[IRCA] Oregon Cliff (Rockwork 4) Ultralight DU's for 7-11

[d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx]

The final session of the July Rockwork 4 DXpedition featured both clear weather and great New ZealandÂpropagation, providing a thrilling experience for our Japanese DXing guests as they heard multiple Kiwi stations for the first time everÂ(Australian MW signals dominate in Japan). Satoshi Miyauchi became a very quick expert in the process of tracking down strong DU signals with an ICF-2010 spotting receiver, tuning a 15" FSL antennaÂto matchÂthe desired frequency, and inductively coupling his 3" FSL Tecsun PL-380 model (which he built himself, in Japan) to the FSL to receive a huge gain boost. In fact, he caught on so quickly that halfway through the session he was even telling me which frequenciesÂI shouldÂbeÂcheckingÂto receive some very strong Kiwi signals :-) Of course I was helping him in the same way, so we both had a blast! 
 
After the vicious weather session on Sunday morning we were all highly motivated to show up at the cliff early, and get our "revenge" for what had been a miserable experience. Nick, Satoshi, Hiroo and I assembled at my Nehalem Bunk House Motel room at 0300 local time (1000 UTC) and immediately proceeded to the cliff, which not only featured clear weatherÂbut superior predawn propagation. As soon as we arrived at 0315 IÂnoticedÂa decent carrier on 1017, and alerted the rest of the group that Tonga was again coming in (this station almost never stays on the air until our sunrise enhancement). Tonga's signal (featuring the usual male and female announcer) stayed an anemic level in and out of the noise until their sign-off at 1107, but the foreign-language male voice was the same as the one on the 1017 recording on Saturday morning. The Kiwi propagation was above average in the predawn darkness, and after 1200 UTCÂfeatured some pretty strong signals from the NZ big guns (which sounded fascinating to the Japanese, even though we regular visitors hear them all the time).Â603, 657, 702, 738 and 765 all had potentÂsignals in and out, with 738-Tahiti's blowtorch signal at 1235 motivating an astonished Satoshi to record a video of his stand-aloneÂ3" FSL PL-380 receiving S9+ French music right inÂfront of the sweeping Oregon coast scenery. 
 
The Kiwi propagation was exceptional enough for me to get another modest signal from the 1 kWÂstation 936-Chinese Voice around 1238 (after having heard it at a good level on Wednesday morning) and receiveÂthe obscure 2.5 kWÂstation 576-Star (ex-The Word) in Hamilton // 657 at 1242. Nick was not at the cliff this morning, but at a sea-level campsiteÂin Nehalem (about 5 miles south) running relative-strength DU signal tests between Rockwork 4 and the sea-level site. From what Nick told us whenÂhe drove backÂto join us after the session, the comparison was really no contest.ÂThe sea-level site could only manage a few DU heterodynes. 
AsÂmentioned previously, a video taken during this last-day session is posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjda-kO_oQE ÂÂWe were all highly honored to welcome the Japanese DXersÂSatoshi and Hiroo during this DXpedition, and theirÂDXing skill and determination was an inspiration to us all! 
 
531ÂÂ PIÂÂ Auckland, NZÂÂ Male Samoan language speech at good level at 1225; a trace of aÂrock music (presumed 4KZ) underneath 
https://app.box.com/s/ugw25uifr5py54r854frskozgb9nd61j  
 
576ÂÂ StarÂÂ Hamilton, NZÂÂ The obscure 2.5 kW Kiwi station ("dwarf Star?") managed a fair signal with Christian musicÂ// 657 at 1224 (the first 12 seconds of the MP3 are on 576; the second twelve seconds are on the 657 parallel)Â 
https://app.box.com/s/m548dxdvwu1ke99z4e1y2r12prfdf809 Â 
 
603Â Radio WaateaÂÂ Auckland, NZÂÂÂStrongÂMaori language music // 765 at 1218; thisÂ5 kW station acts like a Kiwi big gun 
https://app.box.com/s/xdxju7jr1flspiln9nz1havsvd8gy85o  
 
657ÂÂ StarÂÂ Wellington/ Tauranga, NZÂÂ Strong Christian music at 1210; Satoshi alerted me to this potent signal 
https://app.box.com/s/mxti60qwfcc3298c541ak4k5p9s3vqj5 Â 
 
738ÂÂ Radio PolynesieÂÂ Mahina, TahitiÂÂ Another blowtorch signal featuring FrenchÂmusic at 1235. Satoshi not only alerted me to this but made a video of hisÂstand-alone 3" FSL Pl-380 receiving it 
https://app.box.com/s/f46ogti1m89zqe87oeg41vcnf42omke9 Â 
 
765ÂÂ Radio KahungunuÂÂ Napier-Hastings, NZÂÂ Good-level Maori female vocal music // 603 early on at 1202 from this 2.5 kW overachiever 
https://app.box.com/s/qmfojmo7hhtzp9q5621e67eag2pzw0nn  
 
1017ÂÂ A3ZÂÂ Nuku'alofa, TongaÂÂ Male-voiced foreign language staying just above the noise level for an extended period at 1105; signal not as strong as on Saturday morning 
https://app.box.com/s/zceejpp3znuk35hmp9vy33l3x7dfgxye  
 
73 and Good DX, 
GaryÂDeBock (DXing at the Rockwork 4 ocean cliff near Manzanita, Oregon, USA) 
7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralight + 
17" and 15" FSL antennas 
ÂÂÂÂÂ 
 
_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Be sure to register now for the Joint DX Convention
Kansas City, September 9 to 11.  Hotel space is filling up.
Registration info:
http://www.nrcdxas.org


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