Radio Anomalies associated with an Ephemeral Satellite still in Orbit

Abstract

ATTENTION was recently directed in Nature to some radio reception anomalies observed in 1962, 1963 and 1965 at several different locations receiving the VLF stations GBR (Rugby) on 16.0 Kc/s and NBA (Panama Canal Zone) on 18.0 Kc/s. These anomalies consisted of an interfering signal just off the nominal transmitted frequency by some 10⁻⁷ parts, sometimes above the nominal value and sometimes below it, The interfering signal was often as strong as or stronger than the GBR or NBA transmissions, depending on the location of the receiving station, Two of the possible explanations for these anomalies have been discussed—nearby unknown transmitters operating on the same frequencies^1,2, and an alternate antipodal transmission path³. I have studied the Nature report and others^2–5 and offer some independent evidence of high frequency radio reception anomalies and a third possible explanation.