[IRCA] Rockwork 4 DXpedition-- Top Twenty Signals from the South Pacific

[d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Some unusually strong Australian signals joined the NZ regulars during the recent Rockwork 4 DXpedition, including 585-2WEB, 585-7RN and 639-5CK. Some low-powered Kiwi stations like 531-More FM and 936-Chinese Voice also managed their best-ever signals at the cliff, as well as the NZ regulars 603-R.Waatea, 657-Star, 765-R.Kahungunu and 1503-Radio Sport. The 15 strongest DU's received during the DXpedition are linked below, along with their locations and power levels. All of these were received with Ultralight radios and "airport unfriendly" FSL antennas (as in the photo posted at https://app.box.com/s/dqaag49l6uboqcfboq4b7fn5fy9dsr1f ). Signals which reached an S9 level are listed with a double asterisk (**). 

531 More FM Alexandra, NZ, 2 kW This was a breakout DXpedition for the low-powered urban rock station, which sometimes dominated over the Kiwi co-channel PI and the other four DU's received on this frequency. This local ad string was received at 1255 on 8-1 (thanks to Theo for deciphering) 
https://app.box.com/s/lbmcayqyvvivedjx1j1ru5ihdcdydsem 

**531 PI Auckland, NZ, 5 kW The usual dominant station on the frequency, the Samoan (and other Pacific Island) language broadcaster was rocking at an S9 level with island music at 1248 on 8-8 https://app.box.com/s/b391cdrlt9s4c7y4gp3kt9q1dxbgpj4j 

**558 Radio Fiji One Suva, Fiji, 10 kW One of the big surprises of the DXpedition, this formerly weak station is now a South Pacific powerhouse after transmitter and antenna improvements (which were entirely funded by the Japanese government). On most mornings it would reach a very strong level, as in this S9 recording of typical island music at 1318 on 8-8 https://app.box.com/s/6b2fxp2ai8p44t38fih4dn1meffzocxi 

**567 RNZ Wellington, NZ, 50 kW The ex-big gun has sounded relatively modest after the demolition of its old tower, but it could occasionally sound fairly strong, such as during this typical male-female conversation at 1239 on 8-6 https://app.box.com/s/uk0aochlroo67tm1x0lm435fkva6dwz8 

**576 2RN Sydney, Australia, 50 kW This RN network big gun really pounded in during favorable Australian propagation (such as at 1315 on 8-9, during this music recording) but could lose out to the 2.5 kW Kiwi station Star during NZ-favored conditions https://app.box.com/s/3j0607fg6mzgidco3i3vz99ofuzl2cvi 

**585 2WEB Bourke, Australia, 10 kW One of the most amazing signals of the entire DXpedition, this rock music pounded in at an S9 level at 1335 on 8-8, soon after propagation had collapsed to most stations. Program Director David Sharp matched the song with his log, and in his e-QSL letter he noted that the recorded signal "is the strongest I have heard, to date, from the United States." https://app.box.com/s/94b723294xp9i2chgdyznfnwixah3n4o 

585 7RN Hobart, Australia, 10 kW In a snarl with co-channel 2WEB much of the time, it tended to have better performance overall than its 576 parallel. This typical ABC RN-network speech was received at 1243 on 8-3 https://app.box.com/s/aptynncjp3ll32d027s691rv82bau3m2 

**594 3WV Horsham, Australia, 50 kW Usually dominant over the lower-powered Star co-channels, this LR network big gun could really pound in when conditions favored it, such as at 1245 on 8-2 with typical ABC talk program https://app.box.com/s/m7d0fgnzxhzsg1hhxawzm1mtzct5zudw 

**603 Radio Waatea Auckland, NZ, 5 kW Significantly stronger than in recent years (throughout the week), this Maori network powerhouse managed its best signal ever at 1303 on 8-8 with island music and Maori chants https://app.box.com/s/wruaavle3k3s4x9my9armbxl4od0369s 

