Marco Leon mmleonyahoo.com wrote:

Same experience as Peter, it's usually busy in the NE. I usually only call
to check when there is absolutely no one on the freq and I believe that I'm
encroaching someone else's airspace.

Flying IFR back from Buffalo to Syracuse yesterday, I was presented with
long, silent frequency on Syracuse Approach. As a test, I decided to wait
it out and let ATC or another aircraft break the silence first, as if I
were having a blinking contest to see who would flinch first.

Perhaps five minutes passed without a sound on the frequency as I was
approaching the VOR where I know approach brings me down. I checked and
rechecked the volume on the radio and momentarily broke the squelch, but I
wanted to see how long I could hold out. Finally right at the VOR approach
called me to give me my descent instructions, loud and clear.

At this point in my experience, I admit that the stress of not knowing with
certainty (i.e hearing other activity) that the radio was still functioning
was greater than the effort of simply calling for a radio check.

--
Peter