[IRCA] July Rockwork 4 DU-DXpedition-- Ultralight Radio + FSL Loggings

[d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx]

From July 5-11 another wild ocean cliff DXpedition was conducted at the Rockwork 4 turnoff on Highway 101, a sweeping ocean view site about 419 feet (158 meters) above the Pacific. Most of the DXpedition participants were from other countries-- in addition to Tom Rothlisberger and I, we had Nick Hall-Patch from Victoria, BC, and the noted Japanese DXers Hiroo Nakagawa and Satoshi Miyauchi. 
 
Propagation definitely favored New Zealand (in one of the most Kiwi-slanted trips that has ever been observed here). Although we had a near-daily blowtorch signal from 738-Tahiti and occasional reception from 1017-Tonga, Australian signals generally had a rough time in the NZ-slanted conditions. Tom and I both agree that overall propagation was down somewhat from the exceptional conditions we enjoyed last summer (with good reception of stations like 558-6WA and 558-Fiji) but the chance to welcome the Japanese DXers made the experience especially memorable, andÂtheir skill and determination was an inspiration to us all. Listed below are the DU loggings made with my Ultralight radio + FSL antenna combos, which performed quite well throughout the vicious weather challenges on July 10th (better than the drenched and shivering DXer that created them, actually). The DU loggings made by the other DXers will no doubt exceed these, but we all had great fun together, and are looking forward to the next joint DXpedition (either here, or inÂJapan). 
 
531ÂÂ 4KZÂÂ (Innisfail, Australia, 10 kW)ÂÂÂMIA duringÂKiwi-slanted propagation on most mornings, it made it through at a modest level with itsÂclassic oldies format and interval signal during PI fade at 1209 on 7-5 
https://app.box.com/s/phtsbdii0tatmxeb0qfq677it0emsa3i ÂÂ 
 
531ÂÂ More FMÂÂ (Alexandra, NZ, 2 kW)ÂÂ Rare low-powered Kiwi station played hard to get, but did show up during a deep PI fadeÂin Kiwi -slanted propagation at 1222 on 7-6. This Kiwi English monologÂsounds mostly garbled to me, butÂthe first 5 seconds certainly sounds like "Welcome time to More FM's blog..." (headphones recommended) 
https://app.box.com/s/q527grcf5ee5q2l402sjiwl3syn8d8g4 ÂÂ 
 
531ÂÂ PIÂÂ (Auckland, NZ, 5 kW)ÂÂ Samoan broadcaster dominated on all 7 days with good signals, although 4KZ and More FM did manage toÂget throughÂat times. ThisÂgood-level Samoan female speech on 7-5 was typical 
https://app.box.com/s/pe8gr1917b4vn3gccskee5gep6go7cft  
 
567ÂÂ RNZÂÂ (Wellington, NZ, 50 kW)ÂÂ Most of this big gun's legendary transoceanicÂsignal seems to have been destroyed along with its old tower (during the recent demolition). It showed up weakly on all 7 days, although always inferior in strength to its 675 parallel 
https://app.box.com/s/2mqql3qwk3vxg0ym5iu4tpi5f8ppvvj7 Â 
 
576ÂÂ 2RNÂÂ (Sydney, Australia, 50 kW)ÂÂ Kiwi-slanted propagation hit this RN-network big gun pretty hard, but it did show up with mediocre signals not // 657 at 1237 on 7-8 
https://app.box.com/s/g39m6brj1dgh6qwx5i7m8xz45ynqu9yy 
 
576 Star (Hamilton, NZ, 2.5 kW) The "DwarfÂStar" (ex-The Word)Âwas strong enoughÂwith its Christian female vocal music to confirm the parallel with 657 at 1244 on 7-11. The first 12 seconds in the recording areÂ576-Star, and the lastÂ12 seconds are the 657 parallel https://app.box.com/s/m548dxdvwu1ke99z4e1y2r12prfdf809  
 
585ÂÂÂRadio Ngati Porou (Ruatoria, NZ, 2 kW) WispyÂmaleÂspeech was received at 1234 on 7-6Âsounding like the usual Maori announcer, butÂthe 603 // apparently started a new songÂright during theÂparallel check. SignalÂnosedived thereafter. 
 
