Hello All,
 

From August 6-10th another wild "Cliffhanger DXpedition" was conducted on side of the plunging ocean cliff near Manzanita, Oregon by three transoceanic DXers (Chuck, Tom and I). A photo of the narrow, highly exposed DXpedition site is posted at https://app.box.com/s/84h2dg1euqgkftzm0mhmbzld17z0t0yx 

 

Exceptional South Pacific propagation combined with acceptable summer weather, and breakthrough DU loggings were made on many frequencies. The 7 most exotic South Pacific DX catches made with the C.Crane Skywave Ultralight radio and 17" DXpedition antenna are posted below, along with a brief description of the station and reception conditions.

 

531  More FM   Alexandra, New Zealand  (2 kW)   Very rare Kiwi R & B music station heard for the first time in North America in June at this location, it rarely sneaks through the more powerful (5 kW) Auckland Maori language station (PI). This MP3 features a "More PM" ID 3 seconds into the recording

https://app.box.com/s/d164sjtzhxef38wdzbsxcdd22nraz20u 

 

558  Radio Fiji   Suva, Fiji  (10 kW)   Listed as inactive in the 2015 WRTH and not listed in the current PAL, the station was heard weakly in June at this location by Tom and I. This powerful (near S9) signal recorded on the last day of the DXpedition features the station's typical Polynesian choral music format, and is solid evidence that the transmitter has been repaired.

https://app.box.com/s/vq9768fgfvqdjeuc30dtqkt2m6p9u7rh 

 

558  6WA   Wagin, Australia  (50 kW)   Relatively weak logging made at the end of a session featuring Australian-slanted propagation, this recording features the typical LR network male-female interview format and announcer voices, with programming identical to that heard on the LR network station 774-3LO 30 minutes earlier (there is an programming delay between eastern and western Australia on the LR network). Fortunately, 6WA is the only LR network station on the frequency. A new Ultralight radio worldwide DX distance record at 9,137 miles / 14,704 km.

https://app.box.com/s/qihuia6gdcc07l4z3jix5f8gwwzycg26  

 

585  Radio Ngati Porou  Ruatoria, New Zealand  (2 kW)   This Maori-language Kiwi station a legendary reputation for weakness, and has only been heard with FSL antennas at this Rockwork 4 site. The only was to identify it is to match its Maori-language programming with late-night parallels on 603 or 765, and this is rarely possible. For some unknown reason wacky Kiwi propagation on 8-9 boosted its signal up to a relatively healthy level, even stronger than its 603 parallel recorded at the end of the MP3.

https://app.box.com/s/zg1bzp39c288hl4vomiqzs0i6medb6hb 

 

585  7RN   Hobart, Australia  (10 kW)   The only Tasmanian station ever to be heard with FSL antennas, this potent RN network signal on 8-9 was matched with the 576-2RN parallel for identity confirmation. The announcer gives a laid-back introduction to jazz music, dominating the frequency completely

https://app.box.com/s/q8t7f6rttjs45mev1wo24a85mmudt5al 

 

585  2WEB   Bourke, Australia  (Presumed, 10 kW)   During wacky Australian-slanted propagation on 8-8 this signal featuring the Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" temporarily broke through 7RN's exotic music, and was not parallel to either 576 or 603 (i.e. not 7RN nor Radio Ngati Porou). Since this song is typical of that played in 2WEB's format, the evidence definitely points to that station (which has been heard twice before at this location).

https://app.box.com/s/ux40moc0k3l3nohximyrix8bcsp6lq71 

 

936  Chinese Voice  Auckland, New Zealand  (1 kW)   Wacky ocean cliff propagation boosted the signal of this very low powered Kiwi station up to quite a potent level on 8-10, providing a good example of how almost every New Zealand station can come into play when Cliff provides its DU signal boost

https://app.box.com/s/bm3eodygfugsnvpjvwe0b9cqqtsxfktz 

 

Many more South Pacific stations were received at the plunging ocean cliff during the five day DXpedition, but these were 7 of the more interesting ones. Thanks to my partners Chuck and Tom for information on their loggings, and we do plan a full DXpedition report after all the recorded signals have been reviewed.

