Hello All,
From August 20-21 I had the thrilling opportunity to set up an
Ultralight DU-DXing station on a sheer 400 foot (122 m) ocean cliff
site on a Highway 101 turnoff spot in Oregon's Tillamook county. As in
a previous trip last month to Oregon's Cape Perpetua, DXing conditions
were pretty rough-- there was no AC power, running water, street
lighting or weather protection. During this trip, there was the added
thrill of setting up my 8" FSL antenna (on its 5' PVC base) at a spot
about 3 feet away from a straight-down drop off to the Pacific, 400
feet below. A photo of this bizarre DXing setup (and the sleep-deprived
operator) is posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/?khqdch7gk0w1v1l
As in the Cape Perpetua DXpedition last month, a potent sheer-cliff
propagation boost was enjoyed to the South Pacific, especially to New
Zealand. The Cape Perpetua sheer cliff site boosted South Pacific
signals up to amazing levels last month, and the same thing happened at
last week's "Rockwork 4" site. DU signals of local-like strength were
common, and on all 5 days of the DXpedition at least 18 South Pacific
stations were heard at very vibrant levels. Posted below are MP3 links
for the 10 best signals from the South Pacific, along with brief
descriptions of each station's programming:
567- Radio National (Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW) The strongest of
the Kiwi RNZ network and usually the first DU to fade in around 1230,
this station had a mix of interviews and music. Parallel to 639, 675
and 756 kHz http://www.mediafire.com/?g82wg27y72fqhoq
576- 2RN (Sydney, Australia, 50 kW) One of two Aussie big guns to
really play the part (along with its 792 parallel), this station played
a wide variety of music, with occasional interviews
http://www.mediafire.com/?o154c9y2303by8y
594- NZ Rhema (Timaru and Wanagnui, New Zealand, 5 kW and 2 kW
network) The amazing strength of this low-powered network bordered on
the bizarre. Despite the fact that the 50 kW Aussie big gun 3WV was on
the same frequency this Christian music network blasted in almost every
morning, never turning the other cheek
http://www.mediafire.com/?yk99u85h54jeaos
603- Radio Waatea (Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW) Another signal
bordering on science fiction. With Maori language news and music, it
blasted in every morning, making it seem almost unthinkable that it has
yet to be heard at Grayland. Parallel to Maori-language 585-Radio Ngati
Porou and 765-Radio Kahungunu at times
http://www.mediafire.com/?so9c7cy42nxpj60
657- Southern Star (Wellington, New Zealand, 10 kW) Christian music
broadcaster with vibrant signals every morning, this station was
usually one of the first DU's to fade in around 1245 but had some
domestic splatter issues. Parallel to 963 kHz (and other frequencies)
http://www.mediafire.com/?tv95rpbp8vgl209
738- Radio Polynesie (Mahina, Tahiti, 10 kW) French language
blowtorch on the Cliff every morning, it rarely allowed Aussie big gun
2NR a chance to squeak through. Plays a mix of upbeat pop music and
French interviews http://www.mediafire.com/?svo01jh0w4hiqpx
http://www.mediafire.com/?9r96w819hzd3wx9
756- Radio National (Auckland, New Zealand, 10 kW) Surprising
strength from this RN relay during the trip, presumably because of
Cliff-boosted Kiwi propagation. Usually this is a weak underperformer
http://www.mediafire.com/?5pjbh2jt1p4ia2i
765- Radio Kahungunu (Napier-Hasings, New Zealand, 2.5 kW) Once again
this Maori language station had surprising signals for its power level,
with a mix of music and interviews. Always vibrant every morning
http://www.mediafire.com/?u83bv670cc980c1
792- 4RN (Brisbane, Australia, 25 kW) One of only two Australian
stations to make this list, it plays a diverse variety of music and
occasional interviews. This was usually the last DU station to fade out
each morning, sometimes well after 1400 UTC. Parallel to 576 (and other
frequencies) http://www.mediafire.com/?w65zx26qm2b4tlj
963- Southern Star (Christchurch, New Zealand, 10 kW) The best
signals ever heard from this Christian music broadcaster during this
trip, at vibrant levels equal to its 657 kHz parallel
http://www.mediafire.com/?5232u1x353foufw
Of course many other South Pacific stations were heard during the
trip, but these were only the 10 strongest ones. The sheer cliff
propagation boost brought in many obscure and unknown DU's, and as
usual, I will be very grateful for the assistance of Bruce and others
in determining station identities. Thanks again to all who gave
generous assistance after last month's Cape Perpetua DXpedition!
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
7.5" MW loopstick Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight + 8" FSL antenna
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