Looking back through some old posts on several radio groups, I see some fairly sharp criticism dished out to members for the way in which they enjoy their hobby. Much of this is technology related. It is bad enough, as a DXer, that we are sometimes singled out as weirdos because we have a niche hobby, but you would expect that we hobbyists who share the same interests would understand each other better and all get along well. This is not always the case, for we have divided ourselves into even smaller, nichier (is there such a word?) little communities. Some examples:
List Loggers:
There are those who prefer to listen to their DX for several minutes, if they are able, while others just want to log something and quickly move to the next frequency to see if something else is coming through. Why not stay with the DX and enjoy it?
Broadband DXing:
Some people like to DX with their broadband SDR receivers, recording large chunks of the radio spectrum while others would rather have a big knob in their face! (Yes, I did say that) so they can replay the band, as it was on the day, or night.
Propagation Alerts & DX Clusters:
Some of us radio creatures like to monitor DX Clusters so we can see where the activity is and act accordingly, while others like to fend for themselves and tune around, determined to find the DX for themselves.
Carrier Monitoring
Some DXers monitor the carriers of radio and television stations. These can act as a pointer to the current state of propagation if those precise carrier frequencies are stable and can be relied upon. "But it's not radio" some say. Yet it clearly is radio, but in a more fundamental way. Carriers can be of great use, despite the lack of audio or video which would provide station identification, yet these carriers can actually provide a kind of ID in their own right. The precise 'offsets' of some carriers can be deliberate. Of course, they are not a vocal identification, which is, arguably, absolutely necssary for a logging.
Social Media:
Lo and behold a new one cropped up on SkywavesMW today where a member was criticised for making use of YouTube, where he was able to show the world how he used his receiver to pick up some rare DX catches. The argument was that he should have reported his loggings directly to the group itself. Many people make use of social media these days to stay in touch and promote the hobby. We have Bloggers, Facebookers, Tweeters and a huge range of other filesharing methods. Surely it is up to the individual how they want to store and share their files?
To some, these issues obviously matter, but they are just different ways to enjoy our hobby. I do find it sad and unfortunate that a few DXers are prepared to fall out over some of these methods, stating that one method is right while the other is wrong. In the space of a few days I was accused of cheating for using an SDR receiver, then blow me, somebody had a go at me for List Logging - that is, purposely logging as many stations as they can. Yes, that's me. Once I have identified a new station, I am off looking for the next. Is that wrong? Consider amateur radio where "Radio Sport" is a popular pastime, also known as Contesting. This has become a big part of the amateur radio community. The purpose of which is to collect points while logging as many countries or grid squares as possible along the way. It's all a bit of fun and I would say "each to their own". For me, the radio ham contest gives me the opportunity to add new countries to my logbook in a much simpler way as opposed to having to wait in a long queue while other hams finish their chinwag before I can try to work them.
As for the new breed of radio, the SDR (Software Defined Radio) has simply enabled me to realise my full DX potential. Before the days of the SDR I could only listen, or record, a single frequency in the hope of receiving something new and exciting. This was restrictive, because I never considered my location was any good for receiving exotic DX and, at the time, I never once received anything from the North American west coast or from the Canadian Prairies on medium wave after many years of listening. The moment I purchased a Perseus SDR receiver I was able to record ALL medium wave frequencies overnight and play them back at a later time to suit me, so I missed nothing. If the exotic DX was there then I would have it. Almost from day one of owning the SDR, I received many exotic west coast USA and Canadian stations, including the Canadian Prairies, the North West Territories AND the impossible (so I thought) ... ALASKA! and several times! So, whether you consider this cheating or not, the full DX potential of my location was quickly realised and my logbook grew in size accordingly.
Even the use of the "DX Cluster" has become a bone of contention to some, suggesting that enthusiasts are finding the location and frequency of the DX and going straight to it as a result - the cheats! Really? These are excellent facilities which enable the DXer to share their good fortunes so that others may receive them. I suppose I do see how this could take out the element of chance for some.
Would I like to go back to single frequency listening with a tuning knob? Will I continue to dash around the bands like there's no tomorrow? Will I continue to use DX clusters so I can see where the propagation is? The answer is simple: If it helps me dig out new and exciting DX opportunities, then I'll happily do it. I confess I am a DX junkie. A List Logger! Call me whatever you like. If you like to do the opposite then that's fine with me. There's no accounting for our listening tastes. I have my own preferences, but I really don't have a problem with the alternatives.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Sunday, 4 November 2012
CBG Carrier - 1400 kHz
This is a screen grab of the Perseus SDR receiver, showing what I presume to be the carrier of CBG in Gander, Newfoundland, on 1400 kHz medium wave. This appeared today at approximately 17:35. I hope this is a precursor to good transatlantic conditions overnight on the 4th/5th. (Please note: The Perseus SDR had not been calibrated prior to this)
A Lazy Weekend (10m Activity)
Not much work to do over the weekend and so I lounged around on 10m. My intention was to get up to 50 countries worked (up from 42) but I only increased to 43 countries thanks to working Moldova via Es.
But today, I tried something different, just to see how my 10 watts were getting out. Fellow ham David, MM3FYA in Ayrshire, suggested I call CQ on 10m but at the same time check to see if I have been 'spotted' on the Reverse Beacon website. I did so, to no avail at first, but it wasn't long before my signal was reported as being heard as far away as Curacao! The Reverse Beacon website listed the following 'spotters' thus:
I think I might put a few more calls out tomorrow to see where my signal is getting! ;O)
But today, I tried something different, just to see how my 10 watts were getting out. Fellow ham David, MM3FYA in Ayrshire, suggested I call CQ on 10m but at the same time check to see if I have been 'spotted' on the Reverse Beacon website. I did so, to no avail at first, but it wasn't long before my signal was reported as being heard as far away as Curacao! The Reverse Beacon website listed the following 'spotters' thus:
| de | dx | freq | cq/dx | snr | speed | time |
| K3MM |  G1VVP | 28022.9 | CW CQ | 7 dB | 20 wpm | 1621z 04 Nov |
| W3LPL | G1VVP | 28022.9 | CW CQ | 3 dB | 20 wpm | 1621z 04 Nov |
| PJ2T | G1VVP | 28022.8 | CW CQ | 5 dB | 20 wpm | 1619z 04 Nov |
| NY3A | G1VVP | 28022.8 | CW CQ | 5 dB | 20 wpm | 1439z 04 Nov |
| W3LPL | G1VVP | 28022.9 | CW CQ | 8 dB | 20 wpm | 1439z 04 Nov |
| K3MM | G1VVP | 28022.9 | CW CQ | 9 dB | 20 wpm | 1438z 04 Nov |
I think I might put a few more calls out tomorrow to see where my signal is getting! ;O)
Friday, 2 November 2012
A Quick 10m Update
This brings my 10m QRP country total to 41.
Breaking through the pile-up intoto Senegal on the 1st was no problem at all with 10 watts and my half wave wire dipole at only six feet above the ground. It took just one call. However, trying to break through today's pile-up into Saudi Arabia was a different matter. I gave up after several dozen calls. To be fair, HZ1TT was reporting signals around 5/9+20dB from many callers, so I would have been buried. Some you win, some you lose!
