Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
100.0 0005 D Hit Radio FFH, Dillenburg/Angelburg (hes) Pop song, as web. Two second
burst 614km **
100.0 0051 D Radio PSR, Chemnitz/Geyer (sac) Justin Timberlake song, as web 904km **
100.0 0118 D Radio Salü, Bliestal (saa) Tom Odell song, as web 650km **
100.0 0133 DNK Pop FM, København-Gladsaxe/Isbanevej 4 (hvs) Buggles song, as web 836km **
100.0 0900 D WDR 4, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) YL news, mixing with its own aircraft scatter
493km **
** Personal Skegness 'First' via meteor scatter
Hit Radio FFH and Radio Salue were the most frequent 'bursters' on 100.0 overnight, but Radio PSR was also quite frequent.
I made a shocking discovery when I calculated the total size of my
overnight downloads this morning .... 16GB!!! I had no idea it was that
much. Mind you, I recorded 25 streams for almost ten hours. It's a good
job that my Sky package offers truly 'unlimited' bandwidth, though I am
sure it doesn't work quite like that. I think I need to cut down a
little.
Aircraft scatter was slightly down on yesterday but Brocken still got
through on 89.0. This was consistent throughout daylight hours but
remained very poor.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Friday, 28 February 2014
Skegness Log: 28-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
106.7 0119 AUT 88.6 Der Musiksender, Wiener Neustadt/Hornstein-Sonnenberg [bur] (nie)
German song, as web 1280km **
106.7 0119 D Landeswelle Thüringen, Sonneberg/Bleßberg (thü) Familiar German pop song,
as web, not being played by any other German stations on this frequency
at this time 793km **
106.7 0523 HRV HKR-Hrvatski Katolicki Radio, Ucka (pa) Croatian chorale, as web 1330km **
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
101.7 1257 D Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) OM Radio Salu ID. Virtually noise
free at peaks, but fluttery 628km
107.4 1301 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) News, as web 590km
107.1 1304 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) ID and traffic bleeps 593km
105.6 1306 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) SWR4 Rhsinland Pfalz sung
jingle 656km
92.4 1310 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) 60s song from
The Tremeloes, as web 560km
93.3 1312 D WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Pops, as Nordhelle 93.5 420km
100.8 1319 D WDR 2, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Ram Jams Black Betty, as web. Noise free! 483km
101.9 1319 HOL Sky Radio, Goes/Alticom Toren (zee) Suddenly over Peterborough 303km
102.8 1320 BEL Zen FM, Gent/Opgeëistenlaan (vlg-ovl) Alternative music, as web 328km
96.4 1322 D NDR 2, Dannenberg Zernien (nds) OM ID and pop song with operatic singing
in it, as web 705km **
96.4 1323 D NDR Info, Aurich (nds) German YL and OM, as web, once Dannenberg faded 478km
89.4 1327 D NE-WS 89,4, Düsseldorf/Rheinturm (nrw) V weak pops, as web 488km
89.6 1328 F France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 98.0 474km
95.3 1330 D YOU FM (hr), Hardberg (hes) V weak rap music, as web 712km
97.7 1332 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) Riding above Manningtree! OM,
as web 593km
104.0 1335 D big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) Sonnentanz song, as web 590km
107.7 1339 LUX Den Neie Radio (DNR), Blaschette/Kandel (gld) Pops and ID 557km
104.9 1341 D big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) Cash song, as web 553km
103.1 1343 D Radio ffn, Aurich (nds) YL phone caller to OM, as web 478km
90.7 1640 D WDR 4, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) Soft rock song, as web 538km
90.2 1641 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) German OM. Peaking noise free
at times 477km
89.0 1647 D 89.0 RTL, Brocken (san) Pops, as web. Very weak 712km
105.7 1649 D Antenne Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds) IDs and pops. Noise free and
stable peaks throughout the day 543km
89.2 1717 D NDR 2, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Pops, as web. V weak 525km
93.8 1718 D bremen eins, Bremen-Walle (bre) YL with ID after short guitar jingle 565km
92.1 1720 D NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Just audible, mixing with BBC Radio 3,
Sheffield 707km
97.2 1747 F France Musique, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) French OM, as 88.7 446km
97.5 1747 D SWR3, Bornberg (rlp) V weak Sonnentanz song, as web. Competing Schoten 640km
104.2 1753 BEL AFN PowerNet, Casteau-Shape (wal-hnt) Long time no hear. US political talk
about Congress 386km
107.2 1754 D WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Weak pops, as 106.7 592km
87.6 1756 D hr3, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) Sara Bareilles song, as web 612km
99.6 1756 D hr-info, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) German OM, as web 612km
87.8 1758 D WDR 2, Schwerte/Sommerberg (nrw) Can clearly hear the bassline of the song,
as web. V v weak 525km
95.4 1803 D Nordwestradio, Schiffdorf [nds] (Bremerhaven) (bre) German OM, as web 554km
106.9 1815 D Radio Euskirchen, Schleiden/Broicher Höhe (nrw) Mark Morrison's Return Of
The Mack, as web stream. V weak 514km
107.0 1915 D WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) German YL, as 106.7 592km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Meteor scatter was less prevalent overnight, but I was pleased to receive a 960 watt Austrian in the form of 88.6 Der Musiksender from Wiener Neustadt.
