ÂÂÂÂ March didn't start out any better than February ended here in
Alberta. Once again a single DU signal around 1400 prevented the
shutout, though today it was 4RN on 792 rather than 4QD.

73,
ÂNigel Pimblett
Dunmore, AB
Perseus SDR with Wellbrook Phased Array

											

They run a half hour of a syndicated news show at 5am pacific time before
starting a 90 minute local news/info show at 530am pacific.

Apparently at 530am mountain before the local show starts, they play the
national anthem.

Thought that might be useful to someone who may hear that while DXing.

Paul

A plunging ocean side cliff, thunderous DU signals, awesome DXing companions and dazzling scenery-- who could ask for more?

Sandwiched in between an April DXpedition to the Cook Islands and a November trip to Kauai, Hawaii, the 9-day Rockwork Cliff DXpedition featured some exceptional signals, the largest-ever DXer contingent (5), a wacky boom in the squatter population and a bizarre search for antenna setup space each early morning in total darkness (right next to total strangers, more than a few of whom were pretty "strange"). Going through this bizarre routine for 9 days straight right next to the plunging cliff (500 feet straight down) is something that we will remember for quite a while.

Despite the challenges the South Pacific DX was more than enough compensation for our hassles, with DXpedition partner Tom Rothlisberger scoring the largest haul of Longwave South Pacific NDB's ever received on the west coast (55), while 558-Radio Fiji One and 1017-A3Z in Tonga managed the strongest signals I've ever heard recorded in North America. The ultra-rare Kiwi on 585 showed up for the first time in 4 years, while the Kiwis on 531, 594, 639, 657, 738 and 936 all managed their best-ever signals. Craig Barnes joined us for the first time, and Nick ran multiple tests of relative DU signal strength at the various turnoffs (while we carefully stayed in between his expensive gear and the squatters). Chuck and I were already Rockwork 4 veterans, but the squatters forced us to relocate to other turnoffs-- which actually provided involuntary relative signal strength test data. Overall the DXpedition was pretty thrilling-- in more ways than one. Full details, photos and MP3 recording links are provided in the 7 page DXpedition article posted at https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ci1n2tbcoh8gm8itrfee35rz93ggldv7

73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (DXing at the Rockwork ocean cliff near Manzanita, OR from August 1-9)

An odd morning today, totally Asian despite the geomagnetic rumblings, and completely dead on the upper band. Best signals were from 1435 to about 1500UT, with a complete collapse around local sunrise.

pretty darn good audio (all of it understandable by a native speaker, at least briefly):

747 JOIB 1446UT

774 JOUB 1448UT

972 HLCA 1455UT

Reasonable audio at times during the period (much of it understandable by a native speaker, though often battling with splash or noise):

594 JOAK 1436UT

not so reasonable audio, occasional words or phrases in splash or noise could be understood by a native speaker:

702 NHK2 man and woman //774 1451UT

Burbles in the splatter and noise (if lucky, language might be guessed at by cadence of talk, or parallel established by changes in talk or music)

567 JOIK //594 1442UT

585 JOPG woman talking, then choral music 1453UT //594

603 HLSA ballad 1457UT //558 on Korean SDR

612 JOLK complete shock (expecting 4QR with today's geomagnetism) with man talking //594 1436UT

828 JOBB never amounting to much 1459UT, but pips gave it away

873 JOGB man //747 1456UT

945 NHK1 woman talking //594 1453UT; pretty weak, but definitely parallel; likely JOIQ Muroran? judging by northerly locations of most other Japanese heard, so pretty fair DX...

Strongish het, no or "near imaginary" audio (either undermodulated or ravaged by splatter)

711 1188 seemed to be Asian;

nothing seemed to be DU

best wishes,

Nick

Nick Hall-Patch
Victoria, BC
Canada

ÂÂÂÂ I inadvertently left some attenuation in for much of the morning
session, but I don't think it made much difference as nature's
attenuation had already wiped out any trace of Asian signals here in
Alberta. Â One lonely DU, 1548 4QD with ABC news fanfare at 1400 made up
all the action this morning.

73,
ÂNigel Pimblett
Dunmore, AB
Perseus SDR with Wellbrook Phased Array