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

[Chuck <charlesh3@xxxxxxx>]

Gary -

That's a fabulous bunch of recordings.

Chuck

On 7/30/2013 3:05 AM, d1028gary@xxxxxxx wrote:

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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