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Saturday 29 March 2014

A Flag Antenna For Medium Wave

As DXers, we are constantly trying to improve our DXing setup: Increasing antenna height; Adding gadgets; Buying new receivers; Trying to cut down on noise, etc. Each improvement, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. As a certain supermarket says, "Every little helps". If you are lucky, you might change something which makes a BIG difference. For me, changing from the cardioid loop to a flag antenna was one of those BIG improvements.

With the exception of changing from an analogue receiver, my AOR AR7030 in this case, to an SDR, the switch from a loop to a flag antenna easily made the second biggest improvement I have ever made to my medium wave DXing, its performance being far better than I had expected. Other articles I have read concerning the flag antenna only back this up. Compare the flag with other antennas and you'll immediately see why it is the preferred choice of many DXers, especially on the medium wave band.

Longwire Antenna:
Take the longwire antenna for starters, it's a random length of wire, strung out between two points. It's a general receiving antenna in every sense of the word. It works well enough, but it's omnidirectional and so picks up everything from all directions. The longwire is a great starter antenna.

Loop Antenna:
The loop antenna has three useful features. 1. It is inductively linked to your receiver, which means there is isolation between the antenna and the sources of QRM in the shack. 2. The loop antenna is bi-directional, having a 'figure of eight' pattern. 3. Some loop antennas are tuned with a variable capacitor which can offer a high amount of 'Q' and so can potentially reduce receiver overloading if you have multiple strong local signals.

Cardioid Loop Antenna:
This is an amalgamation of the loop antenna and longwire. It is possible to adjust the amplitude and phase of the antennas via a simple control box which chops off one of the lobes, resulting in the loop becoming a unidirectional antenna. I used to use such an array in my early days of medium wave DXing. It was possible to point one side of the loop in the direction of North America, a favourite target of mine, while reducing co-channel and adjacent channel interference from European stations coming in off the 'back' of the loop. This was reasonably easy since North America and most of Europe are received on opposite sides of the loop here in the UK. The deep nulls produced with the phasing controls would remove most problem European stations.

There was just one small drawback with the loop and longwire phasing system: The loop antenna is a high-angle receiving antenna, which meant that I could usually hear only east coast North American signals and nothing from the west coast - a target area of many medium wave DXers in the UK. This always seemed to be the case, even when conditions were good.

Beverage Antenna. 
Named after its inventor, Doctor Harold Beverage from Maine, USA, the beverage is simply an untuned longwire. It is often used by medium wave DXers and is probably one of the simplest antennas to make. You need a lot of room though as they need to be at least half a wavelength long, so for medium wave, that would translate to 100 - 200 metres, though it is quite a forgiving, broadband antenna and they usually work well outside the designated frequencies. A full wavelength Beverage for medium wave would be 300 metres in length so it matches the centre of the band. The Beverage has a unidirectional pattern, but medium wave DXers will know that its strength comes from being a low-angle receiving antenna, so it is better at receiving signals from greater distances.

Flag Antenna:
Enter the genius of the flag antenna! Somehow, this simple construction manages to capture the more desirable qualities of all the other antennas put together ... qualities the medium wave DXer needs.





















Call this a ewe antenna if you like. The main difference is the bottom of the vertical legs are joined together, as opposed to be being grounded as with the ewe. This antenna is fed at the bottom of one of the legs, though some designs are fed in the centre. There are various designs with slightly different characteristics, so there may be minor discrepancies here and there as to exactly what a flag (or ewe) antenna is. The design above still makes a superb DX antenna for the medium and long wave bands combined.

Benefits of the flag antenna:


      * A decent amount of pick-up for such a compact antenna.
      * A broad beamwidth, useful for receiving all the Americas from my QTH, for instance.
      * A broad and deep null width.
      * A low angle receiver, similar to the Beverage antenna.
      * Physical isolation via the transformer, thus potentially reducing noise pickup.
      * Broadband reception from long wave through to the tropical bands.
      * Adjustable nulls, but without urgent need to retune for different parts of the band.

While the latter point is generally true, fine adjustments can be made which may offer some improvement, though for the most part you will find that once you tune in a null on the flag to the centre of medium wave, it will be experienced across the rest of the band, to a greater or lesser, but still highly usable degree. This is the case for me at least and I do not see any obvious improvement when I re-tune the null to a specific part of the band.

Note:
If you double the size of the flag, you will receive more signal level, but the null may be less effective and certainly not as deep. This effect has been noticed by several DXers. It may just be a case of individual quirks, but my own experience has found significantly poorer performance when the flag has been increased in size beyond the dimensions specified in the image above.

The flag antenna is basically the same as the ewe antenna regarding construction, apart from the lower wire which connects the bottom of both verticals, as opposed to grounding them. The letters "ewe" do not mean "east west east", but you can understand how this common misconception came to be when you consider the needs of the UK medium wave DXers. It actually refers to the shape of the antenna - i.e. an inverted "U" antenna.

Those who have tried both the ewe and the flag, as have I, will probably find the flag antenna offers deeper nulls. It is my personal favourite of the two, but both antennas are more than capable of providing good DX.

Further reading:

W7IUV Rotatable Flag for 160m
K6SE Flag Antenna
The EWE In The Garden - by Michael Schnitzer
Various articles about the Flag Antenna on the Hardcore DX website
W0BTU Beverage Receiving Antennas

John Faulkner

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Skegness Log: 26-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter: 26-03-14:
 89.2 1104 D NDR 2, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) News, as web  525km
 89.9 1105 D NDR Kultur, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Almost noise free!  707km
 94.6 1105 D MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) End of news and ID  712km
 92.1 1106 D NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) End of news and ID. Almost noise free!  707km
 92.4 1109 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) As web. Mixing with
             Linz  525km
 92.4 1110 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) As web.
             Mixing with Osnabruck  560km
 99.0 1114 D HR1, Hoher Meißner (hes) German YL, as web. Very weak  684km
107.8 1119 D MDR Figaro, Brocken (san) Latin styled song, as web  712km
 90.2 1121 D MDR JUMP, Inselsberg (thü) German OM talking, as web. Briefly on Lingen
             fade  739km
 95.3 1131 D YOU FM (hr), Hardberg (hes) Pops, as web. V weak  712km


The FM5 is about 2m above the rooftop and is showing what is possible with average winter conditions. Nearer German scatter was much weaker today. I was amazed to hear Torfhaus on 92.1 virtually noise free when I tuned on the frequency. Koblenz and Linz were also virtually noise free. This means the FM5 is working at least as well as it used to when it was on the garden mast at the last QTH. Still no word from the planning department regarding getting the 9.2 on the roof. I have been told this could take quite some time.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Tuesday 25 March 2014

FM Video Bandscan

This is a sample of the pick of the continental DX received here today on band 2. My receiver is a Sony XDR-F1HD with the Konrad i2c modification, controlled by the GTK software. I used this with a Triax FM5, at five metres above the ground, beamed in a south-easterly direction.


