Re: [IRCA] 2014 Oregon "Cliffhanger" DU-DXpeditions

[d1028gary@xxxxxxx]

Saul and Dennis (and Walt),

Thanks for your comments.

These ocean cliff DXing sites definitely aren't for everybody. In order to tap into the enhanced transoceanic propagation you need to sacrifice a lot of your DXing comfort, and learn to depend upon extremely small-footprint antennas. The weather can turn wacky on short notice, and make you wish that you were in Room 15 of the Grayland Motel.

But the concept that the sites do provide enhanced transoceanic propagation is gradually becoming accepted fact here on the west coast, despite misgivings about the harsh DXing conditions. The ocean cliff sites tend to make even small-footprint antennas act like real TP-DXing champions, resulting in a new interest among the Perseus-SDR DXers in trying out small broadband loops that will fit at the Highway 101 turnoffs.

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA)
       




-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Salmaniw <canswl@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Mar 31, 2014 7:10 am
Subject: Re: [IRCA] 2014 Oregon "Cliffhanger" DU-DXpeditions


No place to pitch a tent here.  This is a paved highway turn-off.  When I
DX there, I do it from my vehicle, although I know that Gary gets out of
his vehicle and DX's from a tripod.  It's not that bad (the 400' drop-off,
as there's a nice, wide rock wall, so you couldn't fall off the edge, nor
is the sheer drop visible.   73,   Walt


On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 3:22 AM, Chernos Saul <sauldx@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Not for the DXer with vertigo. I could see pitching a tent a very short,
> safe distance from the edge, for a degree of indoor comfort.
>
> I sometimes DX FM (and TV, pre-digital era) from atop a cliff directly
> overlooking Lake Ontario (save for a think strip of land below). I have a
> spot that's slightly beyond a small low wooden post and chain set up to
> keep idiots from the very edge. I've scoped it out during the day, and it
> is lit enough, so I know exactly where I am in relation to taking a sudden
> DXpedition to places unknown. It makes a huge difference compared with the
> spot where I park my car just a hundred or so feet away.
>
> Saul Chernos
> Burnt River ON
>
>
>
> > To: ultralightdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > From: d1028gary@xxxxxxx
> > Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 00:40:03 -0400
> > Subject: [IRCA] 2014 Oregon "Cliffhanger" DU-DXpeditions
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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 pla!
>  nn!
> >  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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