🔍 Key Concepts

• Squelch control function on a VHF/SSB radio • Relationship between squelch setting and receiver sensitivity • What happens when you turn squelch too high versus just above the noise level

💭 Think About

• When you rotate the squelch control until background noise just disappears, what is the radio doing to weak signals? • If you keep turning the squelch further so there is still no noise at the end of the range, what happens to very weak incoming transmissions? • Does a higher squelch setting usually make the receiver hear more or fewer distant/weak stations?

✅ Before You Answer

• Clarify the definition of receiver sensitivity (ability to pick up weak signals). • Think about whether more squelch blocks more or fewer weak signals — how does that relate to sensitivity? • Ask: at the extreme squelch setting with no noise, are only strong signals heard, or both strong and weak signals? Relate that to minimum vs. maximum sensitivity.