Date GMT Call Grid In Out Mode Prop Distance
01/11/2012 17:20 PY5QW GG54FO 5/7 5/5 SSB ES 9964
01/11/2012 17:09 CU7MD HM58QM 5/7 5/9 SSB ES 2737
01/11/2012 17:05 6V7S IK14KR 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 4536
31/10/2012 10:02 CT9/DJ8VC IM12MS 5/9 5/7 SSB ES 2649
Breaking through the pile-up intoto Senegal on the 1st was no problem at all with 10 watts and my half wave wire dipole at only six feet above the ground. It took just one call. However, trying to break through today's pile-up into Saudi Arabia was a different matter. I gave up after several dozen calls. To be fair, HZ1TT was reporting signals around 5/9+20dB from many callers, so I would have been buried. Some you win, some you lose!
Date GMT Call Grid In Out Mode Prop Distance
01/11/2012 17:20 PY5QW GG54FO 5/7 5/5 SSB ES 9964
01/11/2012 17:09 CU7MD HM58QM 5/7 5/9 SSB ES 2737
01/11/2012 17:05 6V7S IK14KR 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 4536
31/10/2012 10:02 CT9/DJ8VC IM12MS 5/9 5/7 SSB ES 2649
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish!
That may seem a tad cruel, but I heard on the radio today that electrical retail giant Comet have gone into administration. GOOD! Let's hope Currys and PC World follow very quickly. These companies deserve to go under, in my humble opinion.
I have been in the unfortunate situation of purchasing a laptop from all three aforementioned companies and in each case, they were faulty and had to be returned (I know, I should have known better than to shop at these places but there were no local alternatives at the time). These companies have their own sets of rules when it comes to refunds, the main rule being "They don't give refunds"! To be fair, PC World were probably the lesser of the three evils as I obtained a refund after the shop told me to take the laptop to their repair centre in Leeds, where they admitted that their machine was faulty. In the case of Currys, I only had to raise my voice in the shop, causing a minor scene such that they would wish to get me out of the shop as quickly as possible. They were walking all over me until the moment I started kicking off. Comet presented me with more of a challenge ...
Comet have no regard for their customers whatsoever. All the staff I had dealings with had clearly been brainwashed into promoting their brand as the be all and end all. They were, of course, faultless and their equipment could not possible be faulty. Yet the £850 Sony Vaio laptop I purchased from them clearly was. Removing their 'bloat' from the machine and installing my own purchased Windows 7 Professional was impossible. A "hardware Error" message would appear at Startup. The sales staff assured me that Sony Vaios NEVER WENT WRONG. They wanted to know why I had uninstalled the pre-installed software bundle which came with the new laptop as it was absolutely necessary for the thing to work properly. I explained that this extra "bloat" was completely unnecessary and would only serve to slow down the machine. Why on earth would I want Adobe Acrobat and the entire Norton Suite to control my laptop? "you shouldn't have uninstalled that" said the sales girl, "You have invalidated the guarantee".
I could not have a refund, nor could I have a replacement model. The best bit was when the sales girl told me that the laptop could possibly be faulty as they NEVER GO WRONG!. I insisted that the machine was faulty after running a few tests, which I explained in some detail. I politely told them that the machine was unfit for purpose and that they should either replace it or give me a full refund. They would not budge. I had broken all the rules and NOTHING could be done. They wouldn't even test it. After a good deal of arguing the sales girl said she would see the manager the following day and find out if it could be sent away to their test centre for analysis, BUT I would have to pay £40 for the privilege. I told them I would see them in court.
After several weeks waiting for a Small Claims Court hearing, I finally arrived at the court building in Mansfield, where Comet were supposed to have sent an Area Manager to state his side of the case, yet nobody turned up. It would be unfair for me to say that monkeys would have represented Comet better as that would be deeply insulting to monkeys. The judge listened to my account and concluded the session, ordering that Comet should fully test the laptop and report back with their findings. He also casually dropped in the fact that Comet were regular visitors to the Small Claims Court, but cheekily mentioned that they were a large company and so probably should have a higher number of visits because of that fact. ;O) A second hearing date was set, by which time Comet should produce their test results.
The second hearing date arrived but it took such a long time that I had moved out of the area by then, almost 100 miles away to the east coast. Yet I still managed to make the journey to the court in Mansfield. The representatives from Comet, however, did not. Again, it was a no-show on their part. The judge was clearly disgusted by this and he commented that I had had the decency to make the more lengthy journey while the local Comet manager couldn't even be bothered to walk from their store, literally just across the road. The judge had some news, however: Comet had written a letter to the judge, enclosing some test results they maintained were the very ones they carried out on my laptop immediately after I first returned it, one day after the purchase almost a year earlier. One small problem for Comet, however and this is where they really shot themselves in the foot. They had eroneously dated the letter just two days before the date of the second hearing. The judge deemed this to be a fake and said he would now write to Comet and order them to give me a full refund, plus cover all my travel expenses.
What a sorry state of affairs we have from some of our high street giants. Sadly, this example from Comet is far from being an isolated incident. It's good to be able to report that the little guy won in the end. I also feel some sympathy for the staff who lose their jobs when companies like these close down. these companies force their emplyees to tow the company line and that selling is king while reducing the customer to something far less significant.
I have been in the unfortunate situation of purchasing a laptop from all three aforementioned companies and in each case, they were faulty and had to be returned (I know, I should have known better than to shop at these places but there were no local alternatives at the time). These companies have their own sets of rules when it comes to refunds, the main rule being "They don't give refunds"! To be fair, PC World were probably the lesser of the three evils as I obtained a refund after the shop told me to take the laptop to their repair centre in Leeds, where they admitted that their machine was faulty. In the case of Currys, I only had to raise my voice in the shop, causing a minor scene such that they would wish to get me out of the shop as quickly as possible. They were walking all over me until the moment I started kicking off. Comet presented me with more of a challenge ...
Comet have no regard for their customers whatsoever. All the staff I had dealings with had clearly been brainwashed into promoting their brand as the be all and end all. They were, of course, faultless and their equipment could not possible be faulty. Yet the £850 Sony Vaio laptop I purchased from them clearly was. Removing their 'bloat' from the machine and installing my own purchased Windows 7 Professional was impossible. A "hardware Error" message would appear at Startup. The sales staff assured me that Sony Vaios NEVER WENT WRONG. They wanted to know why I had uninstalled the pre-installed software bundle which came with the new laptop as it was absolutely necessary for the thing to work properly. I explained that this extra "bloat" was completely unnecessary and would only serve to slow down the machine. Why on earth would I want Adobe Acrobat and the entire Norton Suite to control my laptop? "you shouldn't have uninstalled that" said the sales girl, "You have invalidated the guarantee".
I could not have a refund, nor could I have a replacement model. The best bit was when the sales girl told me that the laptop could possibly be faulty as they NEVER GO WRONG!. I insisted that the machine was faulty after running a few tests, which I explained in some detail. I politely told them that the machine was unfit for purpose and that they should either replace it or give me a full refund. They would not budge. I had broken all the rules and NOTHING could be done. They wouldn't even test it. After a good deal of arguing the sales girl said she would see the manager the following day and find out if it could be sent away to their test centre for analysis, BUT I would have to pay £40 for the privilege. I told them I would see them in court.
After several weeks waiting for a Small Claims Court hearing, I finally arrived at the court building in Mansfield, where Comet were supposed to have sent an Area Manager to state his side of the case, yet nobody turned up. It would be unfair for me to say that monkeys would have represented Comet better as that would be deeply insulting to monkeys. The judge listened to my account and concluded the session, ordering that Comet should fully test the laptop and report back with their findings. He also casually dropped in the fact that Comet were regular visitors to the Small Claims Court, but cheekily mentioned that they were a large company and so probably should have a higher number of visits because of that fact. ;O) A second hearing date was set, by which time Comet should produce their test results.
