The Quadrantids Meteor Shower - Video Highlights

This year's Quadrantids produced a spectacular display of signals across the FM band. The peak for me came during the middle of the afternoon on January 3rd. I had to miss most of this due to meeting friends in town (yes, I have some!), but I left the computer recording video and audio.

January 2nd was a failure as I forgot to activate the audio on my overnight recording. There wasn't any RDS showing in the video, so I probably didn't miss much.

During the peak, there were bursts lasting more than a minute. It was like sporadic E at times, in fact I thought there was an Es opening at one point.

As is typically with meteor scatter, most of the signals remain below RDS threshold, but I still managed to produce my largest meteor scatter log for 15 years - since the Leonid storm of November 1998 in fact. For me, this year's Quadrantids were just about as good as that Leonids peak.

Skegness Log: 04-01-14 (FM - More Quadrantids!)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter
 88.0 0052  D  SR 1 Europawelle, Göttelborner Höhe (saa) D3B1  629km **
 89.5 0059  I  RAI Radio1, Bologna/Colle Barbiano (RAI) (bo) Tentative site. 5201  1256km **
 91.7 0100  I  RAI Radio2, Bologna/Colle Barbiano (RAI) (bo) Tentative site. Italian pops, as web  1256km **
 91.7 0327 POL PR 3, Czestochowa/Wreczyca (SL) 3233  1291km **

Band 2 Aircraft Scatter
100.0 1340  D  WDR 4, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Fair peaks. German song, as web  494km
100.4 1340  D  WDR 2, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) Fair peaks, OM as web  538km
102.5 1341  D  hr4, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes) OM interview, as web. Fair peaks  648km
 99.6 1342  D  hr-info, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) OM, as web  612km
102.9 1342  D  RPR 1, Bad Marienberg (rlp) Pops, as web  592km
104.3 1343  D  hr4, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) Gentle piano pop, as web  612km
105.6 1344  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) German pop  657km
 88.9 1346 LUX RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) Noise free peaks!   574km
 94.6 1348  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) Comical German song, as web  713km
 89.5 1359 HOL 100% NL, Utrecht or Alkmaar Pops, ad break, as web. Sudden peak on horizontal 9.2!
 91.0 1401  D  hr1, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) OM news  612km
 95.8 1412  D  NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Aurich (nds) Noise free at around 17dB. No noise today! :O)  479km
 98.0 1415 HOL Radio Decibel, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Bang Bang Bang. As 97.6  321km
 97.0 1416 HOL Station NCR, Achterhoek area Dutch music, as web **
100.2 1423 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Lochem/Streek Beton (gel) Brief fade-in. OM, as web  426km
103.5 1425 HOL Radio Gelderland, Ugchelen/Alticom Toren (gel) OM phone in, as web  392km
103.6 1426 HOL Radio 10, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Glen Frey song, as 87.7  103.8  321km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

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

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Skegness Log: 03-01-14 (FM - Quadrantids Meteor Shower)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter
 93.9 0624 HNG MR 2 Petöfi Radio, Kabhegy (Ves) Vocal ID heard  1405km
 87.7 1451 POL PR 1, Konin/Zólwieniec (WP) 3211  1211km
 87.7 1635  E  RAC 1, Barcelona/Collserola (CAT-B) E251  1311km
 87.7 1743 SVK Fun Rádio, Kosice/Dubník (KE) 5340 __NRAD__  1545km
 88.3 1839 POL PR 1, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) Presume Opole. 3211  1229km
 95.3 1842 POL RMF FM, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) Bruno Mars track, as web  1229km
 95.3 1858  I  RAI Radio2, Tempio Pausania/Monte Limbara (RAI) (ot) Distinctive pop music, as web  1521km **
 95.3 1900  F  France Inter, Troyes/les Riceys (10) OM and crowd, as 103.7  643km
 95.3 1900  E  Los 40 Principales, Zaragoza/Juslibol (ARA-Z) E274  1276km
 87.6 1904  F  France Culture, Angoulême/le Four Lachaux (16) OM, as 87.7  832km **
 87.7 1904  F  France Culture, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) OM, as 98.0  709km
 87.6 1917  D  NDR 2, Hamburg-Moorfleet (ham) Promo jingle including One Direction song  650km **
 87.6 2006 CZE Radio Impuls, Brno/Kojál (JM) 2203  1219km
 94.4 2031  F  France Inter, Gex/Montrond (01) Several bursts, YL and music as 103.7  858km **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Well this is a turn up! Probably my biggest meteor log in 15 years.

This shower was supposed to peak during the early morning of January 3rd but, as I type, I am hearing longer bursts and more frequently than this time 24 hours ago! Some of today's meteor scatter actually sounded like E skip!

