-----Original Message-----
From: keith beesley <keith1226@...>
To: ultralightdx <ultralightdx@...>
Sent: Tue, Aug 28, 2012 9:01 pm
Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] Oregon Cliff DXpedition-- LWBC and Pacific
Area NDB Recordings






Thanks Gary, for all your hard work compiling these loggings and
recordings and sharing them with us. 


Regards, 


Keith Beesley
Seattle WA USA






------------------------------------------------------------
From: "D1028Gary@..." <D1028Gary@...>
To: ultralightdx@...; ndblist@...
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 5:52 PM
Subject: [ultralightdx] Oregon Cliff DXpedition-- LWBC and Pacific
Area NDB Recordings



 

Hello All,

From August 20-24 I had the thrilling experience to set up an
Ultralight listening station and chase Longwave DX on a sheer ocean
side cliff 400 feet (122m) above the Pacific Ocean on Oregon's scenic
coast. The DXing spot was a narrow Highway 101 road side turnoff which
had been blasted out of solid rock, located about 15 minutes south of
Cannon Beach in Tillamook County.

As in previous trips the DXing conditions were pretty rough-- no AC
power, running water, street lighting or weather protection. My 8"
Longwave FSL antenna was set up on a 5' PVC base about 3 feet (1m) to
the edge of the cliff, which plunged directly down to the Pacific 400
feet below. With my modified Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight radio (having a
7.5" transplanted LW loopstick) I chased Longwave broadcast and Pacific
area NDB's (Alaska, Hawaii, and South Pacific) each morning for about
an hour, enjoying a tremendous DXing boost from the salt water
propagation, ocean cliff altitude and FSL antenna gain. A photo of the
fanatical DXing setup is posted at
http://www.mediafire.com/view/?khqdch7gk0w1v1l

In all, 25 Alaskan, 2 Hawaiian and 3 South Pacific NDB's were received,
including strong reception of the New Zealand beacon 238-KT in
Kaitaia-Awanui. This once again broke the Ultralight radio NDB-DXing
distance record at 6,810 miles, or 10,959 km. Longwave broadcast
results were 5 Radio Rossii stations received at vibrant levels, plus
two very weak stations on 164 and 171 kHz (presumed to be Mongolia and
Radio Rossii, repectively). For those who are interested in hearing the
dramatic sea gain boost that this sheer cliff site provided for my
simple AM-mode-only Ultralight radio, MP3 links are posted below for
recordings taken at the site. Thanks again to Don, Steve, Mike and
Edgar, whose Pacific NDB reports provided a most interesting comparison
during the DXpedition!

153-Radio Rossii (Komsomolsk, Russia, 1200 kW) The second strongest
of the 5 Rossii stations (after 279), it typically received a great
boost from sunrise enhancement
http://www.mediafire.com/?59uvum9wp7d86f8

164-MRT1 (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 500 kW) Presumed; threshold-level
audio was received on a couple of mornings, but too weak to record

171-Radio Rossii (Yakutsk, Russia, 150 kW) Presumed; threshold-level
audio received on most mornings

180-Radio Rossii (Yelizovo, Russia, 150 kW) Fair to good signals on
most mornings http://www.mediafire.com/?a8xl64sajdbau6p

189-Radio Rossii (Konstantinogradovka, Russia, 1200 kW) Usually of
similar strength to the 180 kHz Rossii despite the higher power
http://www.mediafire.com/?yozs1figr3fyt8a

209-CYT (Yakataga, ALS) Vibrant TWEB beacon received at good levels
every morning http://www.mediafire.com/?queej9cy5b8emkt

212-CGL (Coghlan, ALS) Weak beacon making an occasional appearance on
good mornings http://www.mediafire.com/?86utyl8488j0t1w

219-GAV (Gustavus, ALS) Always fighting it out with PR, occasionally
it had the upper hand http://www.mediafire.com/?o24b10rk88yno49

223-AFE (Kake, ALS) Very weak beacon received only on the exceptional
8-24 morning; usually buried by YKA
http://www.mediafire.com/?78qn1w98mswm10d

229-AKW (Klawock, ALS) Another weak beacon showing up only on the
exceptional morning of 8-24 http://www.mediafire.com/?ygb9ad1dzf34ubn

233-ALJ (Johnstone Is., ALS) Alaska super beacon blasted in at
blowtorch levels every morning, throwing heavy splatter on 234-Rossii
http://www.mediafire.com/?m8772anb44dcgx7

234-Radio Rossii (Arman, Russia, 500 kW) This longwave TP had signals
varying from strong to non-existent, but always had some splatter from
233-ALJ http://www.mediafire.com/?4wuxdxmy598asun

238-KT (Kaitaia-Awanui, New Zealand) Record-breaking Ultralight radio
NDB reception at 6,810 miles (10,959 km), the South Pacific NDB had a
very vibrant signal on the morning of 8-20, probably because of the
sheer ocean cliff (which also greatly boosted medium wave NZ signals).
Received again on 8-24, both times with a signal stronger than any
other South Pacific NDB reception on Ultralight radios
http://www.mediafire.com/?vo6c0adw8sccww7

245-HNS (Haines, ALS) Weak TWEB beacon from the home base of the
Discovery Channel's "Gold Rush Alaska" occasionally showing up under HE
on exceptional mornings http://www.mediafire.com/?fbvdalg6xfa9ec5