The second hearing date arrived but it took such a long time that I had moved out of the area by then, almost 100 miles away to the east coast. Yet I still managed to make the journey to the court in Mansfield. The representatives from Comet, however, did not. Again, it was a no-show on their part. The judge was clearly disgusted by this and he commented that I had had the decency to make the more lengthy journey while the local Comet manager couldn't even be bothered to walk from their store, literally just across the road. The judge had some news, however: Comet had written a letter to the judge, enclosing some test results they maintained were the very ones they carried out on my laptop immediately after I first returned it, one day after the purchase almost a year earlier. One small problem for Comet, however and this is where they really shot themselves in the foot. They had eroneously dated the letter just two days before the date of the second hearing. The judge deemed this to be a fake and said he would now write to Comet and order them to give me a full refund, plus cover all my travel expenses.
What a sorry state of affairs we have from some of our high street giants. Sadly, this example from Comet is far from being an isolated incident. It's good to be able to report that the little guy won in the end. I also feel some sympathy for the staff who lose their jobs when companies like these close down. these companies force their emplyees to tow the company line and that selling is king while reducing the customer to something far less significant.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Improved Conditions On 10m
There was far more activity on 10m this weekend in which F2 propagation combined with an all day sporadic E event. I added a few more countries to my log, now totalling 38 and I was pleased to add French Guyana, plus several new States.
Once again my Icom IC7000 was in use, running just 10 watts. I replaced my 10m 5/8 wave vertical for a simple half-wave dipole, cut to 28.5 MHz. This is only a simple wire, stretched six feet above the ground and supported in the middle by a washing line post. Isn't QRP great?
Date GMT Call Grid In Out Mode Prop Distance
28/10/2012 22:21 F5TMJ JN03SM 5/9 5/5 SSB ES 1074
28/10/2012 20:25 HB9EE JN47GN 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 852
28/10/2012 20:06 9A6B JN74EC 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1438
28/10/2012 20:03 IZ8GNR JN71EF 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1693
28/10/2012 20:02 9A2KD JN85EL 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1439
28/10/2012 19:59 DQ4W JN58SC 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 970
28/10/2012 19:58 YT5CT JN95VE 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1663
28/10/2012 19:53 SP7HKK JO91QI 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1310
28/10/2012 19:51 S50K JN66XB 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1257
28/10/2012 19:46 HG1S JN87VN 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1383
28/10/2012 19:33 DL3BQA JO73CF 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 926
28/10/2012 19:30 SP8CUR KO10CB 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1545
28/10/2012 19:28 SP4Z KO12KX 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1502
28/10/2012 13:34 LY8O KO24OP 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 1632
28/10/2012 17:19 W4ZV EM95UK 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 6342
28/10/2012 17:15 K4ZW FM18GL 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5926
28/10/2012 17:12 K8AZ EN91HM 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5942
28/10/2012 17:07 K3LR EN91SE 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5910
28/10/2012 17:04 WB9Z EN60BR 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 6397
28/10/2012 17:00 LT1F FF96PU 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 11248
28/10/2012 16:59 EA8MT IL27HV 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 3088
28/10/2012 16:55 K3WW FN20II 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5648
28/10/2012 16:49 LU7HN FF88XS 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 11136
28/10/2012 16:43 W1NA FN41SP 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5246
28/10/2012 16:40 K1LZ FN42HG 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5261
28/10/2012 16:28 CN3A IM52JJ 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 2428
28/10/2012 16:25 K1HI FN42FT 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5233
28/10/2012 16:23 K4XS EL88PF 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 7082
28/10/2012 16:20 K2SSS FN13DE 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5593
28/10/2012 16:17 K1KI FN32PA 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5363
28/10/2012 16:13 N1DD FN42MQ 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5205
28/10/2012 12:35 9K2HN LL39XI 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 4658
28/10/2012 12:23 K1DG FN42IT 5/9 +10 5/9 SSB F2 5218
27/10/2012 14:33 TO2A GJ35QD 5/5 5/9 SSB F2 7160
27/10/2012 14:31 VE3JM FN25CH 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5325
27/10/2012 14:27 LU8EEM FF95EC 5/7 5/9 SSB F2 11458
27/10/2012 14:22 LP1H FF78SG 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 11308
27/10/2012 14:09 II9P JM76IX 5/9 +30 5/9 SSB F2 2115
27/10/2012 14:06 YP3A KN34BJ 5/9 +10 5/9 SSB F2 2112
Once again my Icom IC7000 was in use, running just 10 watts. I replaced my 10m 5/8 wave vertical for a simple half-wave dipole, cut to 28.5 MHz. This is only a simple wire, stretched six feet above the ground and supported in the middle by a washing line post. Isn't QRP great?
Date GMT Call Grid In Out Mode Prop Distance
28/10/2012 22:21 F5TMJ JN03SM 5/9 5/5 SSB ES 1074
28/10/2012 20:25 HB9EE JN47GN 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 852
28/10/2012 20:06 9A6B JN74EC 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1438
28/10/2012 20:03 IZ8GNR JN71EF 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1693
28/10/2012 20:02 9A2KD JN85EL 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1439
28/10/2012 19:59 DQ4W JN58SC 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 970
28/10/2012 19:58 YT5CT JN95VE 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1663
28/10/2012 19:53 SP7HKK JO91QI 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1310
28/10/2012 19:51 S50K JN66XB 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1257
28/10/2012 19:46 HG1S JN87VN 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1383
28/10/2012 19:33 DL3BQA JO73CF 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 926
28/10/2012 19:30 SP8CUR KO10CB 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1545
28/10/2012 19:28 SP4Z KO12KX 5/9 5/9 SSB ES 1502
28/10/2012 13:34 LY8O KO24OP 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 1632
28/10/2012 17:19 W4ZV EM95UK 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 6342
28/10/2012 17:15 K4ZW FM18GL 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5926
28/10/2012 17:12 K8AZ EN91HM 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5942
28/10/2012 17:07 K3LR EN91SE 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5910
28/10/2012 17:04 WB9Z EN60BR 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 6397
28/10/2012 17:00 LT1F FF96PU 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 11248
28/10/2012 16:59 EA8MT IL27HV 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 3088
28/10/2012 16:55 K3WW FN20II 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5648
28/10/2012 16:49 LU7HN FF88XS 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 11136
28/10/2012 16:43 W1NA FN41SP 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5246
28/10/2012 16:40 K1LZ FN42HG 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5261
28/10/2012 16:28 CN3A IM52JJ 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 2428
28/10/2012 16:25 K1HI FN42FT 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5233
28/10/2012 16:23 K4XS EL88PF 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 7082
28/10/2012 16:20 K2SSS FN13DE 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5593
28/10/2012 16:17 K1KI FN32PA 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5363
