Some of you may know that I DX the AM and FM broadcast bands. About 5:00 yesterday afternoon I was parked on Vista del Campo near the intersection of Portesuello Ave.; a little above the Santa Barbara Community Academy off Modoc. I was doing a FM broadcast band bandscan.
The radio in my Honda Fit stopped on 101.3 MHz. There was a full quieting stereo signal that appears to be rebroadcasting an unknown frequency on one of the HF bands. I heard a little splatter from an adjacent frequency and later a transmission that was being received on the wrong sideband. I kept it on as I drove home. Where Portesuello Ave. crests it was extremely strong. As I headed down toward Las Positas it got weaker. It was still there but weak after I turned left onto Las Positas. When I turned left on Cliff Drive it went away completely.
I had it on this morning on my way to work. I live at the corner of Cliff Drive and Loma Alta. After heading down the hill past SB City College when I got out in the clear and could see downtown the signal reappeared. It was not very strong and quickly faded. North on 101 it got stronger around Mission and was quite strong at Las Positas. The HF receiver was tuned to a roundtable QSO that was tuned in perfectly. I could easily understand what every station was saying. It faded near La Cumbre and was fairly weak after that.
It was on as I drove home from work today around 4:45. There was a WA5 tuned in perfectly calling another station that did not reply.
Although I already knew what I was going to find I checked the FCC web site. It shows no licensed stations in Santa Barbara on that frequency. The closest licensed station on 101.3 is in SLO.
I don't think this is accidental but I don't have a theory as to what it is. Perhaps some of you T-hunters might have fun with this.
73 de WB6TNB