I raised the FM5 another metre today so it now clears the rooftop and can see over the conifers. This has made an enormous difference. The noise from the computer is much quieter too, plus I can hear some old favourites which I haven't heard for a long time. The usual German transmitters, such as Langenberg, Teutoburger Wald and Munster were aomost at RDS level. Great to hear Brocken and Torfhaus back together again.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
106.7 0119 AUT 88.6 Der Musiksender, Wiener Neustadt/Hornstein-Sonnenberg [bur] (nie)
German song, as web 1280km **
106.7 0119 D Landeswelle Thüringen, Sonneberg/Bleßberg (thü) Familiar German pop song,
as web, not being played by any other German stations on this frequency
at this time 793km **
106.7 0523 HRV HKR-Hrvatski Katolicki Radio, Ucka (pa) Croatian chorale, as web 1330km **
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
101.7 1257 D Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) OM Radio Salu ID. Virtually noise
free at peaks, but fluttery 628km
107.4 1301 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) News, as web 590km
107.1 1304 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) ID and traffic bleeps 593km
105.6 1306 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) SWR4 Rhsinland Pfalz sung
jingle 656km
92.4 1310 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) 60s song from
The Tremeloes, as web 560km
93.3 1312 D WDR 2, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Pops, as Nordhelle 93.5 420km
100.8 1319 D WDR 2, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Ram Jams Black Betty, as web. Noise free! 483km
101.9 1319 HOL Sky Radio, Goes/Alticom Toren (zee) Suddenly over Peterborough 303km
102.8 1320 BEL Zen FM, Gent/Opgeëistenlaan (vlg-ovl) Alternative music, as web 328km
96.4 1322 D NDR 2, Dannenberg Zernien (nds) OM ID and pop song with operatic singing
in it, as web 705km **
96.4 1323 D NDR Info, Aurich (nds) German YL and OM, as web, once Dannenberg faded 478km
89.4 1327 D NE-WS 89,4, Düsseldorf/Rheinturm (nrw) V weak pops, as web 488km
89.6 1328 F France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 98.0 474km
95.3 1330 D YOU FM (hr), Hardberg (hes) V weak rap music, as web 712km
97.7 1332 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) Riding above Manningtree! OM,
as web 593km
104.0 1335 D big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) Sonnentanz song, as web 590km
107.7 1339 LUX Den Neie Radio (DNR), Blaschette/Kandel (gld) Pops and ID 557km
104.9 1341 D big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) Cash song, as web 553km
103.1 1343 D Radio ffn, Aurich (nds) YL phone caller to OM, as web 478km
90.7 1640 D WDR 4, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) Soft rock song, as web 538km
90.2 1641 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) German OM. Peaking noise free
at times 477km
89.0 1647 D 89.0 RTL, Brocken (san) Pops, as web. Very weak 712km
105.7 1649 D Antenne Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds) IDs and pops. Noise free and
stable peaks throughout the day 543km
89.2 1717 D NDR 2, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) Pops, as web. V weak 525km
93.8 1718 D bremen eins, Bremen-Walle (bre) YL with ID after short guitar jingle 565km
92.1 1720 D NDR 2, Torfhaus (Harz-West) (nds) Just audible, mixing with BBC Radio 3,
Sheffield 707km
97.2 1747 F France Musique, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) French OM, as 88.7 446km
97.5 1747 D SWR3, Bornberg (rlp) V weak Sonnentanz song, as web. Competing Schoten 640km
104.2 1753 BEL AFN PowerNet, Casteau-Shape (wal-hnt) Long time no hear. US political talk
about Congress 386km
107.2 1754 D WDR Eins Live, Ederkopf (nrw) Weak pops, as 106.7 592km
87.6 1756 D hr3, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) Sara Bareilles song, as web 612km
99.6 1756 D hr-info, Sackpfeife (Biedenkopf) (hes) German OM, as web 612km
87.8 1758 D WDR 2, Schwerte/Sommerberg (nrw) Can clearly hear the bassline of the song,
as web. V v weak 525km
95.4 1803 D Nordwestradio, Schiffdorf [nds] (Bremerhaven) (bre) German OM, as web 554km
106.9 1815 D Radio Euskirchen, Schleiden/Broicher Höhe (nrw) Mark Morrison's Return Of
The Mack, as web stream. V weak 514km
107.0 1915 D WDR Eins Live, Olsberg (nrw) German YL, as 106.7 592km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Meteor scatter was less prevalent overnight, but I was pleased to receive a 960 watt Austrian in the form of 88.6 Der Musiksender from Wiener Neustadt.
I raised the FM5 another metre today so it now clears the rooftop and can see over the conifers. This has made an enormous difference. The noise from the computer is much quieter too, plus I can hear some old favourites which I haven't heard for a long time. The usual German transmitters, such as Langenberg, Teutoburger Wald and Munster were aomost at RDS level. Great to hear Brocken and Torfhaus back together again.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, five meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Skegness Log: 27-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
96.1 0047 ROU SRR Radio România Cultural, Oradea=Nagyvárad (BH) Clarinet piece, as web.
Two second burst 1677km **
96.1 0050 SVN Slovenija 3, Beli Kris (kp) Piano concerto, as web. Two second burst 1278km **
96.1 0054 F France Culture, Bayonne/la Rhune (64) Probably Bayonne. French YL,
as web. Three second burst 1104km **
96.1 0124 D SR 3 Saarlandwelle, Moseltal (Perl) (saa) German pop song, as web.
