Grounding problem?

[hammer0630]

When I touch my 148GTL which I use as a base station I notice that the noise level(static etc.) drops down a S unit approximately? What might this indicate? I am pretty sure that the knobs are plastic on the 148 which seems odd that even touching plastic makes this difference.

 

[W5LZ]

It may be a grounding problem. It really isn't the plastic knobs, but just having your hand that close to the radio. That's typically a sign of CMCs, which basically means the best 'cure' would be at the antenna where that sort of thing starts, a choke or whatever.
Usually, the 'cure' is inconvenient for whatever reason, but that's the way it goes...
- 'Doc