[IRCA] 558-Fiji and 1017-Tonga Rock Rockwork

[Gary DeBock <d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

     As most west coast DXers know the Rockwork ocean cliff near Manzanita, Oregon easily holds the record for New Zealand reception in North America during a DXpedition, but last month the "Kiwi Magic" seemed to include two other nearby Pacific island DU's which seemed to enjoy the same, cliff-boosted propagation rush-- 558-Fiji and 1017-Tonga.

     File review is adding to the charm of the trip, with multiple S9 recordings from Tonga showing up over the 9 days. Of course numerous New Zealand stations also managed their best-ever signals, including 531-More FM, 594-Star, 657-Star, 756-RNZ and 936-Chinese Voice. After file review the 2 kW relay 639-RNZ was the latest to join the list with an S7 level on August 1, and even the Tasmanian 585-7RN hit its first S9 level ever. But the signals from Fiji and Tonga were both in a higher league than in previous years, resulting in awesome music peaks from each station at various times during the trip. Quite an unforgettable way to close out the summer!


558  Radio Fiji One   Suva, Fiji, 10 kW   S9 Island music with song medley ID ("Radio Fiji One, Na Domoiviti") at 1:38 into the recording at 1252 on 8-1. This was its strongest signal ever at the cliff    https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/vhwdviemmimdxervjaoe1qqci7a59dqj

1017  A3Z   Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 10 kW   During my first morning at the cliff (on August 1st) the newly rejuvenated station had an overwhelming S9+ signal all session long. This was in comparison to marginal reception in Spanish splatter (from 1020-KTNQ) in years past. Neither Craig Barnes nor I could believe our ears. This island music was recorded at 1314  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/xgw85zga7d337r8905bnyu1qdgmvepn8

This Tongan island music was received on the same morning at 1221  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ime1qsdd32h6wh0pumkrsozhwy6xestn

On the second day (8-2), Tonga "only" reached an S9 level with its beautiful island music (at 1318)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/k4tnfovufud0ek4zjkaexcpwayug5v97

The new Big Gun DU pounds in with S9 music at 1250 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/1l1xkyix03o7onoxsmr1wa2tsivqxr8s

The 5 kW Australian station 1017-2KY tries to make it a horse race at 1304 on 8-8, but ends up folding in the clutch  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/r6yrwe7pzze6kw59qnzrbg8c704kg1l2

The exact same segment was recorded on the stand-alone 7.5" loopstick XHDATA D-808 model at 1304 on 8-8 (all the others were assisted by the 17" FSL antenna). Even the hot-rodded portable receives a fine signal from Tonga (and a sinking signal from Sydney)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/xw0vuzpbqyg2gc0ekh7s2tdzm5n6r7l0


73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

 

   

    

  
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