[IRCA] Grayland TP's and DU's, 6-29 and 6-30

[D1028Gary@xxxxxxx]

Hello All,
 
     With eternal optimism despite the recent poor DU  conditions, a two-day 
DXpedition to Grayland, Washington was scheduled over the  weekend, primarily 
to test out the latest hot-rodded Ultralight radio, a  modified Eton E100.  
This supercharged model, containing the latest  twisted tinkering ideas of John 
Bryant, Guy Atkins and myself, has the new  combination of extreme sensitivity 
AND selectivity, something  very new in hot-rodded Ultralights.  It was 
indeed fortunate that the  pocket-sized modified radio was well prepared, because 
the DX conditions  were generally awful.
 
     The SSB receiver used to "spot" Ultralight  radio targets was a modified 
ICF-2010 (with a 19.5" loopstick). When  in Grayland, this radio can usually 
pull in some DU audio, even on John's  "golfing mornings."
 
     The Sunday (6-29) morning conditions were modest  at best, although 
there was an unusual summertime opening to Japan around 1125,  which took me 
completely by surprise.  A booming JOIK-567 was heard on  the modified 2010, the 
modified E100, and even on a stock Sony  SRF-T615 midget radio.  The Japanese 
powerhouses on 747, 774, 828,  1134 and 1287 were then all heard on both the 
2010 and E100, at equivalent  signal strength and quality.  This was a real 
breakthrough in  hot-rodded Ultralights--  a modified pocket radio that could match 
the  "supercharged" 2010 in both sensitivity and selectivity.
 
     Sunday morning's DU's were limited to weak  DU English on 738 at 1215 
(presumed 2NR) and to equally  weak 4QR-612 audio at 1220.  There were many DU 
carriers that never  reached audio, but that's been typical for the recent 
trips to Grayland.   When you are only using stand-alone portables with hot-rodded 
loopsticks, you  need to be thankful for what you get.
 
     Monday (6-30) morning was pretty much a repeat of  Sunday's lackluster 
conditions, minus the rare summertime opening  to Japan.  567-2YA rolled in 
with weak music around 1215, and provided  a stiff test for the modified E100's 
new narrow filter (up against a loud  KVI-570 that could not be nulled).  The 
newly hot-rodded Ultralight again  matched the 2010 in selectivity,  receiving 
New Zealand with very little  KVI slop.  This was despite the E100's lack of 
SSB capability-- quite a  surprise.   Weak 738 DU English was then again 
received at 1221,  and finally, a very weak talk program on 891 at 1227, which 
actually  had audio first on the modified E100, a few seconds before the monster 
2010  could produce it.  This was the final surprise of a very interesting  
weekend.
 
     Thanks to John and Guy for their suggestions  on creating this new 
DXpedition Ultralight, the details of which will be fully  promulgated to the 
Ultralight enthusuast group (and others) in a series of  upcoming articles. I feel 
very fortunate to be associated with such  creative, innovative tinkerers.  
This weekend's results proved that  modified pocket radios can provide DX 
excitement and success in very  tough conditions-- and maybe even keep a few 
confirmed DXers off the golf  courses.
 
                                                                              
       73,  Gary  DeBock              



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