Reception is via aircraft scatter, but you will hear a few meteor pings here and there.

I typed the name of each station and the transmitter site at the bottom of the window in dark red. Being familiar with the band here I can say with certainty what each station was, but I was lucky with IDs today so there are plenty to hear.

Conditions were variable, as they usually are here, but about average for the time of year.

Good DX!

John

Sunday 23 March 2014

Skegness Log: 23-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter: 23-03-14:
107.9 0058  D  Radio TON Neckar Alb, Sickingen/Wasserturm (bwü) Slow pop song, as web 
               806km **
107.9 0114  D  R SA, Döbeln (1kW) or Auerbach (100W)  Blues rock track, as web **
107.9 0152  D  delta radio, Lübeck Berkenthin (shs) Billy Idol styled song, as web.
               Two second burst  690km **
107.9 0154  D  Rockland Radio, Hohe Wurzel [hes] 6.2kW or Bitburg (100W) Heart song, as web **


** Personal Skegness 'First'

I recorded 107.9 once again in the hope that I might catch some low power German stations and tonight I got lucky!

I was able to record all German language web streams, including those from Austria, with the exception of Einslive which already comes in well on scatter. This way I would be able to determine which stations were carrying shared overnight programming, thus reducing the risk of logging the wrong station. And another surprise - I never expected to hear such regularity of two low power stations.

Radio TON Neckar Alb and R SA became the most common bursters on this frequency tonight, whereas they were not heard at all on previous nights - I only heard the higher powered regulars. Rockland Radio was also a nice catch, but both Rockland and SA have two transmitters on the frequency so I cannot be sure which one I received.

Another interesting thing is that all loggings and observations were made within the first hour of monitoring. Meteor scatter suddenly dropped down after this.

Despite a very disturbed day with thunder storms, scatter has been superb.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Thursday 20 March 2014

Skegness Log: 20-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter: 20-03-14:
 96.3 0756  D  NDR 2, Heide Welmbüttel (shs) Queen song, ID and ads  599km
 87.9 0758  D  NDR Info, Heide Welmbüttel (shs) OM, as web  599km
105.1 0806  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Rosengarten-Langenrehm (nds) Pops, as 105.7  634km
105.6 0807  D  delta radio, Flensburg Freienwill (shs) Rock track, as web  626km
 91.1 0809  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds) D381 NDR1_NDS  543km
 96.4 0812  D  NDR Info, Aurich (nds) NDR Info Norddeutschland Kontakt ID  478km
105.9 0818  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Phone caller,
               as 105.7  525km
 89.6 0950  F  France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) Weak YL, as 98.0  474km
 93.6 0955 HOL Slam!FM, Zwollerkerspel/Alticom Toren (ove) Dance track, as 93.8  396km
 92.8 0956  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Mixing Profondeville,
               as web  477km


Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Skegness Log: 19-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Tropo: 19-03-14:
 89.4 0933  F  France Musique, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) Classical music, as 88.7  604km
 92.3 1000 BEL RTBF Vivacité, Anderlues/Mont-Sainte-Geneviève (wal-hnt) Riding over
               Peterborough in good scatter  409km
107.0 1010  D  WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) Down By The River song, as 106.7  592km
 94.6 2240  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) ID between pops  712km
 93.6 2244  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) Vocal ID  550km
 93.4 2246 HOL Radio Rijnmond, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) Dutch
               conversation, as web   313km
107.3 2250  D  hr4, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) Weak but stable. Instrumental, as
               web  729km
107.2 2251  D  WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Noise free and stable. As 106.7  592km
105.3 2254  D  B5 aktuell, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) B Funf Aktuell ID. Sports news  732km
107.8 2256  D  MDR Figaro, Brocken (san) Classical, as web  712km
107.9 2256  D  BR Klassik, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) YL, as web  732km
107.6 2259  G  KMFM, Ashford/Charter House (EN-KNT) ID and ads  226km
101.4 2304  D  Radio SAW, Brocken (san) Das Radio SAW Nachtjournal  712km
101.7 2304 BEL AFN PowerNet, Everberg (vlg-vbr) NPR News  386km
 95.9 2307  D  WDR 3, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Squashing Humberside  483km
102.7 2312  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Nordhelle (nrw) OMs, over Tournai  553km
102.8 2313  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Wesel-Büderich (nrw) Phone caller, as 102.7  456km
104.2 2314 BEL AFN PowerNet, Casteau-Shape (wal-hnt) Slightly ahead of 101.7  386km
106.3 2317  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) German OM  YL, as web  592km
107.4 2329  D  Radio Wuppertal, Wuppertal/Westfalenweg (nrw) Noise free. Pops, as web 
               508km
106.6 2331  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) German OM, as web.
               Squashing Smooth  550km
 97.4 2338  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Brocken (san) Good signal. Classical, as web  712km
 96.3 2339  D  WDR 3, Bärbelkreuz (Eifel) (nrw) Classical, as web  519km
 89.6 2342  D  WDR 5, Bärbelkreuz (Eifel) (nrw) German OM, as 90.6  519km
 89.4 2343  D  NE-WS 89,4, Düsseldorf/Rheinturm (nrw) Pops, as web  488km
 89.0 2344  D  89.0 RTL, Brocken (san) ID jingle  712km
 87.8 2346  D  WDR 2, Schwerte/Sommerberg (nrw) YL and OM humour, as web, then light pops 
               525km
106.9 2349  D  Radio Euskirchen, Schleiden/Broicher Höhe (nrw) Pops, as 107.4. Slightly
               ahead of 107.4  514km
107.1 2351  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) Almost noise free. Gentle pops,
               as web  593km
 92.1 2355  D  NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) D382  707km
104.9 2359  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) Jingle ID  553km

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Skegness Log: 18-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter: 18-03-14:
107.9 0435  D  BR Klassik, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) Violin concerto, as web  732km **
107.9 0544  D  WDR Eins Live, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Pops, as web  493km **

