From July 5-11 another wild ocean cliff DXpedition was conducted at the Rockwork 4 turnoff on Highway 101, a sweeping ocean view site about 419 feet (158 meters) above the Pacific. Most of the DXpedition participants were from other countries-- in addition to Tom Rothlisberger and I, we had Nick Hall-Patch from Victoria, BC, and the noted Japanese DXers Hiroo Nakagawa and Satoshi Miyauchi. Propagation definitely favored New Zealand (in one of the most Kiwi-slanted trips that has ever been observed here). Although we had a near-daily blowtorch signal from 738-Tahiti and occasional reception from 1017-Tonga, Australian signals generally had a rough time in the NZ-slanted conditions. Tom and I both agree that overall propagation was down somewhat from the exceptional conditions we enjoyed last summer (with good reception of stations like 558-6WA and 558-Fiji) but the chance to welcome the Japanese DXers made the experience especially memorable, and their skill and determination was an inspiration to us all. Listed below are the DU loggings made with my Ultralight radio + FSL antenna combos, which performed quite well throughout the vicious weather challenges on July 10th (better than the drenched and shivering DXer that created them, actually). The DU loggings made by the other DXers will no doubt exceed these, but we all had great fun together, and are looking forward to the next joint DXpedition (either here, or in Japan). 531 4KZ (Innisfail, Australia, 10 kW) MIA during Kiwi-slanted propagation on most mornings, it made it through at a modest level with its classic oldies format and interval signal during PI fade at 1209 on 7-5 https://app.box.com/s/phtsbdii0tatmxeb0qfq677it0emsa3i 531 More FM (Alexandra, NZ, 2 kW) Rare low-powered Kiwi station played hard to get, but did show up during a deep PI fade in Kiwi -slanted propagation at 1222 on 7-6. This Kiwi English monolog sounds mostly garbled to me, but the first 5 seconds certainly sounds like "Welcome time to More FM's blog..." (headphones recommended) https://app.box.com/s/q527grcf5ee5q2l402sjiwl3syn8d8g4 531 PI (Auckland, NZ, 5 kW) Samoan broadcaster dominated on all 7 days with good signals, although 4KZ and More FM did manage to get through at times. This good-level Samoan female speech on 7-5 was typical https://app.box.com/s/pe8gr1917b4vn3gccskee5gep6go7cft 567 RNZ (Wellington, NZ, 50 kW) Most of this big gun's legendary transoceanic signal seems to have been destroyed along with its old tower (during the recent demolition). It showed up weakly on all 7 days, although always inferior in strength to its 675 parallel https://app.box.com/s/2mqql3qwk3vxg0ym5iu4tpi5f8ppvvj7 576 2RN (Sydney, Australia, 50 kW) Kiwi-slanted propagation hit this RN-network big gun pretty hard, but it did show up with mediocre signals not // 657 at 1237 on 7-8 https://app.box.com/s/g39m6brj1dgh6qwx5i7m8xz45ynqu9yy 576 Star (Hamilton, NZ, 2.5 kW) The "Dwarf Star" (ex-The Word) was strong enough with its Christian female vocal music to confirm the parallel with 657 at 1244 on 7-11. The first 12 seconds in the recording are 576-Star, and the last 12 seconds are the 657 parallel https://app.box.com/s/m548dxdvwu1ke99z4e1y2r12prfdf809 585 Radio Ngati Porou (Ruatoria, NZ, 2 kW) Wispy male speech was received at 1234 on 7-6 sounding like the usual Maori announcer, but the 603 // apparently started a new song right during the parallel check. Signal nosedived thereafter. 594 Rhema (Timaru/ Wanganui, NZ, 5/ 2 kW) Modest level Christian music // 684 at 1250 on 7-6. Usually a little stronger than the 684 parallel, with no sign of Aussie big gun 3WV during the Kiwi-slanted conditions https://app.box.com/s/m2d7qbws87z5z1jg8d8n4lvqmz298p8k 603 Radio Waatea (Auckland, NZ, 5 kW) Usually the strongest of the Maori network, this vibrant regular plays a mix of Maori and Motown music. Its strongest signal was on the last day (7-11) at 1218 https://app.box.com/s/xdxju7jr1flspiln9nz1havsvd8gy85o 657 Star (Wellington/ Tauranga, NZ, 50/ 10 kW) Christian hymn broadcaster owned the frequency during the Kiwi-slanted conditions, with this good-level music at 1211 on the last day of 7-11 https://app.box.com/s/mxti60qwfcc3298c541ak4k5p9s3vqj5 675 RNZ National (Christchurch, NZ, 10 kW) The new kingpin of RNZ network transoceanic strength (after the demise of 567's old tower), this relay consistently outperformed its 50 kW parallel. This signal at 1257 on 7-8 was typical https://app.box.com/s/wx9b9i1dex7mqyrb9b9zgbnk1n3svwew 684 Rhema (Gisborne, NZ, 5 kW) Christian contemporary music broadcaster with fairly good signals // 594 at 1247 on 7-9; Tony W. says that the tower property has been sold and eviction is forthcoming https://app.box.com/s/691ddrcehygaiko5pgpll2jp1nu1en91 702 2BL (Sydney, Australia, 50 kW) Easily pushing 