Band 2 Tropospheric:
97.2 0958 HOL NPO Radio 2, Eys/Alticom Toren (lim) Pushing through on the horizontal today. Good
scatter conditions 462km
97.8 1052 G BBC Radio 1, Pendle Forest (EN-LNC) Fading up and down. Never noticed this one
until now. 188km **
95.5 1056 G BBC Radio Lancashire, Hameldon Hill (EN-LNC) North-west issues, as web stream
186km **
98.7 1316 NOR NRK P2, Bjerkreim/Urdalsnipa (ro) Very weak. Probably scatter. OM talk, as web
703km
97.2 2034 D Deutschlandradio Kultur, Inselsberg (thü) YL, as web 739km
105.3 2035 D B5 aktuell, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) YL, as web 732km
107.9 2037 D BR Klassik, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) Clasical, as web 732km
107.4 2048 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) Nostalgia OM, as web 590km
107.1 2049 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) Jazzy nostalgia, as 107.4 593km
105.9 2051 D Hit Radio FFH, Großer Feldberg (Taunus)/hr (hes) Pops, as web 647km
105.6 2052 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) German singer, as web 656km
104.0 2057 D big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) VJingle ID and rap 590km
92.4 2104 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) OM ID after news 560km
93.0 2105 D SWR2, Haardtkopf (rlp) YL, as web 593km
94.0 2105 D SWR2, Koblenz/Dieblich-Naßheck (rlp) YL and OM, as 93.0 590km
93.6 2111 D SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) Nostalgia, as 107.4 550km
99.1 2117 D SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Donnersberg (rlp) Light pops, as web 656km
107.3 2141 D hr4, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) Instrumental song, as web 729km
104.8 2200 D hr1, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) News 729km
105.0 2229 D Hit Radio FFH, Krehberg (hes) ID and traffic report 698km
102.9 2233 D RPR 1., Bad Marienberg (rlp) Jingle ID between pops 592km
90.6 2243 D SWR3, Saarburg/Geisberg (rlp) Pop Nacht, as web 586km
101.6 2250 D hr4, Hardberg (hes) Traffic beep, as web 712km
96.3 2253 D Bayern 3, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) Great oompah mix of Happy pop song, as web 732km
94.8 2256 D SWR3, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) Pops, as web 560km
89.6 2306 F France Culture, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) French song, as 98.0 474km
91.1 2306 F France Inter, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) As 103.7 474km
107.6 2309 G Vibe FM, Watford/YMCA (EN-HTS) Ad for Fun World in Watford 173km
** Personal Skegness 'First'
The Hepburn forecast might have been a little overzealous regarding the
index figures. Tropo to Denmark and Norway was predicted but there was
only very weak scatter.
Good DX!
John Faulkner
Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/g1vvp
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/skegnessdx
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification
Aerial:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is 3 metres asl.
Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical or horizontal, etc.
Friday, 26 September 2014
Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Skegness Log: 24-09-14 (MW)
950 0122 CAN CKNB, Campbellton (NB) 95 CKNB call letters spoken slowly between songs Weak 4583 km
930 0200 CAN CFBC Country Favorites 93, Saint John (NB) This is 93 CFBC Saint John. Country music Fair 4728 km
1060 0200 USA WQOM, Natick (DC) (MA) Ten Sixty WQOM, your something radio station. Muffled ID in narrow
bandwidth due to 1053 splatter Weak 5266 km
1520 0200 USA WWKB ESPN Radio, Buffalo (NY) 1520 AM WWKB Buffalo ID Weak 5697 km
590 0259 CAN VOCM, Saint John s (NL) VOCM ID Weak 3730 km
620 0259 CAN CKCM, Grand Falls (NL) VOCM ID Weak 3839 km
750 0300 CAN CBGY CBC Radio 1, Bonavista Bay (NL) CBC News jingle in splatter Weak 3733 km
880 0300 USA WCBS WCBS Newsradio 880, New York/High Island (NY) New York news items. CBS News
jingle eight seconds after the hour. Obviously WCBS. Weak 5518 km
1010 0300 USA WINS, New York/Lyndhurst [NJ] (NY) Dominating CFRB for a change. Ten Ten Wins ID Fair 5543 km
1400 0300 CAN CBG CBC Radio 1, Gander (NL) CBC Radio 1 news jingle penetrating local noise Weak 3774 km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
930 0200 CAN CFBC Country Favorites 93, Saint John (NB) This is 93 CFBC Saint John. Country music Fair 4728 km
1060 0200 USA WQOM, Natick (DC) (MA) Ten Sixty WQOM, your something radio station. Muffled ID in narrow
bandwidth due to 1053 splatter Weak 5266 km
1520 0200 USA WWKB ESPN Radio, Buffalo (NY) 1520 AM WWKB Buffalo ID Weak 5697 km
590 0259 CAN VOCM, Saint John s (NL) VOCM ID Weak 3730 km
620 0259 CAN CKCM, Grand Falls (NL) VOCM ID Weak 3839 km
750 0300 CAN CBGY CBC Radio 1, Bonavista Bay (NL) CBC News jingle in splatter Weak 3733 km
880 0300 USA WCBS WCBS Newsradio 880, New York/High Island (NY) New York news items. CBS News
jingle eight seconds after the hour. Obviously WCBS. Weak 5518 km
1010 0300 USA WINS, New York/Lyndhurst [NJ] (NY) Dominating CFRB for a change. Ten Ten Wins ID Fair 5543 km
1400 0300 CAN CBG CBC Radio 1, Gander (NL) CBC Radio 1 news jingle penetrating local noise Weak 3774 km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Skegness Log: 23-09-14 (FM)
Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
93.7 1716 D Bayern 1, Wendelstein (bay) D314 Bayern1S (corrupted PS?). Suddenly over Holme moss
at 37dB!! Live listening 1024km
Band 2 Tropospheric:
103.2 1043 D hr4, Habichtswald (hes) German song. First time via scatter 647km
104.0 1057 D SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Feldberg (Schwarzwald) (bwü) Soft German pops, as web 799km
107.8 1058 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Säntis (ar) Italian OM, as web 917km
105.6 1059 SUI Radio SRF 3, Säntis (ar) Pops, as web 917km
95.4 1106 SUI Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Säntis (ar) German YL, as web 917km
88.0 1107 D SR 1 Europawelle, Göttelborner Höhe (saa) German pops, as web 629km
100.4 1117 D Radio Regenbogen, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) Pops, as web 748km
94.0 1118 D SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) YL, as web 748km **
98.5 1633 D Bayern 3, Wendelstein (bay) OM and YL, as web 1024km
105.7 1638 D B5 aktuell, Wendelstein (bay) OM, as web 1024km
102.3 1645 D BR Klassik, Wendelstein (bay) Barely audible between Lincs and an enhanced Heart
(102.4) 1024km
Unidentified:
A classical music station which kept appearing on 107.8 throughout the afternoon. It wasn't DLR Kultur or Figaro.
