Skegness Log: 31-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 87.8 1101  E  Si Ràdio, Torrent/Perentxissa=Calicanto (VAL-V) E504  1527km

I was by the radio for this morning's Es, watching the MUF rising, but this was the only station which made it through in the end.

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Skegness Log: 30-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 87.6 1647  E  RNE Radio 5, Marbella/Castillejos (AND-MA) E215 RNE_5-MA  1884km
 88.0 1648  E  RNE Radio 5, Alhaurin el Grande/S. Mijas/Mte Viego (AND-MA) E215 RNE_5-MA  1879km
 87.7 1652  E  Europa FM, Priego de Cordoba (AND-CO) E2ED EUROPAFM  1778km
 87.7 1657  E  Europa FM, Alcalá de Henares (MAD-M) E5ED EUROPAFM. Unattended  1439km
 87.5 1659  E  Dynamis Radio, Alcorcón/Poligono Urtinsa (MAD-M) 7878  1458km
 88.0 1700  E  Radio Nervión, Bilbao=Bilbo/Ganeta (PVA-BI) E343  1130km
 92.7 1701  E  Radio Marca, Fuenlabrada/Polígono Niño del Remedio (MAD-M) B002 R.MARCA_  1463km
 87.6 1720 POR Rádio Popular Afifense, Viana do Castelo (vcs) 80AB AFIFENSE  1446km
 88.0 1720  E  Radio Galega Música, Valga/Monte Xesteiras (GAL-PO) E4E1 RGMUSICA  1338km
 87.5 1721  E  RKM Radio Solidaria, Santiago de Compostela (GAL-C) E240 RKM vocal ID  1315km **
 89.3 1723 POR Rádio Comercial, Esposende (bra) 8203 COMRCIAL  1460km
 89.6 1724 POR RDP Antena 2, Valença do Minho/Monte do Faro (vcs) 8202  1404km **
 90.8 1724  E  Radio Galega Música, Moaña/Monte Faro Domayo (GAL-PO) E4E1 __MU____  1378km **
 88.0 1726 POR RDP Antena 2, Braga/Sameiro (bra) 8202 __TENA__  1445km
 88.9 1728  E  COPE, Soria (CAL-SO) E2CA  1282km **
 89.0 1728 POR Rádio 5, Póvoa de Varzim (prt) 805B RADIO_5_  1467km
 88.9 1729 POR RDP Antena 1, Monchique/Fóia (agv) 8201 ANTENA_1  1890km
 90.4 1730 POR Rádio Nostalgia, Lisboa/Monsanto (lis) 8059 NSTALGIA  1760km
 91.1 1731  E  Radio Líder, Moaña/Monte Faro Domaio (GAL-PO) E304 Vocal ID  1378km **
 92.1 1732  E  RNE Radio Clásica, Moaña/Monte Faro Domayo (GAL-PO) E212  1378km **
 93.3 1733  E  Europa FM, Ourense/Seminario (GAL-OU) E2ED EUROPAFM  1348km
 93.4 1734  E  SER, La Coruña (GAL-C) E4E0  1264km
 93.7 1734 POR Rádio Renascença, Porto/Monte da Virgem (prt) 8221 __RR____  1496km
 93.9 1735 POR RDP Antena 2, Fundão/Serra da Gardunha (cab) 8202  1566km
 94.7 1736 POR RDP Antena 1, Guarda/P.Vento (gua) 8201  1516km **
 95.9 1736 POR Rádio Sines, Sines (set) 80BF _R-S__ES  1830km
 96.8 1738 POR Rádio Comercial, Grândola (set) 8203 __MR__AL  1802km
 87.6 1739 POR RDS, Seixal (set) 8042  ___RDS__  1769km
 87.7 1739 POR Rádio Onda Livre, Macedo de Cavaleiros (bgc) 84D3 ONDALIVR  1403km
 88.1 1740 POR Rádio Comercial, Monchique/Fóia (agv) Jingle ID  1890km
 88.5 1741 POR Rádio Clube de Arganil, Arganil (coi) 84E7  1571km
 89.7 1741 POR RAL-Rádio Antena Livre, Abrantes (san) 807F  1658km
 92.5 1743 POR RCB-Rádio Cova da Beira, Fundão/Serra da Gardunha (cab) 84AE  1566km
