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Dead Air

Near my house if you look at 2m, 6m, and 70cm there are 90 repeaters within 25 miles and 224 within 50 miles 77 being 2m. So i guess it just is a matter of where you live as to how many repeaters there are.
 
Plenty of repeaters around me but normally most are pretty quiet. We have the usual nets and morning/evening groups. What I enjoy is the SIMPLEX. I have a small group of guys locally that meet up every morning on 2m. Bunch of guys 10 k below us on .520 all the time. Most of them are 40-50 miles south. Also have a couple that pop up on 220 simplex occasionally. Can't forget about the 2 old dudes on 440 simplex...you can learn a lot from those guys. Found 3-4 guys recently on 2m ssb 30 miles or so north of me that meet 2 nights a week...ssb is awesome when you have band enhancement and/or can find activity. To me simplex is more enjoyable and challenging than letting a machine do the work...
 
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Here is a partial list of the repeaters in my area - most are quiet 80% of the time

Chicago CHI 52.890 51.190 K9SAD SADFAR 131.8 AP 03/01/18
Chicago CHI 53.330 51.630 W9GG R-FAR 100.0 01/06/17
Chicago CHI 53.530 51.830 W9DIG W9DIG 114.8 [Under Const.] 12/31/16
Chicago CHI 145.110 - W9GN UFDA 107.2 APCO P25 12/29/17
Chicago CHI 146.730 - K9QKW K9QKW 107.2 CA E 01/05/18
Chicago CHI 146.760 - WA9ORC CFMC 107.2 CA 02/28/18
Chicago CHI 146.850 - WA9DZO M.A.P.S. 100.0 E L 02/28/18
Chicago CHI 146.880 - K9GFY SARA 107.2 CA Z 01/09/18
Chicago CHI 147.150 + W9SRO SRO/CFAR 107.2 X ARES 12/16/16
Chicago CHI 223.880 - KC9EBB KC9EBB 110.9 03/01/18
Chicago CHI 224.020 - W9TMC TMCARC 103.5 03/01/18
Chicago CHI 224.060 - WD9GEH WD9GEH 110.9 12/25/17
Chicago CHI 224.100 - WA9ORC CFMC 110.9 CA 02/28/18
Chicago CHI 224.520 - WM9W 220MHzGuys 110.9 X 02/28/18
Chicago CHI 224.980 - W9DIG W9DIG 110.9 [Under Const.] 12/31/16
Chicago CHI 440.175 + W9DIG W9DIG 114.8 C4FM System Fusion 12/31/16
Chicago CHI 441.275 + KA2DRQ KA2DRQ 114.8 01/01/16
Chicago CHI 441.325 + K9TOW TOWFAR 114.8 05/03/15
Chicago CHI 442.175 + AB9OV AB9OV 114.8 01/09/18
Chicago CHI 442.400 + K9NBC PARC 114.8 E 03/01/18
Chicago CHI 442.450 + K9QKB MRCA C 05/16/16
Chicago CHI 442.575 + N9OZG SATURN 131.8 01/05/18
Chicago CHI 442.725 + NS9RC NSRC 114.8 E 12/25/17
Chicago CHI 442.975 + WA9VGI FISHFAR 114.8 CA WX L X 12/31/17
Chicago CHI 443.375 + K9QKW K9QKW 114.8 01/05/18
Chicago CHI 443.600 + NS9RC NSRC 156.7 [Under Const.] 12/25/17
Chicago CHI 443.750 + WA9ORC CFMC 107.2 CA APCO P25 02/28/18
Chicago CHI 443.800 + K9SAD SADFAR 114.8 AP 03/01/18
Chicago CHI 443.975 + KB9PTI AIRA 114.8 IRLP Node 4134 01/06/17
Chicago CHI 444.375 + K9GFY SARA 114.8 CA Z 01/09/18
Chicago CHI 444.625 + N9SHB N9SHB 110.9 12/25/17
Chicago CHI 444.725 + W9TMC TMC ARC 103.5 L Linked to 6m W9GG 53.33 03/01/18
Downers Grove NE 145.390 - W9CCU WCRA 107.2 C4FM System Fusion 03/31/17
Downers Grove NE 145.430 - W9DUP DARC 107.2 CA E L IRLP Node 5370 Lk 224.680 12/29/17
Downers Grove NE 224.680 - W9DUP DARC 110.9 CA E L IRLP Node 5370 Lk 145.430 12/29/17
Downers Grove NE 442.550 + W9DUP DARC 114.8 CA E C4FM Fusion 12/29/17
Downers Grove NE 442.875 + W9YRC York RC 114.8 X IRLP 4774 EL 305654 01/05/18
Glen Ellyn NE 224.140 - W9CCU WCRA 110.9 AP E L Z 03/31/17
Glendale Heights NE 444.050 + WA9E Tower ARC 114.8 Fusion AMS/Wires-X 12/11/17
Glendale Heights NE 444.875 + K9XD K9XD 114.8 E X P 01/06/17
Hinsdale NE 146.970 - K9ONA SMCC 107.2 E L Echolnk 841437 All* 41931 03/01/18
Hinsdale NE 224.820 - K9ONA SMCC 110.9 E L Echolnk 841437 All* 41931 03/01/18
Hinsdale NE 443.300 + K9ONA SMCC 114.8 L Echolnk 841437 All* 41931 03/01/18
Joliet NC 145.250 - KC9PLK KC9PLK 156.7 DS CA Alt PL 107.2 01/01/17
Joliet NC 145.250 - KC9PLK KC9PLK 107.2 DS CA Alt PL 107.2 01/01/17
Joliet NC 146.820 - W9OFR WCARL 107.2 E 02/28/18
Joliet NC 147.300 + WD9AZK MAVERICK A 94.8 C CA E Z 03/01/18
Joliet NC 223.820 - W9OFR WCARL O AP E L 02/28/18
Joliet NC 440.150 + KC9PLK KC9PLK 114.8 CA 01/01/17
Joliet NC 442.300 + W9OFR WCARL 114.8 E 02/28/18
Joliet NC 442.950 + WA9VGI FISHFAR 114.8 CA WX L X 12/31/17
 