248-GLA (Gulkana, ALS) Weak TWEB beacon showing up on the exceptional
morning of 8-24; never heard before at home or at the ocean
http://www.mediafire.com/?l75zxyy33rlpvgr

251-OSE (Bethel, ALS) Vibrant TWEB beacon usually had the upper hand
over Canadian pest YCD, unlike the situation at home in western
Washington http://www.mediafire.com/?9fpn2pc6lyc3co1

260-NF (Norfolk Island., Australia) Another very long range South
Pacific beacon received at 6,690 miles (10,766 km) on the morning of
8-20, its signal was steady but not quite up to the level of NZ beacon
238-KT. Received again on the morning of 8-24 at a modest level
http://www.mediafire.com/?3r64u0ttau4at1k

266-ICK (Annette Is., ALS) Strong Alaskan panhandle beacon usually
fighting it out with VR, it had great signals during exceptional
mornings http://www.mediafire.com/?9tizmuflbsf8b95

270-FA (Apia, Upolu Island, Samoa) Received once during this trip at a
modest level on 8-20, this South Pacific beacon never reached its
typical strength on the Oregon beach. Distance was 5,081 miles (8,177
km) http://www.mediafire.com/?rbsg2gd72ig747f

277-ACE (Homer, ALS) Weak TWEB was heard under Radio Rossii splatter
on 277 several times but there was always too much Rossii to make any
decent recording

279-Radio Rossii (Yuzhno-Sahkalinsk, Russia, 500 kW) The strongest of
the Rossii Longwave TP's on most mornings, it usually had vibrant
signals, but didn't reach the blowtorch level observed during previous
ocean beach trips http://www.mediafire.com/?kbczbn9z1k7f7zb

281-CRN (Sparrevohn, ALS) Weak beacon showing up occasionally on
exceptional mornings, sometimes with 279-Rossii splatter
http://www.mediafire.com/?bzzchxyafzo5cga

283-DUT (Dutch Harbor, ALS) Long-range Alaskan beacon from the
crab-fishing home port of the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch,"
this NDB dominated its clear frequency very well
http://www.mediafire.com/?7rt9hoqhim31r4c

332-POA (Pahoa, HWA) The second-strongest Hawaiian NDB both at home at
on the ocean beach, this long-range beacon would usually sock it to
semi-local pest LBH during peak morning enhancement. Vibrant every day
http://www.mediafire.com/?0auofbuapg51fan

341-ELF (Cold Bay, ALS) Had good signals but suffered from the even
stronger beacon DB (in Canada's Yukon). Occasionally it got the upper
hand http://www.mediafire.com/?5t5t776pwbjdvv7

353-LLD (Lanai, HWA) Hawaiian super beacon was off the air for the
first day of the trip, but came back with a vengeance. Typical
blowtorch signal on the Oregon beach was this MP3
http://www.mediafire.com/?i5eui55v35c1tzy

358-SIT (Sitka, ALS) Alaskan panhandle TWEB beacon occasionally got
the upper hand over Canada's YQZ and YAZ
http://www.mediafire.com/?gd33gflzffmp3j1

379-IWW (Kenai, ALS) Weak TWEB beacon typically got blasted by
semi-local OT in Oregon http://www.mediafire.com/?bnmf3cdlvx99kjc

382-JNR (Unalakleet, ALS) Vibrant beacon from the home airport of the
Discovery Channel's "Flying Wild Alaska," this long-range NDB showed up
on two days out of five. Never heard at home in Washington state
http://www.mediafire.com/?owq0c8nyx4qmfrw

385-OCC (Yakutat, ALS) Usually fighting it out with WL and usually
winning, this vibrant TWEB beacon had the strongest weather reports for
the Panhandle http://www.mediafire.com/?wf210vi4i52m6cv

385-EHM (Cape Newenham, ALS) Rarely showing up with fellow Alaskan
TWEB beacon OCC on exceptional mornings, this long-range NDB sometimes
had equal strength http://www.mediafire.com/?whwd8cwlfjwhkph

390-HBT (Sand Point, ALS) Long-range Alaskan had vibrant signals
during good conditions, but missing in action otherwise
http://www.mediafire.com/?mb6w58i2juz3lpj

391-EEF (Sisters Is., ALS) Panhandle beacon occasionally had vibrant
signals over Canadian beacon QRM
http://www.mediafire.com/?c9j8ws9t5w9n6sy

394-RWO (Kodiak, ALS) Strong central Alaskan TWEB beacon held down the
frequency very well every morning
http://www.mediafire.com/?392cl1im11ohzsj

404-GCR (Cordova, ALS) Occasionally showing up weakly under mortal
enemy MOG (from California) http://www.mediafire.com/?kkc21ascwz5737g

411-ILI (Iliamna, ALS) This TWEB beacon would have decent signals,
except for semi-local pest RD. Around on most mornings at a weak,
distorted level http://www.mediafire.com/?3cafv7kx5x2ts69

414-IME (Sitka, ALS) Heard once on an exceptional morning, this
definitely wasn't one of the stronger Panhandle beacons
http://www.mediafire.com/?wrxz8bp2hpld3v5

529-SQM (Level Is., ALS) TWEB beacon with frequent splatter (and
heterodyne) from 530 TIS stations in Oregon. Heard every morning at
various signal levels http://www.mediafire.com/?1570tqxb664lmdm

73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock, N7EKX (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
7.5" Longwave loopstick Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight +
8" Longwave FSL ("1700 points")
DXpedition video posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=filugExDz7E