28/10/2012 16:13 N1DD FN42MQ 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5205
28/10/2012 12:35 9K2HN LL39XI 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 4658
28/10/2012 12:23 K1DG FN42IT 5/9 +10 5/9 SSB F2 5218
27/10/2012 14:33 TO2A GJ35QD 5/5 5/9 SSB F2 7160
27/10/2012 14:31 VE3JM FN25CH 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 5325
27/10/2012 14:27 LU8EEM FF95EC 5/7 5/9 SSB F2 11458
27/10/2012 14:22 LP1H FF78SG 5/9 5/9 SSB F2 11308
27/10/2012 14:09 II9P JM76IX 5/9 +30 5/9 SSB F2 2115
27/10/2012 14:06 YP3A KN34BJ 5/9 +10 5/9 SSB F2 2112
Thursday, 25 October 2012
DX Recordings: 23-10-12 & 24-10-12
Here are a few recordings of the tropospheric DX received here on the 23rd and 24th:
91.8 FunX, Rotterdam 2007 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/p2z8b63iygsnenmfz6kg
100.6 France Bleu Picardie, Abbeville 1950 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/y9x9uxsxw92ayjjvvktu
102.3 NRJ, St Omer 1942 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/bricikzb7w5szy63ly8a
88.0 Frequence Horizon, Bethune 1623 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/1mp0kdyoo6z7w9tj86ff
87.9 Virgin Radio Cote D'Opale, Montreuil 1615_23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/mx168a7fcsxd6tiqvxx2
107.3 Skyrock,Evreux > VBRO, Diksmuide 1600 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/vo12n25bby72wthxdtr8
97.8 France Bleu Nord, Montreuil 1551 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/a5lc7oe89avjqvuhgwtc
95.0 RTL, Amiens 1528 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/m1l26woxizalkgn5b4vs
93.3 Rire Et Chansons, Boulgne-Sur-Mer 1522 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/zvlf8cbpzyuabe9thbru
92.8 Skyrock, Vannes 1517_23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/yuyx8ir937yr2ol3l2a2
91.5 Virgin Radio, Boulogne-Sur-Mer 1506 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/04h3nekn8hfateabkuhv
107.9_VBRO,_Torhout_1215_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/3qqyxa7naqk41weu5s3u
103.4_RTL,_Charleville_Mezieres_1125_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/wng5lmsj9c5i3m5xf1lo
107.4_Family_Radio,_unid_site_1115_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/omjh86u7fgkqf90kd69t
107.4_unid_1115_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/zgho1l8qg7g2p71auy8r
94.6_Radio_Maria,_Bruxelles_1100_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/i1i7au6jlnl0ph17153i
95.4_BNR,_Gilze_0922_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/1m2w1jugfspsvgbj13v1
89.8_VRT2,_Nieuwkerken-Waas_0900_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/88hfph892ejcsxqvs7kv
94.3_France_Bleu_Creuse,_Gueret_1127_24-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/hrtbq3rx7b65aetq0osd
103.4_France_Info,_Lyon_1046_24-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/nrcry5hmrqdtn2vmwx61
91.8 FunX, Rotterdam 2007 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/p2z8b63iygsnenmfz6kg
100.6 France Bleu Picardie, Abbeville 1950 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/y9x9uxsxw92ayjjvvktu
102.3 NRJ, St Omer 1942 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/bricikzb7w5szy63ly8a
88.0 Frequence Horizon, Bethune 1623 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/1mp0kdyoo6z7w9tj86ff
87.9 Virgin Radio Cote D'Opale, Montreuil 1615_23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/mx168a7fcsxd6tiqvxx2
107.3 Skyrock,Evreux > VBRO, Diksmuide 1600 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/vo12n25bby72wthxdtr8
97.8 France Bleu Nord, Montreuil 1551 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/a5lc7oe89avjqvuhgwtc
95.0 RTL, Amiens 1528 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/m1l26woxizalkgn5b4vs
93.3 Rire Et Chansons, Boulgne-Sur-Mer 1522 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/zvlf8cbpzyuabe9thbru
92.8 Skyrock, Vannes 1517_23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/yuyx8ir937yr2ol3l2a2
91.5 Virgin Radio, Boulogne-Sur-Mer 1506 23-10-12
https://www.box.com/s/04h3nekn8hfateabkuhv
107.9_VBRO,_Torhout_1215_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/3qqyxa7naqk41weu5s3u
103.4_RTL,_Charleville_Mezieres_1125_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/wng5lmsj9c5i3m5xf1lo
107.4_Family_Radio,_unid_site_1115_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/omjh86u7fgkqf90kd69t
107.4_unid_1115_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/zgho1l8qg7g2p71auy8r
94.6_Radio_Maria,_Bruxelles_1100_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/i1i7au6jlnl0ph17153i
95.4_BNR,_Gilze_0922_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/1m2w1jugfspsvgbj13v1
89.8_VRT2,_Nieuwkerken-Waas_0900_23-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/88hfph892ejcsxqvs7kv
94.3_France_Bleu_Creuse,_Gueret_1127_24-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/hrtbq3rx7b65aetq0osd
103.4_France_Info,_Lyon_1046_24-10-12_(JF)
https://www.box.com/s/nrcry5hmrqdtn2vmwx61
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Tropo Continues ...
This is the sort of tropo I love. DX from the far south of France is one of the rarest types of band 2 DX I can think of. It's not very often I hear transmitters to the south of Paris, at least if you disregard Bourges, Troyes and Reims, which always seem to be present here.
Propagation almost reached the Mediterranean coast at Montpellier. Not much further and I might have even received the Spanish Costa Brava, as has been received in south-eastern England in the past.
Right at the end I managed to hear TDF outlets at Mende and Millau, two transmitters I have never received before, neither here on the east coast or previously at any of my Nottinghamshire addresses.
94.3 0911 F France Bleu Creuse, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) Phone in, as web stream 785km
87.9 0914 F France Culture, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) OM YL, as 88.2 712km
88.2 0914 F France Culture, Ussel-Meymac/Mont Bessou (19) OM YL, as 98.0 853km **
93.8 0920 F France Musique, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) Classical, as 88.7 577km
93.8 0920 F France Inter, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) OM YL, as 103.7 712km
91.4 0922 F France Musique, Troyes/les Riceys (10) Classical, as 91.8 643km
91.1 0923 F France Musique, Niort/Maisonnay (79) Classical music, as 88.8. Over Villers-Cotterets 774km
90.6 0926 F France Inter, Nantes/Haute-Goulaine (44) Discussion group, as 103.7 675km
99.4 0936 F France Inter, Niort/Maisonnay (79) Discussion group, as 103.7 774km
99.8 0942 F France Inter, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) Discussion group, as 99.6, etc 917km
103.4 0942 F France Info, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) France info jingle and ID 917km
92.4 0943 F France Musique, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) OM, as 91.8 917km **
100.7 0947 F France Inter, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) Vocal ID 785km
90.0 1007 F France Inter, Besançon/Lomont (25) OM and audience, as 103.7 783km **
93.3 1010 F France Musique, Chaumont/Chalindrey (52) Opera, as 92.9, etc. 694km **
92.9 1012 F France Musique, Besançon/Lomont (25) Taking over from Villers-Cotterets 783km **
95.5 1014 F France Musique, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) Classical, as others 842km
97.2 1018 F France Musique, Argenton-sur-Creuse/Malicornay (36) Presumed site. OM, as others 737km **
103.2 1021 F France Bleu Berry, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Talking about Tour De France, as web stream 672km
93.2 1028 F France Inter, Angers/Rochefort-sur-Loire (49) Excitable OM, as 103.7 650km
93.7 1033 F France Musique, Mende/Truc de Fortunio (48) OM talk with others in background, as web stream 974km **
107.8 1037 SUI RSI1, Säntis (ar) Very, very weak, in parallel with web stream 917km
89.8 1051 F France Culture, Argenton-sur-Creuse/Malicornay (36) OM YL, as web stream 737km **
88.9 1055 F France Musique, Millau/Lévézou (12) YL and OM talk, as web stream 1021km **
Propagation almost reached the Mediterranean coast at Montpellier. Not much further and I might have even received the Spanish Costa Brava, as has been received in south-eastern England in the past.
