OK NEMO: Here's what happened. The Digital Net is on 3.588 Mhz, Upper Sideband Digital(USB-D). I was on the right frequency but on Lower Sideband (LSB). I was sitting there seeing nothing on my screen. The Digital net comes across the screen as TEXT. The benefit of Digital is it's a bit like Morse Code (CW) when PHONE(VOICE) won't quite cut through the noise. That's why we have 2 nets. The first is Digital and the second is Phone. By the way.... You probably should at least study for the Technician class Ham License. You'd be surprised how far you could talk with that UV5R when going through the BEDFORD repeater. As best I recall it is mounted on or near the Peaks of Otter. Sometimes I can hear it and even talk into it and I'm 127 miles away. You are only 18 miles away and can hit it with your Handi-Talkie while sitting inside your house.