Three second burst 588km **
96.1 0847 D Bayern 2, Hühnerberg (bay) Not on nachtservice. YL over classical music,
as web. Ten second burst. 871km **
** Personal Skegness 'First'
It was 96.1 tonight. Radio Romania Cultural from Oradea at 1677 km was the most consistent MS station by a long way, featuring several times each hour.
The internet dropped as per usual, this time around 0300. I spoke to Sky about this and they explained that they are still conducting line tests and will be doing so every night into early March so they can find the optimum speed for this connection. Tests are usually conducted around 02:00 and I have been told that they do drop the line at this time.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
96.1 0047 ROU SRR Radio România Cultural, Oradea=Nagyvárad (BH) Clarinet piece, as web.
Two second burst 1677km **
96.1 0050 SVN Slovenija 3, Beli Kris (kp) Piano concerto, as web. Two second burst 1278km **
96.1 0054 F France Culture, Bayonne/la Rhune (64) Probably Bayonne. French YL,
as web. Three second burst 1104km **
96.1 0124 D SR 3 Saarlandwelle, Moseltal (Perl) (saa) German pop song, as web.
Three second burst 588km **
96.1 0847 D Bayern 2, Hühnerberg (bay) Not on nachtservice. YL over classical music,
as web. Ten second burst. 871km **
** Personal Skegness 'First'
It was 96.1 tonight. Radio Romania Cultural from Oradea at 1677 km was the most consistent MS station by a long way, featuring several times each hour.
The internet dropped as per usual, this time around 0300. I spoke to Sky about this and they explained that they are still conducting line tests and will be doing so every night into early March so they can find the optimum speed for this connection. Tests are usually conducted around 02:00 and I have been told that they do drop the line at this time.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Skegness Log: 26-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
88.6 0038 AUT 88.6 Der Musiksender, Wien 1/Kahlenberg (wie) Pops, as web 1247km **
88.6 0046 CZE CRo Vltava, Klatovy/Doubrava (PL) Distinctive classical music, as web
984km
88.6 0110 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Mierlo/Torenweg-Alticom (nbr) YL business talk, as web.
Two second burst 406km **
88.6 0124 D Landeswelle Thüringen, Suhl/Erleshügel (thü) Joan Armatrading song, as web
768km **
88.6 0134 F France Culture, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) French OM, as web 781km
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
97.8 1242 D NDR 2, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Ads, as web. Almost noise free aircraft
scatter 477km
90.2 1243 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) German OM, as web. Almost noise
free aircraft scatter 477km
99.4 1245 BEL Topradio, Gent/IVAGO Proeftuinstraat 43 (vlg-ovl) Lifting well above
the noise with dance music, as web 333km
102.0 1246 D Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Peaking nicely via
aircraft scatter today 477km
90.6 1356 D WDR 5, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) German play, as web. Beautiful
noise free peak on A/S 591km
92.8 1359 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) ID and YL info 477km
94.4 1402 D NDR Kultur, Steinkimmen (nds) German OM news 543km
101.7 1405 BEL AFN PowerNet, Everberg (vlg-vbr) US accented news suddenly appearing
over Classic FM 386km
94.8 1734 D SWR3, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) Pops, as web 560km
97.4 1741 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) SWR4 ID and
soft pops 560km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Frequent meteor scatter overnight. 19 streams recorded. Clearly CRo Vltava and 88.6 Der Musiksender were the persistent stations. France Culture was also quite frequent. Lots of UNIDs too.
Tonight, the internet permitted me to record over two and half hours of streams overnight before cutting off! I must get on to Sky. Not had them a week and four complaints already: 1. Internet keeps dropping connection; 2. Our new ex-directory number is showing in CLI displays, and 3. Additional charges on the bill after being assured that there were no charges for moving (we have exactly the same setup). This is not good enough Sky!
I now realise that I need to fully configure a laptop for DXing and all DX related software as my main computer is still causing too much interference. I have added some additional ferrite rings on cables but this has not made a lot of difference.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
88.6 0038 AUT 88.6 Der Musiksender, Wien 1/Kahlenberg (wie) Pops, as web 1247km **
88.6 0046 CZE CRo Vltava, Klatovy/Doubrava (PL) Distinctive classical music, as web
984km
88.6 0110 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Mierlo/Torenweg-Alticom (nbr) YL business talk, as web.
Two second burst 406km **
88.6 0124 D Landeswelle Thüringen, Suhl/Erleshügel (thü) Joan Armatrading song, as web
768km **
88.6 0134 F France Culture, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) French OM, as web 781km
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
97.8 1242 D NDR 2, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Ads, as web. Almost noise free aircraft
scatter 477km
90.2 1243 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) German OM, as web. Almost noise
free aircraft scatter 477km
99.4 1245 BEL Topradio, Gent/IVAGO Proeftuinstraat 43 (vlg-ovl) Lifting well above
the noise with dance music, as web 333km
102.0 1246 D Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Peaking nicely via
aircraft scatter today 477km
90.6 1356 D WDR 5, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) German play, as web. Beautiful
noise free peak on A/S 591km
92.8 1359 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) ID and YL info 477km
94.4 1402 D NDR Kultur, Steinkimmen (nds) German OM news 543km
101.7 1405 BEL AFN PowerNet, Everberg (vlg-vbr) US accented news suddenly appearing
over Classic FM 386km
94.8 1734 D SWR3, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) Pops, as web 560km
97.4 1741 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) SWR4 ID and
soft pops 560km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Frequent meteor scatter overnight. 19 streams recorded. Clearly CRo Vltava and 88.6 Der Musiksender were the persistent stations. France Culture was also quite frequent. Lots of UNIDs too.