** Personal Skegness 'First'
104.0 SWR4, Feldberg was the first German station to appear via tropo, then followed by Gottelborner Hohe and Hornisgrinde. Signals were very weak throughout this all too brief tropo.
It was a coincidence that Wendelstein suddenly appeared on 93.7 via a good meteor burst while it was being received by tropo elsewhere at that time. I guessed Bayern1S pointed to the Sudbayern service but I see this is listed as "Oberbayern", so I wonder if this is a corrupted PS.
Good DX!
John Faulkner
Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/g1vvp
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/skegnessdx
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification
Aerial:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is 3 metres asl.
Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical or horizontal, etc.
93.7 1716 D Bayern 1, Wendelstein (bay) D314 Bayern1S (corrupted PS?). Suddenly over Holme moss
at 37dB!! Live listening 1024km
Band 2 Tropospheric:
103.2 1043 D hr4, Habichtswald (hes) German song. First time via scatter 647km
104.0 1057 D SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Feldberg (Schwarzwald) (bwü) Soft German pops, as web 799km
107.8 1058 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Säntis (ar) Italian OM, as web 917km
105.6 1059 SUI Radio SRF 3, Säntis (ar) Pops, as web 917km
95.4 1106 SUI Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Säntis (ar) German YL, as web 917km
88.0 1107 D SR 1 Europawelle, Göttelborner Höhe (saa) German pops, as web 629km
100.4 1117 D Radio Regenbogen, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) Pops, as web 748km
94.0 1118 D SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) YL, as web 748km **
98.5 1633 D Bayern 3, Wendelstein (bay) OM and YL, as web 1024km
105.7 1638 D B5 aktuell, Wendelstein (bay) OM, as web 1024km
102.3 1645 D BR Klassik, Wendelstein (bay) Barely audible between Lincs and an enhanced Heart
(102.4) 1024km
Unidentified:
A classical music station which kept appearing on 107.8 throughout the afternoon. It wasn't DLR Kultur or Figaro.
** Personal Skegness 'First'
104.0 SWR4, Feldberg was the first German station to appear via tropo, then followed by Gottelborner Hohe and Hornisgrinde. Signals were very weak throughout this all too brief tropo.
It was a coincidence that Wendelstein suddenly appeared on 93.7 via a good meteor burst while it was being received by tropo elsewhere at that time. I guessed Bayern1S pointed to the Sudbayern service but I see this is listed as "Oberbayern", so I wonder if this is a corrupted PS.
Good DX!
John Faulkner
Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/g1vvp
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/skegnessdx
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification
Aerial:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is 3 metres asl.
Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical or horizontal, etc.
Skegness Log: 23-09-14 (MW)
680 0200 CAN CFTR 680 News, Toronto/Grimsby (ON) Call letters heard in 684 Spanish splatter
Weak 5711 km
1010 0300 CAN CFRB Newstalk 1010, Toronto/Oakville (ON) Heard Ten Ten Toronto in 1008 splash
Fair 5692 km
1540 0300 CAN CHIN Toronto (ON) My ideas still matter! Weak 5668 km
Poor and worse. Struggling to hear the above.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Weak 5711 km
1010 0300 CAN CFRB Newstalk 1010, Toronto/Oakville (ON) Heard Ten Ten Toronto in 1008 splash
Fair 5692 km
1540 0300 CAN CHIN Toronto (ON) My ideas still matter! Weak 5668 km
Poor and worse. Struggling to hear the above.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Two Flags For The Price Of One!
Being a greedy DXer I like to have it both ways - I like to have an antenna towards Asia and another towards the Americas. :O) That's not easily achievable at the new QTH. Although we have lots more garden space than at our last QTH, the gardens are narrower. Well, you can't have everything. Or can you?
Flag antennas are usually fixed, with the vertical sections being anchored. Moving the flag is not one of the easiest exercises in the world. OK, it's not the most difficult either, but it takes a good hour or more, Sod's Law permitting, for me to relocate my flag.
Some DXers have constructed their flag antennas on a large wooden frame and plonked them on a rotator. Nice if you have that kind of room. No section of our garden is quite wide enough to achieve that, so I had a good think about how I could have two flags for the price of one. This part was actually quite simple, but I wanted to experiment by having an additional wire connected in order to make the moving part simpler and assess its impact on directivity.
Some basic info to recap. The flag antenna, also called a 'ewe' and sometimes a 'pennant', is a unidirectional antenna with a low reception angle. It's been a must-have for medium wave DXing for me for years and out-performs the loop, the ALA1530 and even has similar reception characteristics to those of a Beverage. The front lobe is fairly wide, accepting a good 50 or so degrees spread, but the rear null is also wide, and usefully consistent across the whole medium wave.
My existing flag was pointing at 28 degrees, based on figures obtained from Google Earth maps. 28 degrees points straight at Japan from here. I needed a second flag at around 300 degrees for west coast North america. Providing I could permanently anchor one end of the flag to the wooden garden fence, I could make the other (feed) end by ensuring it can be lifted from its moorings and carried to another mooring point in the desired direction. That bit was easily achieved. But what about the connections?
