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TROUBLESHOOTING WORKSHOP

No reception?

From a silent speaker to an overloaded SDR: work through the receiving chain.

For analogue voice and SDR reception. Use a known station that is actually active. An empty channel alone does not prove a fault.

YOUR NEXT USEFUL TEST

Compare antenna and feed line

If several suitable references are missing, compare the shared receiving path.

  1. Switch the device off before checking connections. Inspect connectors, adapters and cable for visible damage; check the selected antenna input and antenna band.
  2. Compare with a known suitable antenna or a short known working feed line. Change location and orientation separately, not everything at once.

What to look for next

Note which individual change improves reception. Without a reference, no particular component can be declared faulty.

Related learning & practice

Technical sources for this check

Background and model-specific guidance; the check sequence is editorial. Match menu names against your own model’s manual.

Show check record
HB3YAQ · Check record: No reception?
Your answers; no automatic measurement.

1. Where is the sound missing?
→ On a web SDR in the browser
2. Is the waterfall updating?
→ Yes, new rows appear
3. Can you hear browser audio now?
→ Yes, I can hear something
4. Do frequency, mode and filter match?
→ Yes, checked against a source
5. What do you observe on the active signal?
→ Little or no signal
6. Can you receive another known station?
→ No, or no reliable reference

Compare antenna and feed line
If several suitable references are missing, compare the shared receiving path.
1. Switch the device off before checking connections. Inspect connectors, adapters and cable for visible damage; check the selected antenna input and antenna band.
2. Compare with a known suitable antenna or a short known working feed line. Change location and orientation separately, not everything at once.
Note which individual change improves reception. Without a reference, no particular component can be declared faulty.

ARRL · Feed lines: https://www.arrl.org/feed-lines

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