Wow, all I can say is that I’ve never experienced anything like these
past several days here in Masset, on Haida Gwaii (formally the Queen
Charlotte Islands, south of Alaska). I’ve heard stations that I’ve only
dreamed of, and I’m sure that I’ve just scratched the surface. With
several TB of Perseus SDR recordings, I think that I could be happy for
the rest of my life just perusing these exotic treasures! As I type this
at 19:17 UTC on January 2, 2010, I’m listening to IRIB on 1449 at
armchair level with a Koranic recitation. Yesterday I emailed out a
first version of some of the great DX that I’ve experienced. Today I’ll
update what’s been heard.
First, a summary of what I’ve used. Receiver-wise I have 2 Perseus SDR
receivers on 2 separate laptops, and an AOR 7030+, and a JRC NRD 535D to
complete the list. A third laptop carries my databases: primarily the
PAL from Oct 2009, and a EMWG from Apr 2009, as well as some older
databases (DBS, WRTH, and the 2008-2009 NRC AM Radio Log). For antennae,
I have a number to choose from: ALA 100, oriented NE/SW, mostly for
spotting, and SW (although it’s my only LW capable antenna), a permanent
N/S mini-Beverage of about 450 feet terminated into the surf of the
north Pacific, a 750’ Bog to the NW, and finally a spanking new QDFA
constructed by my very good friend Guy Atkins and designed by Dallas
Lankford. This new antenna has been my star performer with excellent
gain. I’ve yet to tweak the null, though, as things have been so hot of
late. I erected it over several days in a N/S direction, with the null
to the south. I had to bushwack and clear the thick salal, and alder to
fit the 4 large delta loops, but it was well worth it! I’ll likely
abandon some of the other antennae in favour of this very high tech
antenna in the future!
Normally, I DX from early morning to perhaps 10:00 am local before the
Asians start to fade, and then again in the latter afternoon, from about
4:00 pm onwards for the Europeans. The past 48 hours, however, has
turned everything on it’s head with the same morning start, but
continuing right through to the evening as there hasn’t been a let up.
The Pacific basically fades to Asia, then central Asia and India, and
then to Europe. One good thing about the winter here, is that there’s no
need for the 4:00 am rise to get the dawn enhancement with dawn being
closer to 9:00 am this time of the year! Instead, I’ve arisen between
6:00 am and 7:15 am…much more civilized!
Now onto the loggings for the past 36 or so hours since my last submission:
531 JAPAN NHK 1 JOQG Morioka, Jan 2 1656 - OK, a puzzler with very
exotic central Asian sounding music at fair level. I've been fooled
before with NHK1 playing this type of music at a local level, and not //
to other frequencies. Yep, fooled again. Network programming at 17:00.
Darn!. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
648 INDIA AIR West Indore, Jan 2 1719 - I'm very pleased with this one,
which I stumbled upon by accident. There was Indian music in the
background. Suffers from domestic splatter. But I was able to 100% ID it
to the // on 4760! They were running the same feed and also // to 684.
My head is spinning! Listed as 200 kW. 4760 went off the air at 17:30,
but 9425 appeared to still be in //. Wow!. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
684 ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR IS (INDIA) AIR Port Blair, Jan 2 1702 - Started
listening to a very strong Chinese regional when I noted Indian music
underneath. Sure enough,it was // to 4760 making this Port Blair. At
times over the CC station. Not as strong today as in past, and weaker
than my 648. See below! A few minutes later, though, it came up to good
strength, with the CC station barely there. 4760 went off the air at
17:30. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
693 BANGLADESH Bangladesh Betar, Jan 2 1540 - Checked at 15:32 to note
English news cochannel. Initially under JOAB, but within a minute
totally dominated the channel. Over the next 15 minutes it continued to
go back and forth. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
702 INDIA AIR Jalandhar, Jan 2 1749 - I'm almost positive that I heard
the External Service. My limited sources here have them in Urdu. Clearly
audible under the more usual stations (North Korea, for example). Heard
them mention Afghanistan. Audible through to about 17:35 when they
faded. I'll need confirmation from a language expert on this one!.
(Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1152 UAE Ras as Khaimah Radio, Jan 2 1804 - This is a tentative logging.
PAL lists the Malayalam Service with 200 kW. Sure sounds like them.
Initially quite good, but then faded by 18:07. Confirmation will be
needed. The sheikdom would be a new country for me. (Walter Salmaniw,
Masset, B.C.)
