Re: [IRCA] LA DX to HI

[Gary DeBock]

Mark and All,

Like Craig says, the logistics of setting up large broadband antennas during 
temporary Hawaii trips will be a major challenge. Most of the major motels 
forbid large external antennas, and it would probably take a lengthy search to 
find a private house owner that would allow one. This challenge would be in 
addition to the hassle of carrying any large poles or other loop components 
through airports.

The topography of the Big Island pretty much determines which transoceanic DX 
areas will be favored at any given location, with the west side having enhanced 
TP and DU-DX, and the east side far better for North and South American DX. The 
large volcanoes running through the middle of the island greatly reduce 
transoceanic signals from the opposite directions. Because of this if a DXer 
wants to be competitive in all directions, he had better be in a location like 
the southern tip of the island, which has no major obstructions like those 
described above. Hawaii also has major transoceanic propagation changes from 
season to season, so a visitor would need to choose a time and location 
suitable for his DXing goals. 

"Hit and run" DXers with Ultralights and FSL's can sample transoceanic DX 
almost anywhere on the islands, so although we can't record spectrum we can be 
pretty competitive on frequencies of choice, especially with the freedom to 
easily set up on beaches favoring our desired type of transoceanic DX.

Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

 
> On January 11, 2018 at 6:13 PM "R. Colin Newell"  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> I really believe that it comes down to knowledge and confidence.
> 
> I bought a copy of (I think) Communications World in 1973 or 1974 that had a 
> feature on TA DX... hearing Europe from America on medium wave and I went, 
> “wait... what?”
> 
> And then a sample IRCA bulletin in 1974 where I saw someone hear Okinawa on 
> 1178 KHz on the West Coast... granted it was a megawatt...
> 
> I met Nick Hall-Patch because of this same sample IRCA bulletin. “Another 
> DXER in my town? Ya kidding me!” 
> 
> When I first tuned 1178 VOA Japan in (and I still have the cassette 
> recordings...) I just about peed myself with giddiness. It was one of those 
> magic hobby moments where your mind is blown for all time. 
> 
> Hearing the UK, Germany and Russia on medium wave in 1976 was also one of 
> those moments.
> 
> My point being: you can hear anything, anywhere if you are willing to put in 
> the time with the right knowledge, equipment and timing. 
> 
> Colin Newell - Kona, Hawaii — 
> 
> > On Jan 11, 2018, at 3:17 PM, Pete Taylor  wrote:
> > 
> > We were on the south coast of  Kauai in Sept.-Oct. 1984 and picked up 
> > LT2-1230 Rosario (9/29) and LR1-1070 Buenos Aires (10/4) and got veries 
> > from both. I don’t recall hearing any other Spanish-language stations - but 
> > of course that was 34 years ago… Receiver? I think it was the ICF 2001. I 
> > also had a loop. That helped.
> > 
> > Pete Taylor
> > Tacoma, WA
> > 12225w 4719n
> > HQ180 & ICF2010
> > Kiwa aircore & Palomar loops
> > DX398, SRF-59 & M37V
> > Eton E100 + Tecsun PL-300/380
> > ===
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its 
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> 
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Re: [IRCA] LA DX to HI

[R. Colin Newell]

I really believe that it comes down to knowledge and confidence.

I bought a copy of (I think) Communications World in 1973 or 1974 that had a 
feature on TA DX... hearing Europe from America on medium wave and I went, 
“wait... what?”

And then a sample IRCA bulletin in 1974 where I saw someone hear Okinawa on 
1178 KHz on the West Coast... granted it was a megawatt...

I met Nick Hall-Patch because of this same sample IRCA bulletin. “Another DXER 
in my town? Ya kidding me!” 

When I first tuned 1178 VOA Japan in (and I still have the cassette 
recordings...) I just about peed myself with giddiness. It was one of those 
magic hobby moments where your mind is blown for all time. 

Hearing the UK, Germany and Russia on medium wave in 1976 was also one of those 
moments.

My point being: you can hear anything, anywhere if you are willing to put in 
the time with the right knowledge, equipment and timing. 