Things have improved in my area since I started this thread. There's one repeater that's fairly active with chat during the morning and evenings and hosts a newcomers' net every Sunday evening. It also hosts SkyWarn activity and will probably be activated later today as we go into yet another snow-laden nor'easter (Boy, am I sick of those!).

Things will improve more when the weather improves and I can get the J-Pole mounted on a mast at the roof peak. Right now, I'm using a hand-held and also have a mobil 2m/70cm unit with a mag-mount mobil antenna on a cookie sheet atop a book case. Works, but not ideal.
 
Quarter_Wave_Ground_Plane_detail_M0MTJ.png
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/ab18-16.pdf

See figures 25/26 from above

https://www.k5acl.net/building-a-14-wave-ground-plane-antenna-for-2-meters/

Try one of these for now Keith...old coat hangers work well...just set in window or on table what ever/hang from ceiling with thread...etc.....it will surprise you until the weather breaks!
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB
 
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Good links.

Check out repeaterbook.com, you may find many more repeaters that you're not monitoring.

Just a quick search of Cumberland county found quite a few hits. Most have been confirmed as on-air at sometime, so you may get lucky.

29.6800 -0.1 MHz 173.8 Windham Hill Cumberland N1FCU OPEN
145.3400 -0.6 MHz DMR Falmouth, Blackstrap Hill Cumberland W1IMD OPEN
146.4450 0 MHz CSQ Gray Cumberland KA1SHU OPEN
146.7300 -0.6 MHz 100.0 / 100.0 Falmouth, Blackstrap Hill (PAWA) Cumberland W1KVI OPEN
146.7600 -0.6 MHz 100.0 / 100.0 Portland Cumberland KA1SHU OPEN
146.8350 -0.6 MHz 103.5 / 103.5 Naples Cumberland K1AAM OPEN
146.9400 -0.6 MHz Yarmouth Cumberland K1JW OPEN
146.9550 -0.6 MHz 103.5 / 103.5 Portland Cumberland KA1SHU OPEN
147.0450 +0.6 MHz 103.5 / 146.2 Gray, NWS Forecast Office Cumberland K1MV OPEN
147.0900 +0.6 MHz 100.0 / 100.0 Falmouth, Blackstrap Hill Cumberland W1QUI OPEN
147.1350 +0.6 MHz 103.5 / 103.5 Brunswick, Growston Hill Cumberland WZ1J OPEN
147.2700 +0.6 MHz 103.5 / 103.5 Westbrook, Rocky Hill Cumberland W1CKD OPEN
147.3300 +0.6 MHz 100.0 / 100.0 Brunswick, Woodward Cove Cumberland K0LDO OPEN
147.3600 +0.6 MHz 100.0 / 100.0 Portland, Mitchell Hill Cumberland K1SA OPEN
444.1000 +5 MHz 82.5 Scarborough Cumberland W1KVI OPEN
444.2500 +5 MHz 82.5 / 82.5 Westbrook Cumberland N1ULM CLOSED
444.4000 +5 MHz 103.5 Holden, Riders Bluff Cumberland N1ME OPEN
444.6000 +5 MHz 82.5 / 82.5 Westbrook Cumberland W1CKD OPEN
444.9500 +5 MHz 146.2 Windham Hill Cumberland N1FCU OPEN
448.8250 -5 MHz DMR Falmonth Cumberland OPEN
1284.0000 -12 MHz 88.5 Brunswick, Oak Hill Cumberland K1MNW OPEN
 

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