Band 2 Tropo: 18-03-14:
102.6 0922  D  RPR 1., Saarburg/Geisberg (rlp) Peter Gabiel Solsbury Hill, as web.
               Battling with Tournai  586km
 98.4 0925 HOL NPO Radio 1, Markelo/Alticom Toren (ove) Dutch OM. Pushing in at the side
               of Belmont 98.3  424km
 98.2 0926 HOL NPO Radio 4, Loon op Zand/Alticom Toren (nbr) Piano, as web. Pushing in
               at the side of Belmont 98.3  365km
 92.0 0930  D  WDR 5, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Noise free peaks  493km
 97.5 0946  D  SWR3, Bornberg (rlp) Guitar song, as web, briefly over Schoten  640km
 93.3 0949  D  WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Pops, as 93.5. Almost noise free on peak 
               420km
105.3 1208  D  B5 aktuell, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) German YL and public gathering sounds,
               as web. First time here on scatter  732km
105.6 1532  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) SWR4 Rheinland Pfalz traffic ID  
               656km
101.7 1535  D  Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) Decent peak with ID between songs 
               628km

** Personal Skegness 'First' via the respective mode

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Monday 17 March 2014

Skegness Log: 17-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter: 17-03-14:
106.3 0119  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) Bee Gees song, as web. Two
               second burst  592km **
106.3 0133  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) Could also be Schwerin, but
               Hornisgrinde more likely. Four second burst  748km **

Band 2 Tropo: 17-03-14:
101.70 1612 D Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) German pop song, as web  628km

** Personal Skegness 'First' via the respective mode

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Skegness Log: 16-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter Log: 16-03-14:
 95.4 0833  F  France Inter, Amiens/Saint-Just-en-Chaussée [60] (80) F201 __IN____ Currently
               FM5 fixed to the south-east!  431km
 94.5 0917 HOL NPO Radio 4, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) Nicely over Peterborough on aircraft
               scatter  443km
107.3 1142  D  hr4, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) Ger,man YL song, as web  729km
107.7 1150 LUX Den Neie Radio (DNR), Blaschette/Kandel (gld) Pops, as web  557km
104.2 1208 BEL AFN PowerNet, Casteau-Shape (wal-hnt) Seems quite regular. US chat, etc.  386km
 89.4 1214  D  NE-WS 89,4, Düsseldorf/Rheinturm (nrw) Almost noise free on scatter  488km


Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Saturday 15 March 2014

DX Loggings - Frequency Or Chronological Order?

It's a debate which surfaces every now and again. Just about every aspect of our radio hobby is automated these days, so the logging formats chosen by the individual radio listener are often specifically chosen to suit a particular need.

Frequency Sort:
Historically, most DXers probably started their hobby by organising their loggings into frequency order. This method makes it much easier to find stations down the log. But what about other methods?

Chronological Sort:
Ordering your logbook by time and date is often the preferred choice these days. I think it has become the 'modern' way because of an increasing desire by DXers to track and comparing the conditions against different locations and other DXers' personal logbooks.

Country Sort:
Posts made to the SkywavesDX list have also highlighted the fact that a few DXers prefer a log to be broken down country-by-country. Of course there is still the question of ordering the entries of each country into frequency or chronological order.

Thanks to the use of the modern computer database, as used in online logbooks such as the FM List and MW List, etc., it is possible to store your loggings online. You, and other DXers, can then organise specific logbooks into any format desired. You can often export logbooks so you have a permanent backup on your own computer or cloud site. It is also useful to know if a chosen online database is properly maintained with regular daily backup schedules so there is no permanent loss of data.

Personally, I have always preferred to see the frequency sort, but there are good reasons to be able to sort by many different criteria. The two most popular, at least as far as broadcast loggings are concerned, are frequency and chronological. I would guess the split is about 50/50.

Which do YOU prefer?

Noise Images & General Observations Around Town

Here are two screen grabs of some noise I recording overnight. I am guessing this is thermostat or timer related, probably the latter in view of the fairly precise lengths of the noise bursts, though I have seen this happening for slightly longer durations - perhaps doubling this time.

Overnight 15-03-14
Overnight 15-03-14 (Close Up)

Typically, the noise goes up and down in strength with regularity, and it does it abruptly but without a click or additional noise. As you will see, the noise spikes came in blocks of 14 minutes and 10 seconds when at its strongest. The noise is a white noise, as you would hear on an empty FM frequency. When the noise is at its quietest, it produces a slightly raspy 50Hz hum.

Has anybody seen anything quite like this before?

This came about accidentally tonight as I had positioned my antenna to the east for meteor scatter, but the strong overnight winds here swung it round to the south.

I still consider the new QTH to be very quiet on the whole. The noise to the south is still nowhere near as bad as where we used to live and the FM5 when vertical almost loses it completely here. Putting the FM5
higher up also reduces the noise to an acceptable level.

While trialling the XDR GTK software on a laptop in the car yesterday evening, together with home made FM whip, I was staggered to hear a huge amount of noise around town. All residential areas I drove through had white noise here and there. I could only estimate that at least 50-60% of properties were subject to noise of one type or another. One particular hotel, close to the sea front, with bright,neon signs wiped out the entire FM band for two hundred metres around it. I watched the XDR glow as I drove along the main drag (Grand Parade), past the pier and other seafront attractions.

No noise is good noise!

