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Monday, 17 November 2014

Skegness Log: 17-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 87.6 0845 CZE Radio Impuls, Brno/Kojál (JM) Vocal ID, as 91.4  1219km
 88.6 0845 CZE CRo Vltava, Klatovy/Doubrava (PL) 232D  984km
 89.1 0845 CZE CRo Radiozurnál, Plzen/Krasov (PL) 232F  947km
 89.5 0845 HNG Music FM, Budapest - Széchenyi-hegy (Bud) B418  1460km
 89.9 0845 AUT Ö2 - Radio Wien, Wien 1/Kahlenberg (wie) AC0C  1247km
 90.7 0845  D  Bayern 1, Ochsenkopf (bay) D311 (91.2 active, not 88.7, so presume  Oschenkopf
               and not Grunten)  865km **

 91.1 0845 CZE CRo Radiozurnál, Ceské Budejovice/Klet - CRa (JC) 232F  1084km
 91.4 0845 CZE Radio Impuls, Plzen/Krasov (PL) 2203 and vocal ID  947km
 89.0 1923 DNK DR P2, Sønder Højrup/Sdr. Højrupvejen 21 (sdk-fyn) 9201. Classical  700km **
 90.8 1923 DNK DR P2, København-Gladsaxe/Isbanevej 4 (hvs) Classical music, as 89.0  836km **
 91.2 2302  D  Bayern 1, Ochsenkopf (bay) As 90.7  865km **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

The Elad FDM-S2 SDR receiver is starting to come into its own, especially regarding meteor scatter. The speed and accuracy of the RDS is impressive!

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:
Elad FDM-S2, 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, horizontal, etc.

Sunday, 16 November 2014

Skegness Log: 16-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 87.6 1144 ALG Radio Laghouat, Aflou (3) OMs discussion  2120km

Today saw a miniscule sporadic E opening to Algeria lasting a couple of minutes. I don't think we can be far off the time where we can actually say that we have had more out of season Es openings than we have had IN the season. :O)

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:
Elad FDM-S2, 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, horizontal, etc.

Friday, 14 November 2014

Skegness Log: 14-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 88.0 0335 POL PR 1, Krosno/Sucha Góra (PK) 3211 JEDYNKA_ etc. Scrolling PS. 40 second burst  1530km
 87.5 0336 POL PR 1, Czestochowa/Wreczyca (SL) As 88.0  1291km
 87.8 0336 POL PR 1, Przemysl/Tatarska Góra (PK) As 88.0 in 40 second burst  1592km **
 88.3 0336 POL PR 1, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3211 JEDYNKA_ etc. 30 second burst  1229km
 89.4 0336 POL PR 1, Kraków/Choragwica (MP) As 88.0, etc.  1406km **
 90.4 0504 AUT Hitradio Ö3, Klagenfurt 1/Dobratsch-Villacher Alpe (kae) Jingle and YL ID after news  1199km **
 90.5 0517 CZE CRo Hradec Králové, Trutnov/Cerná hora (KR) 280A  1091km **
 90.6 0519 POL PR 2, Czestochowa/Wreczyca (SL) 3222  1291km
 91.7 0519 POL PR 3, Czestochowa/Wreczyca (SL) 3233  1291km
 89.0 0523  I  RAI Radio2, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd) Italian song. Presumed with Monte Venda in on 89.9.   1197km **
 89.9 0523  I  RAI Radio3, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd) 5203  1197km
107.1 0841 POL Radio ZET, Konin/Zólwieniec (WP) Vocal ID  1211km
103.5 0853 HNG Class FM, Tokaj (BAZ) B205  1580km **
105.5 0853 CZE Evropa 2, Votice or Brno 2204 EVROPA_2 **
106.9 0856  D  B5 Aktuell, Grünten (Allgäu) or Brotjacklriegel D315
104.0 0906 POL PR 4, Zielona Góra/Wilkanowo (LU) 3223. Listed 2kW  1031km **
106.8 0909 POL Radio Maryja, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3232  1127km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

This is my first meteor log using the Elad FDM-S2 SDR receiver.