Right at the end I managed to hear TDF outlets at Mende and Millau, two transmitters I have never received before, neither here on the east coast or previously at any of my Nottinghamshire addresses.
94.3 0911 F France Bleu Creuse, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) Phone in, as web stream 785km
87.9 0914 F France Culture, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) OM YL, as 88.2 712km
88.2 0914 F France Culture, Ussel-Meymac/Mont Bessou (19) OM YL, as 98.0 853km **
93.8 0920 F France Musique, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) Classical, as 88.7 577km
93.8 0920 F France Inter, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) OM YL, as 103.7 712km
91.4 0922 F France Musique, Troyes/les Riceys (10) Classical, as 91.8 643km
91.1 0923 F France Musique, Niort/Maisonnay (79) Classical music, as 88.8. Over Villers-Cotterets 774km
90.6 0926 F France Inter, Nantes/Haute-Goulaine (44) Discussion group, as 103.7 675km
99.4 0936 F France Inter, Niort/Maisonnay (79) Discussion group, as 103.7 774km
99.8 0942 F France Inter, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) Discussion group, as 99.6, etc 917km
103.4 0942 F France Info, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) France info jingle and ID 917km
92.4 0943 F France Musique, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) OM, as 91.8 917km **
100.7 0947 F France Inter, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) Vocal ID 785km
90.0 1007 F France Inter, Besançon/Lomont (25) OM and audience, as 103.7 783km **
93.3 1010 F France Musique, Chaumont/Chalindrey (52) Opera, as 92.9, etc. 694km **
92.9 1012 F France Musique, Besançon/Lomont (25) Taking over from Villers-Cotterets 783km **
95.5 1014 F France Musique, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) Classical, as others 842km
97.2 1018 F France Musique, Argenton-sur-Creuse/Malicornay (36) Presumed site. OM, as others 737km **
103.2 1021 F France Bleu Berry, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Talking about Tour De France, as web stream 672km
93.2 1028 F France Inter, Angers/Rochefort-sur-Loire (49) Excitable OM, as 103.7 650km
93.7 1033 F France Musique, Mende/Truc de Fortunio (48) OM talk with others in background, as web stream 974km **
107.8 1037 SUI RSI1, Säntis (ar) Very, very weak, in parallel with web stream 917km
89.8 1051 F France Culture, Argenton-sur-Creuse/Malicornay (36) OM YL, as web stream 737km **
88.9 1055 F France Musique, Millau/Lévézou (12) YL and OM talk, as web stream 1021km **
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Tropo Returns With A Bang!
A nice bit of tropospheric activity graced the FM broadcast band today! While no big distances were achieved there were some good signals levels with many continental stations at instant RDS levels!
97.4 0739 F France Culture, Abbeville/Limeux (80) OMs in school, as 98 364km
98.5 0739 F France Culture, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) oMs in school, as 98 577km
95.1 0742 D WDR 3, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw) WDR_3___ Over Norfolk 505km
94.8 0743 D SWR3, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp) Soft pops, as web 560km
93.8 0744 F France Musique, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) Classical, as 88.7 577km
96.3 0745 F France Inter, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) IN talk, as 103.7 577km **
93.3 0747 D WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) YL report, as web stream 421km
92.9 0749 F France Musique, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) Classical, as 88.7 474km
92.1 0750 F France Inter, Verdun/Septsarges (55) YL talk, as 103.7 548km
89.5 0755 F France Culture, Auxerre/Molesmes (89) OM, as 98.0 655km
89.6 0755 F France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 89.5 474km
107.2 0756 D WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Pops, as 106.7 593km
107.4 0757 D Radio Wuppertal, Wuppertal/Westfalenweg (nrw) German pops, as web 508km
106.7 0812 BEL City Music, Aalst/Hofstade (vlg-ovl) Owl City song, as web stream 351km
104.0 0818 BEL Bel RTL, Bruxelles/Hilton Hotel (brc) YLs serious talk, as web 378km
107.1 0819 F France Bleu 107.1, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) YL OM talk, as web stream 497km
98.7 0836 D AFN Wiesbaden-The Eagle, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes) ID. US OM and pops 648km
97.2 0838 F France Musique, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) Cassical, as 88.7 446km
94.4 0840 F France Inter, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) French song, as 103.7 446km
91.8 0841 F France Musique, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Classical, as others 672km
107.2 0844 BEL Radio Bingo, Roeselare/Zilverberg (vlg-wvl) Radio Bingo IDs 313km
87.6 0848 F RTL, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles (62) French crooner, as 87.7 343km
87.7 0849 F RTL, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) French crooner, as 87.6 and web stream 299km
87.6 0850 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Oostende/Residentie De Mast (vlg-wvl) Oldies, as web stream 278km
93.0 0850 F RTL, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Jingle ID in ads 339km
88.0 0852 F Fréquence Horizon, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles CV11 (62) Horizon ID in phone call 344km
89.2 0853 F RTL 2, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Rap, as web stream. Lots of ch channel qrm 339km
89.6 0856 F RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Saint-Omer/Racquinghem (62) OMs phone in, as web stream 306km
89.8 0900 BEL VRT Radio 2, Nieuwkerken-Waas/Watertoren (vlg-ovl) ID and news 343km **
90.6 0903 BEL Joe FM, Oud-Turnhout/Watertoren Pidpa (vlg-ant) Ashford Simpson song, as web stream 376km
91.0 0905 HOL Omroep Brabant, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) MJs Rock With You, as web stream 334km
92.0 0907 F Radio 6, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont d'Herquelingue (62) Pops, as web stream 288km
92.1 0908 F Le Mouv', Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Le Mouv ID 497km
92.2 0912 F RTL 2, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles (62) French pops, as web stream 343km **
93.8 0914 HOL Slam!FM, Megen/Alticom Toren (nbr) Dance song, as web stream 387km
95.3 0921 F RMC, Château-Thierry/les Blanchards TDF (02) Jovial OMs on phone, as web stream 502km **
95.4 0922 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Gilze/Prinsenbosch (nbr) Ad break and ID 359km
96.3 0925 HOL Radio Veronica, Loon op Zand/Alticom Toren (nbr) ID after ad break 366km
100.3 0930 HOL L1 Radio, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) L1 Nieuws 443km
100.8 0935 F Concact, Lens or Valenciennes ID and dance music
101.6 0937 F RFM, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) Pops, as web stream 285km
106.7 0940 F Beur FM, Bagnolet(Paris)/Tour Mercuriales Ouest (93) IDs in OM talk 498km **
107.5 0943 BEL Nostalgie Belge, Braine Le Comte or Boussu-Bois Adverts and ID
87.8 0945 F France Bleu Nord, Lille/La Pilaterie (59) Phone in, as 94.7 337km
106.2 0946 F France Bleu Nord, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) Jingle ID and ads 266km
