What should you do if another operator reports that your station's 2 meter signals were strong just a moment ago but are now weak or distorted?

When another operator reports that your station's 2 meter signals were strong but have become weak or distorted, the best course of action is to try moving a few feet, as random reflections may be causing multi-path distortion. On UHF and VHF bands such as the 2 meters, signals can be affected by reflections off buildings, trees, and other obstacles. This can lead to multi-path distortion where the same signal arrives at the receiver via different paths, sometimes resulting in signal degradation.

By simply moving a short distance, you may find a position that is less affected by reflections or obstructions, which can help improve the clarity and strength of your signal. This is a common troubleshooting step used in radio communications to assess the impact of the environment on signal quality.

Other approaches, such as changing the type of batteries or activating the CTCSS tone, do not directly address the issue of signal distortion caused by environmental factors. Additionally, adjusting the squelch control on the other operator’s receiver, while it might improve their reception, doesn't resolve the underlying issues affecting your transmission. Thus, moving a few feet is often a practical and effective solution to improve signal quality in situations of multi-path interference.