Colin Newell - Kona, Hawaii — 

> On Jan 11, 2018, at 3:17 PM, Pete Taylor  wrote:
> 
> We were on the south coast of  Kauai in Sept.-Oct. 1984 and picked up 
> LT2-1230 Rosario (9/29) and LR1-1070 Buenos Aires (10/4) and got veries from 
> both. I don’t recall hearing any other Spanish-language stations - but of 
> course that was 34 years ago… Receiver? I think it was the ICF 2001. I also 
> had a loop. That helped.
> 
> Pete Taylor
> Tacoma, WA
> 12225w 4719n
> HQ180 & ICF2010
> Kiwa aircore & Palomar loops
> DX398, SRF-59 & M37V
> Eton E100 + Tecsun PL-300/380
> ===
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [IRCA] LA DX to HI

[Pete Taylor]

We were on the south coast of  Kauai in Sept.-Oct. 1984 and picked up LT2-1230 
Rosario (9/29) and LR1-1070 Buenos Aires (10/4) and got veries from both. I 
don’t recall hearing any other Spanish-language stations - but of course that 
was 34 years ago… Receiver? I think it was the ICF 2001. I also had a loop. 
That helped.

Pete Taylor
Tacoma, WA
12225w 4719n
HQ180 & ICF2010
Kiwa aircore & Palomar loops
DX398, SRF-59 & M37V
Eton E100 + Tecsun PL-300/380
=
> From: Mark Connelly 
> Subject: LA DX to HI
> Date: January 11, 2018 at 11:48:15 AM PST
> To: irca@hard-core-dx.com
> 
> 
> <<
> Richard E Wood also had lots of Latin American MWDX from his location inland 
> on the eastern side of BIHI, near Hilo I believe. I see zero mention of LA DX 
> among current visitors. 73, Glenn Hauser
>>> 
> 
> I had the same thought.  Beyond obvious Mexicans, Richard had quite a few 
> South Americans in the book including Pacific Coast ones from Chile et al. - 
> ones seldom logged in the east - as well as some of the ones more common on 
> this side of the country (e.g. Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia) that don't seem 
> to have much traction on the US / Canada Mountain and Pacific time zones.
> 
> Going another direction, Richard also had a lot of interior Asian DX from 
> India, a bunch of "-stan" countries, and even a scattering of stations from 
> Europe and Africa: difficult routes.
> 
> Of course being there all the time has an advantage over vacation visiting.  
> Full size Beverage antennas near the shore didn't hurt either.
> 
> His old reports could point to times when looking for far-flung DX such as 
> Argentina, India, and Saudi Arabia may have at least a slight chance of 
> reception.
> 
> Serious US / Canada domestic DX would be another worthwhile activity.  Of 
> course KFI, KNBR, etc. are the barn-burners but how far east can you go ... 
> on the clears, the regionals, and the graveyard frequencies?  There could be 
> some surprises.  Newfoundland to Hawaii ... who knows?
> 
> <<
> When I was in Hilo last, there was Spanish all across the dial - I always 
> thought: how hard would it be to hear South America in Hawaii?
> 
> I think because we hear so little SA DX in WCNA, we don?t know what to listen 
> for.
> 
> Colin Newell - Victoria - B.C. CANADA -
>>> 
> 
> Two things need to happen.
> 
> (1) Read Richard's old reports and filter for what stations are still 
> actually active.  Splits, of course, are all gone, though there are some 
> stations (like Venezuela 1039.62) far enough off frequency to be "sort of" 
> split.  Dates / times of receptions are still useful, especially if you can 
> research what was going on geomagnetically then.  This is even true for 
> "dead" station logs since the reports still can point to propagation 
> viability into specific areas at certain times of year / hours of the day.
> 
> (2) Capture the band with SDR technology at a variety of times from an hour 
> before sunset onwards.  Water in the right directions will definitely help.  
> There are plenty of Latin American experts on the RealDX Yahoogroup and 
> elsewhere to sort out your unIDs.  East Coast and Europe based Latin American 
> log reports (from FL, NC, NJ, MA, ME, PEI, NL, UK, Finland, etc.) will 
> highlight a lot of the "usuals" along with network affiliations / parallel MW 
> & SW freq's, slogans, characteristic pips / chimes, music or talk format, and 
> other tidbits of possibly-useful information (advertisers, local politicians 
> / issues, churches, pop culture, and so on).
> 
> The fact that "usuals" heard in Europe or NE USA / E Canada aren't all going 
> to be the same as what you get in HI still puts an element of challenge and 
> discovery into the mix.  You will hear more South America than on the US West 
> Coast just as more is heard in Newfoundland than on the US East Coast.  Big 
> separation from co-channel domestic pests and mostly over-water routes do 
> matter.
> 
> Mark Connelly, WA1ION
> South Yarmouth, MA
> 
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> 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
> 
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> 
> To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
> 