87.7 1001 D NDR Info, Flensburg-Engelsby (shs) ID and YL news 627km
87.9 1002 D NDR Info, Heide/Welmbüttel (shs) YL news, as 87.7 599km
90.3 1004 D WDR 5, Nordhelle (nrw) Fair. ID after news 554km
91.8 1006 D WDR 2, Hohe Warte (nrw) ID after news and weather 544km
92.4 1013 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp) Rolling Stones song, as web stream 560km
107.0 1030 D WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) Weather report and ID 592km
106.6 1032 F Radio Campus Lille, Lille/Cité Scientifique (59) Heavy rock track, as web stream 342km
88.9 1036 HOL Radio Noord-Holland, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) OM talk, as web stream 321km
89.5 1037 HOL 100% NL, Alkmaar or Utrecht OM YL, as web stream (Suspect Utrecht)
91.1 1040 HOL Slam!FM, Hilversum/Media Park-Alticom (nho) V good. SLAM_FM_ and scrolling RDS 342km
91.4 1041 F Contact, Lille/Mons-en-Baroeul 2 (59) Lady Bla Bla nonsense, as web stream 338km
92.4 1042 HOL Radio Hollandio, Westdorpe/Verkavelingsweg (zee) Dutch music, as web stream 323km
93.3 1046 HOL Ujala Radio, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Almost noise free. Indian music, as web stream 321km
93.4 1047 HOL Radio Rijnmond, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (zho) Kool and The Gang, as web stream 313km
94.0 1051 BEL RTBF Musiq' 3, Ronquières (wln-hai) Shrill classical strings, as web stream 391km **
94.6 1100 BEL Radio Maria, Brussel/Albertplein Toren (brc) Vocal ID on the hour 378km **
95.2 1102 HOL Slam!FM, Alphen aan den Rijn/Alticom Toren (zho) SLAM_FM_ Late news start. ID. V good! 313km
95.8 1105 ? UNID, ? Club music station. Distorted. Sounded like it was off-tune
96.5 1107 HOL 3FM, Several low power sites Tina Turner, As web stream
97.4 1110 F Rire et Chansons, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) OM comedy sketch, as web stream 497km **
107.4 1121 BEL Family Radio, Presumed Oostende Jingle ID
107.5 1123 HOL Scheldemond FM, Oostburg/Watertoren (zee) Two bars but co-channel QRM. As web 296km **
103.4 1126 F RTL, Charleville-Mézières/Sury (08) ID in local adverts 479km **
107.3 1347 BEL VBRO, Diksmuide/IJzertoren (vlg-wvl) Dutch music, as 107.9 292km
107.9 1351 BEL VBRO, Torhout (vlg-wvl) Dutch music and ID 297km
104.9 1355 F Europe 1, Rouen, Compiegne or Abbeville Lively OMs chat, as web stream **
88.3 1402 F France Culture, Laval-Evron/Mont Rochard (53) YL, as 88.5 550km
88.5 1402 F France Culture, Bourges/Neuvy (18) _CULTURE 672km
89.8 1403 F France Musique, Abbeville/Limeux (80) Classical, as 88.7 364km
89.0 1404 F France Culture, Le Mans/Mayet (72) YL, as 88.5. Noise free 599km
91.4 1405 F France Musique, Troyes/les Riceys (10) Opera, as 88.7 643km
92.2 1409 F France Musique, Tours/Chissay [41] (37) OM, as 92.0, etc 646km
94.6 1412 F France Inter, Chartres/Montlandon (28) Haydn horm piece, as 103.7 531km
95.0 1412 F France Inter, Mantes-la-Jolie/Maudétour [95] (78) Haydn horn piece, as 103.7, etc. 463km
95.3 1413 F France Inter, Troyes/les Riceys (10) Haydn horn piece, as 103.7, etc. 643km
95.5 1414 F France Musique, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) Rousing symphony, as 88.7 842km
98.1 1416 F France Culture, Chartres/Montlandon (28) YL singing solo, as 98.0 531km
98.4 1417 F France Culture, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) YL singing solo, as 98.0 842km
101.6 1421 F France Bleu Haute Normandie, Neufchâtel-en-Bray/Croixdalle (76) ID and OM talk 381km
103.2 1422 F France Bleu Berry, Bourges/Neuvy (18) BLEU.BER OM and phone caller 672km
107.6 1430 G Vibe FM, Watford/YMCA (EN-HTS) Advertise on Vibe 107.7 173km
87.9 1431 F France Culture, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) French OM over soft music, as 88.0 712km
88.0 1431 F France Culture, Alençon/Mont d'Amain (61) French OM over soft music, as web stream 498km
88.2 1436 F France Culture, Ussel-Meymac/Mont Bessou (19) YLs, as 88.0 853km
92.1 1443 F France Musique, Laval-Evron/Mont Rochard (53) Operatic shrieking, as others 550km
94.9 1446 F France Inter, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Rare appearance over BBC Lincolnshire 672km
95.1 1447 F France Inter, Laval-Evron/Mont Rochard (53) Peaking over a reduced Norfolk 550km
99.2 1450 F France Inter, Orléans/Traînou (45) Operatic shouting, as 103.7 590km
89.0 1454 F RFI Paris, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) YLs discussion, as web stream 497km **
89.8 1455 F RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Dunkerque/le Banc Vert (59) 60s song, as 89.6 275km
91.5 1504 F Virgin Radio, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) messed up song, as web stream 285km
91.8 1514 F Fun Radio, Amiens/Dury TDF (80) Dance music, as web stream 390km **
92.8 1515 F NRJ, Béthune/Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen (62) Pops, as web stream 341km
92.8 1517 F Skyrock, Vannes/le Prat (56) Familiar jingle ID and ads, as web stream 647km **
93.6 1525 F Virgin Radio, Amiens/Dury TDF (80) Presumed Amiens due to conditions. Coldplay, as web stream 390km **
93.8 1527 F Contact, Saint-Omer/Tatinghem (62) Phone in quiz, as web stream 297km
94.2 1528 F Contact, Amiens/Dury 3 (80) Phone in quiz as 93.8 391km **
95.0 1529 F RTL, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) ID and ads, including one for Carrefour! 302km **
96.4 1535 F BFM Business, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Stocks et shares, as web stream 339km
96.5 1536 F Skyrock, Saint-Omer/Asdoit (62) Phone in quiz as 93.8 296km
97.8 1538 F France Bleu Nord, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Boogie woogie song and ID 302km **
99.0 1548 F RPL 99FM/RCV, Lille/Lambersart (59) RCV programming, as web stream 334km
100.2 1551 F France Bleu Picardie, Amiens/Dury Towercast (80) OMs chat, muffled audio, as web stream 390km **
101.3 1555 F NRJ, Lille/Mons-en-Baroeul 1 (59) Dance beats, as web stream 338km
102.5 1559 F RFM, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) Pops, as 101.6 266km
107.3 1600 F Skyrock, Evreux/Tour de la Madelaine (27) ID, jingle and pops 464km **
107.5 1606 BEL VBRO, Poperinge (vlg-wvl) Dutch music, as 107.3 304km
87.9 1617 F Virgin Radio, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Ad break, ID 302km
88.2 1627 F Radio Classique, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) OM serious talk, as web stream 339km
105.7 1639 F France Info, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Presumed site. As other France Infos 302km **
106.7 1641 F Fun Radio, Hesdin/le Quesnoy-en-Artois (62) ID and Club beats, as web stream 334km
107.0 1643 F RMC, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) Very weak, gruff voiced OM as web stream 285km
90.6 1808 F France Inter, Nantes/Haute-Goulaine (44) YL and French OM song, as 103.7 675km
93.8 1810 F France Inter, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) French song, as 103.7, etc. 712km
94.2 1811 F France Culture, Nantes/Haute-Goulaine (44) Deep voiced OM, as 98.0 675km
100.7 1818 F France Inter, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) OMs YL serious talk, as web stream 785km
102.3 1942 F NRJ, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) ID in excitable phone in 299km
100.8 1947 F Contact, Three sites listed Phone in, as web stream
