From time to time, especially as the weather warms up in Northern Arizona, we receive calls from listeners alerting us that “another station has taken over our frequency,” or words to that effect. Sometimes it alerts us to a system malfunction. Other times it reminds us of a phenomenon called “E-skip.”
A simple explanation is that under certain atmospheric conditions, radio waves can travel in abnormal ways. For instance, a distant station’s signal can travel hundreds of miles and seem to crowd a local station on the same frequency. Some of our repeater stations are licensed to fairly low power and are easily overwhelmed by more powerful signals even if they’re coming from far away. The only good news really is that ducting works both ways. KNAU’s signal can also travel tremendous distances too.
Amateur radio operators actually like the condition, because it allows them to talk over greater distances than normal as seen in
this video.
Our combination of changing seasons, current weather and relatively low-power stations is what’s behind this interference. Assuredly, it will pass.
