[Elecraft] 80m "Reflector" problem

[Jerry Hancock]

I was aligning the SSB filter settings on my K2 and listening on another
radio.  Once I had it set, I started a QSO on 80m and was making further
adjustments to the filters.  I didn't notice it at first, but I started
hearing the last 5 seconds of my transmissions at approximately S5.
Thinking that someone was recording my voice and playing it back, I
commented to the guy I was speaking with but he couldn't hear it.   We
thought this was strange since on 80m generally, you can hear about anyone.

Over the past few weeks, I have come to determine that there is something
strange going on.  It is happening on two transceivers, the K2 and a Yaesu
FT-897D.  When I key the mic and speak quickly, saying for instance "Test"
and quickly release the PTT, I hear my signal after about 1.52 seconds of
delay.  This is considerably shorter than the 5 seconds of rebroadcast noted
above.  If I send CW, the letter "K", I will get a "K", (dah di dah) back.
If I send a string of dots at 12wpm, I will get at most three dots back.  So
if I send one dot, I get none, two I get one, three I get two, four and
higher I get three.  I can only assume that the first dot is triggering a
repeater?? The reflected signal also increases with power output.  It is
about S5 with 100w and about S8 or so when I run the amp.  It is not a
person recording me since I quickly tuned around the band and even switched
sidebands several times.  The returning signal is always exactly on
frequency.  It doesn't happen on other bands that I am aware of.   It
doesn't happen all the time but lately I noticed it consistently during the
day.

I made several recordings ( I can forward them)  and it looks like the
signal is always approximately 1.52 seconds delayed and lasts about 1
second.  It can't be long path propagation since 1.52 seconds works out to
about 282,000 miles.

My antenna is pointed at a cell tower.  I also have large LORAN towers and
other sea navigation towers about a mile from me.

Anyone ever hear of something like this?  It must be a repeater of some
kind.

Thanks

Jerry, KG6KGP