 93.4 1743 POR RDP Antena 2, Faro/São Miguel-Goldra (agv) 8202  1893km
 94.1 1744 POR Diana FM, Évora (evo) 808A DIANA_EV  1739km
 99.2 1744 POR RDP Antena 1, Grândola (set) 8201 ANTENA_1  1802km
 90.2 1746 POR Rádio Renascença, Guarda/P.Vento (gua) 8221 ___RR___  1516km
 90.6 1746 POR RDP Antena 2, Grândola (set) 8202 __TEAN__  1802km
 91.5 1747 POR RDP Antena 2, Monchique/Fóia (agv) As 90.2  1890km
 92.6 1748  E  RNE Radio Clásica, Pedrafita do Cebreiro/Alto Poio (GAL-LU) E212 RNE-CLAS  1285km **
 94.7 1750 POR Rádio Voz do Sorraia, Coruche (san) 80EA ____RA__  1716km
 96.4 1751 POR RDP Antena 1, Fundão/Serra da Gardunha (cab) 8201  1566km
 87.5 1752  E  Cadena Nostalgia, Dos Hermanas/Montequinto (AND-SE) FFFF Cadena Nostalgia in radiotext  1824km
 89.2 1754  E  Europa FM, Sevilla (AND-SE) E2ED EUROPAFM  1819km
 87.6 1757 POR Rádio Imagem, Fornos de Algodres (gua) 80C9 IMAGEM__  1512km
 91.6 1758 POR RDP Antena 2, Manteigas (gua) 8202  1535km **
 87.8 1802  E  Onda Valencina, Valencina del Concepción (AND-SE) E011 RV____FM 87.8__FM  1818km
 87.7 1803  E  Hit FM, Jerez de la Frontera/San Cristóbal (AND-CA) E200 HIT_FM__  1904km
 91.1 1804 MRC Médina FM, Tanger (ttn) 111B MEDINAFM  1991km
 92.0 1808 POR Rádio Beira Interior, Castelo Branco/Castelo (cab) 806B  1596km
 93.9 1810 POR Rádio Mirasado, Alcácer do Sal (set) 80CA  1777km
 94.3 1810  E  Radio Andalucía Información, Valencina del Concepción (AND-SE) E333  1819km
 94.8 1811  E  M80 Radio, Valencina del Concepción (AND-SE) E21E M80RADIO  1819km
 95.3 1811  E  Éxito Radio, La Algaba (AND-SE) 5320   1811km **
 96.7 1812 POR Rádio Tagide, Abrantes (san) 80DB R.TAGIDE  1658km **
 97.1 1813  E  Los 40 Principales, Valencina del Concepción (AND-SE) E035 CUARENTA  1819km
100.6 1814 POR Rádio Amália, Setúbal (set) 8407 _AMALIA_  1773km
100.7 1817  E  Los 40 Principales, Barbate (AND-CA) E072 CO______  1946km
101.6 1819 POR RDP Antena 3, Elvas/Vila Boim (ple) 8204  1690km
103.8 1820 POR RDP Antena 1, Elvas/Vila Boim (ple) Vocal ID  1690km
104.8 1823  E  Onda Cero, Badajoz (EXT-BA) E777 ONDACERO  1682km
106.1 1824 POR M80 Rádio, Faro/São Miguel-Goldra (agv) 8332  1893km
107.1 1824 POR M80 Rádio, Monchique/Fóia (agv) Pops, as 106.1  1890km
107.4 1825 POR TSF Rádio Notícias, Lousã/Trevim (coi) 8343  1588km
105.5 1827  E  Kiss FM, Burgos (CAL-BU) E2EC  1237km **
102.4 1831 POR RDP Antena 3, Serra do Mendro (bej) Rock song, as 105.0  1770km
105.0 1831 POR RDP Antena 3, Montargil (ple) 8203  1694km
 88.0 1833 POR Mega Hits, Sintra (lis) 8011 MEGAFM-S  1759km
 87.9 1835 POR RDP Antena 1, Lousã/Trevim (coi) 8201  1588km
 87.7 1838 POR RDP Antena 1, Serra do Mendro (bej) 8201  1770km

Unidentifieds:
 89.3 1656  ?  UNID, ? 8930.Light pops
 93.2 1809  E? UNID, ? FFFF
 87.6 1903  ?  UNID, ? E747. Last station to fade out

** Personal Skegness 'First'

A sustained top-of-the-band Es opening to Spain and Portugal today, with a touch of Morocco and Italy thrown in too!