100.6 1953 F France Bleu Picardie, Abbeville/Limeux (80) ID and pops 364km
91.8 2006 HOL FunX, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (zho) Pops, as web stream 313km
94.2 2221 F Europe 1, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) YL phone in, as web stream 299km
99.4 2226 BEL Topradio, Gent/IVAGO Proeftuinstraat 43 (vlg-ovl) Repetitive club beats, as web 333km
99.6 2226 HOL Slam!FM, Hoorn/Electronweg (nho) Lady Blah Blahs DX This Way, as 91.1 325km
97.4 0739 F France Culture, Abbeville/Limeux (80) OMs in school, as 98 364km
98.5 0739 F France Culture, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) oMs in school, as 98 577km
95.1 0742 D WDR 3, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw) WDR_3___ Over Norfolk 505km
94.8 0743 D SWR3, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp) Soft pops, as web 560km
93.8 0744 F France Musique, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) Classical, as 88.7 577km
96.3 0745 F France Inter, Sens/Gisy-les-Nobles (89) IN talk, as 103.7 577km **
93.3 0747 D WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) YL report, as web stream 421km
92.9 0749 F France Musique, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) Classical, as 88.7 474km
92.1 0750 F France Inter, Verdun/Septsarges (55) YL talk, as 103.7 548km
89.5 0755 F France Culture, Auxerre/Molesmes (89) OM, as 98.0 655km
89.6 0755 F France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 89.5 474km
107.2 0756 D WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Pops, as 106.7 593km
107.4 0757 D Radio Wuppertal, Wuppertal/Westfalenweg (nrw) German pops, as web 508km
106.7 0812 BEL City Music, Aalst/Hofstade (vlg-ovl) Owl City song, as web stream 351km
104.0 0818 BEL Bel RTL, Bruxelles/Hilton Hotel (brc) YLs serious talk, as web 378km
107.1 0819 F France Bleu 107.1, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) YL OM talk, as web stream 497km
98.7 0836 D AFN Wiesbaden-The Eagle, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes) ID. US OM and pops 648km
97.2 0838 F France Musique, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) Cassical, as 88.7 446km
94.4 0840 F France Inter, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) French song, as 103.7 446km
91.8 0841 F France Musique, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Classical, as others 672km
107.2 0844 BEL Radio Bingo, Roeselare/Zilverberg (vlg-wvl) Radio Bingo IDs 313km
87.6 0848 F RTL, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles (62) French crooner, as 87.7 343km
87.7 0849 F RTL, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) French crooner, as 87.6 and web stream 299km
87.6 0850 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Oostende/Residentie De Mast (vlg-wvl) Oldies, as web stream 278km
93.0 0850 F RTL, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Jingle ID in ads 339km
88.0 0852 F Fréquence Horizon, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles CV11 (62) Horizon ID in phone call 344km
89.2 0853 F RTL 2, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Rap, as web stream. Lots of ch channel qrm 339km
89.6 0856 F RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Saint-Omer/Racquinghem (62) OMs phone in, as web stream 306km
89.8 0900 BEL VRT Radio 2, Nieuwkerken-Waas/Watertoren (vlg-ovl) ID and news 343km **
90.6 0903 BEL Joe FM, Oud-Turnhout/Watertoren Pidpa (vlg-ant) Ashford Simpson song, as web stream 376km
91.0 0905 HOL Omroep Brabant, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) MJs Rock With You, as web stream 334km
92.0 0907 F Radio 6, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont d'Herquelingue (62) Pops, as web stream 288km
92.1 0908 F Le Mouv', Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Le Mouv ID 497km
92.2 0912 F RTL 2, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles (62) French pops, as web stream 343km **
93.8 0914 HOL Slam!FM, Megen/Alticom Toren (nbr) Dance song, as web stream 387km
95.3 0921 F RMC, Château-Thierry/les Blanchards TDF (02) Jovial OMs on phone, as web stream 502km **
95.4 0922 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Gilze/Prinsenbosch (nbr) Ad break and ID 359km
96.3 0925 HOL Radio Veronica, Loon op Zand/Alticom Toren (nbr) ID after ad break 366km
100.3 0930 HOL L1 Radio, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) L1 Nieuws 443km
100.8 0935 F Concact, Lens or Valenciennes ID and dance music
101.6 0937 F RFM, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) Pops, as web stream 285km
106.7 0940 F Beur FM, Bagnolet(Paris)/Tour Mercuriales Ouest (93) IDs in OM talk 498km **
107.5 0943 BEL Nostalgie Belge, Braine Le Comte or Boussu-Bois Adverts and ID
87.8 0945 F France Bleu Nord, Lille/La Pilaterie (59) Phone in, as 94.7 337km
106.2 0946 F France Bleu Nord, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) Jingle ID and ads 266km
87.7 1001 D NDR Info, Flensburg-Engelsby (shs) ID and YL news 627km
87.9 1002 D NDR Info, Heide/Welmbüttel (shs) YL news, as 87.7 599km
90.3 1004 D WDR 5, Nordhelle (nrw) Fair. ID after news 554km
91.8 1006 D WDR 2, Hohe Warte (nrw) ID after news and weather 544km
92.4 1013 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp) Rolling Stones song, as web stream 560km
107.0 1030 D WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) Weather report and ID 592km
106.6 1032 F Radio Campus Lille, Lille/Cité Scientifique (59) Heavy rock track, as web stream 342km
88.9 1036 HOL Radio Noord-Holland, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) OM talk, as web stream 321km
89.5 1037 HOL 100% NL, Alkmaar or Utrecht OM YL, as web stream (Suspect Utrecht)
91.1 1040 HOL Slam!FM, Hilversum/Media Park-Alticom (nho) V good. SLAM_FM_ and scrolling RDS 342km
91.4 1041 F Contact, Lille/Mons-en-Baroeul 2 (59) Lady Bla Bla nonsense, as web stream 338km
92.4 1042 HOL Radio Hollandio, Westdorpe/Verkavelingsweg (zee) Dutch music, as web stream 323km
93.3 1046 HOL Ujala Radio, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Almost noise free. Indian music, as web stream 321km
93.4 1047 HOL Radio Rijnmond, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (zho) Kool and The Gang, as web stream 313km
94.0 1051 BEL RTBF Musiq' 3, Ronquières (wln-hai) Shrill classical strings, as web stream 391km **
94.6 1100 BEL Radio Maria, Brussel/Albertplein Toren (brc) Vocal ID on the hour 378km **
95.2 1102 HOL Slam!FM, Alphen aan den Rijn/Alticom Toren (zho) SLAM_FM_ Late news start. ID. V good! 313km
95.8 1105 ? UNID, ? Club music station. Distorted. Sounded like it was off-tune
96.5 1107 HOL 3FM, Several low power sites Tina Turner, As web stream
97.4 1110 F Rire et Chansons, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) OM comedy sketch, as web stream 497km **
107.4 1121 BEL Family Radio, Presumed Oostende Jingle ID
107.5 1123 HOL Scheldemond FM, Oostburg/Watertoren (zee) Two bars but co-channel QRM. As web 296km **
103.4 1126 F RTL, Charleville-Mézières/Sury (08) ID in local adverts 479km **
107.3 1347 BEL VBRO, Diksmuide/IJzertoren (vlg-wvl) Dutch music, as 107.9 292km
107.9 1351 BEL VBRO, Torhout (vlg-wvl) Dutch music and ID 297km
104.9 1355 F Europe 1, Rouen, Compiegne or Abbeville Lively OMs chat, as web stream **
88.3 1402 F France Culture, Laval-Evron/Mont Rochard (53) YL, as 88.5 550km
