Another Source of VOR Omni Error

In the vicinity of reflecting objects, a VOR receiver picks up both the direct and reflected signals. This summation adds both amplitude and phase modulation to the signal that were not present at the transmitter. The error due to this phase modulation is fairly evident since the desired directional information is transmitted as a relative phase. What is not so evident is the fact that the amplitude modulation can also produce a phase error. This happens when asymmetrical filters are used to process the amplitude-modulated signal. The asymmetrical filter converts some of the amplitude-modulated sidebands into phase modulation which is recorded as a direct phase error.