[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[IRCA] Grayland 8-9 Ultralight DXpedition-- With the New ULR Selectivity King!
Hello All,
Heading to Grayland on August 8th for a one-night family vacation, DXing
expectations were very low. Our fully-loaded Toyota Corolla could not
accommodate any large PVC-framed loops, even collapsible ones. The 30" loopstick
ICF-2010 spotting receiver was out of the question. John Bryant had just
returned from Grayland, reporting mediocre conditions. The solar forecast
looked bleak. It seemed like everything was falling into place-- the wrong
place.
Despite this, the booming Ultralight radio enthusiast group (now over 300
members strong) has been fascinated with Kchibo's recent introduction of
the D96L model, which offers the choice of five different DSP selectivity
options-- including a 1 kHz selection. A Chinese-market model discovered
through Internet research by Guy Atkins, this model represents Kchibo's best
effort to manufacture a high quality AM-FM pocket radio, suitable for DXing on
either band. Since this is currently the highest quality ULR offering this
1kHz DSP filtering option, there was intense interest among transoceanic
ULR DXers whether this $58 stock D96L model would be competitive in actual
TP-DXing, particularly when matched up against the premium Murata CFJ455K5
ceramic filters transplanted into the Slider E100 and Slider C.Crane SWP
models. Regardless of poor DXing conditions, I was determined to find out the
answer.
In a crash program to design and build a small loop antenna that would
barely fit in the Toyota Corolla trunk, I measured the trunk length at 4' 4",
and made plans for a collapsible-frame 36" square tuned passive loop that
would hopefully squeeze inside the overloaded trunk when disassembled. All
week long, construction proceeded with military urgency. The project was just
barely finished a day before the Grayland trip, and included a PVC base
which had removable legs. To compensate for the smallish loop (and primarily
to boost the shaky confidence of the DXer), the legs were designed to get
the 36" loop up about 7' in the air. Photos of this three-day wonder are
posted in the Yahoo Ultralightdx site photo section.
Arriving at the Grayland Beach Road picnic table at 1145 UTC (0445 local
time), I quickly set up the collapsible-frame loop (and collapsible base) in
total darkness, hoping for decent South Pacific propagation to compensate
for my smallish antenna. On my substitute spotting receiver (a 19.5"
loopstick ICF-2010, which was the subject of a loopstick transplant article in DXM
and MWC), I had programmed into memory all of the unlogged Aussie and Kiwi
stations heard by John Bryant at Grayland-- which has turned out to be a
great shortcut to success this summer (although perhaps a little shameless).
The first strange signal noticed (at 1210) was strong French from
738-Tahiti, indicating that the propagation definitely wasn't favoring Australia
(and 2NR-738). There was moderate splatter from KCBS-740, so relative
selectivity tests were quickly run between the new D96L and a C.Crane SWP Slider
model (with the premium Murata CFJ455K5 ceramic filter), both assisted by
the 36" square passive loop. Much to my surprise (and satisfaction), the
D96L's 1 kHz DSP selectivity option was competitive with the performance of the
Murata filter in limiting the splatter from KCBS-740, although the final
audio was possibly a little more harsh in the Kchibo unit (as judged by
those who have listened to the MP3, available on request).
The second relative selectivity test was run with 567-2YA (Wellington, NZ),
in the shadow of strong domestic KVI-570. When tuning to 567-2YA, I was
astonished to find the signal at near blowtorch level-- the strongest I have
ever heard any NZ signal. After running the competition between the D96L
and filterized SWP (with the same basic result), I was amazed to find New
Zealand stations booming in all over the band. Despite my smallish antenna and
pessimistic outlook, I had apparently stumbled onto a legendary Kiwi
propagation opening at Grayland. Quickly grabbing the ICF-2010 spotting receiver
and checking the memories, I noticed that almost all the unlogged Kiwi
frequencies had audio already!