I missed the Baltic Es this morning as I was starting to organise the radio gear for a DX trip.

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Skegness Log: 29-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 87.6 1030  E  RNE Radio 5, Marbella/Castillejos (AND-MA) E215 and toh ID  1884km
 87.9 1100  E  RNE Radio 5, Cambil/Sierra Almadén (AND-J) E215 Vocal ID. Presumed site  1740km
 87.7 1112  E  Hit FM, Jerez de la Frontera/San Cristóbal (AND-CA) E200  1904km
 89.4 1113  E  Los 40 Principales, San Fernando (AND-CA) E235 CUAR____  1905km
 87.6 1119 MRC Médi 1, Settat/Regraga (cho) 1281 MEDI_1__  2331km
 87.6 1136  E  COPE, Badajoz/Cansa Burros (EXT-BA) E2CA __COPE__ Badajoz in radiotext  1683km
 87.7 1136 POR RDP Antena 1, Serra do Mendro (bej) 8201  1770km
 89.1 1137  E  Cadena 100, Badajoz/Cansa Burros (EXT-BA) E2CE _CAD____  1683km
 89.6 1147 POR RFM, Faro/São Miguel-Goldra (agv) 8231 __RF____  1893km
 87.6 1156 POR RDS, Seixal (set) 8042 ____DS__. Unattended  1769km

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Skegness Log: 28-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 87.8 1147  I  Ritmo 80, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) 5A72 RITMO_80. Unattended  1796km
 87.7 1148  I  Radio Radicale, Monopoli/Contrada Impalata (ba) 5210 ___O____. Unattended  1865km
 87.7 1224  I  Radio Venere, Lecce or Specchia 5B4A R-VENERE. Specchia with this PI?. Unattended
 87.7 1319  E  Europa FM, Alcalá de Henares (MAD-M) E5ED __ROPA__. Unattended  1439km
 87.6 1331  E  COPE, Three sites E2CA __COPE__. Unattended. AFs: 88.6, 91.6, 101.1, 103.6 (Filler)
 87.7 1341 POR RDP Antena 1, Serra do Mendro (bej) 8201. Unattended  1770km
 87.8 1404  F  Radio Star, Orange/le Vieux Télégraphe (84) F440. Unattended  1064km
 87.7 1406  F  Rire Et Chansons, Nice or Cannes F226 _RIRE__
 87.7 1406  F  Le Mouv', Bordeaux/Bouliac (33) F208 LE_MOUV. Unattended  928km **
 87.7 1426  F  France Culture, La Mûre/Château Vieux (38) F202
               __UL__RE. Presumably La Mure with AFs of: 99.0,
               99.1, 87.7, 88.5, 89.2, 90.1, 102.5 (Filler),
               95.0, 96.7, 90.5, 92.7  1005km **
 87.6 1640 BUL BNR Radio Shumen, Shumen/RRTS Venets (shm) 8236 SHUMEN__  2220km

Band 2 Tropospheric:
107.1 0007  F  Rire et Chansons, Abbeville/Huchenneville (80) kool and The Gang, as web  359km
 95.4 0726  F  RTL, Fécamp/les Plantis (76) French pop song, as web  377km **
107.9 0812  G  Jack 2, Oxford/Boars Hill (EN-OXF) Two bars and noise free  193km **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Seems I missed a good Es opening today. :O( By coincidence I heard the Es just starting as I was about to switch off the radio and go into town. There was no way I could delay my visit so I had to miss the opening. I left RDS Spy running instead and auto-logged a few stations.

Not only was there sporadic E today but I also caught the tail end of the overnight tropo which fizzled out around 09:00 but not before leaving me with another new site in Fécamp.

