SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-fm-over-deviating

What can you do if you are told your FM radio is over-deviating?

Talk farther away from the microphone.

  1. Talk louder into the microphone
  2. Change to a higher power level
  3. Talk farther away from the microphone ✔

Why: Over-deviation means your voice is swinging the FM signal too far, which can sound distorted. Backing away from the mic lowers the audio level going in.

Huh, didn't know that: The amateur and land mobile services settled on about 5 kHz of FM deviation.

The dad joke
Why did the ham back away from the microphone? It said he was getting a little too deviant.
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Sources

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool (Feb 19, 2026 release) https://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf

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