Hearing another station from out of town on your channel could be due to a variety of reasons, and it's important to investigate the source of interference. Here are some possible explanations:
Atmospheric Conditions: Sometimes, certain atmospheric conditions, like temperature inversions, can cause signals to travel farther than usual. This phenomenon is known as "ducting" and can result in signals from distant stations being received where they typically wouldn't be.
Antenna or Equipment Issues: It's possible that there is an issue with your station's antenna or equipment, causing it to receive signals from other stations unintentionally. This could be due to a damaged or misaligned antenna, faulty equipment, or inadequate shielding.
Adjacent Channel Interference: If the interfering station is on an adjacent channel, it could be causing interference to your station. The FCC has specific rules and protections in place to prevent interference between adjacent channels, but issues can still occur.
Pirate or Unauthorized Broadcasters: In some cases, pirate or unauthorized broadcasters may operate on frequencies that interfere with legitimate stations. These rogue operators can be challenging to identify and address.
Propagation Changes: Over time, propagation conditions in the radio spectrum can change, affecting how signals travel and propagate. This can lead to variations in interference patterns.
To address the issue, you may need to consult with a broadcast engineer or technician who can help identify the source of interference and implement solutions to mitigate it. Additionally, if you believe the interference is the result of unauthorized broadcasting, you can report it to the FCC for investigation.