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Skegness Log: 27-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 88.0 0651  F  Horizon, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles CV11 (62) YL natter, as web  344km
 88.2 0652  F  Radio Classique, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) OM on phone, as web  339km
 89.2 0654  F  RTL 2, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Pops, as web  339km
 92.0 0654  F  Virgin Radio, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Pops, as web  339km
 96.0 0656  F  RFM, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Pops, as 97.2  339km
 93.0 0701 HOL Radio 10 (AVR), Westdorpe/Verkavelingsweg (zee) Jingle ID after ads  323km
102.9 2315  F  Nostalgie, Hesdin/le Quesnoy-en-Artois (62) Jingle ID  334km
104.8 2321  F  Europe 1, Cambrai/Mont Blanc (59) Discussion, as web  384km **
 92.1 2322  F  RTL, Cambrai/Mont Blanc (59) Boz Scaggs song, as web  384km **
 92.8 2323  F  NRJ, Béthune/Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen (62) ID in ads  341km
 98.4 2330  F  RMC, Dunkerque/le Banc Vert (59) OM and YL, as web  275km
101.6 2336  F  RFM, Cambrai/Mont Blanc (59) Murray Head, as web  384km **
101.7 2337  F  Banquise FM, Isbergues/Molinghem (62) Hard club music, as web  318km
106.6 2339  F  Radio Campus Lille, Lille/Cité Scientifique (59) Rap song, as web  342km
106.7 2340  F  Fun Radio, Hesdin/le Quesnoy-en-Artois (62) Phone in, as web  334km
 88.3 2345 BEL Q-Music, Oostvleteren/Elzendamme (vlg-wvl) Q is good for you jingle  295km
 89.9 2350  F  RFM, Douai/LAM (59) Jingle ID and pops  363km **
 91.5 2359  F  Virgin Radio, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) Pops, as web  285km

Unidentified:
104.7 2318 BEL City Music, Unlisted site. Jingle ID and pops. Three bars **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Some good signals from nearby continentals. At last, Cambrai and Douai logged here for the first time. Could never understand why these two never made it before considering their location.

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Skegness Log: 26-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
107.5 0757 BEL VBRO, Poperinge (vlg-wvl) Dutch music  304km
107.6 0759 BEL Contact Dance, Assenede/Stroomstraat (vlg-ovl) Club music, Vocal ID drop in, ads  316km **
106.9 0804  F  Skyrock, Béthune/Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen (62) F214 SKYROCK_. Three bars  341km
105.0 0819 HOL Origineel FM, Goes/Alticom Toren (zee) U2 song, as web  303km
105.3 0820 HOL Radio 1, Hulsberg/Emmaberg (lim) OM Phone in  455km
 98.4 0824 HOL 538, Goes/Alticom Toren (zee) YL with ID. 50 watts! Nearly noise free  303km **
 93.3 0842 HOL Ujala Radio, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Indian music  321km
 93.6 0843 HOL Wild FM, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Rap song, as web  321km
 93.8 0844 HOL Slam!FM, Megen/Alticom Toren (nbr) Pops, as web  387km
 95.7 0848 HOL Fresh FM, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Had to beam NE to null strong Egem. 321km **
 95.9 0850 HOL Fresh FM, Alphen aan den Rijn/Alticom Toren (zho) As 95.7  313km
 96.1 0852 HOL FunX, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Rap song, as web  321km
 96.6 0919 HOL RADIONL, Leeuwarden/Ceresweg (fri) Local vocal ID  369km **
 98.7 0925 HOL Freez FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) 8353 Jingle ID  408km
100.5 0928 HOL Q-music, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) Presumed site. Belmont nulled  318km **
101.8 0932 HOL Waterstad FM, Leeuwarden/Ceresweg (fri) Michael Jackson song, as web  369km **
102.1 0936 HOL 538, Hilversum/Media Park-Alticom (nho) As others  342km
103.5 0939 HOL Radio Veronica, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) Police, as 103.0  334km
 90.1 1011 HOL Slam!FM, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) OM talking about Knightrider, as web  318km
104.0 1200 HOL Radio 10 (AVR), Haarlem/Alticom Toren (nho) Ads, ID on hour. Only on H beam!  305km **
107.6 1855 BEL Hit FM, Koksijde (vlg-wvl) 6334  276km
 88.9 1907 BEL Club FM, Diksmuide (vlg-wvl) Pop song, as web  294km **
 99.7 1913  F  Radio Métropolys, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) Jingle ID between pops  299km **
102.3 1927  F  NRJ, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) F220  299km