88.5 1402 F France Culture, Bourges/Neuvy (18) _CULTURE 672km
89.8 1403 F France Musique, Abbeville/Limeux (80) Classical, as 88.7 364km
89.0 1404 F France Culture, Le Mans/Mayet (72) YL, as 88.5. Noise free 599km
91.4 1405 F France Musique, Troyes/les Riceys (10) Opera, as 88.7 643km
92.2 1409 F France Musique, Tours/Chissay [41] (37) OM, as 92.0, etc 646km
94.6 1412 F France Inter, Chartres/Montlandon (28) Haydn horm piece, as 103.7 531km
95.0 1412 F France Inter, Mantes-la-Jolie/Maudétour [95] (78) Haydn horn piece, as 103.7, etc. 463km
95.3 1413 F France Inter, Troyes/les Riceys (10) Haydn horn piece, as 103.7, etc. 643km
95.5 1414 F France Musique, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) Rousing symphony, as 88.7 842km
98.1 1416 F France Culture, Chartres/Montlandon (28) YL singing solo, as 98.0 531km
98.4 1417 F France Culture, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) YL singing solo, as 98.0 842km
101.6 1421 F France Bleu Haute Normandie, Neufchâtel-en-Bray/Croixdalle (76) ID and OM talk 381km
103.2 1422 F France Bleu Berry, Bourges/Neuvy (18) BLEU.BER OM and phone caller 672km
107.6 1430 G Vibe FM, Watford/YMCA (EN-HTS) Advertise on Vibe 107.7 173km
87.9 1431 F France Culture, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) French OM over soft music, as 88.0 712km
88.0 1431 F France Culture, Alençon/Mont d'Amain (61) French OM over soft music, as web stream 498km
88.2 1436 F France Culture, Ussel-Meymac/Mont Bessou (19) YLs, as 88.0 853km
92.1 1443 F France Musique, Laval-Evron/Mont Rochard (53) Operatic shrieking, as others 550km
94.9 1446 F France Inter, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Rare appearance over BBC Lincolnshire 672km
95.1 1447 F France Inter, Laval-Evron/Mont Rochard (53) Peaking over a reduced Norfolk 550km
99.2 1450 F France Inter, Orléans/Traînou (45) Operatic shouting, as 103.7 590km
89.0 1454 F RFI Paris, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) YLs discussion, as web stream 497km **
89.8 1455 F RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Dunkerque/le Banc Vert (59) 60s song, as 89.6 275km
91.5 1504 F Virgin Radio, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) messed up song, as web stream 285km
91.8 1514 F Fun Radio, Amiens/Dury TDF (80) Dance music, as web stream 390km **
92.8 1515 F NRJ, Béthune/Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen (62) Pops, as web stream 341km
92.8 1517 F Skyrock, Vannes/le Prat (56) Familiar jingle ID and ads, as web stream 647km **
93.6 1525 F Virgin Radio, Amiens/Dury TDF (80) Presumed Amiens due to conditions. Coldplay, as web stream 390km **
93.8 1527 F Contact, Saint-Omer/Tatinghem (62) Phone in quiz, as web stream 297km
94.2 1528 F Contact, Amiens/Dury 3 (80) Phone in quiz as 93.8 391km **
95.0 1529 F RTL, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) ID and ads, including one for Carrefour! 302km **
96.4 1535 F BFM Business, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Stocks et shares, as web stream 339km
96.5 1536 F Skyrock, Saint-Omer/Asdoit (62) Phone in quiz as 93.8 296km
97.8 1538 F France Bleu Nord, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Boogie woogie song and ID 302km **
99.0 1548 F RPL 99FM/RCV, Lille/Lambersart (59) RCV programming, as web stream 334km
100.2 1551 F France Bleu Picardie, Amiens/Dury Towercast (80) OMs chat, muffled audio, as web stream 390km **
101.3 1555 F NRJ, Lille/Mons-en-Baroeul 1 (59) Dance beats, as web stream 338km
102.5 1559 F RFM, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) Pops, as 101.6 266km
107.3 1600 F Skyrock, Evreux/Tour de la Madelaine (27) ID, jingle and pops 464km **
107.5 1606 BEL VBRO, Poperinge (vlg-wvl) Dutch music, as 107.3 304km
87.9 1617 F Virgin Radio, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Ad break, ID 302km
88.2 1627 F Radio Classique, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) OM serious talk, as web stream 339km
105.7 1639 F France Info, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Presumed site. As other France Infos 302km **
106.7 1641 F Fun Radio, Hesdin/le Quesnoy-en-Artois (62) ID and Club beats, as web stream 334km
107.0 1643 F RMC, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) Very weak, gruff voiced OM as web stream 285km
90.6 1808 F France Inter, Nantes/Haute-Goulaine (44) YL and French OM song, as 103.7 675km
93.8 1810 F France Inter, Parthenay/les Chateliers (79) French song, as 103.7, etc. 712km
94.2 1811 F France Culture, Nantes/Haute-Goulaine (44) Deep voiced OM, as 98.0 675km
100.7 1818 F France Inter, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) OMs YL serious talk, as web stream 785km
102.3 1942 F NRJ, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) ID in excitable phone in 299km
100.8 1947 F Contact, Three sites listed Phone in, as web stream
100.6 1953 F France Bleu Picardie, Abbeville/Limeux (80) ID and pops 364km
91.8 2006 HOL FunX, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (zho) Pops, as web stream 313km
94.2 2221 F Europe 1, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) YL phone in, as web stream 299km
99.4 2226 BEL Topradio, Gent/IVAGO Proeftuinstraat 43 (vlg-ovl) Repetitive club beats, as web 333km
99.6 2226 HOL Slam!FM, Hoorn/Electronweg (nho) Lady Blah Blahs DX This Way, as 91.1 325km
Monday, 22 October 2012
BOG Test (Beverage On The Ground)
It was a trial run. A DX trip to one of the most secluded places in England: The Wash! Unfortunately I chose a foggy day.
The Wash is a square-mouthed bay and estuary on the northwest side of East Anglia on the east coast of England. Approximately 20 miles on each side, it is where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire and it is one of the largest estuaries in the United Kingdom. It is fed by the Rivers Witham, Welland, Nene and Great Ouse.
Being one of the most electrically isolated places in the UK, I assumed it would be an ideal place to run out a Beverage antenna. It was! Reception of several countries in the Far East was possible on most frequencies across the medium wave broadcast band. Many of the signals came from Chinese domestic transmitters but it was impossible to know exactly which transmitter was being received in most cases due to co-channel operation. Some signals were so strong as to override European and sometimes English radio stations! As well as China, South Korea, Thailand, The Philippines and even Japan was received.
This trip was only a trial run and a simple 380 metre beverage was run along the ground towards the north-east, the best direction for receiving the Far East. I employed Bodgitt & Scarper methods throughout as it was a trial run and I wanted to see if reception was good enough to warrant a more robust build in the future.
I will include a log of stations heard towards the end of this page, but please be patient as it is currently under construction.
Abandon Hope ... all who run your beverages through here!
The peace and calm of the western shores of The Wash
A lone DXer tunes in to the world
RG58 leaving the mobile shack
RG58 on the ground!
The wire leaves the feed point (I know it's a bodge. This was only a test run)
Can you see the wire?
Termination point
Part of the beverage run
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