Since a lot of the sunrise enhancement period had already been devoted to
the D96L/ SWP selectivity tests, there was a wild scramble to log (and
record MP3's of) as many New Zealand stations as I could, before increasing
daylight made the propagation bail. The ICF-2010's signal level LED's were
used to quickly tune the 36" loop to each Kiwi frequency, which was then used
to boost up signal levels on the D96L and Slider SWP for MP3's. 648-Rhema
and 675-3YC were quickly "processed," followed by 963-3YC. With the ocean
beach now in bright daylight at 1310, I doubted that the fun would continue
much longer-- until I rechecked 2YA-567, and found it still at blowtorch
level. Checking the 2010's memories for more Kiwi audio, I found moderate
audio from 927-2ZA, a 2 kw station identified by the "Newstalk Zed-B" format
with the male and female announcers' voices that I had recorded last year on
an MP3 of 1035-2ZB. Propagation was really diving at 1322 when I managed a
final weak logging of 1296-1ZH, a 2.5 kw station on the same talk format
network. Besides these new Kiwi loggings, the new Hawaiians of KUMU-1500 and
KNUI-900 were also heard. The Australian stations were strangely silent all
morning, with only 612-4QR barely coming into threshold audio. A paltry
signal from JOUB-774 at 1155 was the only Asiatic TP in evidence. On this
very strange Kiwi-slanted morning, loggings were as follows:
531 UnID's DU mix at 1305 with fair signals,
presumably including 5 kw Auckland
567 2YA Wellington National program with extremely strong signal
from 1210-1320
612 4QR Brisbane The only Aussie to reach audio level, very
weak at 1308
639 R. Fiji 1 Lautoka Typical choral music with fairly
mediocre signal at 1222
648 NZ-Rhema Gisborne Booming in with religious program at 1245 for
nice MP3
657 2YC Wellington Another booming Kiwi station with Southern
Star network, 1258
670 KPUA Hilo The strongest Hawaiian as usual, with
financial news at 1255
675 3YA Christchurch National program with blowtorch signal from
1245-1315
738 R. Tahiti From 1215-1315, legendary signal with
French music and news
760 KGU Honolulu Fair signal after fade of San Diego at 1303
900 KNUI Kahului With Fox Sports news, weak signal at 1325
before propagation dived
927 2ZA Palmerston N. Network talk format surprisingly strong from
this 2 kw station at 1314
963 3YC Christchurch Southern Star network // 657, moderately
strong at 1310 for MP3
1017 A3Z Nuku Alofa Despite great propagation, signal never rose
above threshold audio
1035 2ZB Wellington The strongest of the "Newstalk Zed-B"
stations, good signal at 1316
1296 1ZH Hamilton Weak with talk format as propagation was
diving at 1322, //1035
1500 KUMU Honolulu Very strong with local ads at 1305 after
mainland QRM faded
Kchibo D96L model verdict: This new DSP-enhanced radio is a true
breakthrough for ULR transoceanic DXers, providing exceptional 1 kHz selectivity
in addition to its good AM sensitivity. Before the testing of this model
during this DXpedition, no stock Ultralight had ever been able to solidly
receive any DU station at Grayland. The DU's are typically weak, and the signals
usually are buried in domestic splatter on stock ULR's. Because of the
Kchibo's breakthrough DSP selectivity, however, the stock D96L managed to
solidly receive two DU's during this trip-- 567-2YA in Wellington, NZ, and
738-Radio Tahiti. It probably could have received several more, except for the
fact its owner was busy chasing new Kiwis with the 36" loop.
36" Collapsible Frame Loop verdict: This modestly-sized tuned passive
loop performed far beyond expectations, providing a serious DU signal boost to
any radio brought under its influence. It typically boosted the ICF-2010
spotting receiver's signal by 5 LED's, and made the difference between a
weak signal and a booming signal on the ULR's. The MP3's recorded by this
modest loop are clear evidence of its effectiveness, and are posted on both
_http://www.dxer.ca_ (http://www.dxer.ca) and the Ultralightdx Yahoo file
site. These MP3's include recordings of 648- NZ Rhema, 675-3YC, and 738 R.
Tahiti, as well as a selectivity comparison test between the D96L and SWP
Murata filter model in receiving 567-2YA (in the shadow of 570-KVI), posted on
Ultralightdx.
Thanks again to Guy Atkins for his investigation of the Kchibo models, and
to John Bryant for his detailed DU Ultralight loggings. For a DXer with
too many projects going on at once, these guys are just what the doctor
ordered :>)
73 and Good DX to All,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA)
_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca
Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers
For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org
To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx