These "birdies" were with or without antenna and I see that the diode fix has nothing to do with birdies! Unwanted oscillations destroying stuff seemed pretty important since the text directed the mod before powering up! Heck, this one was powered up last year!
I had heard the term birdies before but actually had no idea what they were. I always blew it off as someone tuning up! Now I know a teensy bit more. The receive on this QMX seems quite good just to the ear. I have three other SDR based receivers to compare and the all seem about the same and equal to the QMX.
At any rate, that diode is going in tonight/ tomorrow! Thanks all!
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73
Karl
KI4ZUQ
Karl