[IRCA] Rockwork Ocean Cliff DXpedition Loggings & MP3's (Part One)

[Gary DeBock <d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

      A plunging ocean cliff, an innovative compact antenna, great DXing companions and thunderous DU signals-- who could ask for more? Listed below is the first group of South Pacific signals from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Tonga, along with a 500 watt Longwave beacon from Norfolk Island (in between NZ and Australia). All of these were recorded at the Rockwork ocean cliff near Manzanita, Oregon from August 1-9 with 7.5" loopstick portables (CC Skywave SSB and XHDATA D-808) and "Airport Unfriendly" 15" and 17" FSL antennas. Signals which reached an S9 level at some point in the recording are marked with a double asterisk (**). A detailed ocean cliff setup photo showing the XHDATA D-808 portable boosted by the 17" FSL antenna is posted at  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/shkdipy66ka1g0udrbdvw67ncvjnrm64


260  NF   Norfolk Island, Australia,  500 watts   The low power air navigation beacon made its first appearance in 7 years during a superb Longwave propagation opening at 1209 on 8-8. Received with a Tecsun PL-380 and 12" Longwave FSL, the same propagation opening was used by DXpedition partner Tom to track down an awesome total of 55 beacons from Australia, NZ and the Pacific  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/209sk7dvhkfglpqv50gs1ehypgmxz2m2


531  2PM   Kempsey, Australia,  5 kW   Call-in talk on the "Help Line" with the Super Radio Network mentioned (at the 22 second point) at 1245 on 8-1; also showed up on most sessions with the Australian lottery numbers around 1320  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/gmu21imwglr0rdtgn38cwjgi7r6qrzs6


531  4KZ   Innisfail, Australia,  10 kW   (presumed)   Classic soft rock format at good strength matching the website info at 1252 on 8-8, but no ID's showing up for me or Tom; there isn't much doubt about identity, however  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ajq981vqp28k3dyoobhvje7mc334k6qn


**531  More FM   Alexandra, New Zealand, 2 kW   The obscure modern rock station usually managed at least one S9 peak each morning, and was fully competitive with Kiwi co-channel PI for the first time. This TOH recording at 1300 on 8-8 demonstrates its potent capability at the cliff  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/wlkl8yrxvxfblqytpee4wmp8l1oh0haj


**531  PI   Auckland, New Zealand,  5 kW   Pacific island music at a huge level at 1248 on 8-7 was typical from this low band powerhouse, which was frequently in an all-Kiwi snarl with its overachieving co-channel More FM  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/c2y4uqb809exw7lqm2evdjzzcxie3mce


558  6WA   Wagin, Australia,  50 kW   Last chance reception on the final day of the DXpedition (at 1254 on 8-9) before being immediately swallowed up by Fiji; this was its fourth appearance in four years at the cliff. Although this was a somewhat dicey recording, the operative words (from 30 to 35 seconds) are "you have to be extremely careful of the vanity publishing area")  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/dv5g0dc3k469p7upm5t92dy66fq34u8l


ABC website Podcast material matching the "operative words" on the Nightlife program (proving 6WA reception)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/mw00oo69wdovircqi0q95cfr5db9yko https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/mw00oo69wdovircqi0q95cfr5db9ykok


**558  Radio Fiji One   Suva, Fiji,  10 kW   The donated Japanese transmitter still puts out awesome signals for this native-language powerhouse, including this S9 island music with a Song Medley ID ("Radio Fiji One, na domoiviti") at 1:38 into this recording at 1252 on 8-1. This was its strongest signal ever at the cliff  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/vhwdviemmimdxervjaoe1qqci7a59dqj


558  Radio Sport   Invercargill, NZ,  5 kW   One of the tougher Kiwis came through with Yankee-accented Fox Sports News relay // 792 at 1307 on 8-5, showing up for the first time in three years  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/dnkj6fqkviu8g57hw5mzcm00xae62ibr


**567  RNZ National   Wellington, New Zealand,  50 kW   After demolition of its old tower the RNZ big gun has sometimes sounded anemic on the west coast, but certainly not at 1320 on 8-3 with Indian-accented English  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/kbx6rp6asp7v89hb08yhknjfp5cklhre


576  2RN   Sydney, Australia,  50 kW   The RN network big gun sounded pretty anemic on the "Kiwi Cliff" throughout the entire trip, such as at 1253 on 8-5, when it was barely stronger than the "dwarf Star"  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/lyeyyegyq8n5a068fpwzwdpyte90flnw


576  Star   Hamilton, NZ,  2.5 kW   The "dwarf Star" managed music under 2RN at 1253 on 8-5  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/xekx5gb4chsdr1njlc4kkd4mlxw630h3  which is parallel to 657-Star at the time  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ipl15obsn5w55qtdgdjzyit65h6918lb


**585  7RN   Hobart, Tasmania, Australia  10 kW   The RN network Tasmanian must have somehow hacked into the Kiwi propagation pipeline at 1306 on 8-6; at the time it was much stronger than its 576 parallel  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/santvgc0qi9txyz0pbzn93d9h72jczmo


585  Radio Ngati Porou   Ruatoria, NZ,  2 kW   One of the rarest possible catches from NZ. During the 7RN recording some choral music is audible under Tasmania, and after about a minute I decided to check for a Maori net parallel on 603-Waatea (at 2:08 into the recording). Much to my surprise 603 had the same choral music, nailing down reception of this station with legendary weakness (for the first time in 4 years)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/wpqm0pjh1f1cj8nlzzo93jclvrd46clg


594  3WV   Horsham, Australia,  50 kW   This Oz big gun was mostly cannon fodder for the Kiwi co-channel Star, rarely even managing a decent signal. One more victim of the cliff's preference for New Zealand!


**594  Star   Timaru/ Wanganui, New Zealand,  5 kW/ 2 kW   Another Kiwi overachiever, this low powered network was socking it to the Oz big gun 3WV all week, including with this powerful Christian music // 657 at 1326 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/j80d4a3hbktpk5284v2tr26sq284faf2


603  2RN   Nowra, Australia,   10 kW   Mostly MIA or way under Radio Waatea, it did manage a very rare moment of dominance at 1256 on 8-1, // 576  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/7z0mv5gjb60hwwyxjmm5ni8y4u0qhr0a


603  Radio Waatea   Auckland, NZ,  5 kW   This Maori net flagship station was one of the stronger Kiwi signals, but never quite reached the blistering levels of 531-PI, 567 and 657. This beautiful music at 1318 on 8-3 was typical of its strength  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/gjn4w89yxz0p98lb3tb9fhoz0q0iw095


(TO BE CONTINUED)

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