John

Friday 14 March 2014

Skegness Log: 14-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Tropo: 13-03-14:
 87.6 0828  D  hr3, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) OM ID  612km
 88.6 0831 HOL NPO 3FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) ID  407km
 88.9 0832 LUX RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) Weather, traffic and ID 
               573km
 89.2 0832  D  NDR 2, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Jingle ID  525km
 90.8 0834 BEL RTBF Classic 21, Profondeville-Rivière/Sart à Soile (wal-nam) Queen
               song, as web  440km
 91.0 0835 HOL Omroep Brabant, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) Brabant ads, as web  334km
 91.2 0836 BEL RTBF Musiq'3, Brussel/Financietoren=Bruxelles/Tour des Finances (bru)
               6353 MUSIQ3__  376km
 91.3 0837 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) 83D1
               Scrolling RDS  313km
 91.6 0838  D  SWR3, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) Cranberries song, as web. Noise free
               but just below RDS  590km
 92.8 0839 BEL RTBF Musiq'3, Profondeville-Rivière/Sart à Soile (wal-nam) 6353 MUSIQ3__  440km
 92.9 0840 HOL NPO Radio 2, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) Madness song, as 92.6  318km
 93.0 0840  D  SWR2, Haardtkopf (rlp) Classical and YL,as web  593km
 93.3 0842 LUX RTL Radio, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) Ben E King song, as web  573km
 93.3 0843  D  WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) YL, as web  420km
 93.2 0844 BEL RTBF Classic 21, Brussel/Financietoren=Bruxelles/Tour des Finances (bru) ID and
               Deep Purple song  376km
 93.6 0845  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) Jingle ID  550km
 93.8 0847  D  SWR2, Saarburg/Geisberg (rlp) YL, as 93.0  586km
 94.0 0850  D  SWR2, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) Classical, as 94.0  590km
 97.8 0855  D  NDR 2, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) ID and ads  477km
 98.4 0856 HOL NPO Radio 1, Markelo/Alticom Toren (ove) Dutch OM  424km
100.0 0857  D  WDR 4, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) ID between soft pops  493km
100.8 0858  D  WDR 2, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Ad break. ID and nachrichten  483km
101.0 0900  D  WDR 2, Bärbelkreuz (Eifel) (nrw) News, as 100.8  519km
101.6 0901 HOL NPO Radio 4, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) Easily squeezing in at the
               side of Tacolneston  318km
102.0 0903  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Lingen-Damaschke (nds) News  477km
102.1 0904  D  RPR 1., Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) RPR Eins Live promo  550km
102.8 0910 BEL Zen FM, Gent/Opgeëistenlaan (vlg-ovl) Jazzy music, as web  328km
103.5 0911  D  RPR 1., Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) Rock song, as 102.1  553km
104.0 0914  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) Rap song, as web  590km
104.2 0915 BEL AFN PowerNet, Casteau-Shape (wal-hnt) Presume with US programming  386km
104.9 0920  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) David Guetta song,
               as web  553km
105.6 0921  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) YL chat, German song, as web  656km
105.9 0922  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Jingle ID between
               pops  525km
106.9 0925  D  Radio Euskirchen, Schleiden/Broicher Höhe (nrw) Just audible with piano
               song, as web  514km
107.0 0926  D  WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) Rock track, as 106.7. V weak  592km
107.2 0926  D  WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Weak. As 106.7  592km
107.4 0926  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) German song, as web 
               590km
 90.2 0930  D  NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Classical, as web  477km
 93.8 0932 HOL Slam!FM, Megen/Alticom Toren (nbr) Ads, as 88.4  387km
 93.9 0932  D  SWR2, Bornberg (rlp) YL, as 93.8  640km
107.9 1005  D  WDR Eins Live, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) D391 _1LIVE__ 24dB  493km
106.3 1016  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Torfhaus/DTAG (nds) Fluttery but noise free on
               peak. ID after Gotye song  707km
 94.6 1017  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) Stevie Wonder song, as web  712km
100.8 1019  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Stadthagen/Bückeberge (nds) Over Aachen to noise free
               levels. YL ID  606km
 99.5 1020 BEL RTBF Musiq'3, Liège/Bol d'Air (wal-lge) 6353 MUSIQ3__  459km
 96.4 1024 BEL RTBF La Première, Léglise/Vlessart (wal-lux) French YL, as web  524km
104.3 1035  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Jingle ID  477km
102.7 1036 BEL RTBF La Première, Profondeville-Rivière/Sart à Soile (wal-nam) Squashing
               Peterborough again!  440km
 96.1 1039 BEL RTBF La Première, Wavre (wal-bra) 26dB but bad 96.2 splatter  396km
 96.6 1044 BEL RTBF Pure FM, Anderlues/Mont-Sainte-Geneviève (wal-hnt) 6351. Jingle ID
               after Faul and Wad song  409km
 95.4 1046  F  France Inter, Amiens/Saint-Just-en-Chaussée [60] (80) Discussion and laughter,
               as 103.7  431km
 92.8 1048  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Oldies, as web  477km
 92.0 1049  D  WDR 5, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) ID in YL speech  493km
 91.1 1050  F  France Inter, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 95.4  474km
 89.6 1051  F  France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) Atmospheric discussion,
               as 98.0  474km
 92.9 1051  F  France Musique, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) Piano music, as 88.7  474km
 89.2 1053  F  France Musique, Reims/TDF Hautvillers (51) Piano music, as 88.7  516km
 89.0 1054 BEL VRT MNM, Schoten (vlg-ant) YL and pops, as web  354km
107.6 1059  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Bornberg (rlp) Very poor. Rap, as 104.0  640km
106.3 1104  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) ID and traffic service  592km
103.0 1107  D  BFBS Radio, Bielefeld/Hünenburg (nrw) YL military sports news. Afghanistan
               news. Ally Gibson for BFBS  564km
100.7 1109  D  WDR 4, Ederkopf (nrw) Mixing with Luxembourg. As 101.3  592km
 98.7 1118 HOL Freez FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Phil Collins song, as web  407km
104.7 1120  F  France Inter, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) Peaking above Nordelle again  266km
103.1 1122  D  RPR 1., Bornberg (rlp) Mixing Aurich  640km
103.1 1123  D  Radio ffn, Braunschweig-Broitzem (nds) ID after Katy Perrier  691km
 89.4 1148  D  NE-WS 89,4, Düsseldorf/Rheinturm (nrw) Pops, as usual, no news! As web  488km
 93.8 1232  D  bremen eins, Bremen-Walle (bre) Taking over from Saarburg  565km
101.7 1250  D  WDR 4, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Soft German pops, as 101.3  420km
 97.3 1252  D  WDR 3, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) fair signal, just short of RDS  420km
 94.4 1256  D  NDR Kultur, Steinkimmen (nds) Schlager music and german YL, as web  543km
103.7 1432  D  WDR Eins Live, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Pops, as 104.7  420km
102.6 1435  D  NDR 2, Stadthagen/Bückeberge (nds) Pops, as web  606km
102.3 1439  D  Radio ffn, Steinkimmen (nds) ID. Pops. Almost noise free but Lincs splash 
               543km


This is a log of everything heard on the 14th, with the exception of a few of the regular continental transmitters. Nothing new was heard.