702-Magic aside whenever it showed up, this Oz big gun was the dominant station on both 7-7 and 7-10. The interview format was much different from Magic's oldie music https://app.box.com/s/f0qfop5x7ymw1gbyowg65obveuqjwf6m 702 Magic (Auckland, NZ, 10 kW) Capable of blistering signals when Kiwi propagation was enhanced, this oldie music broadcaster was the only DU on the frequency on 5 of 7 days https://app.box.com/s/gtd8u8zxduwpirycbso99kigyum2ja5c 738 Radio Polynesie (Mahina, Tahiti, 20 kW) A real blowtorch on most days, this French-language signal at 1233 on 7-9 was the strongest DU recording made during the trip, and seriously tested the crunch resistance of my Ultralight radio https://app.box.com/s/pw2gpfgh7vd19b33yz8ag7466y18462t 756 RNZ (Auckland, NZ, 10 kW) Pretty good signal with music // 675 at 1212 on 7-8, a good demonstration of the cliff's ability to cut down splatter from the 750-Portland pest (50 kW and only 70 miles away) https://app.box.com/s/qlx6esrtgccrg32pkwqt0yr71suuw52d 765 Radio Kahungunu (Napier-Hastings, NZ, 2.5 kW) Once again this low-powered Maori network station acted very much like a Kiwi big gun throughout the week. Maori and Motown music is the norm, as in this recording // 603 at 1215 on 7-8 https://app.box.com/s/p04c5i3fvvpxfw449nbsa2jlwmipsh6n 774 3LO (Melbourne, Australia, 50 kW) LR Network big gun was strong at 1222 on 7-5 but missing in action under Radio Sport on most days https://app.box.com/s/egf89xhr29obvisblm7cb9bzehid62jh 774 Radio Sport (New Plymouth, NZ, 5 kW) Not nearly as strong as its 792 parallel, it was hit hard by Seattle splatter on most mornings, and never came up in strength for a decent recording 783 Access Radio (Wellington, NZ, 10 kW) Multi-cultural station with varied ethnic programming, this apparent Samoan language music and speech was received at 1241 on 7-7 https://app.box.com/s/yg4xp9r7er4hyul4jvcpsr5x747vqkf2 792 Radio Sport (Hamilton, NZ, 5 kW) Fairly strong on most mornings with its network relay of Fox Sports News, the Yankee-accented English owned the frequency on all 7 days (over the MIA Oz big gun 4RN) https://app.box.com/s/um0gfok28blvq90n0eeoeuuoq3v5jzzy 828 3GI (Sale, Australia, 10 kW) On a couple of occasions this LR network big gun was just strong enough to confirm the parallel with 774, but most often it was in a ghostly mix with a presumed Radio Trackside (which never came up in strength for a decent recording). 891 5AN (Adelaide, Australia, 50 kW) Another underperforming Oz big gun, it was usually in a threshold-level mix with another DU English station (probably 4TAB). 936 Chinese Voice (Auckland, NZ, 1 kW) A prime target during enhanced Kiwi propagation, this low-powered ethnic station came through with fairly good-level music and Chinese speech during exceptional propagation at 1243 on 7-6 https://app.box.com/s/sng6i7c70sqm3e5bpymy3mfy1dbpbfdn 1008 Newstalk ZB (Tauranga, NZ, 10 kW) Getting through the 1010 splatter at a modest level // 1035 at 1220 on 7-7. Generally not as strong as either the 1035 or 1044 parallel https://app.box.com/s/8l5sn7mayuwkzs896lbciw4s1e8738dw 1017 A3Z (Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 10 kW) Rushed antenna setup prior to 1130 on 7-9 paid off with a fairly good-level logging of male speech from this station, the only foreign language DU on the frequency. Since A3Z's sign off is usually prior to sunrise enhancement at the cliff, the best chance to track it down is during its late Saturday night transmission, when it typically stays on a little later https://app.box.com/s/jz35gvlr8re5ldfqol9h6ux0kd04dea5 1035 Newstalk ZB (Wellington, NZ, 20 kW) The flagship relay of this talk radio network had potent signals on most mornings, including this excellent-level discussion concerning NZ real estate at 1222 on 7-8 https://app.box.com/s/a21xkbboz6pbbqj73lj0ted4ft3fjiua 1044 Newstalk ZB (Dunedin, NZ, 10 kW) Fairly strong on most mornings with the usual call-in talk program and occasional music // 1035. This recording was at 1210 on 7-9 https://app.box.com/s/z7flaydc0if63v9qhro7deyvp3rno67d 1386 Radio Tarana (Auckland, NZ, 10 kW) Hindu music broadcaster pounded in when Kiwi propagation was enhanced (as in this recording at 1246 on 7-6), otherwise it got lost in splatter https://app.box.com/s/aaguop8hp57aa38eulommx06tm3l22qw 1503 Radio Sport (Wellington/ Christchurch, NZ, 5/ 2,5 kW) Yankee English from the relay of Fox Sports News (// 792) was usually audible on this frequency on all 7 days https://app.box.com/s/wed793j34pnu0thkulc3w8o7v716gs98 73 and Good DX, Gary DeBock (DXing at the Rockwork 4 ocean cliff near Manzanita, OR, USA) 7.5" loopstick C.crane SWP Ultralights (3) + 15" and 17" FSL antennas _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca
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