SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-distorted-repeater-audio

Your audio through an FM repeater is reported distorted. Which could be the problem?

Any of these: off frequency, too loud or close to the mic, or a bad location.

Start playing free

  1. Only your CTCSS tone is wrong
  2. Only the repeater's antenna is too tall
  3. Off frequency, too close to the mic, or bad location ✔

Why: Being slightly off frequency, talking too loudly or too close to the mic, and a poor location can all garble your signal. Check each one.

Huh, didn't know that: Moving even a few feet can change how well a handheld gets into a repeater.

The dad joke
The repeater said I sounded garbled. I told it I always talk this way before coffee.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Off frequency, too close to the mic, or bad location. Being slightly off frequency, talking too loudly or too close to the mic, and a poor location can all garble your signal. Check each one.

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool (February 19, 2026 errata) ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf
    A. Your transmitter is slightly off frequency B. You are speaking too loudly or too close to the microphone C. You are in a bad location
    Checked 2026-10-09.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Ham RadioWhat is a common repeater offset on the 2-meter band?Ham RadioWhat does the reverse function on a VHF/UHF radio let you do?Ham RadioWhat is the sub-audible tone sent with your voice to open a repeater's squelch called?

That's stuff everyone should know.