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

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

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Skegness Log: 02-01-14 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter
102.3 1322  F  NRJ Nord Littoral, Saint-Omer/Wisques (62) Ad break and jingle ID, as web. Not as other NRJs  299km
100.7 1507 HOL Q-music, IJsselstein/Gerbrandytoren-Alticom (utr) 83C8 Q-MUSIC_  344km
 91.4 1516  F  Contact, Lille/Mons-en-Baroeul 2 (59) OM ID after bangin toon  338km
 91.1 1518 HOL Slam!FM, Hilversum/Media Park-Alticom (nho) Techno, as web  342km
 93.6 1522 BEL Club FM, Koolskamp/Watertoren (vlg-wvl) Coldplay song, OM ID  309km
 94.2 1532 BEL VRT Radio 1, Schoten (vlg-ant) Dutch song, as web  354km
104.7 1535  F  France Inter, Calais/Mont d'Hubert (62) Classical, as 103.7  266km
 87.6 1538  F  RTL, Béthune-Lens/Bouvigny-Boyeffles (62) OM and YL, as web  343km
 92.2 1539 HOL Omrop Fryslân Radio, Jirnsum/Rijksweg (fri) Slow pop, as web  365km
 93.9 1540 HOL Radio Noord-Holland, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) Phone conversation  318km
 89.6 2258  F  RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Saint-Omer/Racquinghem (62) Brass ensemble, as web  306km
 92.0 2300  F  Radio 6, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont d'Herquelingue (62) Cross-fading with Lille  288km
 92.0 2301  F  Virgin Radio, Lille/Fort de Mons-en-Baroeul (59) Cross-fading with Boulogne  339km
 92.1 2303  G  Desire, Essex pirate 2 Step style, as web stream
 93.0 2359 HOL Radio 10, Westdorpe/Verkavelingsweg (zee) Peter Gabriel track, as 87.7  323km

Poor continental conditions recently, then an improvement this afternoon, followed by one or two sustained signals late evening.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

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

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Skegness Log: 27-12-13 (OIRT & FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter
 87.6 0245  S  SR P1, Visby, Hudiksvall or Storumen E201
 87.6 0326 NOR NRK P1, Nordhue (he) F201 _NR_____. AFs: 87.6  88.9  1094km

OIRT Sporadic E:
 71.54 1625 BLR BR Radio Hrodna, Geranyony/RTPS (HR) ID and pops  1659km **
 71.33 1626 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Minsk/RTPS Kalodziscy (MI) Pops, as web  1806km **
 71.45 1626 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Babrujsk/RTPS Yasny Les (MA) Pops, as web  1922km **
 71.18 1627 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Mahilyow/RTPS Polykovici (MA) ID between pops  1969km **
 70.91 1628 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Brest/Rakitnica (BR) Pops, as web  1593km
 70.43 1629 BLR BR Kanal Kultura, Minsk/RTPS Kalodziscy (MI) Piano coincerto  1806km
 70.10 1630 BLR BR Radio Mahilyow, Mahilyow/RTPS Polykovici (MA) Pops  1969km **
 71.96 1630 BLR BR Kanal Kultura, Mahilyow/RTPS Polykovici (MA) Piano concerto  1969km **
 72.11 1631 BLR BR Radius FM, Minsk/RTPS Kalodziscy (MI) News, over music, as web  1806km **
 72.32 1632 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Geranyony/RTPS (HR) OM and pops, as 72.74  1659km **
 72.74 1632 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Mahilyow/RTPS Polykovici (MA) Pops, as 72.32  1969km **
 72.89 1633 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Minsk/RTPS Kalodziscy (MI) Rock music  1806km **
 73.01 1634 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Babrujsk/RTPS Yasny Les (MA) Rock track, as 72.89  1922km **
 66.02 1635 BLR BR Radio Mahilyow, Babrujsk/RTPS Yasny Les (MA) Disco song, as web  1922km
 66.20 1635 BLR BR Kanal Kultura, Hrodna/RTPS Vul. Gorkogo (HR) Classical, as web  1551km **
 66.56 1636 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Slonim/RTPS Novaja Straga (HR) OM and pops, as web  1671km
 66.98 1637 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Hrodna/RTPS Vul. Gorkogo (HR) Ads, as web  1551km
 67.22 1640 RUS Radio Mayak, Moskva/Ostankino (MV) OMs talk, just audible and as web  2397km **
 67.76 1641 BLR BR Radio Hrodna, Hrodna/RTPS Vul. Gorkogo (HR) ID after ads  1551km
 68.39 1642 BLR BR Kanal Kultura, Geranyony/RTPS (HR) Classical, as web  1659km
 68.57 1643 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Salihorsk/RTPS Dubei (MI) Pops and OM, as 72.89  1807km **
 68.72 1643 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Svislach=Svislac (HR) Pops, as others  1581km
 68.90 1644 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Hrodna/RTPS Vul. Gorkogo (HR) Pops, as others  1551km
 68.96 1644 BLR BR Kanal Kultura, Babrujsk/RTPS Yasny Les (MA) Dramatic classical, as web  1922km
 69.26 1645 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Geranyony/RTPS (HR) Pops, as others  1659km **
 69.44 1646 BLR BR Radio Brest, Slonim/RTPS Novaja Straga (HR) Presume with ops  1671km
 70.28 1649 BLR BR Radyjo Stalitsa, Smyatanichy/RTPS (GO) Pops, as others  1891km
 70.79 1649 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Berazino/RTPS (MI) OM, as web  1883km **
 67.22 1652 BLR BR Pershy Kanal, Smyatanichy/RTPS (GO) Pops, as others  1891km
 67.40 1653  ?  UNID, ? OM talk, later instrumental music. Very poor
 70.31 1655 BLR BR Kanal Kultura, Myadzel/RTPS Telyaki (MI) Weird classical, as others  1731km
 68.45 1705 BLR BR Gomel FM, Zhlobin/Vul. K.Marksa 1A (GO) Presumed with pops  1974km **