The use of a few banana plugs and sockets would make the job much easier, only I didn't have any. Time to call in that infamous duo Bodgitt & Scarper. Connections aside, I wondered if I could have two base wires connected at the same time in order to make the move simpler. The existing 28 degree base wire was buried behind plants and bushes, so I left that in place and affixed an additional base wire to the other anchoring point. This made no difference in the reception and directivity AT ALL! I used my usual checkpoint, semi-local BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 1026 kHz. I can get this right down in the noise. The null was unaffected by the second base wire. From all measurements and recordings taken I could not see any differences whether the second base wire was connected or not. So now, moving the flag to its North American direction could be easier than ever! All I had to do was lift one end of the flag from its moorings and plonk it in the other. 30 seconds and two simple connections later and my Asiatic flag becomes a North American flag.
A DXer recently asked me what effect the base wire had when it was lifted off the ground and how did this affect reception when the base wire was lying on the ground. Well, the answer is another simple one. It is only the vertical sections of the flag which have the pick-up. The directional effect is achieved by phasing the vertical sections against each other. The horizontal sections are not supposed to receive anything, so it doesn't matter if the top wire sags a little, etc. I tested this further by lifting the base wire slightly above the height of the bottom of the vertical sections and I didn't notice any difference. I even extended the bottom wire so I could direct it in some grooves in the concrete path on the garden so it could be hidden and, again, it made no difference.
Whether there are any differences on paper when making these adjustments to the base wire I do not know. Perhaps somebody could model this. There may be something of course, but I did not observe any detrimental effects while carrying out these experiments. Also bear in mind I am not a 'techie' so my apologies if I have stated anything incorrectly above. I am a Bodgitt & Scarper man and proud of it! If it's help together with sellotape and it works well I don't care too much.
BUT ... since the vertical elements of the flag are the crucial part, ensure these really are properly vertical and straight as this is what helps you achieve those nice deep nulls. You will benefit by NOT employing Bodgitt & Scarper tactics on this part.
To clarify, this is one flag antenna and not two. I merely move one side of the flag to a different location in order to make the most of two different directions. 355 and 028 degrees are fairly close for an antenna with such a wide forward lobe, but there is a clear difference in reception, so this has been a worthwhile exercise.
Asian flag antenna at 028 degrees North American feed at 355 degrees
Flag antennas are usually fixed, with the vertical sections being anchored. Moving the flag is not one of the easiest exercises in the world. OK, it's not the most difficult either, but it takes a good hour or more, Sod's Law permitting, for me to relocate my flag.
Some DXers have constructed their flag antennas on a large wooden frame and plonked them on a rotator. Nice if you have that kind of room. No section of our garden is quite wide enough to achieve that, so I had a good think about how I could have two flags for the price of one. This part was actually quite simple, but I wanted to experiment by having an additional wire connected in order to make the moving part simpler and assess its impact on directivity.
'Portable' Asia feed on the left. Fixed resistor box on the right. Click to enlarge
Some basic info to recap. The flag antenna, also called a 'ewe' and sometimes a 'pennant', is a unidirectional antenna with a low reception angle. It's been a must-have for medium wave DXing for me for years and out-performs the loop, the ALA1530 and even has similar reception characteristics to those of a Beverage. The front lobe is fairly wide, accepting a good 50 or so degrees spread, but the rear null is also wide, and usefully consistent across the whole medium wave.
My existing flag was pointing at 28 degrees, based on figures obtained from Google Earth maps. 28 degrees points straight at Japan from here. I needed a second flag at around 300 degrees for west coast North america. Providing I could permanently anchor one end of the flag to the wooden garden fence, I could make the other (feed) end by ensuring it can be lifted from its moorings and carried to another mooring point in the desired direction. That bit was easily achieved. But what about the connections?
The use of a few banana plugs and sockets would make the job much easier, only I didn't have any. Time to call in that infamous duo Bodgitt & Scarper. Connections aside, I wondered if I could have two base wires connected at the same time in order to make the move simpler. The existing 28 degree base wire was buried behind plants and bushes, so I left that in place and affixed an additional base wire to the other anchoring point. This made no difference in the reception and directivity AT ALL! I used my usual checkpoint, semi-local BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 1026 kHz. I can get this right down in the noise. The null was unaffected by the second base wire. From all measurements and recordings taken I could not see any differences whether the second base wire was connected or not. So now, moving the flag to its North American direction could be easier than ever! All I had to do was lift one end of the flag from its moorings and plonk it in the other. 30 seconds and two simple connections later and my Asiatic flag becomes a North American flag.
A DXer recently asked me what effect the base wire had when it was lifted off the ground and how did this affect reception when the base wire was lying on the ground. Well, the answer is another simple one. It is only the vertical sections of the flag which have the pick-up. The directional effect is achieved by phasing the vertical sections against each other. The horizontal sections are not supposed to receive anything, so it doesn't matter if the top wire sags a little, etc. I tested this further by lifting the base wire slightly above the height of the bottom of the vertical sections and I didn't notice any difference. I even extended the bottom wire so I could direct it in some grooves in the concrete path on the garden so it could be hidden and, again, it made no difference.
Whether there are any differences on paper when making these adjustments to the base wire I do not know. Perhaps somebody could model this. There may be something of course, but I did not observe any detrimental effects while carrying out these experiments. Also bear in mind I am not a 'techie' so my apologies if I have stated anything incorrectly above. I am a Bodgitt & Scarper man and proud of it! If it's help together with sellotape and it works well I don't care too much.
BUT ... since the vertical elements of the flag are the crucial part, ensure these really are properly vertical and straight as this is what helps you achieve those nice deep nulls. You will benefit by NOT employing Bodgitt & Scarper tactics on this part.