1431 DJIBOUTI Radio Sawa, Arta, Jan 2 1854 - When I rechecked at 18:54,
Sawa was there giving their Washington address and IDs at fair/good
level. No sign of the Ukrainian transmitter at that minute. (Walter
Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1431 DJIBOUTI Radio Sawa, Jan 2 1839 - I've heard this one a number of
times. This morning, it's cochannel with Ukrainian Radio 3rd program
(Muz), with Ukraine mostly dominating at very good level! Music program
on the latter with some call-ins as well. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1440 SAUDI ARABIA General Arabic Program, Jan 2 1902 - Very good
reception well over the Japanese (and perhaps domestic) stations. Clear
mentions of Arabiyah and Saudi. Nothing specifically heard at 19:00, but
had to wait until 19:02 for any kind of ID. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1449 IRAN IRIB 1, Jan 2 1904 - Tentative pending positive ID. Very
strong and clean modulation. Doesn't sound like Arabic from Libya to me,
but I stand corrected if it is! To me it sounds very much like a VOA
type broadcast, but nothing's listed in my resources that would match
that. It could also be the 800 kW transmitter at Bandar-e-Torkaman which
broadcasts both the IRIB 1 program and VOIRI. I did hear many mentions
of Iran as I type this. Also one mention of Turkmenistan, which they do
have a VOIRI broadcast from listed 15:00 to 17:30. Into regional music
at 19:13. Quite certain that it is Iran. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1521 CHINA CRI, Hutubi, Jan 2 1818 - Fair reception of CRI's Russian
service. ID noted. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1539 DJIBOUTI Radio Djibouti, Jan 2 1933 - I'm quite sure that I can
hear French under VOA from Kuwait and Arabic sounding music, so this
should be RTV de Djibouti. Kuwait occasionally fades down, allowing for
better reception of this cochannel. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1539 KUWAIT VOA, Jan 2 1937 - Noted VOA news in English at 20:00 (noon
local!) at excellent level, with occasional fade revealing possibly
Djibouti underneath. Not listed in the PAL (the English program). This
continued to 20:05 and went back into Urdu. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1539 UAE VOA Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa, Al-Dhabbaya, Jan 2 1845 - Checking for
Djibouti, but of course VOA completely dominates the channel in Urdu at
armchair level. There is someone under though, so worth checking at the
TOH. Earlier, CNR1 is very strong here before they sign-off at 17:35.
(Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
1566 BENIN TWR Benin, Jan 2 0335 - Not quite armchair copy, but very
nice reception with ID for TWR in English and an email address. Wasn't
sure for sure it was them until the ID as the programming was pretty
much continuous music. By far the best I've ever heard them! I've
struggled to hear much content, and even last night, they were at or
above threshold. As I type this, when they fade up, they're a good
'8/10' on my scale of listenability! Interesting, as the rest of the
evening is no comparison to last night which was perhaps 'once in a
lifetime' as far as I was concerned! They faded for a while and then
came back around 03:53 with a preacher in vernacular, briefly at strong
level. Went into a hymn shorthly before 04:00, but faded down at the
TOH. That ionosphere must surely be dancing around!. (Walter Salmaniw,
Masset, B.C.)
1593 KUWAIT VOA/Radio Free Iraq, Jan 2 1833 - Not sure how accurate the
most recent PAL is, but I'm assuming this is the 150 kW transmitter
which mostly dominates the channel with AA programming. I'll need to
confirm, though. Often very good level. PAL lists VOA Persian to 18:30
then Radio Free Iraq in Arabic after. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
2368.485 AUSTRALIA Radio Symban, Jan 2 1618 - Fair reception with Greek
(almost Arabic sounding) music. Best I've heard them on this trip and
equals the reception from last August. Thanks John Wright for my
'special' QSL received a few weeks ago! Note slightly low on the
frequency. Nothing at all from 2355 or 3210 for the other new Aussie SW
station. A good morning as there was audio on a number of the X-band
Aussies. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
4319 DIEGO GARCIA AFN, Jan 2 1619 - Good reception this morning with a
call in show (Hannel on the Line, or something like that). Best I've
heard them this trip. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
11980 AUSTRALIA Radio Australia, Jan 2 1603 - My notes state that this
is a new English/Burmese broadcast from Darwin. Excellent reception with
English news and sports. Off frequency on 11979.947 as measured on my
Perseus. ABC news ID at 16:05, then Radio Australia ID, cut off after
'Radio Australia will keep'. Then ABC local radio ID! Interesting for
sure. Update about a stolen Austin Martin in NSW. No sign that this is
the new Burmese service!. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset, B.C.)
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