THE HAM NOTEBOOK
This is a follow-up from my August 2021 QSO Today Expo presentation called “No Tools Troubleshooting” in which I introduced a thinking process to observe and assess things to achieve a result or conclusion. This thinking process can apply to other things besides ham radio equipment, and the more you practice this way of thinking, the better you become. It is a powerful tool for troubleshooting all aspects of life.
If you missed that online event, you can read my supplemental information posted on my blogsite, <https://tinyurl.com/3w73yjrc>.
One of the observations that drew several comments was the section on using our sense of hearing as a troubleshooting tool. “What’s that noise?” can be a useful path to take in diagnosing a radio problem.
Let’s take a look at some of the unusual or abnormal noises that may happen as we use our radios.
First, we should define or distinguish “noise” versus “sound.” For this discussion, we will define noise as something bad or unwanted and a sound as something normal or good.
In addition, because noise is so broad and affects many things in a radio, let’s limit this discussion to mobile and portable FM operations and equipment.
Quiet is Good
When talking about FM, we should have a simple understanding of