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Re: [IRCA] LA DX to HI

[C B via IRCA]

--- Begin Message ---
This is an excellent discussion. The use of SRD technology from Hawaii 
definitely sounds intriguing, but the logistics of an appropriate broad band 
antenna remain a bit sticky. I wish I could have made the trip to Grayland more 
than once! Last year I tried in vain to identify a VRBO on the Oregon coast 
that would allow a reasonable and reasonably transported (via airline) broad 
band antenna. I had originally planned to take a flag/corner fed loop with an 
FLG100 and couple of telescoping fishing poles. That plan fell through once the 
actual owners were contacted a second time when I asked the rental agency for 
verification that the temporary antenna was permissible. While a couple of 500' 
spools of small gauge wire are transportable, scouting for ideal beverage 
locations from afar can be a bit of a challenge. I resorted to TP DXing from 
Kalaloch, WA equipped with one of Gary's excellent FSLs. Fortunately, Gary 
DeBock has the interest and ability to design and construct his "airport 
friendly" FSLs, which as Colin has demonstrated can be easily transported away 
from local QRM sources. I will be back at Kalaloch this March with one of 
Gary's FSLs. Even though the FSLs are frequency specific, these FSLs are 
difference makers. I successfully used mine with a stock Tecsun PL-310, which 
is also easily transportable. 

Best of DX,

Craig Barnes
Wheat Ridge, CO

On Thu, 1/11/18, Mark Connelly via IRCA <irca@hard-core-dx.com> wrote:

 Subject: [IRCA] LA DX to HI
 To: irca@hard-core-dx.com
 Cc: "Mark Connelly" <markwa1...@aol.com>
 Date: Thursday, January 11, 2018, 12:48 PM
 
 <<
 Richard E Wood also had lots of Latin
 American MWDX from his location inland on the eastern side
 of BIHI, near Hilo I believe. I see zero mention of LA DX
 among current visitors. 73, Glenn Hauser
 >>
 
 I had the same thought.  Beyond
 obvious Mexicans, Richard had quite a few South Americans in
 the book including Pacific Coast ones from Chile et al. -
 ones seldom logged in the east - as well as some of the ones
 more common on this side of the country (e.g. Brazil,
 Venezuela, Colombia) that don't seem to have much traction
 on the US / Canada Mountain and Pacific time zones.
 
 Going another direction, Richard also
 had a lot of interior Asian DX from India, a bunch of
 "-stan" countries, and even a scattering of stations from
 Europe and Africa: difficult routes.
 
 Of course being there all the time has
 an advantage over vacation visiting.  Full size
 Beverage antennas near the shore didn't hurt either.
 
 His old reports could point to times
 when looking for far-flung DX such as Argentina, India, and
 Saudi Arabia may have at least a slight chance of
 reception.
 
 Serious US / Canada domestic DX would
 be another worthwhile activity.  Of course KFI, KNBR,
 etc. are the barn-burners but how far east can you go ... on
 the clears, the regionals, and the graveyard
 frequencies?  There could be some surprises. 
 Newfoundland to Hawaii ... who knows?
     
 <<
 When I was in Hilo last, there was
 Spanish all across the dial - I always thought: how hard
 would it be to hear South America in Hawaii?
 
 I think because we hear so little SA DX
 in WCNA, we don?t know what to listen for.
 
 Colin Newell - Victoria - B.C. CANADA
 -
 >>
 
 Two things need to happen.
 
 (1) Read Richard's old reports and
 filter for what stations are still actually active. 
 Splits, of course, are all gone, though there are some
 stations (like Venezuela 1039.62) far enough off frequency
 to be "sort of" split.  Dates / times of receptions are
 still useful, especially if you can research what was going
 on geomagnetically then.  This is even true for "dead"
 station logs since the reports still can point to
 propagation viability into specific areas at certain times
 of year / hours of the day.
 
 (2) Capture the band with SDR
 technology at a variety of times from an hour before sunset
 onwards.  Water in the right directions will definitely
 help.  There are plenty of Latin American experts on
 the RealDX Yahoogroup and elsewhere to sort out your
 unIDs.  East Coast and Europe based Latin American log
 reports (from FL, NC, NJ, MA, ME, PEI, NL, UK, Finland,
 etc.) will highlight a lot of the "usuals" along with
 network affiliations / parallel MW & SW freq's, slogans,
 characteristic pips / chimes, music or talk format, and
 other tidbits of possibly-useful information (advertisers,
 local politicians / issues, churches, pop culture, and so
 on).
 
