[IRCA] Oregon Beach Cliff Ultralight DXpedition Loggings, 8-14 to 8-16

[d1028gary@xxxxxxx]

Hello All,

The chance to combine high elevation with a salt water propagation
advantage has always been fascinating to me, and before the summer
ended I was determined to find an extremely high ocean cliff viewpoint
along the Oregon coast to use as the ultimate Ultralight DU-chasing
venue. Although I would be DXing out in the weather with no chance of
computer assistance or AC power, the opportunity to have the triple
advantage of high elevation, salt water propagation and a high-gain
portable antenna was irresistable. After scouting out various
viewpoints along Highway 101 on the Oregon Pacific coast, I settled on
"Rockwork," an awesome site on a steep cliff high above the ocean beach
in Tillamook County, just south of the Clatsop County border. The
altitude of this site is breathtaking-- a photo of the ocean view is
posted at http://www.mediafire.com/i/?9w83poo77w8wrvc

The plan was to stay at a Cannon Beach (OR) motel for 3 days, and get
up around 0300 local time every morning (1000 UTC) for the 10 minute
drive to the ocean cliff viewpoint. My medium-wave DXing radio
equipment was very basic-- a barefoot Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight radio,
a newly designed 8" diameter Ferrite Sleeve Loop antenna (shown in
the photo link above), and a 5' PVC base. This is a ferrite rod-based
antenna which performs somewhat like an air-core box loop, although
with the advantage of lower noise pickup. This antenna system had been
tested the month before on the ocean beach at Lincoln City (OR) about
90 miles to the south, where it provided the first Ultralight reception
of 666-Noumea, in New Caledonia.

The three day trip would be risky if propagation didn't cooperate, but
fortunately two of the three days were great for DU reception.
765-Radio Kahungunu (a 2.5 kw station in New Zealand) was received for
the first time on Ultralight radios, as well as 684-NZ Rhema on its new
frequency. The usual South Pacific regulars of 603-Waatea, 657-Southern
Star, 675-National Radio (NZ), 738-Tahititi and 891-5AN were all
vibrant, and as usual there were several UnID mysteries to make matters
interesting. Thanks very much to both Tony King of New Zealand and Gary
Deacon of South Africa, who provided information to help confirm
765-Radio Kahungunu's identity. Thanks also to Chuck Hutton and Patrick
Martin for listening to the mystery MP3's, and offering their
suggestions.

73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

153-Radio Rossii    Komsomolsk, Russia  The third strongest of the
Rossii stations during the trip, its frequency was below the FSL
antenna's tuning range (225-900 kHz), but that didn't really matter.
It produced vibrant signals on just the 7.5" LW loopstick PL-380
http://www.mediafire.com/?dl0x9q1snbvg9mq

180-Radio Rossii    Yelizovo, Russia  The weakest of the Rossii
stations, it produced a fair signal on just the 7.5" LW loopstick on
the exceptional morning of 8-14
http://www.mediafire.com/?uuu03nnrrvcr2i4

189-Radio Rossii    Belogorsk, Russia  Generally around on all three
mornings, but not one of the stronger Rossii outlets. Received with
7.5" LW loopstick PL-380 alone http://www.mediafire.com/?b59la3g155klhb0

234-Radio Rossii   Arman, Russia  Received with vibrant signals on the
exceptional morning of 8-14, it fought a snarling battle with 233-ALJ,
resulting in a loud 1 kHz heterodyne
http://www.mediafire.com/?apw030x3kg31t83

279-Radio Rossii    Yuzhno-Sahkhalinsk, Russia  The strongest of the
Rossii Longwave TP's and a frequent blowtorch on the Oregon beach
cliff, this awesome signal pegged the PL-380's S/N reading at 25 for
the duration, as the Russian YL sounded like she would melt down the
Ultralight http://www.mediafire.com/?qnociq928vomp9b

530  ADK    Adak, Alaska     Domestic TIS QRM and 531 South
Pacific heterodynes competed with this long-range Alaskan on all 3 days
http://www.mediafire.com/?cbtl9lvnmcqcdlh

531  UnID-DU     As usual during my summer beach trips, several UnID
South Pacific stations competed for this frequency, with no clear
winner. The island-like music at the end of the recording could be from
531-PI in New Zealand  http://www.mediafire.com/?ukpv2lk8pkuiyf9

567  2YA     Wellington, NZ     The second strongest of the
National Radio stations, it was frequently troubled by 570 Seattle
splatter http://www.mediafire.com/?f6fcgga7dbre574