Tonight, the internet permitted me to record over two and half hours of streams overnight before cutting off! I must get on to Sky. Not had them a week and four complaints already: 1. Internet keeps dropping connection; 2. Our new ex-directory number is showing in CLI displays, and 3. Additional charges on the bill after being assured that there were no charges for moving (we have exactly the same setup). This is not good enough Sky!
I now realise that I need to fully configure a laptop for DXing and all DX related software as my main computer is still causing too much interference. I have added some additional ferrite rings on cables but this has not made a lot of difference.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Skegness Log: 25-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
88.6 2338 CZE CRo Vltava, Klatovy/Doubrava (PL) Czech OM talking, as web 984km **
88.6 2348 F France Culture, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) French OM, as web. Five second burst
781km **
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
88.6 2338 CZE CRo Vltava, Klatovy/Doubrava (PL) Czech OM talking, as web 984km **
88.6 2348 F France Culture, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) French OM, as web. Five second burst
781km **
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Skegness Log: 23-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
88.9 0835 LUX RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) OM, as web 573km
92.2 0843 HOL Omrop Fryslân Radio, Jirnsum/Rijksweg (fri) Playing classical music! 365km
93.9 0844 HOL Radio Noord-Holland, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) ID and Bryan Ferry
song 318km
105.9 0849 G City Talk, Liverpool/Allerton Park (EN-MER) Off the back of the FM5!
John Keith Phone-in 215km
89.6 0850 F RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Saint-Omer/Racquinghem (62) French song,
as web 306km
89.6 0851 BEL VBRO, Brugge/Walakker (vlg-wvl) Suddenly swamped RDL with Dutch song,
as web 295km
89.9 0853 D NDR Kultur, Bungsberg/NDR-Mast (shs) Seems to be a regular at new QTH 694km
90.0 0854 D NDR Kultur, Aurich (nds) Appeared as 89.9 Bungsberg faded 478km
90.3 0855 D WDR 5, Nordhelle (nrw) OM talk, as web 553km
93.6 0857 BEL Club FM, Koolskamp/Watertoren (vlg-wvl) Dance music, as web 309km
93.8 0857 HOL Slam!FM, Megen/Alticom Toren (nbr) Promo and ID 387km
95.4 0858 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Gilze/Prinsenbosch (nbr) Dutch OM business talk 358km
98.0 0900 HOL Radio Decibel, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Vocal ID and bell, as 97.6 320km
98.7 0900 HOL Freez FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Presumed as Dutch OM 407km
99.9 0901 BEL VRT Radio 1, Genk/VRT Zendmast (vlg-lim) Dominant over Radio Norwich! 431km
102.0 0902 D Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Lingen-Damaschke (nds) OM news, as 101.8 477km
104.7 0903 D WDR Eins Live, Nordhelle (nrw) Pops, as 106.7 553km
89.7 0951 D WDR 3, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Classical, as web 493km
90.2 0951 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Classical music, as web 477km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
88.9 0835 LUX RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) OM, as web 573km
92.2 0843 HOL Omrop Fryslân Radio, Jirnsum/Rijksweg (fri) Playing classical music! 365km
93.9 0844 HOL Radio Noord-Holland, Wieringermeer/Robbenoordbos (nho) ID and Bryan Ferry
song 318km
105.9 0849 G City Talk, Liverpool/Allerton Park (EN-MER) Off the back of the FM5!
John Keith Phone-in 215km
89.6 0850 F RDL-Radio Dallas Loisirs, Saint-Omer/Racquinghem (62) French song,
as web 306km
89.6 0851 BEL VBRO, Brugge/Walakker (vlg-wvl) Suddenly swamped RDL with Dutch song,
as web 295km
89.9 0853 D NDR Kultur, Bungsberg/NDR-Mast (shs) Seems to be a regular at new QTH 694km
90.0 0854 D NDR Kultur, Aurich (nds) Appeared as 89.9 Bungsberg faded 478km
90.3 0855 D WDR 5, Nordhelle (nrw) OM talk, as web 553km
93.6 0857 BEL Club FM, Koolskamp/Watertoren (vlg-wvl) Dance music, as web 309km
93.8 0857 HOL Slam!FM, Megen/Alticom Toren (nbr) Promo and ID 387km
95.4 0858 HOL BNR Nieuwsradio, Gilze/Prinsenbosch (nbr) Dutch OM business talk 358km
98.0 0900 HOL Radio Decibel, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Vocal ID and bell, as 97.6 320km
98.7 0900 HOL Freez FM, Smilde/Alticom Toren (dre) Presumed as Dutch OM 407km
99.9 0901 BEL VRT Radio 1, Genk/VRT Zendmast (vlg-lim) Dominant over Radio Norwich! 431km
102.0 0902 D Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Lingen-Damaschke (nds) OM news, as 101.8 477km
104.7 0903 D WDR Eins Live, Nordhelle (nrw) Pops, as 106.7 553km
89.7 0951 D WDR 3, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) Classical, as web 493km
90.2 0951 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Classical music, as web 477km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Friday, 21 February 2014
Skegness Log: 21-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
88.4 0147 F France Culture, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) String quartet, as web 607km
88.4 0441 D MDR Figaro, Leipzig Wiederau (sac) Classical music, as web. Not in //
with Bayern 2 at this time 843km
88.4 0641 D Bayern 2, Pfaffenberg (bay) OM financial news, as web 712km
Since my stream recordings were curtailed on the 20th, all at the same time, I thought I would do 88.4 again. The same thing happened again, at the same time. Hmmph! Maybe it's just Sky running broadband tests on this new connection - *if* that's what they really do. That's what they told me on the phone anyway. As luck would have it, only the same stations were logged as on the previous morning.
