What setting must be adjusted to reduce "false calls" on an inductive loop?

The adjustment of frequency is crucial in reducing "false calls" on an inductive loop. Inductive loops operate by detecting changes in the magnetic field when a vehicle passes over them. Each loop has a resonant frequency, and by tuning the loop to an appropriate frequency, it's possible to enhance sensitivity to the presence of vehicles while minimizing interference from environmental factors and electronic noise that could lead to false calls.

When the frequency is set incorrectly, the inductive loop may misinterpret other disturbances, such as vibrations or electromagnetic interference, as the presence of a vehicle. By adjusting the frequency, technicians can filter out these disturbances and ensure that the loop responds only to legitimate vehicle presence, effectively reducing the rate of false calls.

Other settings like amplitude, phase, and gain also have important roles in the loop's performance, but modifying frequency specifically addresses the vehicle detection mechanism's sensitivity to unwanted signals, making it the best choice for solving the problem of false calls.