I made my first contact today! I still just have my Technician License, so that means mostly VHF/UHF transmission. I was using the W7LI repeater on Mt. Hebo today while I was in Oceanside, Oregon. I tried several times the day before, but no one was listening on the repeater. This repeater is just over 19 miles from my location and the person who responded was quite a distance aways on the opposite side of the repeater and across the mountains.
The contact was made using my Kenwood TH-D74 with a Diamond SRH320A whip antenna. It’s great to know that this little whip antenna can reach a repeater that far away.
I take my General License exam in a couple of weeks.