there are repeaters around here, 1 in particular, I can run 5 watts or once 
I ran 100 in to it and the signal is the same so it's possible that you 
weren't that great no matter what, usually a sign of a poor repeater 
installation though.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frederick" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: another question


> Hi Holly,
>    I have worked a 2 meter repeater that was 20 miles away with a hand 
> held
> running 5 watts and a 5 eighth wave antenna. I took the same radio and
> connected it to a ringo ranger 2 at 68 feet and was able to work repeaters
> up to 80 miles away. I then bought an amplifier and at 30 watts If I could
> hear it I could probably work it. I was told that a yagi would help my
> signal even more. So, I bought a ten element one. At this point I really
> didn't get much of an improvement over the ringo ranger 2 but it made
> everyone else happy. One thing to think about with people giving you 
> signal
> reports. When I lived in Texas some people about 80 miles away said that
> they couldn't hear my 30 watt signal very well. So, I turned on a bigger
> amplifier and they told me that my signal hadn't improved. Well, I had 
> just
> gone from 30 to over 150 watts so I knew that my signal was about knocking
> them out of their seats.
>    Now you have pretty much all I know about Two meters and signal
> strength.
>                    God bless,
>                    Mark
> God loves you!
> My personal prayer book.
> Add your prayer or pray for others at the following link.
> http://prayerbook.homewithgod.com/cgi-bin/prayerbook/multi.pl?131961113534708:24:0
> My Ham Radio Lists
> http://lists.topica.com/lists/funhamradio.
> http://groups.google.com/group/funhamradio-list
> My personal website
> http://funhamradio.bloki.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Holly Alonzo" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 10:14 AM
> Subject: another question
>
>
>> Ok I've figured this much out.  From here to the repeater it is all flat
>> land, like fields for farming and stuff.  It's a small town so not many
>> high buildings and such.  I looked on map quest and from here to there
>> is 18.5 miles, but that is taking the roads.  so if you went like the
>> crow flies I'm not sure how much it would be.  But does anyone think I
>> could hit this?  I'm trying to get one of the guys from the club to come
>> out and see what he can hit.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Holly
>>
>>
>