 

73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

DXing at the Rockwork 4 Ocean Cliff near Manzanita, OR, USA

7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralight +

17" DXpedition FSL antenna (photo posted at https://app.box.com/s/wi78hlmofflefzd2bd897gy0vvqvvxdu )

 

 

 

Thanks for the report and the interesting photos.
Apparently the capacitance of the long coax cable from the loopstick to the radio doesn't prevent the radio's DSP from tuning to the top of the MW band? That's the first time I've heard of anyone doing that before!
Steve

On 8/12/2015 3:15 PM, tanger32au@... [ultralightdx] wrote:

 

Date: 12/08/2015

Time: 16:10 – 16:50 Local

Location: Denison Road Scenic Lookout Launceston

Radio: 7.5” Loopstick Tecsun PL-360

Total stations logged: 27

New stations logged: 0

Photos: http://ultralightdxing.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/ultralight-dxing-report-denison-road.html

 

Hello All,
 

I wish that Nigel and Nick had a chance to sample the New Zealand DX at the ocean cliff this morning-- which was primarily a "challenge" of choosing which S9 signals to record. The Australian signals seemed to fall off of a cliff compared to yesterday (um, maybe I should use a different term?), leaving the Kiwi signals to run wild all over the band.

 

531-More FM (2 kW on the South Island) made its first appearance during this trip with a near-S9 signal around 1315, while 936-Chinese Voice (1 kW in Auckland) had a similarly potent signal around 1325. 774-Radio Sport was a solid S9+ with its relay of American-accented Fox Sports News at 1248, while the Maori language twins 603-Waatea (5 kW) and 765-Kahungunu (2.5 kW) both sounded like big guns all session long. The star of the session was an obscure station outside of New Zealand which suddenly came through with a near-S9 signal of its own, though-- 558-Fiji. Pounding through with a signal that sounded every bit as strong as the listed 10 kW, its Polynesian choral music ran wild over the obscure Kiwi station Radio Sport around 1256. Listening to its distinctive music at such a potent volume brought back fond memories of the venerable 639-Radio Fiji One signal of old, which was a coastal regular back around 2009 even on a hot-rodded 7.5" loopstick Eton E100.

 

This was the last session of the August Rockwork 4 DXpedition, and it was my great pleasure and honor to have enjoyed exceptional Australian and New Zealand propagation together with my DXpedition partners, Chuck and Tom. When all of the DU signals are reviewed and identified I'm sure that all three of us with remember this ocean cliff DXpedition with the fondest of memories.

 

531  More FM   Alexandra, New Zealand (2 kW)   Very rare South Island Kiwi with potent R & B music and male "More FM" ID 3 seconds into the recording

https://app.box.com/s/d164sjtzhxef38wdzbsxcdd22nraz20u 

 

558  Radio Fiji   Suva, Fiji   Distinctive Polynesian choral music near S9 level at 1256; signals far improved from late June DXpedition

https://app.box.com/s/vq9768fgfvqdjeuc30dtqkt2m6p9u7rh 

 

567  RNZ   Wellington, NZ   Female-voiced movie review at usual S9+ level at 1228; strongest Kiwi of the session

https://app.box.com/s/44xdfr4vlb2ekbv1i8xj2ca5ggotn1lw 

 

603  Radio Waatea   Auckland, NZ   Maori vocal music with S9 peaks // equally strong 765-Kahungunu at 1234

https://app.box.com/s/zdue7ku77m45hjpb27mnkgjosxiqvmce 

 

774  Radio Sport   New Plymouth, NZ   5 kW Kiwi station with S9 relay of American Fox Sports news at 1248-- way over anemic 3LO

https://app.box.com/s/vw4qzez3wo0n6v18p65e0mhuie28jnku 

 

936  Chinese Voice   Auckland, NZ  (1 kW)   Wild Kiwi propagation boosted even this obscure station up to a potent level at 1225

https://app.box.com/s/bm3eodygfugsnvpjvwe0b9cqqtsxfktz 

 

1008  Newstalk ZB   Tauranga, NZ   Talk program booming in at (you guessed it) S9 level at 1319; its best signal of the DXpedition

https://app.box.com/s/86x753oroiel2vxyuks6b613yggbuhwi 

 

73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (DXing at the Rockwork 4 ocean cliff near Manzanita, OR)

7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralight +

17" and 12" DXpedition FSL antennas