576  2RN     Sydney, Australia    Heard briefly under 570
splatter with typical music on 8-15, // 792 kHz

585  UnID-DU     The mystery classic-rock station was back for
another trip, this time playing "A Horse With No Name." Chuck thinks
this may be 2WEB, but the DU English doesn't ever seem to be clear
enough to definitely nail it down
http://www.mediafire.com/?vdytg556d027a7w

594  3WV, NZ-Rhema     The Australian big gun and the two low-powered
Rhema stations were apparently fighting it out as usual on the
exceptional morning of 8-15 http://www.mediafire.com/?0nlm7o8ua18km3x

603  Radio Waatea    Auckland, NZ    Maori-language 5 kw station had
typically strong signals during this trip, including this Polynesian
choral music recorded on the exceptional morning of 8-15
http://www.mediafire.com/?cqf97ce2onnd3on

603  UnID-DU     Recorded under Radio Waatea's choral music, this DU
English signal may be one of the 10 kw ABC stations
http://www.mediafire.com/?czkz600jl8paq27

612  4QR     Brisbane, Australia    Big gun had vibrant signals on the
exceptional morning of 8-15, like other Australians

639  4YW    Alexandra, New Zealand   This Radio National relay has been
holding down the frequency almost every day during the summer beach
trips, seeming quite unusual for a 2 kw station. Parallel checked with
675-3YA (and identity confirmed) during this trip
http://www.mediafire.com/?py5xy79u61m20i6

639  Radio Fiji One    Lautoka, Fiji   Mixing with 4YW occasionally
during this trip, but not really competing with the newly dominant "2
kw" station http://www.mediafire.com/?s5tfz6qj6cit7pc

657  2YC   Wellington, NZ   (Southern Star) Typically vibrant signals
with Christian music were heard throughout this trip
http://www.mediafire.com/?g5n1f19bf2jvhrp

666   Radio New Caledonia   Noumea, N.C.  Barely a trace of this
station during this August trip, despite decent signals last month. The
same situation was noticed last year at Lincoln City-- those wishing to
log it may wish to schedule a beach trip in July.

675  3YA   Christchurch, NZ    Strongest of the NZ National Radio
network again---  the earthquake doesn't seem to have caused any issue.
Frequent music and interviews, // 567, 639, 756
http://www.mediafire.com/?5yjvr13fh54an7e

684  NZ-Rhema   Gisborne, NZ    New frequency for this 5 kw Christian
broadcaster (from 648 kHz last October), and more vibrant than ever. No
sign of co-channel 2KP, even during exceptional Aussie conditions
http://www.mediafire.com/?iqjb9c8ahjhekhb

702  2BL  Sydney, Australia   Good signals through domestic splatter on
8-15

738  Radio Tahiti   Mahina, Tahiti    As usual, one of the strongest
South Pacific signals during this trip. French music and interviews,
holding down the frequency quite well over 2NR
http://www.mediafire.com/?00q0cilfv4kfr4v

738  2NR   Grafton, Australia    A poor second to Tahiti on this
frequency for most of the trip, except for the exceptional Aussie
morning of 8-15

756  1YA   Auckland, NZ   One again the weakest of the four NZ National
Radio network stations received, and much weaker than its newly vibrant
639 kHz Alexandra parallel

765  Radio Kahungunu   Napier-Hastings, NZ  Maori-language 2.5 kw
station with frequent Polynesian choral music similar to 603-Waatea
(with which it shares parallel programming at times), the identity of
this station was determined with assistance from Tony King and Gary
Deacon (thanks!) http://www.mediafire.com/?71decp0dtow1gz1

774  3LO   Melbourne, Australia   Vibrant signals during good
propagation on 8-15 but troubled by 770 Seattle splatter
http://www.mediafire.com/?ct8671dllzvl2cv

792  4RN  Brisbane, Australia   Music-oriented station had typical
tunes and strong signals during exceptional morning of 8-15, // 576
http://www.mediafire.com/?2i59bilyugp1mms

891  5AN  Adelaide, Australia   Strong ABC "big gun" with frequent news
and interviews, dominating over weak DU English co-channel
http://www.mediafire.com/?5san48l8aac8rh3

891 UnID-DU  Weak sports-oriented co-channel of 5AN audible at low
level in recording above, presumed to be 4TAB in Townsville, Australia

1116  4BC   Brisbane, Australia  Strong Aussie "big gun" faced equally
strong 1120 Eugene (OR) splatter for most of the trip
http://www.mediafire.com/?21f8rziigtug79g







_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx