Nothing is ever straight-forward when it comes to antennas. While the theoretical aspects hold up well, the practice often seems to suggest the contrary.
In my own example, how can it be that a simple three element band 2 beam, just one metre above the ground, out-performs a professionally crafted and carefully optimised 9 element beam on a rooftop mast? Well, it can't. But the location is probably more important than many of us realise.
This unexpected discovery only came to me when I erected a Triax FM3 on the garden for the purpose of having a 'quiet' antenna for meteor scatter DXing. The facts which follow do not suggest that a Triax FM3 can outperform a Körner 9.2.
When I bought the fabulous Körner 9.2 antenna I was very impressed with its performance across band 2. Not only was the gain noticeably superior to that of my Triax FM5, it also exhibited far better directivity than I had expected. I used my garden as a test site before getting it on the rooftop mast. I was hearing fully quieting signals from troposcatter signals in excess of 700 km. They were actually noise free at times too. The 9.2 was only on a makeshift mast at only two to three metres above the ground. This was surely going to provide a huge improvement to my band 2 DXing, and indeed it did!
The problems I faced related to locally generated electrical noise. I won't go into that again as I have probably thrashed that topic too much as it is, but once the 9.2 went on the roof, I was aware that it received considerably more noise than it did when it was under analysis on the garden. Regular viewers will be aware that I am not allowed to have an antenna on a mast on the garden due to overzealous housing regulations. All antennas have to be professionally erected on the property.
To cut a long story short, I erected a Triax FM3 on a small tripod base in the middle of the garden. It was only one metre above the ground. I checked the reception and immediately noticed a super-quiet FM band. I say "super-quiet" because the noise levels registered 4dB across the band. This is as low as the XDR-GTK software goes. This is not high-grade laboratory standard test equipment so these readings might be best considered to be approximate, though it gives me a very good reference - something I did not have on the Sony XDR-F1HD which the software controls. Knowing how this software behaves, I would expect a reading down to 1dB were it able to go that low. I have no idea why it stops at 4dB.
While I was conducting this initial reception test, I noticed that many continental transmitters were coming though, fading in to noise free levels and then dropping out again. Typical scatter conditions, but wait a minute ... this seems to be picking up more continental signals that the rooftop 9.2. How can it be from this most basic of antenna setups? It must be because the noise levels are much quieter. RDS is now forming with signals as low as 20dB! I can hear meteor bursts coming in to 26dB already! This bodes well. But can this really be dragging in more DX than the 9.2? It certainly seems to be. Time to make a comparison.
Switching between the 9.2 and the FM3 provided me with some BIG surprises which I never expected. Both antennas received roughly the same amount of signal, though continent signals were in greater abundance on the FM3, quite clearly due to the FM3 receiving less noise, but it was apparent that the FM3 was picking up the same amount of signal level as the 9.2. Again, how could this be?
I then spent the next half an hour or so moving the FM3 around the garden. There was a very well-defined 'sweet spot' close to the middle of the garden. Moving the FM3 two metres further away from the property quietened the noise levels down even more, but also reduced the signals. Even with the FM3 one metre away from its original position saw a reduction in general pick-up. I had found this sweet spot by accident. It occurred to me that the rooftop 9.2 was in a dead zone. It's the same as receiving weak signals in a moving car. You will find you can get better reception by driving the car a metre or so forwards or backwards, etc.
So I find myself in the less than fortunate position of having the 9.2 antenna in a poor location. No wonder it performed so much better on the garden - it was very close to that sweet spot when I first tried it. I am now considering moving the 9.2 elsewhere on the property. I'll have to think about this carefully and conduct more tests. Bearing the housing situation and our neighbours in mind, this could be problematical.
John
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
No Noise Is Good Noise - Conclusion
I have been able to observe my noise levels in glorious detail since performing the Konrad i2c modification on my XDR-F1HD. It is becoming very clear why I have had so much difficulty with propagation modes such as meteor scatter and very weak scatter.
Although my location is coastal and I can receive many continental signals virtually all the time, there are periods when nothing seems to get through. It's as if my antenna has been unplugged. Without a signal meter, it has been impossible to know that I had any noise at all since 25dB of noise sounds almost identical to 5 dB of noise, thanks to the white noise heard with FM modulation.
Over the last few weeks I have been able to make three clear observations.
1. Noise levels are constantly variable and timings are random.
2. Noise varies between 14dB - 30dB (No amplification. 4dB = antenna unplugged)
3. There is more than one noise source.
Now I see the picture more clearly I realise that the amounts of noise vary from day to day and it doesn't just depend on the the time of day, thus I can probably rule out thermostatically controlled devices. The intensity of the noise also varies, as does the overall 'sound' of the noise, which can be a smooth 'white noise' or a slightly rough growl. The noise fades in and out too, sometimes slowly over several minutes and sometimes more abruptly in a matter of seconds. It never seems to be instant, as if indicating that somebody has switched on some apparatus, as I had expected it to be.
23dB is more than the amount necessary to get a fully quieting mono signal. Typically I find that a 15 to 18 dB signal can be noise free, unless the noise is present, then a 30dB signal can be noisy. The noise tends to disappear overnight now, returning anytime between 0700 and 0930, according to recent observations. It can be gone at 10:00 or, as is usual, continue throughout the day.
Since the noise levels have become more intermittent here recently, I have been able to hear very weak scatter again. I have also experienced a big improvement in meteor scatter DX.
Sometimes the noise is just as strong in the vertical plane as it is in the horizontal. Sometimes vertical is much quieter. The noise can be stronger at the top of band 2 now, whereas it was always worse at the bottom until recently. Moreover, the direction of the noise now varies between north-east and south-east, though typically it comes from the east. This confirms that there is definitely more than one noise source.
It has always been assumed that the neighbouring property was the source of the noise: 1. Because the directions is correct and 2. because our neighbours use PLT devices and a lot of additional gadgetry due to having a handicapped son, lighting effects, video players, mechanical hoists, etc., much of which is left on constantly. However, our neighbours very recently had to go away for two days. While this doesn't prove or disprove anything, the noise continued in its random fashion throughout the duration of them being away.
Noise is the scourge of modern DXing and there's very little we can do about it, unless we have good neighbours and have the courage to approach them with the purpose of checking their equipment and finding solutions. Having consulted OFCOM recently I was shocked to learn that even relatively simple things like fish tank heaters have been known to propagate high levels of noise high into VHF at a distance of 5 miles!
There was also their story of the radio ham who moved to a remote location, several miles from anybody so he could escape noise. He suddenly discovered one day that he had devastating noise levels and traced them to electricity pylons several miles away.
If you have a clean, quiet band, enjoy it while you can. It may not last.
Although my location is coastal and I can receive many continental signals virtually all the time, there are periods when nothing seems to get through. It's as if my antenna has been unplugged. Without a signal meter, it has been impossible to know that I had any noise at all since 25dB of noise sounds almost identical to 5 dB of noise, thanks to the white noise heard with FM modulation.
Over the last few weeks I have been able to make three clear observations.
1. Noise levels are constantly variable and timings are random.
2. Noise varies between 14dB - 30dB (No amplification. 4dB = antenna unplugged)
3. There is more than one noise source.
Now I see the picture more clearly I realise that the amounts of noise vary from day to day and it doesn't just depend on the the time of day, thus I can probably rule out thermostatically controlled devices. The intensity of the noise also varies, as does the overall 'sound' of the noise, which can be a smooth 'white noise' or a slightly rough growl. The noise fades in and out too, sometimes slowly over several minutes and sometimes more abruptly in a matter of seconds. It never seems to be instant, as if indicating that somebody has switched on some apparatus, as I had expected it to be.
23dB is more than the amount necessary to get a fully quieting mono signal. Typically I find that a 15 to 18 dB signal can be noise free, unless the noise is present, then a 30dB signal can be noisy. The noise tends to disappear overnight now, returning anytime between 0700 and 0930, according to recent observations. It can be gone at 10:00 or, as is usual, continue throughout the day.
