PCS2 wrote:
I have just had a week out at Darling Downs, Jondaryan Qld. (DDSC) on
126.7. Even during the week the noise was excessive with what sounds
like open mikes almost continually. Not being a radio boffin, is this
caused by transmissions from very far away?
It's hard to say for sure Peter. A lot of electronic devices -
including the computer you are sitting at now - put out weak signals
(carriers) all over the radio spectrum. These come from internal
oscillators in the various circuits for the device. The more complex
the device, the more of these "birdies" you are likely to find. These
can sound like an un-modulated carrier.
Try to remove yourself from close proximity to anything which is
electronic. The problem may go away. The squelch levels on your radio
may be set too close to the threshold weak signal level. Most radios
with the new "menu preset" squelch are a real pain in this respect.
(see Mike B's comments on this).
The "open mike" symptom is not so easily explained, unless of course
there are radio installations around which do really have audio
problems. (Not altogether uncommon in gliding situations)
I flew yesterday Saturday and it just got worse with over transmission
almost continuously and transmissions from Tangalooma (Moreton Bay) to
Rainbow Beach being heard. 126.7 was almost useless at times,
especially when the fleet was being launched at DDSC. Once on
Xcountry, we changed to 122.7 which was bliss compared but I was still
monitoring 126.7 on my hand held and it got better later on in the day
but still "open mikes".
Welcome to the amazing world of 126.7 Mhz. Where I fly, we have a
sometimes constant background of useless information from around at
least 10 different circuit operations, none of it applicable to our/my
own situation.
It's not all bad. It's certainly cut down on gliding chatter - no-one
can get a word in edgeways, and if they do, there is a fair chance that
the audio volume of the radio in the glider they are trying to contact
will have been turned down anyway - often verified during the
pre-takeoff check by the next pilot. Otherwise there are no
identifiable operational benefits from requiring gliding radio ops to go
CTAF, and it continues to be a source of smouldering discontent amongst
quite a few of our pilots.
Finally, Mike B will be surprised to know that I agree with him on more
things than I sometimes admit. When he wrote in a later post :
Absolutely. 126.7 is almost useless and results in nothing but
distraction while flying. Somehow nearly everybody in a power plane
has started making departure calls or overflying calls even when well
above any circuit traffic and in the absence of any announced traffic
making taxiing, line up or inbound calls that might indicate a conflict.
I can only agree. Loudly. INDEED VERY LOUDLY!
(whoops, sorry) :-[
BTW the GFA board knows about this 126.7 Mhz problem - it gets a mention
in board minutes from time to time.
On 122.7, there were two presumably glider pilots chatting without
call signs, <snip>.....
That's pretty standard. Nothing changed there in the last 30 years -
only two you say ...? :-)
Regards,
Terry
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