[IRCA] Ultralight "Cliffhanger" DU-DXpeditions

[d1028gary@xxxxxxx]

Hello All,

For those on the west coast who feel a little bored with their AM-DXing hobby, why not try out a radical new form of DXpedition fueled by transoceanic propagation boosts at sheer ocean side cliffs?
 
The theory of cliff-enhanced transoceanic propagation is similar to the effect that most of us have experienced when listening to distant AM stations on a car radio while driving up a steep hill going directly away from the stations--- the signals rise dramatically. But in the case of ocean cliff DXing, the "steepness" of the hills is almost 90 degrees, and the cliffs are chosen to face the South Pacific... resulting in concentrated signals from transoceanic DX stations in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
 
DXing conditions at these ocean cliff sites are very rough... there is no AC power, running water, street lights or weather protection. They are both located on Highway 101 turnoff sites, each of which has its own unique challenges. "Rockwork 4" is located about 10 miles south of Cannon Beach, OR, and has a 400' sheer drop off to the Pacific Ocean directly below the DXing site. Cape Perpetua is located 2 miles south of Yachats, OR, and its turnoff site has the additional thrill of being directly in the headlights of 18-wheel trucks before they make their final turn on Highway 101. Neither site offers anything in the way of comfort, and extremely small-footprint antennas are a must. Until the very recent development of compact FSL antennas, nobody had ever attempted serious transoceanic DXing at these extremely narrow ocean cliff sites. Mental and physical toughness is a must, along with a strong taste for adventure. Concurrent with a major DXpedition planned to the Yachats, !
 OR (and nearby Cape Perpetua) area by noted DXpeditioners, an Ultralight "Cliffhanger" DXpedition is planned for the "Rockwork 4" site from July 21-28, and another "Cliffhanger" DXpedition is planned for the Cape Perpetua site from August 16-20. Both of these sites provided exceptional examples of cliff-boosted DU propagation on a PL-380 Ultralight with an 8" FSL antenna last year, as demonstrated in the MP3's linked below (almost all of them S/N pegging receptions, marked with a double asterisk). This summer's DXpeditions will be conducted with the new 12" FSL antenna, which should provide additional DU-DXing excitement. Interested DXers (who are not intimidated by the challenges) are welcome to participate.
 
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

531-PI  (Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW, Rockwork, 8-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/e31n5sfan8ro5f8/531-PI-1257Z082012PL380.mp3

**567-RNZ National  (Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/9z8vnphq6thc9p2/567-2YA-1246Z072012PL380.MP3

**594-NZ Rhema  (Timaru/Wanagnui, New Zealand, 5 kW/ 2 kW, Rockwork, 8-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/yk99u85h54jeaos/594-NZ.Rhema-1311Z082012PL380.mp3

**603-Radio Waatea  (Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW, Rockwork, 8-21-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/so9c7cy42nxpj60/603-R.Waatea-1334Z082112PL380.mp3

**657-Southern Star  (Wellington, New Zealand, 10 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ijcacg8uqmvian9/657-SouthernStar-1247Z072012PL380.MP3

**684-NZ Rhema  (Gisborne, New Zealand, 5 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-21-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/bge7anmbo8j79a8/684-NZ.Rhema-1245Z072112PL380.MP3

**738-Radio Polynesie, Mahina, Tahiti, 20 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-19-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/a4shuubhn36b6aa/738-RFO.Tahiti-1218Z071912PL380.MP3
 
**765-Radio Kahungunu, Napier-Hastings, New Zealand, 2.5 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/my4o957wpjtve0m/765-R.Kahungunu-1220Z072012PL380.MP3
 
**828-Radio Trackside, Palmerston No., New Zealand, 2 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/x76lntrl6nppi87/828-R.Trackside-1233Z072012PL380.MP3
 
**891-5AN  (Adelaide, Australia, 50 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-18-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/rsvoh1aro2w0xtr/891-5AN-1243Z071812PL380.MP3
 
**963-Southern Star  (Christchurch, New Zealand, 10 kW, Rockwork, 8-24-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/5232u1x353foufw/963-SouthernStar-1326Z082412pl380.MP3 
 
July 2012 Oregon Cliff (Cape Perpetua) DXpedition Report
http://www.mediafire.com/view/nk9tlf95t0b2m14/July_2012_Oregon_Cliff_Ultralight_DXpedition.doc
 
August 2012 Oregon Cliff (Rockwork) DXpedition Report
http://www.mediafire.com/view/fiq0reu0csswixw/August_2012_Oregon_Cliff_Ultralight_DXpedition.doc
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
         







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