**639 5CK Port Pirie, Australia, 10 kW A big surprise with huge ABC network signals // 891 at 1307 on 8-7, this South Australian station was occasionally heard mixing with Oz co-channel 2HC on the other days https://app.box.com/s/o0jujrozx7w0wf7t4dnqq5dn7g20j0tr 

**657 Star Wellington/ Tauranga, NZ, 50/ 10 kW Another Kiwi blowtorch with its best-ever signals during this trip, the Christian hymn music broadcaster was pegging the S/N readout with this music and Irish-accented sermon at 1215 on 8-1 https://app.box.com/s/psfs64lczen4cfk137pijj0hpqc43dad 

**702 2BL Sydney, Australia, 50 kW The Oz LR network big gun usually had the edge over the Kiwi big gun Magic, such as during this ABC talk program at 1310 on 8-8 https://app.box.com/s/ur43ihfmgka0d1p6bupbhch9ixc1nvr 

**702 Magic Auckland, NZ, 10 kW When propagation favored both Oz and NZ (such as at 1320 on 8-4) the snarl between the Auckland oldies broadcaster and 2BL could turn catastrophic. Magic's "Peace Train" song was pretty ironic https://app.box.com/s/l1ad8kdp1d8ciupd7qivvc54nsknpbxl 

**765 Radio Kahungunu Napier-Hastings, NZ, 2.5 kW Although generally an underperformer throughout the week, freakishly good Kiwi propagation at 1258 on 8-4 propelled this Maori net 2.5 kW wonder to an overwhelming level with R&B music and a Maori net ID at the 1300 TOH (at 1:36 into the MP3). This meltdown-level recording was the strongest ever heard during 15 DXpeditions over 6 years https://app.box.com/s/qvu2atw8b22qvi8xwkgp95riigd5mlca 

**774 3LO Melbourne, Australia, 50 kW This huge ABC signal with female speech at 1332 on 8-6 was recorded using a 3.5 inch (89mm) "Frequent Flyer" FSL antenna, which proves once again that when propagation is good you can have a lot of fun with a modest aerial 
https://app.box.com/s/60dye0v5k46o9zr066px103mmh4fes8b 

**792 4RN Brisbane, Australia, 25 kW Like its 576 parallel this RN network powerhouse could really blast in when conditions favored it, such as at 1305 on 8-7 
https://app.box.com/s/374oiz85qfveyyfep3shmyqtjvvld0it 

936 Chinese Voice Auckland, NZ, 1 kW The very low powered Kiwi ethnic station managed its best signal ever with Chinese male speech at 1304 on 8-9 
https://app.box.com/s/z8jbfnptywt446a66kmpqqwzyuq0upsu 

**1035 Newstalk ZB Wellington, NZ, 20 kW Broadcasting call-in talk and occasional music, this would have been one of the best Kiwi signals except for a new west coast IBOC pest (which splattered over both it and its 1044 parallel). Despite the noise this station's awesome strength usually was sufficient to break through, such as t 1321 on 8-8 https://app.box.com/s/tmwvuo6ljm43dgceuifepj9egcxjb356 

**1386 Radio Tarana Auckland, NZ, 10 kW Pretty strong on most days with its Hindu ethnic programming, this potent signal with female speech was received at 1253 on 8-1. According to Walt this is English (although I can't really understand it) 
https://app.box.com/s/rnz50cg9xv8duvz161jgymjr3xlp4q8h 

1503 Radio Sport Wellington/ Christchurch, NZ 5/ 2.5 kW This was the best signal ever from the upper band sports relay at 1315 on 8-1 (and also the easiest Kiwi signal to understand, with a relay of Yankee-accented Fox Sports News) https://app.box.com/s/x2qfq4vcsdq2f8jvsusob1cbfjdj51x8 

73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (DXing at the Rockwork 4 ocean cliff near Manzanita, OR, USA from 8-1 to 8-9) 

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