Keep the supports absolutely vertical if you can
To clarify, this is one flag antenna and not two. I merely move one side of the flag to a different location in order to make the most of two different directions. 355 and 028 degrees are fairly close for an antenna with such a wide forward lobe, but there is a clear difference in reception, so this has been a worthwhile exercise.
Monday, 22 September 2014
Skegness Log: 22-09-14 (MW)
730 0400 CAN CKAC Radio Circulation, Montréal/Pointe-Calumet (QC) CKAC ID on the hour Weak
5203 km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
5203 km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Skegness Log: 20-09-14 (FM)
Band 2 Sporadic E:
88.9 ???? HRV HRT-HR 1, Dubrovnik/Srd (du) YL as 87.7 1758km
91.3 ???? HRV HRT-HR 1, Labinstica (st) C201 HRT-HR_1 1578km
87.6 1356 HRV Podravski Radio, Durdevac/Micetinac-Veliki Kostanj (kc) Unattended. C440 1436km
87.7 1356 I RAI Radio1, Poggiu Rasu/Caprera - La Maddalena (RAI) (ot) Presumed site. Heard here
before and fits with conditions. RAI 1 bumper. Thanks FM Franco for help 1495km
87.9 1357 I R101, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (ag) 5215 _R_-_101 2007km
89.0 1358 I RAI Radio1, Alcamo/Monte Bonifato (RAI) (tp) Presumed site. Fits conditions. Thanks
FM Franco for help 1949km
91.1 1358 I RAI Radio1, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (RAI) (ag) Football commentary. Thanks
FM Franco for help. 2007km
89.5 1400 F France Culture, Cervione/Alistro (20B) As 98.0 1389km
89.5 1401 I RTL 102.5, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (ag) 5218 RTL102.5 2007km
91.8 1401 I RTL 102.5, Mango/Frazione San Donato (cn) As 89.5 1102km **
88.0 1404 E RNE Radio 5 Todo Noticias, Punta Umbría (AND-H) E215 RNE_5-H_ 1862km
88.4 1406 E RNE Radio Nacional, Almonaster la Real (AND-H) Presumed with mentions of RNE 1783km
87.6 1407 E COPE, Badajoz/Cansa Burros (EXT-BA) E2CA __COPE__. Badajoz in radiotext 1683km
87.9 1407 E Canal Extremadura Radio, Mérida/Cerro de San Serván (EXT-BA) E30A Canal_EX 1670km
89.8 1425 I Radio Kiss Kiss, San Marco in Lamis/Monte Celano (fg) 5225 KISSKISS 1711km **
87.9 1426 F France Culture, Porto Vecchio/Punta di a Varra (20A) As 98.0 1449km
90.2 1426 F RMC, Porto Vecchio/Punta di a Varra (20A) Ads, as web 1449km
88.1 1434 BIH BH Radio 1, Tuznica (k10) F001 BHRADIO1 1615km
89.0 1434 ALB New Planet Radio 89 FM, Tiranë (Tirana)/Fushë Dajt (tir) 5400 -_ANET__ RADIO___
89_FM___ THE_BEST RADIO___ FOR_____ CLASSIC_ ROCK..._ 1964km
87.7 1435 HRV HRT-HR 1, Licka Pljesivica (gs) C201 HRT-HR_1 1456km
89.5 1435 HRV HRT Radio Dubrovnik, Gruda/Sveti Ilija (du) C315 R_DUBROV 1785km
88.5 1436 HRV Radio Dalmacija, Celevac (zd) C31E DALMATIA 1499km
89.6 1436 HRV HRT-HR 1, Promina/Cavnovka (si) YL, as 87.7 1547km
97.5 1438 HRV HRT-HR 2, Otocac/Stipanov Gric (gs) C202 HRT-HR_2 1439km
90.5 1439 HRV HRT-HR 2, Licka Pljesivica (gs) C202 HRT-HR_2 1456km
98.5 1439 HRV HRT-HR 2, Dubrovnik/Srd (du) C202 HRT-HR_2 1758km **
91.0 1445 ALB Radio Tirana, Shkodër/Tarabosh (shk) 5158 09-2__1_ PRRANAMI (Corrupted PS) 1882km
90.4 1448 ALB Albania FM, Tiranë (Tirana) (tir) Vocal ID and Arabic music! Thanks Reijo Alapiha
for help 1960km **
92.0 1449 HRV Narodni Radio, Celevac (zd) C206 NARODNI_ 1499km
93.6 1449 I RAI Radio2, Trieste/Monte Belvedere (RAI) (ts) OM. Thanks FM Franco for help
1278km **
95.2 1450 ALB Radio Maria Italia, Tiranë (Tirana)/Dajt (tir) Presumed. Ave Mavis 1964km **
95.8 1450 I RAI Radio3, Trieste/Monte Belvedere (RAI) (ts) Thanks FM Franco 1278km **
98.1 1451 HRV HRT-HR 2, Celevac (zd) C202 HRT-HR_2 1499km **
98.9 1451 HRV HRT-HR 2, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C202 HRT-HR_2 1643km
107.9 1452 HRV HKR-Hrvatski Katolicki Radio, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C205 -_HKR_-_ 1643km
102.0 1453 HRV HRT Radio Split, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C31A R-SP____ 1643km **
89.1 1455 BIH Federalni Radio, Capljina/Crno brdo (hgn) F209 RADIO-F. 1693km
92.5 1456 BIH Federalni Radio, Tuznica (k10) F209 1615km
89.1 1458 I Radio Fantasy, Sagrado/Frazione San Martino del Carso-Monte San Michele (go)
Vocal ID 1247km **
89.2 1500 HRV Radio Otok Krk - O.K., Krk/Kras (ri) C456 RADIO-OK 1366km
90.6 1500 SVN Radio 1, Sempeter pri Gorici (go) 9357 RADIO_1_ 1250km **
93.2 1501 HRV Otvoreni Radio, Gruda/Sveti Ilija (du) Vocal ID 1785km **
90.7 1503 I RAI Radio1, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (RAI) (le) 5201
__RAI___ _RADIO1_ 1982km
101.0 1503 HRV HRT Radio Split, Labinstica (st) C31A 1578km **
102.3 1503 I RTL 102.5, Muggia/Strada per Chiampore (ts) Vocal ID 1281km **
