Hi everyone,
Congratulations on such an interesting session. What a good team of six dxer's!

Pedro Porres.
Córdoba (Spain)

On Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 02:31 PM, Paul Blundell wrote:

Again your results are amazing and clearly this is a "hot" spot for DU DXing 

 

Paul

Thanks Paul,

There were lots of times during this trip that I could have used an Australian English translator!

Gary

On Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 07:19 AM, DX Pedro wrote:

Looks like major fun! :) congrats on the receptions.

 

// pedro andrade

Thank you, Pedro, it was major fun indeed. Best of DX to you!

Gary

On Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 06:49 AM, radiojayallen wrote:

I've got to say that when I see these pictures I can't believe the natural beauty of the location, both technically and aesthetically. What a great spot for both!

Jay

Thanks Jay,

The ocean cliff environment is indeed a wild new venue for DXing, but there's a good reason why 6 guys set up their antennas on this plunging cliff. After some initial skepticism almost all of the Northwest TP-DXing group now has become true believers in an ocean cliff's ability to enhance transoceanic DX signals. At least two west coast records were shattered in this DXpedition (total number of DU's received in a west coast DXpedition, and total number of South Pacific NDB's received).

Gary
 

I've got to say that when I see these pictures I can't believe the natural beauty of the location, both technically and aesthetically. What a great spot for both!

Jay

     The 11th annual Rockwork Cliff DXpedition was one for the record books with 6 DXers side by side at the plunging cliff, setting up multiple broadband loops and FSL antennas 500 feet (150m) above the pounding surf. For a four day trip everyone seemed pleased with their results, with Tom, Chuck, Bruce and Jeroen chasing DU's with SDR's and Craig and I using live DXing portables. 

     We were honored to welcome Bruce and Jeroen for the first time, and congratulations to Tom for once again breaking his own South Pacific NDB-DXing record for a west coast DXpedition (with 79 beacons from Australia, NZ and the Pacific islands). The Ultralight + FSL results weren't bad for a four day trip, with the 1 kW 936-Chinese Voice managing its best-ever signal, and four DU's showing up on 531 kHz alone. Tom and I had the cliff to ourselves on the 5th and 6th, with both days providing phenomenal Longwave propagation for Tom's South Pacific NDB-DXing.  The 5th also featured superb Australian MW propagation, which should allow Tom to add slightly to the Seattle group's Australian totals (531-4KZ was logged with Ultralights). All loggings below were made with 7.5 inch (19cm) loopstick CC Skywave and XHDATA D-808 portables and 8 inch (20cm) diameter FSL antennas. DU signals received at S9 levels are indicated with a double asterisk (**). 

 

531   2PM   Kempsey, Australia   5 kW   Good strength with Covid case report for Newcastle, Port Macquarie and the local area at 1247 on 8-5; usually dominant over 4KZ, but typically under the Kiwi station PI  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/egirq5641jhcngw394eggo3iqmg1hzv7

 

531   4KZ   Innisfail, Australia   5 kW   The usual TOH news announcer at very good strength all alone at 1303 on 8-6 with mention of "Queensland" at 6 seconds

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/slspbb4vuhx5w6ma44cpyyvo1cm1brc7

 

531   More FM   Alexandra, NZ   2 kW   Despite reports of a shift to FM the low power Kiwi modern rock station was still very much alive at 1244 on 8-6, with an ID at 59 seconds  

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/slspbb4vuhx5w6ma44cpyyvo1cm1brc7

 

**531   PI   Auckland, NZ   5 kW   The S9 laughing ladies in an island language completely dominate over the SRN music on 2PM at 1303 on 8-4  

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/874di6nkgih7urxfns5cy5nc935bpy6q

 

**558   Radio Fiji One   Suva, Fiji   10 kW   Island music regular hit an S9 level at 1257 on 8-5 with a native language ID at 7 seconds, "Radio Fiji One, na domoiviti."  

