[IRCA] 2014 Oregon "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 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. It doesn't offer anything in the way of comfort, and extremely small-footprint antennas are a must. Until the 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 (and a strong sense of humor, since Murphy's Law loves these places). An Ultralight "Cliffhanger" DXpedition is planned for the "Rockwork 4" site from April 9-11 (apparently, just after a Perseus-SDR DXpedition to the same site by Chuck and Guy) and another DU-DXpedition is plann!
 ed for same site from July 13-19. A view of the "Rockwork 4" ocean cliff site taken from a helicopter (showing the sheer cliff drop off to the Pacific below) is posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/2jtmctq7as7448o/Rockwork-Sites-003.jpg   For those up to the challenges, these ocean cliff sites provided exceptional examples of cliff-boosted DU propagation on a PL-380 Ultralight with 8" and 12" FSL antennas the past couple of years, as demonstrated in the MP3's linked below (all of them PL-380 S/N readout-pegging receptions). This year's DXpeditions will be conducted with the new 15" 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, 7-22-13)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/vnx12sra6srbnea/531-PI-1231z072213PL380.MP3

567-RNZ National  (Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW, Cape Perpetua, 7-20-12)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/9z8vnphq6thc9p2/567-2YA-1246Z072012PL380.MP3
 
576-2RN  (Sydney, Australia, 50 kW, Cape Perpetua, 8-19-13)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/qz6x4g6wiit264e/576-2RN-1335z081913PL380.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
 
774-3LO  (Melbourne, Australia, 50 kW, Rockwork, 7-27-13)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/022kazej9zljzzx/774-3LO-1227z072713PL380.MP3
 
792-4RN  (Brisbane, Australia, 25 kW, Cape Perpetua, 8-16-13)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/qyhf8hse32pba68/792-4RN-1323z081613PL380.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 





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