Hello Chris, I do not not know what coverage you would be expecting with an HT or if your 880 was a mobile operation. If you were a ham from Colorado where repeaters are 5,000 to 9,000 feet above average terrain, then yes the coverage is that poor. The K1XC repeater is about 150'. I can use it in Kissimmee with my mobile, but not my HT. I can also use the W4AES repeater and it is at 245'. KJ4MMC at AES is 55', but is more of a "D-Star teaser" for hams to see when visiting the store. These would be the three closest repeaters for neighboring cities south of Orlando. Kissimmee is about 17 miles from the central Orlando area where these three D-Star repeaters are located. The other thing is that downtown Orlando is 100' above sea level. Disney area is 100' below sea level. That area was a swamp before Disney was built. Central Florida is not really flat, but close to it give or take a few hundred feet. I am sorry you did not have a good D-Star experience, but I hope your visit was enjoyable nevertheless. The high coverage repeaters still belong to the analog side. There are three of them at 1,300 and 1,400 feet east of Orlando. The rf trip would be about 28 miles for them to Kissimmee. Maybe some day they might go D-Star, which is doubtful since two of them are P-25 and NXDN capable.
73's James, N0XIA --- In [email protected], Chris Fowler <k...@...> wrote: > > I spent a week in Kissimme, FL and could hit no repeater. > ... > > Is the coverage that poor there? > > Chris >