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/zyuqatk4i6tgg6is31mw7zia3nx2tnkl

Rapid native language ID (at 13 seconds) and island music (with S9 peaks) at 1310 on 8-5  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ocgd5stzcumk1bsjrtzpln003cnzkgk0

More island music at a powerful level at 1304 on 8-5

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/pgnmdok9yb6df9bjylloe9xlumtp8fbz

 

558   UnID-Australia   Interview-style female DU English under Fiji from 6 to 26 seconds at 1310 on 8-5; both Tom and I agree that this sounds like 6WA (a semi-regular at the cliff), but Fiji was just too strong to dig out enough content to match the ABC archives

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/byv1wa4r7ho9b8hc0v45px45ckwqz705

 

567   RNZ   Wellington, NZ   50 kW   An underperformer for the power level, this station rarely matched the signal level of its 675 parallel. Typically plastered by Seattle splatter.

 

576   2RN   Sydney, Australia   50 kW   Another distinct underperformer for its power level, it provided weak parallel checks for 585-7RN, but never matched the Tasmanian's signal level. Occasionally mixed with a presumed 576-Star.

 

585   2WEB   Bourke, Australia   10 kW   This was a breakout DXpedition for "Outback Radio," with the 8-5 session the best in recent memory. At 1306 on 8-5 a man was giving the weather forecast, with a female "Outback Radio, 2WEB" ID at 14 seconds  

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/146jmuf608gfyholig7slsyrjfeggics

"Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson rocking along at 1325 on 8-5  

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/znqfd1fc7wmz4ajhf93jkhjjwir4hiaf

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" somewhat dominant over 7RN and the domestic splatter at 1240 on 8-5  

https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/1vcbgvcmeerluiw2b8c809oz9vd8dat7

 

**585   7RN   Hobart, Australia   10 kW   Once again an overachiever for the power level, this Tasmanian station routinely outperformed its 576 parallel, such as at 1309 on 8-4  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/i4pzsqsfw59x1q80cpb07zvmgqjd9jep

 

**594   3WV   Horsham, Australia   50 kW   One of the few Oz big guns that played the part, it was pounding in over the Star synchros at 1246 on 8-5  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/kx7n5rqa0jwpkz3cbt45xi81qpvtqjrp

Star usually pestered the Oz big gun on the “Kiwi Cliff,” though, with an ID at 17 seconds despite a strong signal from Horsham at 1240 on 8-4  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ca2kuman0joko8e7ddse87c2bov14khj

 

594   Star   Timaru/ Wanganui, NZ   5/ 2 kW   Commercial ads at good strength all alone at 1324 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/adwexucydihahkhlka8t2sebq4cqc69u

 

603   Radio Waatea   Auckland, NZ   5 kW   Maori island music and male speech // 765 at very good strength at 1302 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/rt2qff8wvx1ztiefpdpbitp8dlphhiw1

 

639   2HC   Coff’s Harbour, Australia   5 kW   SRN call-in talk // 531 at good level at 1309 on 8-5 over UnID music (probably 5CK)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/sc0m11rz58rnn1vlmrfm7bmgpr27b6ma

 

639   5CK   Port Pirie, Australia   10 kW   Female interview matching ABC South Australia podcast material over 2HC at 1305 on 8-6  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/a4d8ebon1hcdrxsga65vlrbe28hi17zi

 

**657   Star   Wellington/ Tauranga, NZ   50/ 10 kW   This Christian music broadcaster was one of the strongest Kiwi stations, such as at 1231 on 8-3 with a promo at 18 seconds, “Playing the Christian music you love to hear”  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/bwh1bvdumejrl5o3tizinezlx69lq5ib

More Christian music at an S9 level at 1240 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/g6czddl8uj43nqgxul88yw9o2b6o8ber

The two transmitters have had a synch issue for over a year, and occasionally combined for a bizarre echo effect, such as at 1252 on 8-5 (with a reverb-enhanced ID at 19 seconds)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/pxxzy9y122yucbic79jl645eyxe16o6j

 

**675   RNZ   Christchurch, NZ   10 kW   Male interview // 567 at a powerful level at 1252 on 8-3; overall the strongest RNZ station during the trip  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/3anf9lz1qyna1xdtuo34yrxk73h6dqqk

 

702   2BL   Sydney, Australia   50 kW   Especially strong during favorable Oz conditions on 8-5 but generally in a fair mix with Magic from NZ

 

702   Magic   Auckland, NZ   10 kW   Somewhat of an underperformer for its power level, during live DXing this station never peaked for a decent recording

 

