is a very strong repeater.

The term "strong" might not be the best description to use.  Saying it is a very "accessible" repeater for that area would be better.

Sitting where it does on Table Mountain, it is like an antenna sitting 7,000 ft in the air.  You can be a long ways away from it to the north and still "see" it.  Remember what Clint taught you in class about "line of sight", radio signals and propagation, the curvature of the earth, etc.

I've heard people using the Table Mountain repeater from Walker Pass near Tehachapi and even Death Valley.

I'm just sorry I can't "hit it" from Burbank.  Too many mountains in the way.   

I know many repeaters have "coverage maps".  It would be interesting if anyone has found one for Table Mountain.

[Wrightwood]

Blue Cut is just south of Cleghorn. (actually right next to the area where the San Andreas fault crosses the I15)

From Victorville/Apple Valley areas both Table Mountain and Keller 2 meter repeaters can be reached.

As RobertW mentioned, the Table Mountain repeater can be heard a long way due to it's high perch above the desert floor. Last month I spoke with someone who was on top of Mount Whitney, with an HT on low power. He sounded as clear as someone across the street.

[Wrightwood]

Here's a great photo showing Blue Cut on the I15. It starts where it says San Andreas Fault in red and is the roadway cut to the bottom of the photo.

Actually that's not where the original name of Blue Cut came from in this area. The original name came from the railroad cut in the upper left of the photo. 

[clint]

Robert explained the "strong" thing very well. Table Mt. is really good in some areas and really bod in other areas. This can be said of all repeaters. It's all about where you want to communicate. For example if you want to talk from Wrightwood to USC, I know you know where that is, Table Mt. won't work. At least not reliably. If you want to talk to Downey or Lakewood, it will work just fine. But It's completely useless in the north half of the LA Basin. On the other hand, if you want to stay in touch most of the way to Las Vegas or driving up 395 it dos that really well. It serves Wrightwood and the High Desert really well, but it's a not a very good general coverage repeater because it's too far back in the mountains and is "shadowed" in much of southern Cal.

[clint]

And BTW what antenna are using that's 13" long? That's the wrong length for 144-148 MHz.

The rubber duck is fine. 19ish" is fine. Or a whip opened up to 24+" is fine. But 13"?


And it's very important that it be vertical. Remember in class we talked about polarization. Repeaters are vertical, your radio antenna must be vertical.

[Wrightwood]

I believe she is talking about her Diamond SRH320A tri-band HT antenna for 2 meters, 220 and 430 MHz. It is 13.5 inches tall and weighs about 1 ounce.

[clint]

Oh. Okay.

[ForestGal]

Thank you so much for all your helpful comments, everyone.  Yes, this is very new to me, and this isn't stuff that my brain digests very well.  I know how to plant petunias, and take care of wiener dogs - my brain adjusts better to stuff like that. 

I've learned an awful lot about the radio, in the last 3 weeks, just by listening.  I still get really nervous when I have to talk.  Hopefully, that will lessen with time.  But I really do appreciate all of your helpful suggestions and answers.

[ForestGal]

For example if you want to talk from Wrightwood to USC, I know you know where that is

   Retroactive comment here, it didn't register when I first read this post.  HeeHeeHee!  Yes, I spent 6 years on that campus, and I know exactly where it is.  Haven't been there in a long, long time now.  I hate going into LA.  Thanks for the memory!   

I know,   

[CA5th]

To Forestgal and other new hams.

It is just like talking to a friend.  You push th ePTT button, pause, then tlk in a normal tone.  Remember, only one person can talk at a time.  When youare done, release the PTT button any listen to the reply.  Use a normal tone of voice, no l;oud noises.  It becomes second nature after a short while!

[ForestGal]

Thanks, CA5th, I really appreciate every bit of help that anyone is able to give me.  I'm afraid that I'm a very nervous student. 

I've listened a lot in the 3 weeks since I got my radio, and it will definitely take more time before it's second nature.  Or third, or fourth...     And I've heard a few times that 2 people have tried to talk at once, it just sounds really scratchy, and I can't hear either one of them.  Is that normal?

 I've participated in the local disaster net on Sunday evenings now, for 4 weeks, the past 3 on my own radio, the 1st one courtesy of friends.  My stomach still ties in knots when my turn is coming up, and I hope I get over this soon.  I didn't retire to put MORE stress on myself....   

[Wildman]

Try this.  Have a friend or family member who has two FRS radios come over.  Set the radios on the same channel and go to different parts of the house.  Start talking to to each other for thirty minutes and take a break.  Do it again.
By the second go round, you will be as comfortable talking on a radio as you are on the phone.  Your ham radio is just as easy to use as that FRS radio. 
Still nervous talking on the radio?  Do it again for three days straight.

Sign up to work the 100 mile race as an information relay.  It's lots of fun...you meet some very nice people and you will be using your skills for a real world job.
Good luck.

Now I am really nervous when I try crocheting a sweater!

[ForestGal]

Thanks for the suggestions, Wildman.  This past Sunday on the net, I actually didn't go into apoplexy when it was my turn to talk.  I think I'm improving.  It's just that YOU did this for what, 9 million years in the fire dept., and for me it's been 5 or 6 weeks now.  I'm trying hard to learn.  I'll be in Oregon this weekend, so can't help with that race. 

And I don't know how to crochet a sweater either, but that wouldn't make me nervous!  Just extremely frustrated......

[Ishy]

Greetings,

I am a new HAM (that's fun to say, isn't it?) and will be traveling up Hwy 5 to Eugene, OR in the next few days.
I would like to listen in on my handheld (YAESU VX-170) during the drive.
Anything I should know? (I'm not even sure how to scan once I'm out of our area, but I should be able to figure that out, right?

Thnx!

[Toolman]

Ishy,
 Congrats on becoming a Ham... your going to like it the more you use it 

 The national calling frq. for 2mtrs. is 146.520 simplex no tone, offset etc. Many truckers who are Hams will monitor and once making contact will move off to another simplex frq. Many truckers use HF gear whle traveling also.

 If you travel often I can highly suggest software called "Travel Plus" I have an older version and it's very usefull. I use to travel to Vegas when my father was living there and I would have a file saved "Vegas" and enter it into my HT for the repeaters along the 15 corridor.

 It's simple to use, simply pick your route and circumfrence of expected coverage 10, 20, 50 miles etc. and it will generate a list of open repeaters along your route. You can print the route or download it into programing software if you have it for your HT. I simply printed it and kept the list with me and hand entered the repeaters I wanted.
 
 http://www.arrl.org/catalog/travelplus/

Have a safe trip 

[Ishy]

Toolman,

Thank you! That's exactly the kind of help I was looking for!

~Ishy