Squelch controls silence the constant background noise in two-way radio receivers during periods of inactivity. Receivers used for telephony such as citizen band, police and fire, and marine radios often spend much of the time in a listening mode when there is no message traffic. During these periods the only output to their speakers is ambient noise, which the receiver’s automatic gain control may make very loud. Writer Bio

What Is a Squelch Button Used for on a Radio  - 21