I managed very little listening during the daytime. Hopefully some more radio time soon.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
88.4 0147 F France Culture, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) String quartet, as web 607km
88.4 0441 D MDR Figaro, Leipzig Wiederau (sac) Classical music, as web. Not in //
with Bayern 2 at this time 843km
88.4 0641 D Bayern 2, Pfaffenberg (bay) OM financial news, as web 712km
Since my stream recordings were curtailed on the 20th, all at the same time, I thought I would do 88.4 again. The same thing happened again, at the same time. Hmmph! Maybe it's just Sky running broadband tests on this new connection - *if* that's what they really do. That's what they told me on the phone anyway. As luck would have it, only the same stations were logged as on the previous morning.
I managed very little listening during the daytime. Hopefully some more radio time soon.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Skegness Log: 20-02-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
88.4 0003 F France Culture, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) French OM, as web 607km **
88.4 0005 D Bayern 2, Pfaffenberg (bay) Presume Pfaffenberg. Piano music, as web 713km **
88.4 0013 D MDR Figaro, Leipzig Wiederau (sac) Lively symphony, as web 844km **
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
92.0 0858 D WDR 5, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) German YL, as web. Over UNID pops 494km
90.6 0859 D WDR 5, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) YL ID and Nachrichten.
Almost noise free 591km
93.2 0859 D WDR 2, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) Ad break, as web 591km
94.6 0901 D MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) German OM and YL in news,
as web 713km
90.2 0903 HOL 100% NL, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) ID and pops 334km
90.2 0904 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Coming up over 100%NL with classical,
as web 477km
100.8 0906 D WDR 2, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Pops, as web. Almost noise free 484km
101.4 0910 BEL VRT Studio Brussel, Genk/VRT Zendmast (vlg-lim) Pops and ID.
Nice peaks 431km
102.0 0912 BEL VRT MNM, Genk/VRT Zendmast (vlg-lim) Pops, as web. Noise free on peak 431km
102.5 0916 HOL Radio 538, Tjerkgaast/Alticom Toren (fri) Pops, as web. Mixing unid French 361km
102.8 0916 D Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Wesel-Büderich (nrw) German OM, as web 456km
102.9 0919 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Schoten (vlg-ant) Eurythmics, as web 354km
107.8 0936 D MDR Figaro, Brocken (san) Guitar and singer, as web 713km
104.8 0938 HOL NPO Radio 1, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) Dutch OM, as web. Noise free 443km
104.6 0939 HOL 100% NL, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) YL pop, as 90.2 313km
103.6 0940 HOL Radio 10, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Just poking above the mush,
as 103.8 321km
103.8 0940 HOL Radio 10, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) Pops, as 87.7.
Or could be Tjerkgaast now 313km
100.4 0942 D WDR 2, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) POps, as web 538km
100.6 0954 BEL VRT Studio Brussel, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw/Norkring Toren (vlg-vbr) Pops,
as 101.4 376km
104.9 1036 D Antenne Niedersachsen, Aurich (nds) Pop song, as web 479km
103.4 1044 D Radio ffn, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) V weak pops, as web 525km
89.9 1130 D NDR Kultur, Bungsberg/NDR-Mast (shs) Gentle classical music,
as web 694km
91.1 1130 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds) Toto song, as web 543km
93.8 1133 D bremen eins, Bremen-Walle (bre) Robert Palmer song, as web 565km
97.0 1134 D WDR 3, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) German YL, as web 591km
95.3 1143 HOL L1 Radio, Hulsberg/Emmaberg (lim) Long time no hear! Dutch music,
as 100.3 455km
100.3 1144 HOL L1 Radio, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) Quite listenable at times.
As web 443km
90.2 1150 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Piano music, as web 477km
95.8 1150 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Aurich (nds) Boy band and ID 478km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
We are now (just about) settled at the new address. I am currently using a temporary Triax FM5 at rooftop height. Hopefully the 9.2 will be on a scaffolding pole above the rooftop very soon. Being only a few hundred yards from my old QTH I was pleased to discover that my grid square remains the same, so no need to start new logbooks. .
Good to hear Brocken on band 2 again. So far this has been daily on scatter. Pretty good going for the time of year. I think I can also hear Inselberg on 97.2, but it's way down in the FM mush. Good to hear Bungsberg again too.
Meteor scatter is still been very good for the time of year but my overnight session was cut short this morning when my internet connection mysteriously dropped and I lost all the streams after a couple of hours.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
88.4 0003 F France Culture, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) French OM, as web 607km **
88.4 0005 D Bayern 2, Pfaffenberg (bay) Presume Pfaffenberg. Piano music, as web 713km **
88.4 0013 D MDR Figaro, Leipzig Wiederau (sac) Lively symphony, as web 844km **
Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
92.0 0858 D WDR 5, Münster/Baumberg (nrw) German YL, as web. Over UNID pops 494km
90.6 0859 D WDR 5, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) YL ID and Nachrichten.