 The fact that "usuals" heard in Europe
 or NE USA / E Canada aren't all going to be the same as what
 you get in HI still puts an element of challenge and
 discovery into the mix.  You will hear more South
 America than on the US West Coast just as more is heard in
 Newfoundland than on the US East Coast.  Big separ

[IRCA] LA DX to HI

[Mark Connelly via IRCA]

--- Begin Message ---
<<
Richard E Wood also had lots of Latin American MWDX from his location inland on 
the eastern side of BIHI, near Hilo I believe. I see zero mention of LA DX 
among current visitors. 73, Glenn Hauser
>>

I had the same thought.  Beyond obvious Mexicans, Richard had quite a few South 
Americans in the book including Pacific Coast ones from Chile et al. - ones 
seldom logged in the east - as well as some of the ones more common on this 
side of the country (e.g. Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia) that don't seem to have 
much traction on the US / Canada Mountain and Pacific time zones.

Going another direction, Richard also had a lot of interior Asian DX from 
India, a bunch of "-stan" countries, and even a scattering of stations from 
Europe and Africa: difficult routes.

Of course being there all the time has an advantage over vacation visiting.  
Full size Beverage antennas near the shore didn't hurt either.

His old reports could point to times when looking for far-flung DX such as 
Argentina, India, and Saudi Arabia may have at least a slight chance of 
reception.

Serious US / Canada domestic DX would be another worthwhile activity.  Of 
course KFI, KNBR, etc. are the barn-burners but how far east can you go ... on 
the clears, the regionals, and the graveyard frequencies?  There could be some 
surprises.  Newfoundland to Hawaii ... who knows?

<<
When I was in Hilo last, there was Spanish all across the dial - I always 
thought: how hard would it be to hear South America in Hawaii?

I think because we hear so little SA DX in WCNA, we don?t know what to listen 
for.

Colin Newell - Victoria - B.C. CANADA -
>>

Two things need to happen.

(1) Read Richard's old reports and filter for what stations are still actually 
active.  Splits, of course, are all gone, though there are some stations (like 
Venezuela 1039.62) far enough off frequency to be "sort of" split.  Dates / 
times of receptions are still useful, especially if you can research what was 
going on geomagnetically then.  This is even true for "dead" station logs since 
the reports still can point to propagation viability into specific areas at 
certain times of year / hours of the day.

(2) Capture the band with SDR technology at a variety of times from an hour 
before sunset onwards.  Water in the right directions will definitely help.  
There are plenty of Latin American experts on the RealDX Yahoogroup and 
elsewhere to sort out your unIDs.  East Coast and Europe based Latin American 
log reports (from FL, NC, NJ, MA, ME, PEI, NL, UK, Finland, etc.) will 
highlight a lot of the "usuals" along with network affiliations / parallel MW & 
SW freq's, slogans, characteristic pips / chimes, music or talk format, and 
other tidbits of possibly-useful information (advertisers, local politicians / 
issues, churches, pop culture, and so on).

The fact that "usuals" heard in Europe or NE USA / E Canada aren't all going to 
be the same as what you get in HI still puts an element of challenge and 
discovery into the mix.  You will hear more South America than on the US West 
Coast just as more is heard in Newfoundland than on the US East Coast.  Big 
separation from co-channel domestic pests and mostly over-water routes do 
matter.

Mark Connelly, WA1ION
South Yarmouth, MA--- End Message ---
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Re: [IRCA] LA DX to HI

[R. Colin Newell]

Noted.

When I was in Hilo last, there was Spanish all across the dial - I always 
thought: how hard would it be to hear South America in Hawaii?

I think because we hear so little SA DX in WCNA, we don’t know what to listen 
for. 

Colin Newell - Victoria - B.C. CANADA -

> On Jan 9, 2018, at 7:34 PM, Glenn Hauser  wrote:
> 
> Richard E Wood also had lots of Latin American MWDX from his location inland 
> on the eastern side of BIHI, near Hilo I believe. I see zero mention of LA DX 
> among current visitors. 73, Glenn Hauser
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[IRCA] LA DX to HI

[Glenn Hauser via IRCA]

--- Begin Message ---
Richard E Wood also had lots of Latin American MWDX from his location inland on 
the eastern side of BIHI, near Hilo I believe. I see zero mention of LA DX 
among current visitors. 73, Glenn Hauser
--- End Message ---
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