Hi Chuck,
<<< That's a fabulous bunch of recordings. >>>
Thanks very much! But it seems like we still have lots of work to do in order to bring the Broadband FSL up to the same DXing sensitivity as the single-optimized-frequency version. I'll be working together with Guy and Bill in a continuing effort to "reinvent the wheel."
73, Gary
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck <charlesh3@xxxxxxx>
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, Jul 30, 2013 11:03 pm
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Rockwork 4 DXpedition-- Top Ten Signals from the South Pacific
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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