radio frequencies question
it happens mainly in france, and usually in the dark hours when one is searching the newspaper for information vital to the safety of flight, but it happened in a big way last night and hence i will risk looking like an idiot and ask the question. i did a search on pprune but no response that addressed the subject that i could see.
we will be there, cruising along, minding our own business and ATC will tell an aircraft to contact them on another frequency. the other aircraft will respond and in a few seconds, i will hear them make the new call on the new frequency, but i haven't changed my frequency!!! last night i heard three different frequencies on my one frequency.
i can understand how ATC can monitor several frequencies especially at night with reduced personnel, but i cannot understand how i can hear another aircraft that is on another frequency than myself after they have left my frequency for another.
the only thing i can think of is somehow the signal is duplicated from some ground station to increase coverage.
i have heard it several times, almost always at night and never have received an explanation from any crew that i have been flying with.
perhaps will have to file this in the same box as my radar question as to what causes the big long spikes that occasionally shows up on the radar. alien invaders perhaps.
any genuine answer will be appreciated.
cheers