** Personal Skegness 'First'


Recordings:
99.7 Radio Metropolys, St Omer 1913 26-08-13
https://app.box.com/s/2jt4t7uixxjj0llv6ecm

96.6 Radio NL, Leeuwarden 0919 26-08-13
https://app.box.com/s/ax8oywia13mc47yct8n2

98.4 Radio 538, Goes (50 watts) 0824 26-08-13
https://app.box.com/s/8vj2b7riuan5t61blhat

107.6 Contact Dance, Assenede 0759 26-08-13
https://app.box.com/s/x6ppt07w17h0f8pnukpm


It's called "tempting fate". I shout "NOISE" and it disappears. But of course it returned an hour or two later and killed the tropo, yet it's as if the XDR has lost sensitivity.

As per OFCOM's readings, the noise begins around 50 MHz, peaks very strongly between 74 and 75 MHz then gradually reduces in strength and finally disappeares just below 300 MHz. But that was the original noise. I have more now.

It's possible that the noise could be radiating from the old lady's house two doors away as I was able to check with our immediate neighbours this morning who hadn't changed a thing, i.e. they had been running their BT PLT, computer and plasma TV before and after the noise came on. I need to do some snooping with a portable.


Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Skegness Log: 23-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter:
105.5 1401  D  WDR Eins Live, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw)  591km
105.6 1402  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp)  657km
106.7 1403  D  WDR Eins Live, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw)  505km
105.7 1404  D  Antenne Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds)  543km
107.0 1405  D  WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw)  592km
107.9 1407  D  WDR Eins Live, Münster/Baumberg (nrw)  494km
 88.0 1409  D  WDR 5, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw)  538km
 90.6 1410  D  WDR 5, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw)  591km
 91.1 1410  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds)  543km
 92.0 1411  D  WDR 5, Münster/Baumberg (nrw)  494km
 92.1 1411  D  NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds)  707km
 92.4 1411  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp)  560km
 93.2 1412  D  WDR 2, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw)  591km
 93.5 1413  D  WDR 2, Nordhelle (nrw)  554km
 94.6 1415  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san)  713km
 95.9 1417  D  WDR 3, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw)  484km
 96.5 1418  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw)  505km
 97.0 1418  D  WDR 3, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw)  591km
 97.3 1419  D  WDR 3, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw)  421km
 97.4 1419  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp)  560km
 98.1 1421  D  WDR 3, Nordhelle (nrw)  554km
 98.7 1422  D  AFN Wiesbaden-The Eagle, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes)  648km
 99.0 1423  D  hr1, Hoher Meißner (hes)  684km
 99.2 1423  D  WDR 2, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw)  505km
 99.6 1424  D  hr-info, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes)  612km
 99.8 1424  D  NDR 2, Steinkimmen (nds)  543km
100.0 1424  D  WDR 4, Münster/Baumberg (nrw)  494km
100.8 1426  D  WDR 2, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw)  484km
101.0 1426  D  WDR 2, Bärbelkreuz (Eifel) (nrw)  520km
101.3 1426  D  WDR 4, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw)  505km
102.3 1428  D  Radio ffn, Steinkimmen (nds)  543km
102.5 1428  D  hr4, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes)  648km
102.8 1428  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Wesel-Büderich (nrw)  456km
103.3 1431  D  Funkhaus Europa, Langenberg/Hordtberg (nrw)  505km
103.8 1431  D  WDR 4, Nordhelle (nrw)  554km
104.7 1432  D  WDR Eins Live, Nordhelle (nrw)  554km

The noise dropped a notch or two yesterday afternoon and I could hear some weak Germany scatter again when beaming to the east/south-east, but it didn't last. White noise appeared suddenly and squashed the German scatter, arriving in two stages. One bar of noise to begin with, then the noise becoming stronger after two seconds. Maybe it's a computer firing up and bringing in different bits of circuitry in stages.