Tempting fate as usual, the tropo subsided substantially about 30 minutes after I started my Ustream broadcast. Conditions had completely gone by the early evening.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Thursday 13 March 2014

Skegness Log: 13-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Tropo: 13-03-14:
107.3 0836 BEL VBRO, Diksmuide/IJzertoren (vlg-wvl) ID and Dutch music  292km
106.2 0838  F  France Bleu Nord, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) YL, as 103.3  266km
102.7 0839 HOL Radio 538, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) 83C7 RADIO538.
               Peterboroiugh squashed  313km
 95.4 0841 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Gilze/Prinsenbosch (nbr) OM, as web  358km
 96.3 0850  G  Corby Radio, Corby/Grosvenor House (EN-NHA) Start your texts with Corby Radio  101km
 95.5 0853  G  BBC Somerset, Mendip (EN-SOM) Dog poo in Somerset!  293km
 95.4 0854  G  BBC Radio Wales, Wrexham-Rhos (WA-WRE) Talking about Rugby. ID  225km
 95.2 0855  G  BBC Radio Cornwall, Caradon Hill (EN-CNW) Talk about Andy Murray being
               out of tournament, as web  440km
103.1 0926  G  Free Radio, The Wrekin (EN-SHP) ID and pops  200km
 96.6 0936  G  TFM Radio, Bilsdale West Moor (EN-NYK) ID and pop  166km
 87.6 0946 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Oudenburg/Zeeweg (vlg-wvl) Reet petite, as web.
               On horizontal FM5  288km
 95.4 0950  F  France Inter, Amiens/Saint-Just-en-Chaussée [60] (80) OM, as 103.7  431km


Mostly inland enhancements today. The early morning period showed an enhancement in all inland directions, but the continent remained only slightly enhanced.

The middle part of the afternoon showed a big enhancement to Lille and Tournai. I was waiting for sundown in the hope that conditions would improve further, then I was going to put the FM5 in the vertical plane, but conditions had gone "fizzle" by then so I didn't bother. Admittedly, a little bit of lethargy has set in after the good conditions on the 11th.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Skegness Log: 12-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Tropo: 12-03-14:
 97.2 0815  G  Stray FM, Harrogate/Harlow Hill (EN-NYK) C3BC Stray_FM  155km
107.8 0820  G  Stray FM, Skipton/Procter Heights (EN-LNC) C3BC Stray_FM  180km
106.3 0835  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Torfhaus/DTAG (nds) Shania Twain song, as web  707km
104.0 0904  G  BBC Hereford & Worcester, Malvern (EN-WOR) ID and so on  213km
 99.6 1713  F  France Inter, Caen/Mont Pinçon (14) Fair signals  469km
 96.4 1928  F  BFM Business, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroul (59) YL and OM conversation,
               as web  339km
 87.6 1939  F  RMC, Le Havre/Harfleur (76) RMC IDs in lively promo  406km
106.7 2119  F  Beur FM, Bagnolet(Paris)/Tour Mercuriales Ouest (93) Phone-in, as web  498km


The opening to Haute Normandie and the Paris area during the evening was short-lived and very poor. It was also quite selective, but the main transmitters at Caen and Brest were also well received at the time, but not the more usual Paris outlets on 87.8 & 107.1.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Skegness Log: 11-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter: 11-03-14:
104.8 0014  D  hr1, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) Slow pop song, as web  729km **
104.8 0016  D  Ostseewelle, Marlow (mev) Katy, roaring again, as web. No other German
               stations on this frequency in //  813km **
104.8 0018 CZE CRo Vltava, Ostrava/Hostálkovice (MO) Distinctive classical music,
               as web  1287km **
104.8 0054  D  Radio TON Neckar Alb, Reutlingen (bwü) Pink song (as opposed to brown
               or beige) as web. Two second burst  811km **
104.8 0219  D  Radio Hochstift, Büren or Höxter Holzminden-Neuhaus German song,
               as web **
104.8 0629 SUI RTS Couleur 3, Bourrignon/Les Ordons (ju) Manu Chao Clandestina song,
               as web  806km **

Band 2 Scatter: 11-03-14:
106.9 0809  G  Takeover Radio, Sutton-in-Ashfield (EN-NHS) Jingle ID between songs  106km **
104.3 0812  G  BBC Radio Cymru, Llangollen (WA-DBG) C71B BBCymru.  235km
103.2 0815  G  Mansfield 103.2, Mansfield/Fishpond Hill (EN-NHS) ID after Cranberries song 
               104km
103.5 0829  D  RPR 1., Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) ID and news  553km
107.0 0843  D  WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) Whispery YL ID jingle between songs  592km
105.7 1018  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds) D389  543km
104.9 1022  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Aurich (nds) Pops, as 105.7  478km
 95.4 1046  D  Nordwestradio, Schiffdorf [nds] (Bremerhaven) (bre) OM on phone,
               as web  554km
 91.2 1047  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Dannenberg Zernien (nds) OM talk, as web. mixing
               Bruxelles  705km
 90.0 1048  D  NDR Kultur, Aurich (nds) Piano concerto. All other Aurichs up  478km
 96.4 1304  D  NDR Info, Aurich (nds) OM, ID, YL, as web. Just about noise free  478km
107.5 1427 HOL Radio Eenhoorn, Menaam/Mieddyk (fri) Dutch song, as web  356km
107.3 1430 BEL VBRO, Diksmuide/IJzertoren (vlg-wvl) VBRO News after ads  292km
107.1 1436 BEL Club FM, Deinze/Gentsesteenweg 204 (vlg-ovl) Rap song, as web  326km
 88.3 1442 HOL 100% NL, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) 83D3 100%__L_  318km **
 90.8 1445 HOL Radio Drenthe, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Phone in, as web  407km
 91.0 1445 HOL Slam!FM, Tjerkgaast/Alticom Toren (fri) Presume Tjerkgaast. Pops, as 91.1 
               360km
 91.6 1447 HOL Radio Veronica, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Focus excellent Hocus
               Pocus, as web  320km
107.7 1453 BEL RGR FM, Oostkamp (vlg-wvl) Club mix, as web  296km
105.6 1454 BEL Radio Minerva, De Haan (vlg-wvl) Female crooner, as web  278km **
 98.7 1459 HOL Freez FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Ads, as web  407km
 99.6 1500 HOL Slam!FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Presume Smilde. ID in promo  407km
 97.1 1503 HOL NPO 3FM, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) Dutch ads and click bonks!  318km
 97.2 1503  F  RFM, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) French song, as web  299km
 93.3 1510  F  Rire et Chansons, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) French comedy,
               as web  285km
 93.2 1511 HOL Waterstad FM, Jirnsum/Rijksweg (fri) Luke warm Hot Chocolate song, as web 
               365km
 93.0 1513 HOL Radio 10, Westdorpe/Verkavelingsweg (zee) That awful Baby I Love your
               Way song, as 103.8, etc.  322km
 92.0 1516  F  Radio 6, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont d'Herquelingue (62) French song, as web  288km
 88.9 1517 HOL Radio Noord-Holland, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Who Let The Dogs Out
               sample and YL, as 93.9  320km
 87.7 1518  F  RTL, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) OMs talking, as web. Over Radio 10  299km
 87.8 1540  F  France Inter, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) French OM  YL, then depressing
               classical music, as web  497km
105.5 1544 HOL Scheldemond FM, Oostburg/Watertoren (zee) Dutch OM talking over jingly music,
               as web  296km
 99.1 1555 HOL 100% NL, Tjerkgaast/Alticom Toren (fri) Possibly Tjerkgaast but Enchede
               also here with 10kW  360km
105.5 1600 BEL Topradio, Staden/Stadenberg (vlg-wvl) ID on the hour and pops  299km
 91.0 1613 HOL Omroep Brabant, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) ID in lively chat  334km
 92.8 1616  F  NRJ, Béthune/Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen (62) Dance tune, as web  340km
 93.3 1617 HOL Ujala Radio, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Indian club music, as web  320km
104.0 1619 BEL Bel RTL, Bruxelles/The Hotel (bru) French OMs, as web  377km
107.1 1647  F  France Bleu 107.1, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) French OM, as web  497km
104.3 1700  F  RTL, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Presume Paris, judging by the conditions  497km
103.5 1702  F  Virgin Radio, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Pops, as web  497km
107.5 1704 HOL Scheldemond FM, Oostburg/Watertoren (zee) Local ads, as web  296km
 98.7 2112  G  New Style Radio, Birmingham/Cambridge Tower (EN-WMD) Soul music, as web 
               168km **
 95.4 2115  F  France Inter, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) French OMs, as web  604km
 89.4 2116  F  France Musique, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) Piano dirge, as web  604km
 88.0 2253  G  Real Radio, Wrexham-Rhos (WA-WRE) Noise free. Pops, as web  225km