93.7 1504 I RTL 102.5, Monopoli/Contrada Impalata (ba) Jingle ID 1865km **
88.4 1505 I Radio Romantica, Muggia/Strada per Chiampore (ts) 561E ____NTIC 1281km
88.6 1505 HRV Radio Sibenik, Sibenik/Kamenar (si) C314 SIBENIK PI:C314 PS:_SIBENIK 1549km
89.4 1505 I Radio Deejay, Muggia/Strada per Chiampore (ts) Brief Deejay ID I missed the first
time. Thanks FM Franco for help 1281km
91.2 1507 SVN Radio Ognjisce, Tinjan (kp) 942F OG__ISCE 1289km
93.3 1507 HRV HRT-HR 2, Mirkovica (ri) C202 HR__HR_2 1374km
93.6 1507 HRV Totalni FM, Labinstica (st) C30B ____LNI_ 1578km
90.8 1508 I Radio Dara-inBlu, Brindisi-centro (br) Presumed. Possible ID amid fade. Ads
1923km
87.8 1510 HRV Radio Dalmacija, Brac/Vidova Gora (st) Info and ID. RDS not working today 1625km
88.2 1529 ALB Radio 7, Fier (fie) 4D7F 1999km
91.0 1531 HRV Radio 057, Zadar/Bili brig (zd) Presumed. Zadar promo. Zadar mentioned three
times. Thanks FM Franco for help 1482km **
92.4 1537 HRV HRT-HR 2, Lastovo (du) C202 HRT-HR_2 1682km
92.7 1537 HRV HRT-HR 1, Murter/Raduc (si) C201 HRT-HR_1 1525km **
87.6 1541 HRV HRT-HR 2, Ugljan/Sv. Mihovil (zd) C202 HRT-HR_2 1481km
89.3 1542 HRV Novi Radio, Ugljan/Sv. Mihovil (zd) C30C 1481km **
90.5 1543 HRV Nautic Radio Vis, Vis-Komisa/Sveti Duh (st) Jingle ID 1618km
93.8 1548 GRC NERIT 3 trito programma, Kerkira/Mt. Pantokratoras (ion-ker) NERIT Sport ID -
confirmed by Arvid Husdal - thanks 2098km **
90.4 1554 I Radio Deejay, Brindisi-centro (br) 5214 _DEEJAY_ 1923km
92.8 1555 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Brindisi-centro (br) 5264 *_RDS_*_ 1923km
97.5 1557 I Studio 100 Radio, Brindisi-centro (br) Vocal ID in promo 1923km **
89.4 1602 I Kiss Kiss Italia, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le) 531F
KKITALIA 1982km
89.9 1603 I Radio Maria, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le) 51CC R.MARIA_
1982km
87.9 1605 I Radio 105 Network, Bari/Piazza Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi, 24 (ba) 5211
__105___ 1824km
88.3 1605 I Radio 24, Martina Franca/Monte Trazzonara-Strada Carbonico Zona H (ta) 5245
1894km
89.1 1605 I RAI Radio1, Martina Franca/Masseria Trasconi (ta) 5201 __RAI___ 1885km
91.1 1607 I RAI Radio2, Martina Franca/Masseria Trasconi (ta) 5202 _R__IO2_ __RAI___ 1885km
91.7 1607 I Radio Venere (Puglia), Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le)
5D4A ______RE 1982km
102.0 1610 I Ciccio Riccio, Mesagne (br) Vocal ID 1920km
104.1 1610 I Radio 24, Santeramo in Colle/Contrada Iazzitello (ba) 5245 1848km **
105.3 1611 I Radio 105 Network, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) Vocal ID 1796km
108.0 1612 I Love FM, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) Simply Red song, as web 1796km
104.1 1613 I Virgin Radio, Brindisi (br) 5241 1921km **
103.6 1614 I Radio Capital, Brindisi (br) Jingle ID 1921km **
97.3 1615 I TRBC - Tele Radio Buon Consiglio, Santeramo in Colle/Contrada Iazzitello (ba)
5263 __NS____ 1848km
99.5 1615 I Radio Capital, Bari/Via Alessandro Maria Calefati, 95 (ba) 5219 _CAPITAL. AFs
suggest Bari, as opposed to Andria 1823km **
95.5 1616 I RAI Radio2, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (RAI) (le) 5202
_RADIO__ 1982km
97.0 1616 I Radionorba, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) 5353 Presuming Corato, usually heard here.
Could be Bari also 1796km
93.9 1617 I Mondoradio Tutti Frutti, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le)
5A99 _RADIO__ _RUTTI__. Jingle ID 1982km **
94.2 1617 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Molfetta (ba) Noisy signal due to co-channel QRM.
Pops as 94.5. 1802km
94.5 1617 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio
(le) 5264 *_RDS_*_ 1982km
92.5 1618 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Alberobello/Contrada Curcio Rubini (ba) Vocal ID
1873km
90.8 1619 I Radionorba, Alberobello (ba) 5353 R-NORBA_ 1871km
87.6 1622 I Radio Capital, Cassano delle Murge/Contrada Pozzo Maccheroni (ba) Jingle ID 1848km
Unidentified:
94.7 1617 I UNID, ? 5B3B. Low modulation Coldplay (the lower the better!)
92.2 1446 ? Arabic.
89.8 1506 ? Arabic
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Did that really happen? Not only was this an out of season opening, it wouldn't have been out of place in the middle of summer! It's the best out of season Es opening I have personally known, but it was an odd opening at the start. I first realised that Es were around when I noticed C440 on 87.6 on my display at 1356. Snippets of Italy appeared on 87.6, then it jumped to Spain, then back to Italy again, gradually improving and spreading back to the Balkans.