Yesterday, I discovered I have at least TWO new noise sources. One to the north (a white noise/mush type) and a regular clicking noise (audible over fully quieting stations) to the south-east to compliment my other south-easterly white noise/mush type. Oh, I mustn't forget the various growls, drifting carriers and whistling noises which appear at various points across the band.

Even our neighbours shouted us this morning to report a loss of digital television signals due to interference. They have my Televes DAT45 on their rooftop, pointing straight at Belmont, which is line of sight and visible. Time to bring in OFCOM again. They have already visited me FOUR times this year. Perhaps we can now get something done. The problem is, all these noises are intermittent, so I won't hold my breath.

I started listening at around 09:00 this morning and German stations were coming in well again thanks to a reduction in noise. I was tuned to a near noise free SWR3 from Linz on 94.8 for five minutes when a sudden howling/whistling noise appeared, taking it out completely, along with any other German scatter.
So I am now having interference interfering with the existing interference. Beat that!

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

What ... more noise?

(Is this getting boring yet?)

How much interference can the average DXer handle?

There was some minor tropo to Belgium around 10:00 today and German troposcatter seemed pretty good too, but I hadn't got time to listen then. At around 14:00 I seized a window of opportunity to tune across the band as the German scatter was still pretty good. Or was it possible because my noise levels had subsided a little?

After a few minutes listening I heard a clicking sound. A kind of clicking white noise with regular clicks less than a second apart. "New noise" I thought, "This should go nicely with the other new noise I discovered yesterday morning - some 'mush' I now have when beaming to the north.

The clicking was weak, fortunately, yet still irritating and could be heard with good clarity, over the top of one bar, noise free signals. I persevered and conducted a scan of the German stations while they were still audible, but the scatter had already started to decrease in strength. Luckily, I managed a decent scan of the entire band, logging the known signals before an even stronger 'mush' decided to appear. It arrived in two stages roughly two seconds apart, beginning with a very obvious white noise effect, but then increasing in strength a couple of seconds later, obliterating not only the German scatter, but also the clicking noise. Nice! So I now have interference which interferes with my interference!

Good DX all!

John

Skegness Log: 21-08-13 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 87.7 1129 AZR RDP Antena 3 Açores, Pico da Barrosa (RDP) (smg) Portuguese pop song, as RDP3 web. V weak  2616km

Amazing, almost out of season Es! When will it end?

Possible Canaries reception again on 88.0 with a suspected Radio Sintonia, though I couldn't find a working web stream.

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

The 2013 Es Season in Skegness

It's all quiet on the eastern front! The Es have probably finished for the season, apart from the occasional stray opening here and there perhaps. Now we await the tropo season.

So, after my mid-term analysis, it's time to evaluate the overall Es season here on the east coast.

April
An excellent start at the end of the month - easily as good as your typical mid-season Es!

May
Amazing at the beginning! Day after day of good Es, some very strong, lasting several hours. It wouldn't be difficult to argue that this end-of-April/beginning-of-May period was the peak of the season! Conditions seemed to taper off a little by the end of the month, though there were still some good openings.

June
Another excellent month, but still continuing the gradual tapering, but you wouldn't turn your nose up at the conditions, which were still better than most Es seasons but, despite some good days of Es, you couldn't help notice the number of days when the Es were absent, probably because I have been spoilt by the conditions in previous weeks. The Es still continued in other parts of Europe, so just the luck of the draw playing its part.

July
As June really. Very good days and lots of them, but still with a gradual weakening trend.

August
What's happening? This is like April and May again! Conditions shot up, producing some of the strongest and most sustained Es of the season! But at the time of writing, the 20th August, there have been several E-less days, so I am guessing the season is finally fizzling out, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more good openings over the next couple of weeks.

Double Hop
Er, I don't think I had any. Unless you count Libya, the Canaries and the Azores as double hop. Some of these are often thought to be traditional single-hop Es with a tropo extension at the end of them though. Conditions are the time of these had high pressure in exactly the right place, so this theory holds up well, in which case I didn't have any double hop :O( Oh, and I had a presumed Turkish station right next to the Greek border, but that was probably just within the realms of single hop.

What I can report though is my best Es season ever, with 3783 individual Es loggings! Click to see  Still there is nothing concrete on my target country of Turkey, but I added the Aaland Islands, Monaco and Malta to my personal all-time log.