Linda, There are several factors that may each be contributing to your reception problem. Some are simple to explained, others not so easy, but here goes. Most of this really applies to any radio and indoor antenna, but the hand held is our focus for now. First, regardless of the length of the antenna, both the receiving and transmitting pattern of any hand held radio is affected by its surroundings. These surroundings include, but are not limited to buildings, walls, large metal objects, even people standing near the antenna. This is one reason why reception will change as you walk through your house with the radio, and even as you face in different directions within a given room. My favorite example of this phenomenon happened when I gave a friend one of those FM broadcast band dipole antennas that was made from what we used to call "TV wire". He was trying to hear an Album Rock station in stereo, but needed a better antenna. When I saw him the next week, he said he hung the antenna in his window curtains, and it worked very well with only one problem. Even with that antenna, he could only hear the station when the refrigerator door was open. Stuff like that happens with indoor antennas, and it is unavoidable. So, other than standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, here are a few ideas. Try using a magnetic mount mobile antenna sitting on top of a file cabinet, the refrigerator, washer, drier, or on an upside down metal pan or coffee can. The last two options will allow you to move the antenna around more easily if needed. You can also try a J Pole antenna hanging in a window, or from a convenient place. Most J Poles are not duo band, however. Before you go out and buy either of these possibilities, try to find a local who will bring one over to be sure it will do what you need. If you can put the antenna on a balcony, or in the attic, then you will notice a really big improvement. But, if you can't do that, you will still get better results even indoors with the above mentioned antenna options than with something mounted directly on the radio. One problem that you can't do much about is any signal blockage caused by most of your building being between you and the repeater. If, for instance, your only available window faces north, any antenna placed in or near that window isn't going to do much toward the south. This statement is more true for 2 meters than for 440. It is also one reason why a window is not always the best location for the antenna. Sometimes, they perform better for specific repeaters or directions if placed in the middle of the room, or in some other place that is more or less out of the way and doesn't give your interior decorator a nervous breakdown. The quick solution for now is to try the radio from various locations within your house. You may indeed find that you need to talk over repeater A from the kitchen, Repeater B from the bedroom, and repeater C only when outside. I hope this helps a little, if only to let you know what is going on with the signals. Mike Duke, K5XU American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs