Hello All, The chance to combine high elevation with a salt water propagation advantage has always been fascinating to me, and before the summer ended I was determined to find an extremely high ocean cliff viewpoint along the Oregon coast to use as the ultimate Ultralight DU-chasing venue. Although I would be DXing out in the weather with no chance of computer assistance or AC power, the opportunity to have the triple advantage of high elevation, salt water propagation and a high-gain portable antenna was irresistable. After scouting out various viewpoints along Highway 101 on the Oregon Pacific coast, I settled on "Rockwork," an awesome site on a steep cliff high above the ocean beach in Tillamook County, just south of the Clatsop County border. The altitude of this site is breathtaking-- a photo of the ocean view is posted at http://www.mediafire.com/i/?9w83poo77w8wrvc
The plan was to stay at a Cannon Beach (OR) motel for 3 days, and get up around 0300 local time every morning (1000 UTC) for the 10 minute drive to the ocean cliff viewpoint. My medium-wave DXing radio equipment was very basic-- a barefoot Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight radio, a newly designed 8" diameter Ferrite Sleeve Loop antenna (shown in the photo link above), and a 5' PVC base. This is a ferrite rod-based antenna which performs somewhat like an air-core box loop, although with the advantage of lower noise pickup. This antenna system had been tested the month before on the ocean beach at Lincoln City (OR) about 90 miles to the south, where it provided the first Ultralight reception of 666-Noumea, in New Caledonia. The three day trip would be risky if propagation didn't cooperate, but fortunately two of the three days were great for DU reception. 765-Radio Kahungunu (a 2.5 kw station in New Zealand) was received for the first time on Ultralight radios, as well as 684-NZ Rhema on its new frequency. The usual South Pacific regulars of 603-Waatea, 657-Southern Star, 675-National Radio (NZ), 738-Tahititi and 891-5AN were all vibrant, and as usual there were several UnID mysteries to make matters interesting. Thanks very much to both Tony King of New Zealand and Gary Deacon of South Africa, who provided information to help confirm 765-Radio Kahungunu's identity. Thanks also to Chuck Hutton and Patrick Martin for listening to the mystery MP3's, and offering their suggestions. 73 and Good DX, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) 153-Radio Rossii Komsomolsk, Russia The third strongest of the Rossii stations during the trip, its frequency was below the FSL antenna's tuning range (225-900 kHz), but that didn't really matter. It produced vibrant signals on just the 7.5" LW loopstick PL-380 http://www.mediafire.com/?dl0x9q1snbvg9mq 180-Radio Rossii Yelizovo, Russia The weakest of the Rossii stations, it produced a fair signal on just the 7.5" LW loopstick on the exceptional morning of 8-14 http://www.mediafire.com/?uuu03nnrrvcr2i4 189-Radio Rossii Belogorsk, Russia Generally around on all three mornings, but not one of the stronger Rossii outlets. Received with 7.5" LW loopstick PL-380 alone http://www.mediafire.com/?b59la3g155klhb0 234-Radio Rossii Arman, Russia Received with vibrant signals on the exceptional morning of 8-14, it fought a snarling battle with 233-ALJ, resulting in a loud 1 kHz heterodyne http://www.mediafire.com/?apw030x3kg31t83 279-Radio Rossii Yuzhno-Sahkhalinsk, Russia The strongest of the Rossii Longwave TP's and a frequent blowtorch on the Oregon beach cliff, this awesome signal pegged the PL-380's S/N reading at 25 for the duration, as the Russian YL sounded like she would melt down the Ultralight http://www.mediafire.com/?qnociq928vomp9b 530 ADK Adak, Alaska Domestic TIS QRM and 531 South Pacific heterodynes competed with this long-range Alaskan on all 3 days http://www.mediafire.com/?cbtl9lvnmcqcdlh 531 UnID-DU As usual during my summer beach trips, several UnID South Pacific stations competed for this frequency, with no clear winner. The island-like music at the end of the recording could be from 531-PI in New Zealand http://www.mediafire.com/?ukpv2lk8pkuiyf9 567 2YA Wellington, NZ The second strongest of the National Radio stations, it was frequently troubled by 570 Seattle splatter