** Personal Skegness First

A nice midwinter Es opening in the OIRT band. I did not notice any band 2 Es around this time.

This is my first experience of OIRT DXing on the modified Sony XDR-F1HD. It was just like listening on band 2.

It seems meteor scatter is also doing the business since I did the i2c modification, but I think this is more likely to be down to the conditions, but there has been a huge drop in my general noise levels at times over the last couple of days which I suspect has also helped. I used to need a minimum of 35dBf before I saw any RDS, but now it seems to be as little as 25dBf. Background noise levels are as low as 4dBf in places, though a large part of today saw a return of the dreaded noise. I wonder if I'll ever get to the bottom of this. It's amazing what can be heard clearly when the noise is not present. Radio Salu on 101.7, noise free, for instance when it peaks up and conditions are hardly inspiring at the moment.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

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

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Skegness Log: 26-12-13 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter
 87.7 1407  E  RAC 1, Barcelona/Collserola (CAT-B) E251 __AC1___  1311km

Band 2 Scatter:
102.8 0528  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Wesel-Büderich (nrw) Opera, as web  456km
103.4 0533 BEL Joe FM, Genk or Antwerpen YL news, as web. On H **
100.3 0534 HOL L1 Radio, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) Dutch pop, as web  443km
105.6 0536  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) Christmas song, as web  657km
107.1 0537  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) Winter Wonderland song, as 105.6  593km
 93.5 0539  D  WDR 2, Nordhelle (nrw) Police record, as web  554km
 96.6 0540 BEL RTBF Pure FM, Anderlues/Mont-Sainte-Geneviève (wal-hnt) YL ID  409km
 90.0 0545  D  SWR3, Haardtkopf (rlp) Rock track, as web  593km
 91.1 0546  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) Cyndi Lauper, as web  550km
 92.4 0547  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) Cyndi Lauper, as 91.1  560km
 93.9 0548  D  WDR 4, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Light pops, as 101.3  484km
 90.7 0552  D  WDR 4, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) Pops, as web  538km
 94.4 0557  F  France Inter, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) French YL, a 103.7, briefly. Presume tropo  446km
 95.5 0558  D  SR 3 Saarlandwelle, Göttelborner Höhe (saa) Back to back pops, as web  629km
 89.6 0608  F  France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 98.0  474km
 92.9 0609  F  France Musique, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 88.7  474km
 98.4 0613 HOL Radio 1, Markelo/Alticom Toren (ove) OM, as web  425km
 93.3 0614 LUX RTL Radio, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) Sax solo in song, as web  574km
107.7 0615 LUX Den Neie Radio (DNR), Blaschette/Kandel (gld) Just overriding a nulled Kiss, as web  557km
 90.8 0623 BEL RTBF Classic 21, Profondeville-Rivière/Sart à Soile (wal-nam) Bad Company track, as web  441km
 90.6 0624  D  SWR3, Saarburg/Geisberg (rlp) Katy Perry, as web  586km
101.7 1322  D  Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) Rock track, as web  628km

** Personal Skegness First

All listening done with the 9.2 horizontal. Poor conditions but again with a quiet band at this time of the morning. It's the first time I have heard RTL on 93.3 via scatter.

It was interesting to see the livemeteor scatter reception of RAC1 while I was in town - I have a new Note 3 tablet and I have set up virtual private networking so I can operate the home computer while I am out and about.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

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

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Possibly The Best Christmas Present Ever! ( ... from a radio perspective)

Had I thought it would be possible to ask for "nothing" from Santa this Christmas, I would have done! "Nothing" refers to my noise levels. I'll have no noise please!