Almost noise free 591km
93.2 0859 D WDR 2, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) Ad break, as web 591km
94.6 0901 D MDR 1 Radio Sachsen-Anhalt, Brocken (san) German OM and YL in news,
as web 713km
90.2 0903 HOL 100% NL, Roosendaal/Alticom Toren (nbr) ID and pops 334km
90.2 0904 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Coming up over 100%NL with classical,
as web 477km
100.8 0906 D WDR 2, Aachen/Stolberg (nrw) Pops, as web. Almost noise free 484km
101.4 0910 BEL VRT Studio Brussel, Genk/VRT Zendmast (vlg-lim) Pops and ID.
Nice peaks 431km
102.0 0912 BEL VRT MNM, Genk/VRT Zendmast (vlg-lim) Pops, as web. Noise free on peak 431km
102.5 0916 HOL Radio 538, Tjerkgaast/Alticom Toren (fri) Pops, as web. Mixing unid French 361km
102.8 0916 D Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Wesel-Büderich (nrw) German OM, as web 456km
102.9 0919 BEL Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Schoten (vlg-ant) Eurythmics, as web 354km
107.8 0936 D MDR Figaro, Brocken (san) Guitar and singer, as web 713km
104.8 0938 HOL NPO Radio 1, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) Dutch OM, as web. Noise free 443km
104.6 0939 HOL 100% NL, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) YL pop, as 90.2 313km
103.6 0940 HOL Radio 10, Amsterdam/Alticom Toren (nho) Just poking above the mush,
as 103.8 321km
103.8 0940 HOL Radio 10, Rotterdam/Alticom Toren (Waalhaven) (zho) Pops, as 87.7.
Or could be Tjerkgaast now 313km
100.4 0942 D WDR 2, Bonn/Venusberg (nrw) POps, as web 538km
100.6 0954 BEL VRT Studio Brussel, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw/Norkring Toren (vlg-vbr) Pops,
as 101.4 376km
104.9 1036 D Antenne Niedersachsen, Aurich (nds) Pop song, as web 479km
103.4 1044 D Radio ffn, Osnabrück/Schleptruper Egge (nds) V weak pops, as web 525km
89.9 1130 D NDR Kultur, Bungsberg/NDR-Mast (shs) Gentle classical music,
as web 694km
91.1 1130 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Steinkimmen (nds) Toto song, as web 543km
93.8 1133 D bremen eins, Bremen-Walle (bre) Robert Palmer song, as web 565km
97.0 1134 D WDR 3, Teutoburger Wald/Bielstein (nrw) German YL, as web 591km
95.3 1143 HOL L1 Radio, Hulsberg/Emmaberg (lim) Long time no hear! Dutch music,
as 100.3 455km
100.3 1144 HOL L1 Radio, Roermond/Alticom Toren (lim) Quite listenable at times.
As web 443km
90.2 1150 D NDR Kultur, Lingen-Damaschke (nds) Piano music, as web 477km
95.8 1150 D NDR 1 Niedersachsen, Aurich (nds) Boy band and ID 478km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
We are now (just about) settled at the new address. I am currently using a temporary Triax FM5 at rooftop height. Hopefully the 9.2 will be on a scaffolding pole above the rooftop very soon. Being only a few hundred yards from my old QTH I was pleased to discover that my grid square remains the same, so no need to start new logbooks. .
Good to hear Brocken on band 2 again. So far this has been daily on scatter. Pretty good going for the time of year. I think I can also hear Inselberg on 97.2, but it's way down in the FM mush. Good to hear Bungsberg again too.
Meteor scatter is still been very good for the time of year but my overnight session was cut short this morning when my internet connection mysteriously dropped and I lost all the streams after a couple of hours.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <2m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification & XDR-GTK software.
Aerial:
Triax FM5, four meters AGL, currently fixed horizontally to the south-east.
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Settled In Our New Home At Last!
On Monday 10th February, we were handed the keys to our new property. It was all very short notice, but that's what we expected anyway. Luckily, we had already prepared as much as we could by getting a lot of the packing done in advance. We were then given an official period of two weeks to vacate the old place - plenty of time! This is day ten of fourteen and we are almost done. All that remains is a spot of last-minute tidying at the old place, making sure it's left in a clean condition and then a couple of journeys to the skips and that's the lot!
We took it upon ourselves to do the removals ourselves, excluding the larger and heavier items of course which we trusted to a local "Man With A Van", who did a great job. This saved us a small fortune, although it meant taking about 25 car journeys to transfer the rest of our belongings. The new place is still in town and, as luck would have it, even in the same locator square, so I don't feel the need to create new logbooks from scratch.
Before moving to the new address, we made a few visits to check everything out, not least listening for any amounts of electrical noise which might be a nuisance to our radio listening. I know this is not the best reason for choosing or declining a property, but it's one of the things we considered.
The new place has two rooms less, but they are actually slightly larger. Hmm - that means the carpets won't fit. Damn! Thanks to a little bit of improvisation though we managed to work a way around this. We had a few roll ends and offcuts we'd saved from the last place after the carpet people had fitted them. I am pretty good at fitting carpets so that side of things is nicely taken care of.
To recap. The main reason for our move was the shocking rent increase and bedroom tax, so we have Mr Cameron and Co. to thank. We were getting into a mess with things and they were only going to get worse, so it was a decision we had made a few months ago. We had looked around a few places and had even considered another swap, but we left the old housing association and decided to risk it with a new landlord to increase the possibilities. Another factor which had encouraged us to move was the terrible problems we had endured from our old neighbours for three years.
