What does a noisy indication usually indicate?

• A. True bearing displayed
• B. False bearing displayed
• C. Signal is strong and stable
• D. Bearing error is within limits

Answer: (B)

A noisy bearing readout means the measurement is not reliable—the indicator is probably showing a false bearing. When the signal is noisy, the instrument can flip and swing between directions, so the displayed bearing doesn’t reflect the true direction. A true bearing would appear clear, steady, and consistent, while a strong and stable signal would not exhibit jitter. Bearing error within limits implies good accuracy, which also wouldn’t be associated with a noisy readout. So, the presence of noise most strongly points to the bearing being false rather than trustworthy. If you encounter this, verify with another source or method to confirm the actual direction.