The only time it helps to have Cobra SoundTracker is when - and only when - the radio you are talking to also has Cobra SoundTracker. Both radios need to have compressor/expander circuits. That was loosecannon's point.
Its normal to have a quieter receive with it on. That was my point, you dont need two radios for it to work.I have only owned one soundtracker (that I foolishly sold cheap because "they" said it was junk), and I thought the reduced noise with the soundtracker on was nice. A quieter receive is almost always good in my book, as it made no difference in hearing other stations. Now I wonder if the switch wasn't wire to a receive mod or something? Is it not normal to have a quieter receive with the soundcrapper on?