** Personal Skegness 'First'

Unidentified:
107.5 1605 HOL UNID Relay of Omroep Zeeland, // 87.9  Jingle and vocal ID after ads

Does anybody know who relays Omroep Zeeland on 107.5?

Another Dutch mystery appeared on 107.1 - a relay of NPO Radio 1. This is an 'old familiar' from the Suffolk days.

Meteor Scatter:
CRo Vltava was today's most consistent 'burster' with HR1 coming in a close second. Ostseewelle was also quite frequent. I was very pleased with the two low power catches - Radio Ton Neckar Alb and Radio Hochstift. All German streams were recorded so there was no mistaking stations which might be relaying a common night service.

Tropospheric:
Some good Dutch DX during the late evening with Belgium and Holland with a few personal firsts. I also logged another 25 watt Birmingham station.

The strongest signals were from Egem which peaked at 39dB. This is a good semi-local signal strength from the FM5 which was just above rooftop level.

I was really surprised to find that there were no continentals coming in on the car radio when I drove into town, close to the sea front, while this lift was in full swing. This bodes very well for the new QTH.

Noise:
My noise to the south was almost undetectable when I put the FM5 vertical yesterday. It's still nowhere near as bad as at the last QTH, but I discovered that I can reduce it substantially when I raised the height of the FM5 another couple of metres. I am wondering if this is coming from the burglar alarm box which is right in the path to the south on the nearest property to us. All other directions remain crystal clear and noise free.

Note: Any reference to 'noise' in my loggings refers to typical background FM mush, which is right down at 4dB or less. All "dB" figures quoted are references to "dBf" in the GTK software. Note also that I do not use the IF/RF boost facilities as I find these increase the general FM background noise.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Monday 10 March 2014

Skegness Log: 10-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter: 10-03-14:
 87.5 0851  I  Malvisi Network, Strozorand Pellegrino Parmense. Chance vocal ID heard
               while listening live. At least five seconds very steady burst **

Band 2 Scatter: 10-03-14:
102.9 0905  D  RPR 1., Bad Marienberg (rlp) Jingle ID after news, then pops  592km
100.8 0907  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Stadthagen/Bückeberge (nds) Light pops, as web.
               Dominating Aachen  606km
106.4 0909  D  WDR Eins Live, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Lilly Allen song, as 106.7  483km
106.3 0911  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) Cliff Richards Power To All
               Our Friends, as web  592km
105.9 0932  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Over Feldberg with
               pops, as web  525km
 99.0 0943  D  hr1, Hoher Meißner (hes) ID in promo  684km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

I had just switched on the GTK software, which automatically starts the XDR on 87.5. Completely oblivious to what was happening, I heard a song and then a man say "Malvisi ... ", presumably "Malvisi Network". Then it was gone. I quickly realised that this was a meteor burst, but it was stable and sustained for several seconds. This one was lucky, but I have noticed meteor scatter becoming increasingly regular and stronger over the last week.

General scatter was average again. Still very little tropo around, only a weak lift to some of the regular continental transmitters during the evening.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Sunday 9 March 2014

Skegness Log: 09-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter: 08-03-14:
 93.5 0941  G  Unity FM Birmingham, Birmingham East (EN-WMD) Asian YLs on conversation
               with mains hum! As web  167km **
 94.0 0944 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Mount Leinster (CW) Gaelic YL, as web.
               Almost noise free beaming SW  480km
 99.2 0958  G  Hermitage FM, Coalville/Hoo Ash Farm (EN-LEI) Horrible song, as web 
               125km
105.9 1002  G  Sunshine Radio, Unlisted News and ID. Weather. Has this moved from 106.2?
 89.4 1341  F  France Musique, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) Just audible in electrical
               noise  604km
 87.6 1357 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Oudenburg/Zeeweg (vlg-wvl) Almost noise free.
               Rappers Delight song, as web  288km
103.0 1618  D  BFBS Radio,
               Bielefeld/Hünenburg (nrw) BFBS ID and mention of the BFBS app. Becoming
               quite regular at the new QTH with some decent peaks  564km
 93.0 1620  D  SWR2, Haardtkopf (rlp) Jolly piano music, as web  593km


All tropo was inland during the morning. Continental reception was subdued, even though the tropo forecast suggested the opposite. I think the tropo forecast has been downgraded. Even Lille was struggling first thing

I swung the FM5 round to the SW where it had to rest on those poplar trees. The West Midlands was well up in strength with Sutton Coldfield reaching 56dB. Hearing the DX rolling in from inland reminded me not only of how congested the band is there, but how wide and messy a lot of the transmissions are.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Saturday 8 March 2014