Videos:
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1356 (Croatia, Italy & Spain)
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1425 (Italy)
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1433 (Balkans & Arabic)
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1527 (Italy & Balkans)
There is one more video, showing a few remaining Italians, which I am unable to upload it due to exceeding my weekly Vimeo upload limit.
Good DX!
John Faulkner
Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/g1vvp
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/skegnessdx
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification
Aerial:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is 3 metres asl.
Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical or horizontal, etc.
88.9 ???? HRV HRT-HR 1, Dubrovnik/Srd (du) YL as 87.7 1758km
91.3 ???? HRV HRT-HR 1, Labinstica (st) C201 HRT-HR_1 1578km
87.6 1356 HRV Podravski Radio, Durdevac/Micetinac-Veliki Kostanj (kc) Unattended. C440 1436km
87.7 1356 I RAI Radio1, Poggiu Rasu/Caprera - La Maddalena (RAI) (ot) Presumed site. Heard here
before and fits with conditions. RAI 1 bumper. Thanks FM Franco for help 1495km
87.9 1357 I R101, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (ag) 5215 _R_-_101 2007km
89.0 1358 I RAI Radio1, Alcamo/Monte Bonifato (RAI) (tp) Presumed site. Fits conditions. Thanks
FM Franco for help 1949km
91.1 1358 I RAI Radio1, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (RAI) (ag) Football commentary. Thanks
FM Franco for help. 2007km
89.5 1400 F France Culture, Cervione/Alistro (20B) As 98.0 1389km
89.5 1401 I RTL 102.5, Cammarata/Monte Cammarata (ag) 5218 RTL102.5 2007km
91.8 1401 I RTL 102.5, Mango/Frazione San Donato (cn) As 89.5 1102km **
88.0 1404 E RNE Radio 5 Todo Noticias, Punta Umbría (AND-H) E215 RNE_5-H_ 1862km
88.4 1406 E RNE Radio Nacional, Almonaster la Real (AND-H) Presumed with mentions of RNE 1783km
87.6 1407 E COPE, Badajoz/Cansa Burros (EXT-BA) E2CA __COPE__. Badajoz in radiotext 1683km
87.9 1407 E Canal Extremadura Radio, Mérida/Cerro de San Serván (EXT-BA) E30A Canal_EX 1670km
89.8 1425 I Radio Kiss Kiss, San Marco in Lamis/Monte Celano (fg) 5225 KISSKISS 1711km **
87.9 1426 F France Culture, Porto Vecchio/Punta di a Varra (20A) As 98.0 1449km
90.2 1426 F RMC, Porto Vecchio/Punta di a Varra (20A) Ads, as web 1449km
88.1 1434 BIH BH Radio 1, Tuznica (k10) F001 BHRADIO1 1615km
89.0 1434 ALB New Planet Radio 89 FM, Tiranë (Tirana)/Fushë Dajt (tir) 5400 -_ANET__ RADIO___
89_FM___ THE_BEST RADIO___ FOR_____ CLASSIC_ ROCK..._ 1964km
87.7 1435 HRV HRT-HR 1, Licka Pljesivica (gs) C201 HRT-HR_1 1456km
89.5 1435 HRV HRT Radio Dubrovnik, Gruda/Sveti Ilija (du) C315 R_DUBROV 1785km
88.5 1436 HRV Radio Dalmacija, Celevac (zd) C31E DALMATIA 1499km
89.6 1436 HRV HRT-HR 1, Promina/Cavnovka (si) YL, as 87.7 1547km
97.5 1438 HRV HRT-HR 2, Otocac/Stipanov Gric (gs) C202 HRT-HR_2 1439km
90.5 1439 HRV HRT-HR 2, Licka Pljesivica (gs) C202 HRT-HR_2 1456km
98.5 1439 HRV HRT-HR 2, Dubrovnik/Srd (du) C202 HRT-HR_2 1758km **
91.0 1445 ALB Radio Tirana, Shkodër/Tarabosh (shk) 5158 09-2__1_ PRRANAMI (Corrupted PS) 1882km
90.4 1448 ALB Albania FM, Tiranë (Tirana) (tir) Vocal ID and Arabic music! Thanks Reijo Alapiha
for help 1960km **
92.0 1449 HRV Narodni Radio, Celevac (zd) C206 NARODNI_ 1499km
93.6 1449 I RAI Radio2, Trieste/Monte Belvedere (RAI) (ts) OM. Thanks FM Franco for help
1278km **
95.2 1450 ALB Radio Maria Italia, Tiranë (Tirana)/Dajt (tir) Presumed. Ave Mavis 1964km **
95.8 1450 I RAI Radio3, Trieste/Monte Belvedere (RAI) (ts) Thanks FM Franco 1278km **
98.1 1451 HRV HRT-HR 2, Celevac (zd) C202 HRT-HR_2 1499km **
98.9 1451 HRV HRT-HR 2, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C202 HRT-HR_2 1643km
107.9 1452 HRV HKR-Hrvatski Katolicki Radio, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C205 -_HKR_-_ 1643km
102.0 1453 HRV HRT Radio Split, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C31A R-SP____ 1643km **
89.1 1455 BIH Federalni Radio, Capljina/Crno brdo (hgn) F209 RADIO-F. 1693km
92.5 1456 BIH Federalni Radio, Tuznica (k10) F209 1615km
89.1 1458 I Radio Fantasy, Sagrado/Frazione San Martino del Carso-Monte San Michele (go)
Vocal ID 1247km **
89.2 1500 HRV Radio Otok Krk - O.K., Krk/Kras (ri) C456 RADIO-OK 1366km
90.6 1500 SVN Radio 1, Sempeter pri Gorici (go) 9357 RADIO_1_ 1250km **
93.2 1501 HRV Otvoreni Radio, Gruda/Sveti Ilija (du) Vocal ID 1785km **
90.7 1503 I RAI Radio1, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (RAI) (le) 5201
__RAI___ _RADIO1_ 1982km
101.0 1503 HRV HRT Radio Split, Labinstica (st) C31A 1578km **
102.3 1503 I RTL 102.5, Muggia/Strada per Chiampore (ts) Vocal ID 1281km **