The new place is a detached bungalow, which means we don't have any neighbours! :O) It seemed to be the right thing to do. It was more affordable too, being slightly smaller. There are gardens all around the new property and, thanks to some clever planning, none of the nearest neighbours' windows look into our property, so we are quite well out of the way.
But what about radio? It's less than a mile from the beach and this shows beautifully across band 2. Continental signals are stronger and, one of the most important things for me, there is no noise across the band either. It's the same for medium wave too! I can hear really weak signals on band 2, lifting out of the noise with the greatest of ease and I have only been using a Triax FM5 one metre above the ground during a few random listening tests. The more 'regular' continentals have all been noise free. In fact it's so quiet, it's been like listening on one of my remote radio camping trips. German transmitters at Aurich, Lingen, Osnabruck, Steinkimmen, Langenburg, Kleve, Aachen, Bonn, Munster and Bremen have all been providing noise-free signals on peak. The big question is, how long will it last? Well, as has often been said, nothing is guaranteed. Noise can appear at any time. We're all living with that ticking time bomb regarding noise these days. I am just keeping my fingers crossed it will last.
Finally, I raised the FM5 to rooftop height this afternoon. The elements are still entangled in the conifers so I need to cut some of this away. Since raising this I found can hear Brocken again! This has been absent for almost two years at the old place due to the noise. How nice to be hearing it again, albeit down in the mush, but it's clear enough. I also think I heard DLR Kultur from Inselberg on 97.2 a few minutes ago. There are other very weak signals I can only guess about so, noise permitting, the new QTH looks like being a lot of radio fun. Fingers crossed it lasts!
We took it upon ourselves to do the removals ourselves, excluding the larger and heavier items of course which we trusted to a local "Man With A Van", who did a great job. This saved us a small fortune, although it meant taking about 25 car journeys to transfer the rest of our belongings. The new place is still in town and, as luck would have it, even in the same locator square, so I don't feel the need to create new logbooks from scratch.
Before moving to the new address, we made a few visits to check everything out, not least listening for any amounts of electrical noise which might be a nuisance to our radio listening. I know this is not the best reason for choosing or declining a property, but it's one of the things we considered.
The new place has two rooms less, but they are actually slightly larger. Hmm - that means the carpets won't fit. Damn! Thanks to a little bit of improvisation though we managed to work a way around this. We had a few roll ends and offcuts we'd saved from the last place after the carpet people had fitted them. I am pretty good at fitting carpets so that side of things is nicely taken care of.
To recap. The main reason for our move was the shocking rent increase and bedroom tax, so we have Mr Cameron and Co. to thank. We were getting into a mess with things and they were only going to get worse, so it was a decision we had made a few months ago. We had looked around a few places and had even considered another swap, but we left the old housing association and decided to risk it with a new landlord to increase the possibilities. Another factor which had encouraged us to move was the terrible problems we had endured from our old neighbours for three years.
The new place is a detached bungalow, which means we don't have any neighbours! :O) It seemed to be the right thing to do. It was more affordable too, being slightly smaller. There are gardens all around the new property and, thanks to some clever planning, none of the nearest neighbours' windows look into our property, so we are quite well out of the way.
But what about radio? It's less than a mile from the beach and this shows beautifully across band 2. Continental signals are stronger and, one of the most important things for me, there is no noise across the band either. It's the same for medium wave too! I can hear really weak signals on band 2, lifting out of the noise with the greatest of ease and I have only been using a Triax FM5 one metre above the ground during a few random listening tests. The more 'regular' continentals have all been noise free. In fact it's so quiet, it's been like listening on one of my remote radio camping trips. German transmitters at Aurich, Lingen, Osnabruck, Steinkimmen, Langenburg, Kleve, Aachen, Bonn, Munster and Bremen have all been providing noise-free signals on peak. The big question is, how long will it last? Well, as has often been said, nothing is guaranteed. Noise can appear at any time. We're all living with that ticking time bomb regarding noise these days. I am just keeping my fingers crossed it will last.
Finally, I raised the FM5 to rooftop height this afternoon. The elements are still entangled in the conifers so I need to cut some of this away. Since raising this I found can hear Brocken again! This has been absent for almost two years at the old place due to the noise. How nice to be hearing it again, albeit down in the mush, but it's clear enough. I also think I heard DLR Kultur from Inselberg on 97.2 a few minutes ago. There are other very weak signals I can only guess about so, noise permitting, the new QTH looks like being a lot of radio fun. Fingers crossed it lasts!
Monday, 10 February 2014
A Word Of Warning About Aerial Contractors & Specialist Antennas
With just two days to go before our house move, I had arranged for a friend to visit and take down my aerial, rotator and mast. This is not a big job as it is easy to climb on the roof of the bungalow with a small set of ladders. I was keen to get this lot removed before we vacated the property in case our old neighbour vandalised anything, which he probably would have done. Click here for an account of the things he got up to while we were living there and you'll understand our concerns.
We had two weeks to vacate the old bungalow after signing for our new one, which meant that we temporarily had two properties, but because of the problems we'd had at the old place, we were just keen to move out the moment we got the keys for the new one, then we could move any the valuables and sleep soundly at our new address.
Unfortunately, high winds and heavy rain prevented my friend from climbing on the roof on the day so he abandoned this until the following day. The next day arrived, with winds much calmer, but here comes another 'unfortunately', as he found he hadn't got the nerve to climb on the roof. This was becoming frustrating, but I'm glad he admitted to this as it's better to be safe than sorry. So this meant I had to get a local aerial contractor to do the job. I found a national company who appeared to be reputable.
