A Receiver Intermodulation Primer

By Alfred T. Yerger II

Here at Bird Site Optimization Services, searching for and resolving intermodulation problems is something we do on a regular basis. There is certainly enough of it out there to keep us, and probably a bunch of others, busy for a long time.

First, before we get too deep into intermodulation, or IM as we usually call it, I would like to point out that everything that goes bump, squeak, or howl on your radio is not IM. Calling everything that interferes with your communications IM is like saying that every time someone sneezes they have pneumonia. There are lots of interference mechanisms out there.