594ÂÂ RhemaÂÂ (Timaru/ Wanganui, NZ, 5/ 2 kW)ÂÂ Modest level Christian music // 684 at 1250 on 7-6. Usually a little stronger than the 684 parallel, with no sign of Aussie big gun 3WV during the Kiwi-slanted conditions https://app.box.com/s/m2d7qbws87z5z1jg8d8n4lvqmz298p8k ÂÂÂÂÂ 
 
603ÂÂ Radio WaateaÂÂ (Auckland, NZ, 5 kW)ÂÂ Usually the strongest of the Maori network, this vibrant regular plays a mix of Maori and Motown music. Its strongest signal was on the last day (7-11) at 1218 
https://app.box.com/s/xdxju7jr1flspiln9nz1havsvd8gy85o  
 
657ÂÂ StarÂÂ (Wellington/ Tauranga, NZ, 50/ 10 kW)ÂÂ Christian hymn broadcaster owned the frequency during the Kiwi-slanted conditions, with this good-level music at 1211 on the last day of Â7-11 
https://app.box.com/s/mxti60qwfcc3298c541ak4k5p9s3vqj5 
 
675ÂÂ RNZ NationalÂÂ (Christchurch, NZ, 10 kW)ÂÂ The new kingpin of RNZ network transoceanic strength (after the demise of 567's old tower), this relay consistently outperformed its 50 kW parallel. This signal at 1257 on 7-8 was typical 
https://app.box.com/s/wx9b9i1dex7mqyrb9b9zgbnk1n3svwew  
 
684ÂÂ RhemaÂÂ (Gisborne, NZ, 5 kW)ÂÂ Christian contemporary music broadcaster with fairly good signals // 594 at 1247 on 7-9; Tony W. says that the tower property has been sold and eviction is forthcoming 
https://app.box.com/s/691ddrcehygaiko5pgpll2jp1nu1en91 
 
702ÂÂ 2BLÂÂ (Sydney, Australia, 50 kW)ÂÂ Easily pushing 702-Magic aside whenever it showed up, this Oz big gun was the dominant station on both 7-7 and 7-10. The interview format was much different from Magic's oldie music 
https://app.box.com/s/f0qfop5x7ymw1gbyowg65obveuqjwf6m  
 
702 Magic (Auckland, NZ, 10 kW) Capable of blistering signals when Kiwi propagation was enhanced, this oldie music broadcaster was the only DU on the frequency on 5 of 7 days 
https://app.box.com/s/gtd8u8zxduwpirycbso99kigyum2ja5c  
 
738ÂÂ Radio PolynesieÂÂ (Mahina, Tahiti, 20 kW)ÂÂ A real blowtorch on most days, this French-language signalÂat 1233 on 7-9Âwas the strongest DU recording made during the trip, and seriously tested the crunch resistance of my Ultralight radio 
https://app.box.com/s/pw2gpfgh7vd19b33yz8ag7466y18462t  
 
756ÂÂ RNZÂÂ (Auckland, NZ, 10 kW)ÂÂ Pretty good signal with music // 675 at 1212 on 7-8, a good demonstration of the cliff's ability to cut down splatter from the 750-Portland pest (50 kW and only 70 miles away) 
https://app.box.com/s/qlx6esrtgccrg32pkwqt0yr71suuw52d 
 
765ÂÂ Radio KahungunuÂÂ (Napier-Hastings, NZ, 2.5 kW)ÂÂ Once again this low-powered MaoriÂnetwork station acted very much like a Kiwi big gun throughout the week. Maori and Motown music is the norm, as in this recording // 603 at 1215 on 7-8 
https://app.box.com/s/p04c5i3fvvpxfw449nbsa2jlwmipsh6n  
 
774ÂÂ 3LOÂÂ (Melbourne, Australia, 50 kW)ÂÂÂLR Network big gun was strongÂat 1222 on 7-5 but missing in action under Radio Sport on most days 
https://app.box.com/s/egf89xhr29obvisblm7cb9bzehid62jh 
 
774ÂÂ Radio SportÂÂ (New Plymouth, NZ, 5 kW)ÂÂ Not nearly as strong as its 792 parallel, it was hit hard by Seattle splatter on most mornings, and never came up in strength for a decent recording 
 