During the early part of this afternoon, I noticed my noise levels across band 2 had suddenly dropped. Since installing the Konrad i2c modification to my Sony XDR-F1HD radio, I could see just how much noise I was getting. This registered at 16 to 20 dB at the top of the band and between 18 and 22 dB at the bottom. Even these figures would have been a big improvement on the state of play a few months ago as I know my noise levels had reduced the day after I received my HS Publications noise cancelling device. Today, my noise levels register 7 to 8dB across the whole band. Why? I wonder what has happened.

Almost immediately after I noticed today's marked reduction in noise, I received almost a PI and PS from RAC1 in Barcelona on 87.7, thanks to meteor scatter.

The really interesting thing I noticed with this quiet band was that it only took 25 dB of signal to get that RDS. I needed at least 35 dB for the RDS to push through before the noise dropped down. So I guess I know why meteor scatter has never been much good here. Having a good amount gain is useful, but it comes second to having a good signal-to-noise ratio.

While typing this entry, I see that the noise levels have increased again slightly. My assumption is that something in the neighbouring property has been switched off and moved to a different location. I have about 12 to 14 dB of noise now at the bottom of the band. It's still 7 or 8 dB of noise up at the top, so there is still a good level of improvement, possibly confirmed by the fact that I am now seeing more meteor scatter results.

Doubtless it will all change again at some point, but it's a joy to have no noise and be able to hear really weak signals which are usually buried out of sight.

Here's wishing us all a Noiseless New Year!

Skegness Log: 25-12-13 (FM)

Band 2 Scatter:
 96.1 0723 BEL RTBF La Première, Wavre (wal-bra) French OM alternating with BBC Solent  397km
 99.1 0725 BEL RTBF Classic 21, Anderlues/Mont-Sainte-Geneviève (wal-hnt) Gerry Rafferty. Noise free peak. 33dB  409km
103.0 0742  D  BFBS Radio, Bielefeld/Hünenburg (nrw) OM Christmas sermon, as web  565km
100.4 0743  D  WDR 2, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) Enya track, as web. Briefly noise free  538km
 98.1 0750  D  WDR 3, Nordhelle (nrw) Stable peak. Almost noise free  554km
100.0 0751  D  WDR 4, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Vocal ID, Rod Stewart Christmas song  494km
103.8 0751  D  WDR 4, Nordhelle (nrw) Stable peak. Almost noise free. As Langenberg 101.3  554km
101.7 0752  D  WDR 4, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Nice peak. Stable-ish, as 100.0. 30dB  421km
101.0 0754  D  WDR 2, Bärbelkreuz (Eifel) (nrw) Christmas song, as web. 28dB  520km
 87.7 0815 HOL Radio 10, Lelystad/Alticom Toren (fle) Still getting through on the horizontal this morning  351km
 87.9 0816 HOL Omroep Zeeland, Goes/Alticom Toren (zee) Still getting through on the horizontal this morning  303km
 97.8 0817 HOL Radio 2, Westdorpe/Verkavelingsweg (zee) Still getting through on the horizontal this morning  323km
 98.7 0821  D  AFN Wiesbaden-The Eagle, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes) Down in the noise  648km
 98.8 0830  F  France Culture, Reims/TDF Hautvillers (51) Suddenly up to 30dB then squashed by Wrotham  516km
 91.8 1616  F  France Musique, Bourges/Neuvy (18) Classical music, as 88.7  672km

Some early morning scatter.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

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

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Merry Christmas!

Yes, it's that time of year again (groan) and it won't be over quickly enough for me.

I think we all know that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost under the weight of evil commercialism. In fact I am sure the name Jesus used to take centre stage not so many years ago. But hopefully it's a time of year for us to spend with our families, our friends, those who are important to us, etc., or just to relax a little.

Whatever you are doing, here's wishing you all a very happy, peaceful and pleasant time over the festive season.

Have a great Christmas!

John

Skegness Log: 21-12-13 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 87.7 0020  E  RAC 1, Barcelona/Collserola (CAT-B) E251 _R______  1311km
 94.6 1121  D  MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) YL talk, briefly while listening to
               scatter and comparing with web stream  713km **
 99.0 1127  F  France Culture, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) Nice sustained burst. 40dB.
               OM, as Lille 98.0  1149km
103.6 1136  F  France Bleu Provence, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) YL talk, as web
               stream  1149km **
 94.2 1142  I  RAI Radio1, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) YL heard, as web stream
               while looking for Marseille  1136km **
 94.2 1210  F  France Musique, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) Piano concerto, as 88.7  1149km **

** Personal Skegness 'First' via this mode

Apart from 87.7 RAC 1, all other MS loggings were made listening live.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Kenwood KT6040, Conrad RDS Manager & RDS Spy.

Aerial:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL & Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator