HT as Base Station?

[BikingBrian]

Since my Kenwood mobile 2 meter radio and amplifier were stolen when my place got broken into, I've now connected my Baofeng UV-5R HT to my 2 meter antenna on my garage. When listening on the Table Mountain 2 meter repeater, I hear a bunch of static in between RX. I tried adjusting the squelch, but that's not the problem. Yet when I put the stock rubber duck antenna back on, all is fine. I assume my problem must be RX overload because the Table Mountain repeater is so close?

[Bob C]

I doubt it, unless you live under the tower.

My guess is interference from something else. HT's don't have a lot of shielding... I get interference using mine at home, too. In my case, My desktop computer, Fluorescent lights cause problems. In the past, the un-terminated cable TV lines around my house caused problems. While driving, the electronics in my car cause a lot of problems.

[Wrightwood]

BikingBrian,
For the Table Mtn 2m repeater try setting CTCSS Decode On (in addition to Encode) to get rid of the RFI. Cable TV interference is a major cause of the RFI in Wrightwood and that's why years ago CTCSS Decode ability was added to the repeater.

Sorry to hear about the break-in and loss.

[Wrightwood]

Here's more on the Cable interference topic BobC mentioned:

Link Here

There should be more on another topic as the FCC got invloved after we complained about Charter Cable (formerly Falcon Cable)

[Wrightwood]

Here's the FCC action that took place in 2007. Not much has changed as there's un-terminated drops all over town that cause issues.


Falcon Cablevision, A California LP, Wrightwood, CA - EDOCS
Jul 18, 2007 - NOV

A Notice of Violation is issued, pursuant to Section 1.89 of the Commission's Rules, to Falcon Cablevision, A California LP, operator of a cable system in Wrightwood, CA.
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-275710A1.pdf

[BikingBrian]

Just now seeing all of these replies. I'll set CTCSS decode in addition to encode the next time I'm in town. Thanks for the link to prior cable interference thread; in fact, I am very close to that location. I know that I had an unterminated cable drop to my house, but I believe it has now been removed.

[CaptureCom]

BikingBrian,
Listening to your story, I would spend a few minutes verifying the integrity of your antenna system, and specifically the connector end in your home.  If I understood your troubleshoot results correctly, your handheld works nominally with the rubber duck, and displays noisy performance on your outside antenna.  Sorry to hear about your loss, but the bad guys probably didn't disconnect your old radio with any care for the connector.  Throw that antenna on an SWR meter with your handheld as a source, and check SWR.  You'll want to flex the coax a bit near the connector while checking SWR, looking for variations in the SWR value.  You may find that your connector needs to be re-installed on your coax.
Pat-KA6P

[Wrightwood]

Good catch CaptureCom 
That does sound like the issue that BikingBrian described.

[BikingBrian]

Thanks for the idea. Anyone have an SWR meter I could borrow when I'm in town?

[spellbinder]

Just saw this post...
If you still have the problem, contact Darryl at the pizza place and I will drop off my SWR meter there for you to use.