Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 640; Flight Crew Type 620
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
After preflight and engine start; I listened to the ATIS and set the radio frequencies and navigation for the return flight. I made a call to ground control to request flight following. I did not hear a response. I checked the ATIS again and it sounded like 'native' ATIS. There was no other visible activity on the ground or in the air. I tried contacting clearance delivery with the same results. I double checked the published frequencies and noticed the hours of operation. I saw XA:00-XK:00 and concluded the tower was closed. (I have since checked and found the dates for those hours invalid). I announced my intentions on the CTAF (tower) frequency and started to taxi. When I was on taxiway 'A'; I looked towards the tower and noticed someone inside. I immediately pulled over onto the ramp and discovered the squelch and volume to be mis-set on the radio I was using. I corrected this and called ground for taxi clearance and flight following and the rest of the flight was uneventful.My mistakes were:   -Not thoroughly reading the AFD information as to the tower operating hours.   -Not immediately recognizing that ATIS would announce the tower being closed.   -Assuming that there was no communication problem (on my end).   -I had used separate radios for listening to ATIS and talking to ground and never cross checked them.Contributing factors were:   -Unfamiliar airport.   -Lack of activity (any other aircraft moving would have made me immediately realize I should be hearing communications).
C182 pilot reports being unable to contact the Tower and assumes the Tower is closed. During taxi; movement in the Tower indicates that it may be open. A second check of the radio reveals that the volume and squelch are not properly adjusted.