783ÂÂ Access RadioÂÂ (Wellington, NZ, 10 kW)ÂÂ Multi-cultural station with varied ethnic programming, this apparent Samoan language music andÂspeech was received at 1241 on 7-7Â https://app.box.com/s/yg4xp9r7er4hyul4jvcpsr5x747vqkf2 
 
792ÂÂ Radio SportÂÂ (Hamilton, NZ, 5 kW)ÂÂ Fairly strong on most mornings withÂits network relay of Fox Sports News, the Yankee-accented EnglishÂowned the frequencyÂon all 7 days (overÂthe MIA Oz big gun 4RN)Â 
https://app.box.com/s/um0gfok28blvq90n0eeoeuuoq3v5jzzy 
 
828ÂÂ 3GIÂÂ (Sale, Australia, 10 kW)ÂÂ On a couple of occasions this LR network big gun was just strong enough to confirm the parallel with 774, but most often it was in a ghostly mix with a presumed Radio Trackside (which never came up in strength for a decent recording). 
 
891ÂÂ 5ANÂÂ (Adelaide, Australia, 50 kW)ÂÂ Another underperforming Oz big gun, it was usually in a threshold-level mix with another DU English station (probably 4TAB). 
 
936ÂÂ Chinese VoiceÂÂ (Auckland, NZ, 1 kW)ÂÂ A prime target during enhanced Kiwi propagation, this low-powered ethnic station came through with fairly good-level music and Chinese speech during exceptional propagation at 1243 on 7-6 
https://app.box.com/s/sng6i7c70sqm3e5bpymy3mfy1dbpbfdn  
 
1008ÂÂ Newstalk ZBÂÂ (Tauranga, NZ, 10 kW)ÂÂ Getting through the 1010 splatter at a modest level // 1035 at 1220 on 7-7. Generally not as strong as either the 1035 or 1044 parallel 
https://app.box.com/s/8l5sn7mayuwkzs896lbciw4s1e8738dw  
 
1017ÂÂ A3ZÂÂ (Nuku'alofa,ÂTonga, 10 kW)ÂÂ Rushed antenna setupÂprior toÂ1130 on 7-9 paid off with a fairly good-level logging ofÂmale speech from this station, the only foreign language DU on the frequency. Since A3Z's sign off is usually prior to sunrise enhancement at the cliff,Âthe best chance to track it downÂis during its late Saturday night transmission, when it typically stays on a little later 
https://app.box.com/s/jz35gvlr8re5ldfqol9h6ux0kd04dea5 Â 
 
1035ÂÂ Newstalk ZBÂÂ (Wellington, NZ, 20 kW)ÂÂ The flagship relay of this talk radio network had potent signals on most mornings, including this excellent-level discussion concerning NZ real estate at 1222 on 7-8 
https://app.box.com/s/a21xkbboz6pbbqj73lj0ted4ft3fjiua  
 
1044ÂÂ Newstalk ZBÂÂ (Dunedin, NZ, 10 kW)ÂÂ Fairly strong on most mornings with the usual call-in talk program and occasional musicÂ// 1035. This recording was at 1210 on 7-9 
https://app.box.com/s/z7flaydc0if63v9qhro7deyvp3rno67d ÂÂÂÂÂ 
 
1386ÂÂ Radio TaranaÂÂ (Auckland, NZ, 10 kW)ÂÂ Hindu music broadcaster pounded in when Kiwi propagation was enhanced (as in this recording at 1246Âon 7-6), otherwise it got lost in splatter 
https://app.box.com/s/aaguop8hp57aa38eulommx06tm3l22qw  
 
1503ÂÂ Radio SportÂÂ (Wellington/ Christchurch, NZ, 5/ 2,5 kW)ÂÂ Yankee English from the relay of Fox Sports News (// 792) was usually audible on this frequency on all 7 days 
https://app.box.com/s/wed793j34pnu0thkulc3w8o7v716gs98 
 
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (DXing at the Rockwork 4 ocean cliff near Manzanita, OR, USA) 
7.5" loopstick C.crane SWP Ultralights (3) + 
15" and 17" FSL antennas 
ÂÂ 
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