[RFI] Odd broadcast radio reception.

[KD7JYK DM09]

Here's a strange one!  Giving the general description, in case anyone 
has experienced such an occurrence.

Typical community, typical residential neighborhood.  I was talking on 
the phone with a gal that has lived at the same location since 1938.  I 
lived on the same street, and played radio for about 21 years.

Beginning around the first of June, she was sitting on her porch, as she 
does daily, listening to a new portable AM/FM broadcast receiver a 
neighbor bought for her.  It suddenly cut out.  No reception, AM, or FM 
bands.  No apparent interference noises, nothing trying to come through, 
as she described it, dead, just a slight background hiss, as if nothing 
was to be heard at all.  Thinking her new radio had an issue, she pulled 
out one another neighbor had given her several years ago, another AM/FM 
portable broadcast receiver.  Same reception issue, nothing to be heard, 
just a slight hiss across both the AM, and FM bands.  Thinking this odd, 
she pulled out a THIRD radio, and older Radio Shack portable AM/FM 
model.  Same issue!  Nothing to be heard on either band, just a faint 
background hiss.

She did go into the house, and try a counter top AC model, about thirty 
feet east of the porch, and that radio did work.

She tried all three radios on the porch repeatedly, for about two weeks, 
and, about two weeks ago, suddenly all three began working again, AM, 
and FM broadcast bands, as though someone flipped a switch, with no 
other issues exhibited between all three portable radios, "they suddenly 
all started working at the same time, and they still are, a couple of 
weeks later."

I gave her some pointers on comparing those four radios, and the one in 
her vehicle to each other, as well as trying to determine the extent of 
the issue, location-wise, and will get in touch with her later.

I have no further details at this time.  I've never experienced such a 
thing.  Any speculation?

Kurt