[IRCA] Another Caribbean trip report

["Bob Foxworth" <rfoxwor1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Another Caribbean Trip Report

Some time ago I had thoughts of trying to make the
NRC/WTFDA convention in Idaho. Well, Pat said she had
another idea, and could I listen? To make a long story
shorter it involved my sister coming down to visit,
and a "dinner cruise", all to help celebrate a birthday
(mine) that was coming up. Well, in Tampa, my idea of a
"dinner cruise" is the little boat maybe 75 feet long
that goes out down the ship channel, circles in Tampa
Bay near Peter O Knight airport, while you all have
dinner and comes back maybe 3 hours later.

Pat's idea of a dinner cruise was a 5 day trip on a
somewhat larger vessel that would have squashed the
starship dinner yacht if a large wave had come up the
ship channel. As it turns out the three of us spent
5 enjoyable days on the big ship, and the yacht trip
will have to wait another day. We visited Grand Cayman
and Cozumel. I brought the DX398 and did some radio
research, looking at Cuba and of course George Town.

But this is "vacation radio" and far from exhaustive,
and probably not much news here.

The vessel is known to true Radio Men in parts of the
world everywhere simply as C6FM5, no further detail
required. It is only to the illiterate masses of non-
Radio Men that the added description "M/V Inspiration"
must be added. On this trip, the name Perspiration might
have worked as well. Must say, the wx was outstanding,
if quite toasty.

They were having a real sale, the three of us travelled
for less than two would normally spend. I don't know if
they made a profit but the ship (2480-ish pax) was full.

Our Cuba track southbound passed maybe 15 km west of
Cape San Antonio, the tip of Pinar, about 1530 local,
second day out. What appeared to be a Cuban navy picket
boat, or perhaps a fixed platform, was visible a few km
east with binoculars. Treetops and a few coastal buildings
were dimly visible, but too far to discern any possible
tower structures. The Good News - no one fired on us!

I was somewhat more productive with the radio on the return
trip, noon local time on 31 August, at 24 N, 85 W but by
then far enough north that Habana proper was being heard.
(Unfortunately I lost my notes from the southbound pass,
21d30m N, but I recall 550, 790, 820 being loud while
Habana, as measured by 950 level, was weak due to land
attenuation).

I noted 550 // 530, the 530 lagged by 1.5 second, equal level.
I think there used to be a 650, but here 650 and 660
were vacant. On 710, 2 Sp. signals, equal,  with 5 Hz SAH.
Noted 730 fairly strong w/Progreso (maybe Isla Juventud?)
Noted Reloj 790 loud, 2 Hz SAH w/pres. Miami. The 820 was
very strong and was // 550. Noted 880 at s-7, 890 at s-2
and 900 unheard. 950 by then was s-9. Heard Guama on 990
very loud, // on 1020 a lot weaker. 1030 and 1050 vacant.

On 1080 was a seeming 1 kc het, similar to the 1180
situation? 1140 fairly loud and // a somewhat weaker 1120,
and same 1120 level as 1100. The het on 1180 was between ear-
splitting and just piercing. Massive. Audios just a jumble
between Reb and Marti, nothing discernable thru the massive
het from 1181. My Rx is too broad IF to be useful for DF'ing
here. In addition a pronounced 8 Hz SAH was chopping up
1180.

I can report that, just south of Cabo San Antonio, 21 30N
on Tue 28 Aug, Marti was very loud and absolutely alone,
around 1500 local, so the cordillera in northern Pinar must
be blocking everything from more easterly Habana-ish area.
Perhaps the het was absent that day, I just don't know.
I wonder if they get any field reports from Cubans in that
area?

I heard a local on 1200, couldn't match to any of the other
Red's. I haven't attempted to Id the networks except when
absolutely known by me, or by sound (reloj, etc). Also,
I did not hear anything Cuban above 1200 so the effort I
saw reported elsewhere, to get Cuban Am'ers over 1200
off the air, must be working. I once thought I had a hot
one on 1450 with LAtin mx, turned out to be just Sarasota
(at minimal s-1 level // to a s-2 1320)

Aside from the (two?) hets, freq stability of the ones I
heard from western Cuba seemed as good as we have in the US.

I have to report that I made no real effort to see what I
could identify on FM, mainly due to lack of time, when
passing near Cuba, also due to not having brought any logs,
and hearing out of area signals that would take too long
to ID. The classical cruise dilemma - how to allocate
your limited time resources? Especially when at 15:30 it's
classical Piano in the lounge with tea and salmon being
served. Have all you want, etc.

Also, no night DX, almost no beacon DX, nothing of note.
I did not consciously seek out distant US stations,
except to note WWL very well heard while headed N.

I did a fairly involved survey of FM in the Grand Cayman
area, when outbound, mid-afternoon. I was able to
identify TWELVE!!! FM signals coming from Grand Cayman. Not
having a WRTH, I don't know how much of this is known
to DXers but I'll write up my notes on them and send
separately, perhaps tomorrow. I know that Powell heard
one of them, so perhaps someone's unID from the Es season
will match my notes?  Stay tuned.


73 Bob




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