756   RNZ   Auckland, NZ   10 kW   Generally decent signals despite its proximity to 50 kW semi-local 750-KXTG, such as with male speech // 675 at 1317 on 8-4  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/kfio3qcxzs2100ev425518c7b1l6rvrx

 

**765   Radio Kahungunu   Hawkes Bay, NZ   2.5 kW   This Maori broadcaster is a notorious overachiever for its power level, but even I was surprised when its rap music at 1252 on 8-6 was practically melting down my Ultralight’s front end  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/rkh6ijyar5jjax1tcebhnimqx42c1qgt

 

774   3LO   Melbourne, Australia   50 kW   Another Oz big gun with powerful signals on 8-5 but lackluster on all other days. Occasionally had a trace of oldies from NZ’s Gold underneath

 

**792   4RN   Brisbane, Australia   25 kW   Overwhelming on the Oz-slanted 8-5 session (such as with male speech at 1249) but fairly lackluster on the other days. NZ’s Gold was typically lost in the 790 domestic splatter  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/lvbd144syj4l0lon5a4ever7ftgsvdft

 

846   Kiribati (presumed)   This frequency had a monster open carrier throughout several sessions, but audio was never heard

 

936   4PB   Brisbane, Australia   10 kW   Assumed the one with male and female speech in a “talker” format with content not matching the ABC LR network archives (7ZR) at 1254 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/hz96hz2jaqu5ys37wwb5hxr0oi7yn2re

 

**936   Chinese Radio   Auckland, NZ   1 kW   The biggest star of the Ultralight DXpedition, with S9+ signals during the 8-3 session (which were the strongest ever received from the low powered station). On 1248 on 8-3 its Chinese music and female speech were overwhelming, practically blanking out 4PB  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/wkkz8agi31lzc8o42ze75ml013p2ogqw

Longer recording of the 1 kW station’s phenomenal peak on 8-3, starting at 1245 (lasting for over 5 minutes)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/2fdtm0acx9li0pufirfrbba99cl881ba

 

963   Star   Christchurch, NZ   10 kW   Male speech and Christian programming // 657 at 1303 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/lq0aq2a3t1oclwt9r54y7mgjqtj63lod

 

**1017   A3Z   Nuku’alofa, Tonga   10 kW   One of the strongest DU stations, this island music blaster usually hit S9+ every session. It was at typical strength with English news at 1240 on 8-3  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ah2urxac7t2k1gfwgu0q2yzvui08u2o2

The island choral music at 1318 on 8-4 was also at a thunderous level  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/i378fdbilz4j9ad709x0a47bkvvg08cb

 

1503   Gold   Wellington/ Christchurch, NZ   5/ 2.5 kW   Oldies music was received on most mornings at a fair level, but somewhat of an underperformer in comparison to previous DXpeditions  

https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/mw-dxing-in-alaska.430813/

Yes, the CCrane Skywave SSB comes with a roll-up wire antenna, and it works well. But sometimes it is not so handy to deploy, and the tech at CCrane had mentioned using the mini usb socket as a connection for a counterpoise.

Thanks, Jay.

Actually, the CC Pocket and other earbud radios with no whip antenna use the earphone cord as an antenna, not a counterpoise.

Jay

A counterpoise or artificial ground can indeed enhance reception but is always trial and error as its effectiveness may vary from one situation to the next. To do this you need to access the radio's chassis ground which could usually be done most easily by connection to the shield (outer part) of the USB plug or headphone jack. You could also connect to the negative battery terminal but this is not always physically easy.

The counterpoise itself could be just a piece of wire and generally something perhaps 10 feet or so should be good but there is no real limit on this. This wire could just be layed on the floor but one question I have is have you tried an external antenna already?. You will probably get more boost by using a wire antenna...I would do that first, and the counterpoise secondly. This antenna could be a wire perhaps 20-30 feet long (such as one of those common reel-up antennas) clipped to the whip.

Jay

--

On Wed, Aug 25, 2021 at 05:24 PM, Randy Barton W9RTB wrote:

Has nothing to do with the moon,

Randy is right-- the phases of the moon have nothing to do with AM radio reception.

If you think otherwise, that's OK, but please post your messages privately rather than discussing a useless topic on the group list.

Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
Group Owner