Skegness Log: 08-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter: 08-03-14:
104.9 0935  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) ID and pops after
               ads. Scatter. noise free on peak  553km
106.3 0938  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) Brenda Lee song, as web.
               Weak and fluttery  592km
 98.0 0948  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Fluttery but comes
               up to noise free  707km
 95.3 0950  D  YOU FM (hr), Hardberg (hes) V weak. Pops, as web  712km
 94.6 0951  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) Unheilg song, as web. Traffic
               bleep and ID. Noise free peaks  712km
 94.4 0953  D  NDR Kultur, Steinkimmen (nds) Sustained noise free peak on scatter  543km
 89.9 0956  D  NDR Kultur, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Classical, as 90.0  707km
 89.2 0958  D  NDR 2, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Pop rock track, as web. Noise
               free on fluttery peaks  525km
 89.4 0958  D  NE-WS 89,4, Düsseldorf/Rheinturm (nrw) Ad, YL ID jingle and Pink song  488km
 89.0 0959  D  89.0 RTL, Brocken (san) Pops, as web, in asnd out of the noise  712km
103.1 1003  D  Radio ffn, Aurich (nds) YL news, OM weather, ID. Almost noise free  478km
 98.1 1006  D  NDR 2, Aurich (nds) Pops, as web. Not Nordhelle for a change  478km
 92.8 1009  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) German pop song, as web.
               V weak  477km
107.4 1051  D  Radio Wuppertal, Wuppertal/Westfalenweg (nrw) Ultravox song, as web  508km
 93.3 1104  D  WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) End of news, weather, traffic bleeps
               and ID  420km
101.4 1714  D  Radio SAW, Brocken (san) Nice peak from all Torfhaus' and Brockens.
               German pops  712km
107.7 1719 LUX Den Neie Radio (DNR), Blaschette/Kandel (gld) Just peaking over a very weak
               Kiss with soft pops, as web  557km
105.3 1722  D  NDR Info, Schwerin (mev) OM sports commentary, v weak, as web  739km
 98.7 1725  D  AFN Wiesbaden-The Eagle, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes) Country
               music chart perhaps. US presenter. Almost noise free peak  647km
105.3 1728  D  B5 aktuell, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) Weak but almost noise free peak on
               scatter!! YL speech and vocal ID  732km


Some excellent aircraft scatter again today. This is the first time I have ever received Schwerin and Kreuzberg via this mode here in Skegness. Signals were fluttery and not exactly weak either, but almost noise free when at their best. These used to be regulars on the Suffolk coast.

Brocken and Torfhaus have also been well received and have been reaching noise-free or near-noise-free levels all day on 89.0, 92.1, 94.6, 98.0, 101.4, etc. Again, signals were fluttery, indicating aircraft scatter as opposed to stable tropo conditions.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Friday 7 March 2014

Skegness Log: 07-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter: 07-03-14:
107.1 1240  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) German YL song, as web  593km
 98.7 1251  D  NDR 2, Morsum (Sylt) (shs) V weak on scatter. YL song, as web  565km
 98.7 1254 HOL Freez FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Blasted its way above everything
               else. Sweet song, as web  407km
 99.6 1256 HOL Slam!FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Slamming tunes, as web  407km
 99.1 1257  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) Ad break, as web  656km
 95.3 1259 HOL L1 Radio, Hulsberg/Emmaberg (lim) Ad break, as 100.3  455km
 98.7 1345 HOL NPO Radio 4, Hulsberg/Emmaberg (lim) Classical, suddenly on top.
               as web  455km
107.3 1455  D  hr4, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) Not quite noise free but a decent
               signal for 729 km. Foundations song, as web  729km
102.3 1722  D  Radio ffn, Steinkimmen (nds) Depeche Mode type song, as web  543km

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Skegness Log: 06-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter: 04-03-14:
 99.5 0035  D  NDR Info, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Guitar solo, as web  707km **
 99.5 0046  D  Bayern 3, Hühnerberg (bay) Slow pop song, as web  871km **
 99.5 0147  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Löbau/Schafberg (sac) YL conversation, as web.
               Two second burst  1006km **
 99.5 0214 CZE CRo Radiozurnál, Zlín/Tlustá hora (ZL) Czech OM, as web. Three second burst 
               1281km **
 99.5 0323 BEL RTBF Musiq'3, Liège/Bol d'Air (wal-lge) Sudden burst of pan pipes, as web 
               459km **
 99.5 0705  G  BBC Radio 1,
               Black Hill, Wenvoe or Swingate perhaps?  News, as web **
 99.5 0803  D  N-JOY, Schwerin (mev) ID and jingle ID on eight second burst  739km **
 99.5 0804 NOR NRK P2, Jetta/Blåhø (op) Norwegian OM, as web  1108km **


** Personal Skegness 'First' via this mode

The most frequent bursters on 99.5 were Bayern 3 from Huhnerberg and NDR Info from Torfhaus. Come sunrise I had a lot of bursts from BBC Radio 1, though it's impossible to know which site/s these were from. Black Hill, Wenvoe and Swingate would be the most likely.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Skegness Log: 05-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter: 05-03-14:
102.0 0417 CZE CRo Dvojka, Brno/Kojál (JM) Distinctive music, as web  1219km **
102.0 0449 CZE Radio Impuls, Ústí nad Labem/Buková hora (US) Czech song, as web  991km **
102.0 0455 HRV HRT Radio Split, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) Local song, as web  1643km **
102.0 0505 SVN Slovenija 3, Krvavec (lj) Particularly squeaky violin piece, as web  1271km **
102.0 0512 HNG Class FM, Sopron-Dalos hegy (GMS) Roaring Katy, as web  1299km **
102.0 0658 HRV HRT Radio Osijek, Psunj (sb) Maocolm McLaren Buffalo Gals, as web  1500km **


** Personal Skegness 'First' via this mode

Very interesting meteor reception overnight on 102.0. I heard a lot of bursts from French and German language stations which I can only assume were very low powered transmitters - I could not find the web streams for these. The loggings above are of high powered transmitters. The stations in the Czech Republic were the most frequent.

