Recently, Bruce Portzer discovered that R. Fiji was listed on their website as broadcasting on 774 kHz, though no one has heard them there for some years.
Had a bit of time last evening to follow up on this. Pacific island carriers had appeared by 0630UT, and included likely Fiji frequencies of 639, 684, 1152 and 1467...but a few minutes later 774 had a carrier as well; in fact, in short order, it had two carriers, separated by about 5 Hertz per Spectran. This was on the west Flag, which responds well to signals from Tahiti through Alaska. But the lower frequency carrier was alone when I switched to the northerly Flag, an antenna which doesn't hear well to the southwest, but usually hears Japan well. So maybe this one was JOUB, which can fade in this early at this time of year. A quick measurement using Spectran with 0.24Hz resolution put this pretty much spot on 774.000 kHz (and using the IBOC stations / WWV for correction, as described recently in DX Monitor ) Now, what about the other carrier? This was more like 774.005 kHz, and was too weak to get a really good bearing on it, but again using Spectran and the indoor loop, I found the signal disappeared between about 200 and 270 degrees as the loop was turned. So the null could have been at 235 degrees; a later null when the signal was stronger, put it between 245 and 215 degrees, maybe 230 degrees? Fiji is 234 degrees from here. Hmmmm, especially as at this time, Fiji would be the only southerly station on the channel even remotely near the terminator. So, maybe Fiji >is< on 774 kHz again....quick....out to Grayland to make sure! By 0850UT, there were as many as 4 or 5 carriers on 774kHz using the westerly Flag, but only one on the northerly Flag, and that one was delivering weak audio, with the NHK pips at 0900 clinching it, and yes, same 774.000 kHz observed earlier. But, if Fiji is on 774, it has nothing like the oomph of 639 which had audio traces by 0930UT, and was looping very close to 235 degrees, as it had a good strength carrier to play with. Ah, speculating about what the DX would be if it ever punched through the noise.... best wishes, Nick **************************************************************************** Nick Hall-Patch Victoria, B.C. Canada **************************************************************************** _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] 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: [email protected]