93.7 1504 I RTL 102.5, Monopoli/Contrada Impalata (ba) Jingle ID 1865km **
88.4 1505 I Radio Romantica, Muggia/Strada per Chiampore (ts) 561E ____NTIC 1281km
88.6 1505 HRV Radio Sibenik, Sibenik/Kamenar (si) C314 SIBENIK PI:C314 PS:_SIBENIK 1549km
89.4 1505 I Radio Deejay, Muggia/Strada per Chiampore (ts) Brief Deejay ID I missed the first
time. Thanks FM Franco for help 1281km
91.2 1507 SVN Radio Ognjisce, Tinjan (kp) 942F OG__ISCE 1289km
93.3 1507 HRV HRT-HR 2, Mirkovica (ri) C202 HR__HR_2 1374km
93.6 1507 HRV Totalni FM, Labinstica (st) C30B ____LNI_ 1578km
90.8 1508 I Radio Dara-inBlu, Brindisi-centro (br) Presumed. Possible ID amid fade. Ads
1923km
87.8 1510 HRV Radio Dalmacija, Brac/Vidova Gora (st) Info and ID. RDS not working today 1625km
88.2 1529 ALB Radio 7, Fier (fie) 4D7F 1999km
91.0 1531 HRV Radio 057, Zadar/Bili brig (zd) Presumed. Zadar promo. Zadar mentioned three
times. Thanks FM Franco for help 1482km **
92.4 1537 HRV HRT-HR 2, Lastovo (du) C202 HRT-HR_2 1682km
92.7 1537 HRV HRT-HR 1, Murter/Raduc (si) C201 HRT-HR_1 1525km **
87.6 1541 HRV HRT-HR 2, Ugljan/Sv. Mihovil (zd) C202 HRT-HR_2 1481km
89.3 1542 HRV Novi Radio, Ugljan/Sv. Mihovil (zd) C30C 1481km **
90.5 1543 HRV Nautic Radio Vis, Vis-Komisa/Sveti Duh (st) Jingle ID 1618km
93.8 1548 GRC NERIT 3 trito programma, Kerkira/Mt. Pantokratoras (ion-ker) NERIT Sport ID -
confirmed by Arvid Husdal - thanks 2098km **
90.4 1554 I Radio Deejay, Brindisi-centro (br) 5214 _DEEJAY_ 1923km
92.8 1555 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Brindisi-centro (br) 5264 *_RDS_*_ 1923km
97.5 1557 I Studio 100 Radio, Brindisi-centro (br) Vocal ID in promo 1923km **
89.4 1602 I Kiss Kiss Italia, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le) 531F
KKITALIA 1982km
89.9 1603 I Radio Maria, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le) 51CC R.MARIA_
1982km
87.9 1605 I Radio 105 Network, Bari/Piazza Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi, 24 (ba) 5211
__105___ 1824km
88.3 1605 I Radio 24, Martina Franca/Monte Trazzonara-Strada Carbonico Zona H (ta) 5245
1894km
89.1 1605 I RAI Radio1, Martina Franca/Masseria Trasconi (ta) 5201 __RAI___ 1885km
91.1 1607 I RAI Radio2, Martina Franca/Masseria Trasconi (ta) 5202 _R__IO2_ __RAI___ 1885km
91.7 1607 I Radio Venere (Puglia), Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le)
5D4A ______RE 1982km
102.0 1610 I Ciccio Riccio, Mesagne (br) Vocal ID 1920km
104.1 1610 I Radio 24, Santeramo in Colle/Contrada Iazzitello (ba) 5245 1848km **
105.3 1611 I Radio 105 Network, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) Vocal ID 1796km
108.0 1612 I Love FM, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) Simply Red song, as web 1796km
104.1 1613 I Virgin Radio, Brindisi (br) 5241 1921km **
103.6 1614 I Radio Capital, Brindisi (br) Jingle ID 1921km **
97.3 1615 I TRBC - Tele Radio Buon Consiglio, Santeramo in Colle/Contrada Iazzitello (ba)
5263 __NS____ 1848km
99.5 1615 I Radio Capital, Bari/Via Alessandro Maria Calefati, 95 (ba) 5219 _CAPITAL. AFs
suggest Bari, as opposed to Andria 1823km **
95.5 1616 I RAI Radio2, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (RAI) (le) 5202
_RADIO__ 1982km
97.0 1616 I Radionorba, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) 5353 Presuming Corato, usually heard here.
Could be Bari also 1796km
93.9 1617 I Mondoradio Tutti Frutti, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio (le)
5A99 _RADIO__ _RUTTI__. Jingle ID 1982km **
94.2 1617 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Molfetta (ba) Noisy signal due to co-channel QRM.
Pops as 94.5. 1802km
94.5 1617 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Parabita/Contrada Terrisi-Serra di San Eleuterio
(le) 5264 *_RDS_*_ 1982km
92.5 1618 I RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono, Alberobello/Contrada Curcio Rubini (ba) Vocal ID
1873km
90.8 1619 I Radionorba, Alberobello (ba) 5353 R-NORBA_ 1871km
87.6 1622 I Radio Capital, Cassano delle Murge/Contrada Pozzo Maccheroni (ba) Jingle ID 1848km
Unidentified:
94.7 1617 I UNID, ? 5B3B. Low modulation Coldplay (the lower the better!)
92.2 1446 ? Arabic.
89.8 1506 ? Arabic
** Personal Skegness 'First'
Did that really happen? Not only was this an out of season opening, it wouldn't have been out of place in the middle of summer! It's the best out of season Es opening I have personally known, but it was an odd opening at the start. I first realised that Es were around when I noticed C440 on 87.6 on my display at 1356. Snippets of Italy appeared on 87.6, then it jumped to Spain, then back to Italy again, gradually improving and spreading back to the Balkans.
