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

[Guy Atkins <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary,

Your recordings from the Rockworks cliff are amazing! It's hard for me to
believe I was DXing at another Kiwi DX producing cliff to the south of you
on one of the same mornings, yet all my reception with the same 12-inch FSL
design was low-level and poor S/N ratio. The capacitor-tuned, single
frequency FSL just blows away the same antenna used in a broadband fashion.

It was disappointing to discover such a vast discrepancy, because at home
and on a camping trip/mini DXpedition my comparisons between the two hookup
methods indicated comparable reception except for slightly higher noise on
the broadband version. However, I wasn't testing on the DU signals, which
normally are much, much weaker than domestic North American signals (weaker
even than the foreign TPs in winter). The "Q" and sensitivity boost given
by the resonant tank circuit of the FSL's coil coupled with the tuning
capacitor evidently makes all the difference.

I look forward to further discussions with you about the "hybrid' FSL
tuning idea I proposed. This will make use of the broadband mode for signal
spotting, and then switching to the single frequency tuning approach for
actual DXing and recording of the station with Perseus. There's also the
subject of small, 7 to 8 ft. amplified Flag loops to pursue, such as Chuck
was trying at the top of the Cape Perpetua Lookout.

If you can ever get to the Rockworks cliffs during the fall/winter TP
season you may need to tie yourself and the FSL to the guard rails to avoid
being blown away! I can only imagine the quality of the 3rd tier, weak
Japanese stations you might catch. I think you said that one of the
Rockworks cliffs was situated better for TP signals coming from the
northwest direction.

73,

Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA
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