http://www.mediafire.com/?f6fcgga7dbre574 576 2RN Sydney, Australia Heard briefly under 570 splatter with typical music on 8-15, // 792 kHz 585 UnID-DU The mystery classic-rock station was back for another trip, this time playing "A Horse With No Name." Chuck thinks this may be 2WEB, but the DU English doesn't ever seem to be clear enough to definitely nail it down http://www.mediafire.com/?vdytg556d027a7w 594 3WV, NZ-Rhema The Australian big gun and the two low-powered Rhema stations were apparently fighting it out as usual on the exceptional morning of 8-15 http://www.mediafire.com/?0nlm7o8ua18km3x 603 Radio Waatea Auckland, NZ Maori-language 5 kw station had typically strong signals during this trip, including this Polynesian choral music recorded on the exceptional morning of 8-15 http://www.mediafire.com/?cqf97ce2onnd3on 603 UnID-DU Recorded under Radio Waatea's choral music, this DU English signal may be one of the 10 kw ABC stations http://www.mediafire.com/?czkz600jl8paq27 612 4QR Brisbane, Australia Big gun had vibrant signals on the exceptional morning of 8-15, like other Australians 639 4YW Alexandra, New Zealand This Radio National relay has been holding down the frequency almost every day during the summer beach trips, seeming quite unusual for a 2 kw station. Parallel checked with 675-3YA (and identity confirmed) during this trip http://www.mediafire.com/?py5xy79u61m20i6 639 Radio Fiji One Lautoka, Fiji Mixing with 4YW occasionally during this trip, but not really competing with the newly dominant "2 kw" station http://www.mediafire.com/?s5tfz6qj6cit7pc 657 2YC Wellington, NZ (Southern Star) Typically vibrant signals with Christian music were heard throughout this trip http://www.mediafire.com/?g5n1f19bf2jvhrp 666 Radio New Caledonia Noumea, N.C. Barely a trace of this station during this August trip, despite decent signals last month. The same situation was noticed last year at Lincoln City-- those wishing to log it may wish to schedule a beach trip in July. 675 3YA Christchurch, NZ Strongest of the NZ National Radio network again--- the earthquake doesn't seem to have caused any issue. Frequent music and interviews, // 567, 639, 756 http://www.mediafire.com/?5yjvr13fh54an7e 684 NZ-Rhema Gisborne, NZ New frequency for this 5 kw Christian broadcaster (from 648 kHz last October), and more vibrant than ever. No sign of co-channel 2KP, even during exceptional Aussie conditions http://www.mediafire.com/?iqjb9c8ahjhekhb 702 2BL Sydney, Australia Good signals through domestic splatter on 8-15 738 Radio Tahiti Mahina, Tahiti As usual, one of the strongest South Pacific signals during this trip. French music and interviews, holding down the frequency quite well over 2NR http://www.mediafire.com/?00q0cilfv4kfr4v 738 2NR Grafton, Australia A poor second to Tahiti on this frequency for most of the trip, except for the exceptional Aussie morning of 8-15 756 1YA Auckland, NZ One again the weakest of the four NZ National Radio network stations received, and much weaker than its newly vibrant 639 kHz Alexandra parallel 765 Radio Kahungunu Napier-Hastings, NZ Maori-language 2.5 kw station with frequent Polynesian choral music similar to 603-Waatea (with which it shares parallel programming at times), the identity of this station was determined with assistance from Tony King and Gary Deacon (thanks!) http://www.mediafire.com/?71decp0dtow1gz1 774 3LO Melbourne, Australia Vibrant signals during good propagation on 8-15 but troubled by 770 Seattle splatter http://www.mediafire.com/?ct8671dllzvl2cv 792 4RN Brisbane, Australia Music-oriented station had typical tunes and strong signals during exceptional morning of 8-15, // 576 http://www.mediafire.com/?2i59bilyugp1mms 891 5AN Adelaide, Australia Strong ABC "big gun" with frequent news and interviews, dominating over weak DU English co-channel http://www.mediafire.com/?5san48l8aac8rh3 891 UnID-DU Weak sports-oriented co-channel of 5AN audible at low level in recording above, presumed to be 4TAB in Townsville, Australia 1116 4BC Brisbane, Australia Strong Aussie "big gun" faced equally strong 1120 Eugene (OR) splatter for most of the trip http://www.mediafire.com/?21f8rziigtug79g _______________________________________________ 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]