Since the noise levels have become more intermittent here recently, I have been able to hear very weak scatter again. I have also experienced a big improvement in meteor scatter DX.
Sometimes the noise is just as strong in the vertical plane as it is in the horizontal. Sometimes vertical is much quieter. The noise can be stronger at the top of band 2 now, whereas it was always worse at the bottom until recently. Moreover, the direction of the noise now varies between north-east and south-east, though typically it comes from the east. This confirms that there is definitely more than one noise source.
It has always been assumed that the neighbouring property was the source of the noise: 1. Because the directions is correct and 2. because our neighbours use PLT devices and a lot of additional gadgetry due to having a handicapped son, lighting effects, video players, mechanical hoists, etc., much of which is left on constantly. However, our neighbours very recently had to go away for two days. While this doesn't prove or disprove anything, the noise continued in its random fashion throughout the duration of them being away.
Noise is the scourge of modern DXing and there's very little we can do about it, unless we have good neighbours and have the courage to approach them with the purpose of checking their equipment and finding solutions. Having consulted OFCOM recently I was shocked to learn that even relatively simple things like fish tank heaters have been known to propagate high levels of noise high into VHF at a distance of 5 miles!
There was also their story of the radio ham who moved to a remote location, several miles from anybody so he could escape noise. He suddenly discovered one day that he had devastating noise levels and traced them to electricity pylons several miles away.
If you have a clean, quiet band, enjoy it while you can. It may not last.
Monday, 6 January 2014
Skegness Log: 06-01-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
94.6 0335 POL RMF FM, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3F44 ______Hz. AF: 93.5, 94.6, 94.8 1128km **
** Personal Skegness 'First' via this mode
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
94.6 0335 POL RMF FM, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3F44 ______Hz. AF: 93.5, 94.6, 94.8 1128km **
** Personal Skegness 'First' via this mode
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
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Skegness Log: 05-01-14 (FM) More Midwinter Es !!
Band 2 Sporadic E:
88.6 1914 I Radio Delta 1, Roccamorice-Maiella-Fonte Tettone (pe) 535E R.DELTA1 - then 545E 1594km
88.1 1916 I RAI Radio1, Abriola/Monte Pierfaone (RAI) (pz) 5201 _RADIO1_ 1824km
87.7 1917 I Veronica MyRadio, Tolentino/Colle Redentore (mc) Vocal ID and ads 1458km
89.5 1918 I RTL 102.5, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (ag) 5218 RTL102.5 2008km
87.5 1922 I Radio Radicale, Villa Castelli/Monte Fellone (ta) OSqueaky OM, as web 1901km
88.6 1926 I RAI Radio1, Motta Montecorvino/Monte Sambuco (RAI) (fg) OM, as 88.1 1698km **
87.8 1929 I Ritmo 80, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) 5A72 1796km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
A late midwinter Es opening! Thanks to Andy P at Skywaves for the alert.
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
88.6 1914 I Radio Delta 1, Roccamorice-Maiella-Fonte Tettone (pe) 535E R.DELTA1 - then 545E 1594km
88.1 1916 I RAI Radio1, Abriola/Monte Pierfaone (RAI) (pz) 5201 _RADIO1_ 1824km
87.7 1917 I Veronica MyRadio, Tolentino/Colle Redentore (mc) Vocal ID and ads 1458km
89.5 1918 I RTL 102.5, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (ag) 5218 RTL102.5 2008km
87.5 1922 I Radio Radicale, Villa Castelli/Monte Fellone (ta) OSqueaky OM, as web 1901km
88.6 1926 I RAI Radio1, Motta Montecorvino/Monte Sambuco (RAI) (fg) OM, as 88.1 1698km **
87.8 1929 I Ritmo 80, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) 5A72 1796km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
A late midwinter Es opening! Thanks to Andy P at Skywaves for the alert.
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
The Quadrantids Meteor Shower - Video Highlights
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.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
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
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
Friday, 3 January 2014
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
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
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
Friday, 27 December 2013
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
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
Thursday, 26 December 2013
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
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
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