Videos:
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1356 (Croatia, Italy & Spain)
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1425 (Italy)
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1433 (Balkans & Arabic)
Sporadic E. 2014-09-20 1527 (Italy & Balkans)
There is one more video, showing a few remaining Italians, which I am unable to upload it due to exceeding my weekly Vimeo upload limit.
Good DX!
John Faulkner
Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/g1vvp
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/skegnessdx
Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification
Aerial:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is 3 metres asl.
Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical or horizontal, etc.
Friday, 19 September 2014
Skegness Log: 19-09-14 (MW)
600 0400 CAN CBNA CBC Radio 1, Saint Anthony (NL) Programme promo and news jingle Weak 3714 km
1130 0400 USA WBBR Bloomberg 1130, New York/Carlstadt [NJ] (NY) From the financial capital of the
world - this is WBBR New York Fair 5538 km
1200 0400 CAN CFGO Ottawa (ON) CFGO letters heard in local noise Weak 5334 km
1320 0400 CAN CJMR Oakville (ON) Indian music across the hour. Has to be CJMR Weak 5703 km
1510 0400 USA WUFC Yahoo Sports Radio 1510, Boston (Waverley) (MA) TOH ID Weak 5245 km
Conditions haven't been great lately with geomagnetic activity being almost constantly at unsettled to active levels. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/k-index.html This is a great shame as we are now at the equinox period.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
1130 0400 USA WBBR Bloomberg 1130, New York/Carlstadt [NJ] (NY) From the financial capital of the
world - this is WBBR New York Fair 5538 km
1200 0400 CAN CFGO Ottawa (ON) CFGO letters heard in local noise Weak 5334 km
1320 0400 CAN CJMR Oakville (ON) Indian music across the hour. Has to be CJMR Weak 5703 km
1510 0400 USA WUFC Yahoo Sports Radio 1510, Boston (Waverley) (MA) TOH ID Weak 5245 km
Conditions haven't been great lately with geomagnetic activity being almost constantly at unsettled to active levels. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/k-index.html This is a great shame as we are now at the equinox period.
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Skegness Log: 16-09-14 (MW)
1134 2100 KOR HLKC KBS 3 Radio, Hwaseong (gye) Call letters heard, time pips and music. Equal Euros on channel Weak 8724 km
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Good DX!
John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com
Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna: 10ft x 25ft flag at 28 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; Mestor
Monday, 15 September 2014
Kenwick Top DX Trip: 15-09-14
It's been a week of teasing tropo. True enough there were some good catches, but the conditions reminded me of this summer's sporadic E season: Just when reception starts to build, it falls away again! Kenwick Top had been calling out my name for a while but I wanted to wait until all hints of tropospheric activity had passed. I wanted conditions to be just right as my plan is make more regular trips to this summit, so the band needed to be as flat as possible in order to assess how things are up there in a worst case scenario.
First things first. No radio trip would be complete without one or two famous Faulkner fiascos and this trip had its fair share. I forgot several cables, the all-important antenna clamp. antenna base, a couple of plugs and sockets, etc. Yes, it was a familiar Faulkner field trip, full of foul-ups and faux-pas. Perhaps I could be excused on this occasion ...
A couple of hours before leaving home I developed a migraine. My second within a week. I have been a life-long sufferer and my migraines always lead to loss of vision with those infamous nauseating zig-zag light displays in my eyes. Sometimes I suffer numbness in my limbs and once I even lost the ability to speak. Migraines are, after all, mini strokes. Thankfully, a dose of soluble co-codamol tablets stop those evil headaches and I can sometimes continue with regular activities within an hour of taking the medicine, though it feels like my head is in a bowl of pea soup.
A brief rest left me with little time to pack the equipment in the car, connect and test it, as I usually do before playing radio. This way I forget a lot less. I was on the verge of calling it off, but I did not want to let down my friend Phil who was coming along with me to get first hand experience of my radio activities. Phil is not a radio enthusiast but I knew he would at least find it half-interesting as he too is a self-confessed geek.
Now quite late, I dropped Jane, my wife, into town to meet her friend Emma, then Phil and I sped to Kenwick Top. With a bit of luck we would have at least half an hour to do some listening before I had to dash back home.
Kenwick Top is a local high spot, some 20 miles north-west of my home in Skegness and a half-hour drive. It is on the edge of the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds and has a sea view from north-east through to south-east. Although it's hardly mountainous at only 91 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest spots for miles around and the take-off makes it a prime DX hotspot with superb reception in all directions. The only drawback is its close proximity to the Belmont mast, just a few miles to the west, and the signal levels will de-sensitise some receivers.
After bodging up my receiving station (and that's no exaggeration!) everything was working 100%. Phew! My foresight into taking along copious amounts of gaffa tape was commendable, though I say so myself, as it held together so many things which would otherwise have fallen apart. Time to fire up the XDR-GTK software and Bandicam (screen recording software) so I can record the whole session.
With conditions well below average and this being an evening DX session (aircraft scatter is usually less frequent during the evenings) I was more than pleased with the results. Some of the regular nearer continental stations were struggling or absent altogether, while some of the more distant scatter stations were received quite well. You can hear Antenna Thuringen from Remda on 107.6 very clearly. You can also hear HR4 from Heidelstein in Bavaria on 107.3 and Brocken's MDR1 is clear on 94.6, plus many other continental goodies. There is also a tentative BB Radio from Berlin on 107.5 (currently seeking verification of this), which will be a Kenwick Top aircraft scatter distance record if confirmed.
One minor drawback with Kenwick Top is the additional stations from inland which can be heard there. The band has more English activity than at my home location.
The video above contains over half an hour of pure unadulterated DX footage. But let this serve as a warning to those DXers who are brave enough to venture to new heights to get their DX kicks - things just aren't the same when you return home to your domestic DX dial. Oh, if only they were!
John Faulkner
Kenwick Top, Lincolnshire. 91m asl
Equipment:
Receiver: Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c modification
Software: Konrad XDR-GTK
Aerial: Triax FM5 on 10m mast
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