Weather and DU propagation both improved dramatically this morning as a serious contingent of American, Canadian and Japanese DXers approached this wild ocean cliff DXing site. Kiwi propagation returned to its usual excellent level, with 756-RNZ managing its best ever signal here (quite a trick, considering the site is only 70 miles from the 50 kW 750-Portland pest) while the NZ stations on 603, 657, 675, 765 and 1035 all pounded in with their best strength of the week. The weather once again seemed dreary at my 1030 UTC (0330 local) antenna setup time, with yesterday's rain and wind still hitting the highly exposed Highway 101 site. The rain tapered off just before the sunrise enhancement session, though, and the wind died down to a tolerable level (although it didn't seem very tolerable at the time, watching four huge FSL's rocking back and forth). The first sign of improved DU propagation was early on at 1203, with 657-Star reaching its best level of the past few years (it normally gets hit very hard by domestic splatter). Shortly thereafter an overachieving 756-RNZ took advantage of the solid rock cliff's ideal position by pounding in over 750-Portland splatter with music // 675 (which, incidentally, was stronger than any signal yet this week from its newly anemic 50 kW parallel 567-RNZ) . The potent Kiwi rush was on, with 2.5 kW 765-Kahungunu, its 603-Waatea parallel and 1035-Newstalk ZB all reaching near S9 levels throughout the session. As a final exclamation point 675-RNZ managed its best signal of the week at 1257, confirming its status as the new kingpin of RNZ transoceanic strength. Propagation to other South Pacific areas was decidedly subdued, however, with the exception of the usual 738-Tahiti blowtorch (which temporarily dropped its R&B music at 1228 in favor of French YL and OM speech-- at the usual energetic level). Overall the propagation was a distinct improvement over yesterday's, with excellent timing considering the approach of the international DXpedition contingent. 603 Radio Waatea Auckland, NZ Maori station playing classic oldies // 765 at a potent level at 1250 https://app.box.com/s/fspvmdphc0bct2431k0fro8ntqoppw9q 657 Star Wellington/ Tauranga, NZ Best signal in recent years with Kiwi English commentary early on at 1203 https://app.box.com/s/55gx8u2s3f2k2s61kon8rrqgqmax7wcj 675 RNZ Christchurch, NZ Music and Kiwi female speech at energetic level just prior to the 1300 TOH https://app.box.com/s/wx9b9i1dex7mqyrb9b9zgbnk1n3svwew 738 Radio Polynesie Mahina, Tahiti French YL and OM speech at a huge level at 1228 (and also throughout the session) https://app.box.com/s/27ml9ngmqyaeqeljxij20y5xsr2itkbn 756 RNZ Auckland, NZ The 10 kW Kiwi (// 675) really socks it to 750-Portland splatter (at 70 miles) with its best signal ever. The solid rock cliff deserves some measure of credit, reducing the 50kw pest to a manageable level https://app.box.com/s/qlx6esrtgccrg32pkwqt0yr71suuw52d 765 Radio Kahungunu Napier-Hastins, NZ The 2.5 kW overachiever rocks the Pacific with Motown music // 603 at a near S9 level https://app.box.com/s/p04c5i3fvvpxfw449nbsa2jlwmipsh6n 1035 Newstalk ZB Wellington, NZ Call-in talk program discussing Kiwi real estate at local-like strength at 1222 (on days like today this cliff also seems like a piece of NZ real estate) https://app.box.com/s/a21xkbboz6pbbqj73lj0ted4ft3fjiua 73 and Good DX, Gary DeBock (DXing at the Rockwork 4 ocean cliff near Manzanita, Oregon, USA) 7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralights (3) + 17" and 15" DXpedition FSL antennas Rockwork 4 photo from this morning ("Sleeping squatters evicted by foul weather") https://app.box.com/s/gebnyydswr3s15bot3ivotsycylcagcf _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca
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