Looks like my internet is now continuous, i.e. without any overnight dropping of service. So the computer made up for this by reporting that my hard drive was full - as it occasionally does, then it cancels the recording. I have oodles of GB left on my drives. I am sure these things are sent to try me and me only! ;O)

Not only is the internet continuous, so is my new southerly noise. There is a continuous buzz or white noise, peaking up to 20dB to the south - not as severe as at my last address, plus it dips down to 10dB or so regularly. I am mystified as to what it is. The south-east to the south-west is no good for weak DX. Although Lille and a few others are getting through, I haven't been able to hear many other regulars from other parts of northern France since moving here. These include Caen, Brest, Rennes, etc. So far, I have lost Troyes and Bourges to the noise. Thank goodness other directions are noise free.

There was a German talker on 105.3 via scatter late afternoon when I raised the FM5 to about 6 metres. I think it was Schwerin as there was classical music also in on 89.2. That would be 739km from here, same distance as Inselberg which I haven't had here so far, so this would be my furthest scatter at the new address. Hopefully I can confirm this in due course.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Skegness Log: 04-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
104.0 0959  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) D3A9 Sudden 34dB burst
               while listening to this live on A/S  590km **
104.0 1002 SUI RTS La Première, Monte San Salvatore (ti) French YL with distinctive voice,
               as web stream while listening live  1010km **
102.0 2340  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Lingen most likely. 
               German OM, as web  477km **

Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
101.9 1207  D  WDR 5, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) OM, as 92.0, Peterborough nulled.
               Not heard for some time.  483km
104.7 1210  F  France Inter, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) YL, as 103.7, despite beaming east
               on FM5  266km
 99.0 1212 BEL Randstad FM, Mechelen/Douaneplein (vlg-ant) Ads and ID  370km
 89.9 1702  D  NDR Kultur, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) News, as web  707km
 92.1 1702  D  NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) News, as web  707km


** Personal Skegness 'First' via this mode

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Monday 3 March 2014

Skegness Log: 03-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 94.6 1000  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) Lene marlin song, full ID and
               YL news. Equal FM mush  712km
 92.1 1003  D  NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Oscars news. OM ID  707km
 97.4 1007  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Brocken (san) German OM, as web  712km
 89.0 1014  D  89.0 RTL, Brocken (san) Pops,as web  712km
103.0 1048  D  BFBS Radio, Bielefeld/Hünenburg (nrw) Better today. Mixing Veronica  564km
102.9 1049 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Schoten (vlg-ant) Elton John  Kiki Dee song,
               as web  354km
103.5 1052 HOL Radio Gelderland, Ugchelen/Alticom Toren (gel) Talking about workshops,
               as web  391km
 97.7 1420  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) German OM, as web, on Manningtree fade 
               593km


Nice scatter conditions again with Brocken and Torfhaus getting through.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL.

Sunday 2 March 2014

Skegness Log: 02-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 92.1 1413 HRV HRT-HR 1, Zagreb/Sljeme (zg) C201 and YL on sudden burst. 26dB  1381km **

Band 2 Tropo/Aircraft Scatter:
 97.3 0921  D  WDR 3, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Clasical, as web. Some tropo this morning  420km
 91.4 0924 HOL NPO Radio 4, Markelo/Alticom Toren (ove) Stable. Classical. Tropo. As 95.0 
               424km
 95.0 0926 HOL NPO Radio 1, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) Stable. Classical. As 91.4 
               318km
 94.6 0927  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) Slades Far Far Away, as web  712km
 89.2 0934  D  NDR 2, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Just poking through this
               morning. Pops, as web  525km
 92.0 0935  D  WDR 5, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Fairly steady and noise free. Tropo  493km
 92.4 0936  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) Almost noise
               free. OM  YL, as web  560km
101.2 0948  D  Bremen Vier, Bremen-Walle (bre) German soft rock song, peaking almost
               noise free  565km
103.0 0950  D  BFBS Radio, Bielefeld/Hünenburg (nrw) OM and pops, as web  564km
107.2 1025  D  WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Can hear the bassline,, clearly in
               // 106.7  592km
 87.8 1026  D  WDR 2, Schwerte/Sommerberg (nrw) Better today. OM ID caught after pop song 
               525km
 89.8 1037  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) Pops, as web  592km
 92.8 1037  D  SWR3, Bad Marienberg (rlp) Phone in, as web  592km
102.9 1038  D  RPR 1., Bad Marienberg (rlp) German OM, as web  592km
106.3 1038  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Bad Marienberg (rlp) German OM, as web  592km
 95.4 1039  D  SWR2, Bad Marienberg (rlp) German OM, as web  592km
 97.4 1224  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Brocken (san) OM interviewing American
               OM, then YL, over Linz  712km
100.4 1227  D  WDR 2, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) Katy Perry. Noiseless!  538km
104.3 1230  D  hr4, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) German YL ID, German song  612km
 95.3 1357 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Zwollerkerspel/Alticom Toren (ove) Dutch OM talk, as web 
               396km


** Personal Skegness 'First' via the mode

A little tropo to the nearer parts of Germany today, also some enhanced signals from Holland.

I have now configured my laptop to run the XDR-GTK software, thus removing the noise from my desktop computer.

Unfortunately, noise has found me again. I have noticed some odd and persistent noise to the south. It varies in strength and produces a buzzing noise when at its weakest, then white noise when it increases in strength. The different states in strength last from 15 minutes, but can be longer. The increase/decrease is abrupt and registers 20dB at worst. All other directions remain noise free for now.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.

Saturday 1 March 2014

Skegness Log: 01-03-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
100.0 0005  D  Hit Radio FFH, Dillenburg/Angelburg (hes) Pop song, as web. Two second
               burst  614km **
100.0 0051  D  Radio PSR, Chemnitz/Geyer (sac) Justin Timberlake song, as web  904km **
100.0 0118  D  Radio Salü, Bliestal (saa) Tom Odell song, as web  650km **
100.0 0133 DNK Pop FM, København-Gladsaxe/Isbanevej 4 (hvs) Buggles song, as web  836km **
100.0 0900  D  WDR 4, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) YL news, mixing with its own aircraft scatter 
               493km **


** Personal Skegness 'First' via meteor scatter

Hit Radio FFH and Radio Salue were the most frequent 'bursters' on 100.0 overnight, but Radio PSR was also quite frequent.

I made a shocking discovery when I calculated the total size of my overnight downloads this morning .... 16GB!!! I had no idea it was that much. Mind you, I recorded 25 streams for almost ten hours. It's a good job that my Sky package offers truly 'unlimited' bandwidth, though I am sure it doesn't work quite like that. I think I need to cut down a little.

Aircraft scatter was slightly down on yesterday but Brocken still got through on 89.0. This was consistent throughout daylight hours but remained very poor.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.

Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.