has a lot of what seems like someone staying keyed
up. I turn the squelch all the way up and I still get a signal, but it's
not stopping anyone else from keying up and saying what they need to

Another possibility is that it's a "birdie". Something at or near your location
(A PC perhaps) is emitting an RF field that's being picked up by your receiver.


Move the radio to another location, maybe another room or down the block, to
see if it stops.

F.R.