Moving ahead to the following morning. Two bods arrived from a local aerial contractors complete with professionally signwritten and well-stocked Transit van. In other words, they looked the part. It was windy again, but the two bods wasted no time and got the ladders up and climbed on to the roof. They scratched their head and tried to work out how best to take everything down. Remembering how Andrew Webster had got the 9.2 and rotator on the mast, I tried to help by shouting up to them, explaining the reverse procedure in order to help the bods. There was silence! Eventually, they grunted. I couldn't hear them. Shouting up to the again (it was windy) they replied, sarcastically, "Yeah mate, we've never taken down a fuck**g aerial before". To say that I am now fearing for the safety of the equipment would be putting it mildly. I tried to communicate with these bods but they were intent on ignoring me. In my head, I am considering a course of action for compensation and I am beginning to accept that I might have to say goodbye to the antenna and the rotator.
Things got worse. They decided to lower the mast with the aerial and rotator still on it. I was now getting worried as this would result in the reflectors resting on the roof and possibly getting bent with the huge weight. The mast includes an aluminium scaffolding pole, a weighted (for balance) Korner 9.2 antenna and a Yaesu G-5500 rotator. This alone is approaching the weight of an adult. The fact that the whole structure was extremely top heavy caused me even more concern.
For some inexplicable reason, they took the reflectors off the 9.2, leaving the directors still mounted through the rotator. Then they REMOVED the bolts on the TK brackets while the bod on the ladder took the entire weight in ONE HAND! The other bod is still on the roof steadying the whole lopsided structure which is now being lowered groundward. The bod on the roof is about to let go! It got worse still. The bod on the ladder shouted me to grab the bottom of the scaffolding pole while he lowered it to me! WHAAAAAT? Not only am I now VERY concerned for the equipment, but I am also concerned for our loves as my wife and I attempt to grab the bottom of the pole!
With middle bod holding the bottom of the scaffolding pole, Jane and I stretch hard to grab the bottom of the pole, which is now about six feet above the ground.
Don't ask me how but, somehow, the whole structure was gradually lowered down and reached the ground. All I can say is that the middle bod must have had immense strength and an outstanding skill of balance, using just the one hand, that he managed to guide everything down safely. I then uttered a MASSIVE sigh of relief! This could have so easily gone wrong.
Needless to say, I will NOT be using Aerial Solutions for any future aerial jobs.
We had two weeks to vacate the old bungalow after signing for our new one, which meant that we temporarily had two properties, but because of the problems we'd had at the old place, we were just keen to move out the moment we got the keys for the new one, then we could move any the valuables and sleep soundly at our new address.
Unfortunately, high winds and heavy rain prevented my friend from climbing on the roof on the day so he abandoned this until the following day. The next day arrived, with winds much calmer, but here comes another 'unfortunately', as he found he hadn't got the nerve to climb on the roof. This was becoming frustrating, but I'm glad he admitted to this as it's better to be safe than sorry. So this meant I had to get a local aerial contractor to do the job. I found a national company who appeared to be reputable.
Moving ahead to the following morning. Two bods arrived from a local aerial contractors complete with professionally signwritten and well-stocked Transit van. In other words, they looked the part. It was windy again, but the two bods wasted no time and got the ladders up and climbed on to the roof. They scratched their head and tried to work out how best to take everything down. Remembering how Andrew Webster had got the 9.2 and rotator on the mast, I tried to help by shouting up to them, explaining the reverse procedure in order to help the bods. There was silence! Eventually, they grunted. I couldn't hear them. Shouting up to the again (it was windy) they replied, sarcastically, "Yeah mate, we've never taken down a fuck**g aerial before". To say that I am now fearing for the safety of the equipment would be putting it mildly. I tried to communicate with these bods but they were intent on ignoring me. In my head, I am considering a course of action for compensation and I am beginning to accept that I might have to say goodbye to the antenna and the rotator.
Things got worse. They decided to lower the mast with the aerial and rotator still on it. I was now getting worried as this would result in the reflectors resting on the roof and possibly getting bent with the huge weight. The mast includes an aluminium scaffolding pole, a weighted (for balance) Korner 9.2 antenna and a Yaesu G-5500 rotator. This alone is approaching the weight of an adult. The fact that the whole structure was extremely top heavy caused me even more concern.
For some inexplicable reason, they took the reflectors off the 9.2, leaving the directors still mounted through the rotator. Then they REMOVED the bolts on the TK brackets while the bod on the ladder took the entire weight in ONE HAND! The other bod is still on the roof steadying the whole lopsided structure which is now being lowered groundward. The bod on the roof is about to let go! It got worse still. The bod on the ladder shouted me to grab the bottom of the scaffolding pole while he lowered it to me! WHAAAAAT? Not only am I now VERY concerned for the equipment, but I am also concerned for our loves as my wife and I attempt to grab the bottom of the pole!
With middle bod holding the bottom of the scaffolding pole, Jane and I stretch hard to grab the bottom of the pole, which is now about six feet above the ground.
Don't ask me how but, somehow, the whole structure was gradually lowered down and reached the ground. All I can say is that the middle bod must have had immense strength and an outstanding skill of balance, using just the one hand, that he managed to guide everything down safely. I then uttered a MASSIVE sigh of relief! This could have so easily gone wrong.
Needless to say, I will NOT be using Aerial Solutions for any future aerial jobs.
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