Hello All,
Concurrent with a separate DXpedition in Yachats (OR), from July 21-27
another wild ocean cliff DXpedition was conducted from "Rockwork 4," a 400'
high sheer cliff located on Highway 101 in Tillamook County, Oregon. As in
previous trips there was no AC power, running water, street lights or weather
protection at the site-- but there was plenty of traffic noise, soggy weather
and Murphy's Law. Despite the challenges vibrant South Pacific DX was received
on 7 out of 7 days, providing conclusive evidence once again that this sheer
cliff creates its own enhanced DU propagation.
Most astonishing was the strength and regularity of the New Zealand AM
stations, 6 of which owned their frequencies with strong signals every day.
These Kiwi "big guns" ranged from the 2.5 kW Maori overachiever 765-Kahungunu
to the flagship RNZ National station, 567-RNZ. New Zealand seemed to have a
"pipeline" to the Cliff, even during the days when Australia boomed in as well.
Although the DXing conditions at Rockwork 4 are pretty rough, hearing such
powerful South Pacific signals in the middle of such awesome scenery is enough
to permanently cure any hobby boredom! Linked below are MP3's for the strongest
ten DU signals heard during the week, along with a brief description of their
programming formats. Signals which pegged the PL-380's S/N display at the time
of recording (most of them) are marked with a double asterisk (**). All signals
were received on a 7.5" loopstick Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight inductively coupled
to a new 12" DXpedition FSL antenna. For those interested, a DXpedition video
showing the scenery, equipment and sleep-deprived DXer is posted at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWSqvb9NdLo
**531-PI Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW This Samoan language station had a
hammerlock on the frequency most of the time, rarely
allowing an Aussie talk station to squeak through. This MP3
shows its typical strength, along with that of the Aussie
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/vnx12sra6srbnea/531-PI-1231z072213PL380.MP3
**567 RNZ National Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW Always managing a huge
signal by around 1230, this music and
interview station was by far the strongest of the RNZ network.
Usually the first Kiwi station to fade in each morning
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/1ev02jh0ye59xfc/567-RNZ-1216z072713PL380.MP3
**594 3WV Horsham, Australia, 50 kW An underachiever during previous ocean
cliff trips, this Aussie LR network big gun
finally dominated the frequency over the low-powered Kiwi NZ
Rhema network-- and did it all week long
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/0yzqh6hpoz5j43i/594-3WV-1244z072213PL380.MP3
603 Radio Waatea Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW Maori-language music and
interviews were vibrant as usual throughout the
week, and surprisingly stable. No Aussie competition on the
frequency, as was sometimes heard in previous trips
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/u25glqbzfr7e2h3/603-R.Waatea-1253z072213PL380.MP3
657 Southern Star Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW Christian music station was
one of the six Kiwi "big guns" during the week,
although it occasionally had some domestic splatter issues.
Always vibrant and stable every morning
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/bo1yjum6wr6em9v/657-SouthernStar-1242z072313PL380.MP3
675 RNZ National Christchurch, New Zealand, 10 kW The second of the RNZ
network to make this "Top Ten" list, it typically
came in slightly weaker than its 567 parallel. Music,
interviews and national news
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/tktcaddq46c7bwg/675-RNZ-1228z072113PL380.mp3.MP3
**738 Radio Polynesie Mahina, Tahiti, 20 kW Once again, a French language
blowtorch all week, and typically the first DU to
reach vibrant audio (usually around 1200). Plays French and
English pop music, with occasional French interviews
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/s9tk16zjc3z0u9l/738-R.Polynesie-1259z072313PL380.MP3
765 Radio Kahungunu Napier-Hastings, New Zealand, 2.5 kW The lowest powered
of the "Top Ten" DU stations, this Maori
language overachiever still packed a strong punch every day.
Typically has Maori language music and speech, but
occasionally plays old Motown favorites like the Smokey
Robinson hit in this MP3. // 603 at times
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/l9441a2pw5l9u9r/765-R.Kahungunu-1226z072613PL380.MP3
**774 3LO Melbourne, Australia, 50 kW This LR network big gun could send a
blistering signal into the Cliff when Aussie signals
rose up. // 828, 891 and other LR network stations, it has
variety programming with news, music and interviews
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/022kazej9zljzzx/774-3LO-1227z072713PL380.MP3
**783 Access Radio Wellington, New Zealand, 10 kW One of the big surprises
of the week, this ethnic programming Kiwi station
somehow transformed itself from a weak underachiever into a
vibrant big gun. This MP3 has South Asian music (thanks
to Theo for info)
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/jfmefx37z1pbvo5/783-SamoanCapRadio-1248z072113PL380.mp3.MP3
**792 4RN Brisbane, Australia, 25 kW (Honorable Mention) This Aussie RN
network station was very potent when favorable
propagation kicked in, but was missing in action otherwise.
Plays a variety of diverse music from around the world, // 576
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/x2022al0wee1ktn/792-4RN-1254z072713PL380.MP3
(Many more South Pacific DX stations were received during the week-- these were
only the eleven strongest ones. The full DXpedition report will include details
and MP3's of all 32 stations received from New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti and
Tonga. Thanks very much to Theo, Chuck and Bruce for extensive help in
identifying mystery DU stations.
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
_______________________________________________
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]
