Hello All,
Cape Perpetua is Oregon's highest ocean side cliff (at 805 feet), located about
2 miles south of Yachats in Lincoln County. The very bare and exposed Highway
101 turnoff site on this cliff (at the 220' level) recently became the fairly
harsh operating venue for the latest "Cliffhanger" DXpedition-- a fanatical
4-day search for South Pacific DX.
As usual during these wild trips there was no AC power, running water, street
lights or weather protection. Curious stares, loud traffic noise and huge
18-wheelers coming straight at you (before they make their final turn on the
curving road) add to the charm of the place. When the enhanced cliff-side DU
propagation really kicks in during sunrise enhancement, though, all this is
quickly forgotten-- the Cape Perpetua cliff becomes a DXer's dream.
Posted below are MP3 recordings links for the ten strongest South Pacific AM-DX
signals received during the 4 days-- 6 of which pegged the S/N readout of the
Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight radio at the 25 maximum. Twisted and wild ropagation
continued throughout the trip, with many bizarre snarls on frequencies across
the band. Signals which pegged the PL-380's S/N readout at the time of
reception are identified with a double asterisk (**). For those interested, a
photo of the Cape Perpetua DXing site, the new 12" FSL antenna, the new-design
7.5" loopstick PL-380 and not-so-new, sleep deprived DXer is posted at
http://www.mediafire.com/view/cw5uw5egiwclrqc/CapePerpetuaSetup.jpg
**531-PI Auckland, New Zealand, 5kW This Samoan-language station usually was
dominant, but almost always had an
unidentified Australian (or the Japanese NHK1 station) along
with it. One of the best Kiwi performers during the trip
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ijm9n3o7homwmx2/531-PI-1244z081713PL380.MP3
**567 RNZ National Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW This was usually the first
DU station to fade in each morning, as well
as the strongest Kiwi on most days. Plays a variety of music,
interviews and national news, // 639, 675, 756 etc.
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ul63umrnaz5jiq5/567-RNZ-1259z081713PL380.MP3
**576 2RN Sydney, Australia, 50 kW Usually playing a wide variety of exotic
music, this RN network powerhouse could
really blast in when propagation favored it. Parallel to 792,
which also was capable of huge signals
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/qz6x4g6wiit264e/576-2RN-1335z081913PL380.MP3
**603 Radio Waatea Auckland, New Zealand, 5 kW This Maori-language station
was an exceptional performer for its power
level, and usually the strongest of the early-morning (in NZ)
Maori-language network. Although Maori music and speech
was the norm, it also occasionally played easy listening (or old
Motown) music
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/prxnx4ak011930c/603-R.Waatea-1248z081613PL380.MP3
**639 2HC Coff's Harbour, Australia, 5 kW This Australian talkback station
managed its best signals ever during this trip, drowning
out the 2 kW RNZ station most of the time. Occasionally it faced
some NHK competition, but it was always the last one on
the frequency before sunrise enhancement collapsed
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/t7terv2o7hjtggv/639-2HC-1317z081613PL380.MP3
**657 Southern Star Wellington, New Zealand, 50 kW Strong signals on most
mornings with Christian music but troubled with
domestic splatter much of the time. Parallel to 963, it usually
was the stronger of the two
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/qs668qkjk32e67p/657-SouthernStar-1310z081713PL380.MP3
684 NZ Rhema Gisborne, New Zealand, 5 kW Usually good signals with Christian
contemporary music from this Rhema network
station, and usually stronger than its parallel on 594. This
recording features a Rhema network public service
announcement
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/kznvggqgugsd1p4/684-NZ.Rhema-1348z081813PL380.MP3
765 Radio Kahungunu Napier-Hastings, New Zealand, 2.5 kW Once again an
overachiever for its power level, this Maori language
broadcaster acted like a Kiwi "big gun" on most mornings. Usually
plays Maori music and speech, but occasionally has
old pop music like this recording. Usually // 603 during these
early morning (in NZ) hours
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/gjenj13yu9qqnfv/765-R.Kahungunu-1303z081613PL380.MP3
**792 4RN Brisbane, Australia, 25 kW Another Aussie powerhouse, typically
playing exotic music from around the world. Parallel
to 576-2RN, this was usually the last DU to stick around before
sunrise enhancement collapsed
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/qyhf8hse32pba68/792-4RN-1323z081613PL380.MP3
891 5AN Adelaide, Australia, 50 kW Aussie LR network powerhouse had very
good signals for most of the trip, although not at the
freakish level observed last year at this cliff site. Parallel to
774 and others, it typically has interviews, news, and occasional
music
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ffalssf6wk1ooho/891-5AN-1328z081613PL380.MP3
There were many more South Pacific (and Asian TP) stations heard during this
wild DXpedition, but these were the 10 strongest ones. A full report on the
ocean cliff operating challenges, wacky propagation and DXing thrills will be
included in the full DXpedition report. If any of you on the west coast are
looking for an exciting new challenge in transoceanic DXing, why not give ocean
cliff DXing a try? One session will provide a permanent cure for any hobby
boredom.
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
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