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

[d1028gary@xxxxxxx]

Hello All,
 
     Concurrent with a separate DXpedition in Yachats (OR), from July 21-27 another wild ocean cliff DXpedition was conducted from "Rockwork 4," a 400' high sheer cliff located on Highway 101 in Tillamook County, Oregon. As in previous trips there was no AC power, running water, street lights or weather protection at the site-- but there was plenty of traffic noise, soggy weather and Murphy's Law. Despite the challenges vibrant South Pacific DX was received on 7 out of 7 days, providing conclusive evidence once again that this sheer cliff creates its own enhanced DU propagation. 
     Most astonishing was the strength and regularity of the New Zealand AM stations, 6 of which owned their frequencies with strong signals every day. These Kiwi "big guns" ranged from the 2.5 kW Maori overachiever 765-Kahungunu to the flagship RNZ National station, 567-RNZ. New Zealand seemed to have a "pipeline" to the Cliff, even during the days when Australia boomed in as well.
     Although the DXing conditions at Rockwork 4 are pretty rough, hearing such powerful South Pacific signals in the middle of such awesome scenery is enough to permanently cure any hobby boredom! Linked below are MP3's for the strongest ten DU signals heard during the week, along with a brief description of their programming formats. Signals which pegged the PL-380's S/N display at the time of recording (most of them) are marked with a double asterisk (**). All signals were received on a 7.5" loopstick Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight inductively coupled to a new 12" DXpedition FSL antenna. For those interested, a DXpedition video showing the scenery, equipment and sleep-deprived DXer is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWSqvb9NdLo  
 
**531-PI  Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW  This Samoan language station had a hammerlock on the frequency most of the time, rarely
                 allowing an Aussie talk station to squeak through. This MP3 shows its typical strength, along with that of the Aussie
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/vnx12sra6srbnea/531-PI-1231z072213PL380.MP3
 
**567  RNZ National  Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW  Always managing a huge signal by around 1230, this music and
                 interview station was by far the strongest of the RNZ network. Usually the first Kiwi station to fade in each morning
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/1ev02jh0ye59xfc/567-RNZ-1216z072713PL380.MP3
 
**594  3WV  Horsham, Australia, 50 kW  An underachiever during previous ocean cliff trips, this Aussie LR network big gun
                 finally dominated the frequency over the low-powered Kiwi NZ Rhema network-- and did it all week long
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/0yzqh6hpoz5j43i/594-3WV-1244z072213PL380.MP3 
 
603  Radio Waatea  Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW  Maori-language music and interviews were vibrant as usual throughout the
                 week, and surprisingly stable. No Aussie competition on the frequency, as was sometimes heard in previous trips
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/u25glqbzfr7e2h3/603-R.Waatea-1253z072213PL380.MP3
 
657  Southern Star  Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW  Christian music station was one of the six Kiwi "big guns" during the week,
                 although it occasionally had some domestic splatter issues. Always vibrant and stable every morning
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/bo1yjum6wr6em9v/657-SouthernStar-1242z072313PL380.MP3
 
675  RNZ National  Christchurch, New Zealand, 10 kW  The second of the RNZ network to make this "Top Ten" list, it typically
                 came in slightly weaker than its 567 parallel. Music, interviews and national news
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/tktcaddq46c7bwg/675-RNZ-1228z072113PL380.mp3.MP3
 
**738  Radio Polynesie  Mahina, Tahiti, 20 kW  Once again, a French language blowtorch all week, and typically the first DU to
                 reach vibrant audio (usually around 1200). Plays French and English pop music, with occasional French interviews
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/s9tk16zjc3z0u9l/738-R.Polynesie-1259z072313PL380.MP3
 
765  Radio Kahungunu  Napier-Hastings, New Zealand, 2.5 kW  The lowest powered of the "Top Ten" DU stations, this Maori
                 language overachiever still packed a strong punch every day. Typically has Maori language music and speech, but
                 occasionally plays old Motown favorites like the Smokey Robinson hit in this MP3. // 603 at times
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/l9441a2pw5l9u9r/765-R.Kahungunu-1226z072613PL380.MP3  
 
**774  3LO  Melbourne, Australia, 50 kW  This LR network big gun could send a blistering signal into the Cliff when Aussie signals
                 rose up. // 828, 891 and other LR network stations, it has variety programming with news, music and interviews
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/022kazej9zljzzx/774-3LO-1227z072713PL380.MP3
 
**783  Access Radio  Wellington, New Zealand, 10 kW  One of the big surprises of the week, this ethnic programming Kiwi station 
                 somehow transformed itself from a weak underachiever into a vibrant big gun. This MP3 has South Asian music (thanks
                 to Theo for info) http://www.mediafire.com/listen/jfmefx37z1pbvo5/783-SamoanCapRadio-1248z072113PL380.mp3.MP3 
 
**792  4RN  Brisbane, Australia, 25 kW  (Honorable Mention)   This Aussie RN network station was very potent when favorable
                 propagation kicked in, but was missing in action otherwise. Plays a variety of diverse music from around the world, // 576
                 http://www.mediafire.com/listen/x2022al0wee1ktn/792-4RN-1254z072713PL380.MP3  

(Many more South Pacific DX stations were received during the week-- these were only the eleven strongest ones. The full DXpedition report will include details and MP3's of all 32 stations received from New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti and Tonga. Thanks very much to Theo, Chuck and Bruce for extensive help in identifying mystery DU stations.

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












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