No web streams were recorded for comparison checking. All stations were identified using RDS, live parallels or vocal ID. The RDS performance on the S2 software is actually MUCH better than I thought. Hopefully I will have grasped SDR Console soon enough so I can use the improved RDS performance and the file analyser, which looks very useful. Thanks again go to Jim Smith who took the time to go through a few of the basics in Console. This programme offers many advantages over the S2 software, but I have to say both have their advantages.

For those who are not familiar with the Elad FDM-S2, it is an SDR receiver, capable of recording up to six MHz of IF bandwidth. Its performance on band 2 is exceptional when used with a pre-amp. The FDM-S2 also covers long wave, through medium and short wave, band 1 and the OIRT band, right up to 160 MHz. I have yet to try the FDM-S2 outside band 2.

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:
Elad FDM-S2, 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, horizontal, etc.

Sunday, 9 November 2014

Skegness Log: 09-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
108.0 0104  I  Love FM, Corato/Monte Ripanno (ba) Rod Stewart song, as web  1796km **
108.0 0135  I  Radio Studio Emme, Ercolano-Vesuvio/Area Osservatorio (na) Slow Italian YL pop
               song, as web. Eight second burst  1730km **

108.0 0145  I  Radio Maria, Multiple sites Choir. Six second burst **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

I didn't expect to hear much meteor scatter on 108.0, especially as the 9.2 was vertical, but I was pleasantly surprised as there were quite frequent pings and short bursts.

Radio Maria was the most consistent station. What a surprise!

What was interesting about 108.0 was the number of stations which got through. I recorded six Italian streams, but most of the pings I heard were from other stations. Radio Cuore and Studio Piu were probably received but the pings I heard were too short for comfort. I will definitely be recording 108.0 again very soon.

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, horizontal, etc.

Saturday, 8 November 2014

Skegness Log: 08-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
103.8  0052 AUT FM 4, Wien 1/Kahlenberg (wie) Indie music, as web  1247km **
103.8  0056 SUI Radio SRF 3, Rigi/Kulm (sz) YL pops, as web  892km **
103.8  0101 ROU SRR Radio România Actualitati, Arad/Siria (AR) YL news, as web  1706km **
103.8  0109 POL Radio ZET, Klodzko/Czarna Góra (DS) OM talking about the weekend, as web
                1177km **

103.8  0134  D  Antenne Bayern, Coburg Meeder or Hohenpeißenberg Jingle ID **
103.8  0356  D  Antenne MV, Helpterberg (mev) Weather jingle  881km **
103.8  0558  S  SR P4, Varberg or Bollnäs Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep song **
103.8  0757  D  WDR 4, Nordhelle (nrw) German OM, as web  553km **
 87.45 0921  D  Radio 700, Kall/Auf der Heide (nrw) German song, as web  519km **
 87.45 2002  D  Radio 700, Kall/Auf der Heide (nrw) Pops, as web  519km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

I am pleased to report reception of the 60 watt studio link of Radio 700 from Kall on 87.45. This is probably 'just' making it through on general scatter too, but it's so weak and in the background noise levels that it's impossible to be certain. I could hear the sub-bass of the music when scatter peaked on other frequencies in that direction. A video of this can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf3xafi1UyM but please use headphones and 'turn up the bass', as Tyree Cooper used to say.

Scratch it up out there!

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, horizontal, etc.

Thursday, 6 November 2014

Skegness Log: 06-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 97.3 0109 POL Radio ZET, Plock/Rachocin (MW) OM ID trailer  1289km **
 97.3 0116  D  DasDing (SWR), Tübingen (bwü) Pops, as web  797km **
 97.3 0120  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Dresden-Wachwitz (sac) Frequent. German OM, as web
               951km **

 97.3 0140 HRV HRT-HR 1, Psunj (sb) Local music, as web. Part of 20 second burst  1500km
 97.3 0141  F  France Inter, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) OM, as web. At the end of a 20 second
               burst  709km

 97.3 0157  D  WDR 3, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Dramatic classical music, as web  420km **
 97.3 0237  D  Bayern 3, München-Ismaning (bay) Marillion song (the obvious one), as web
               970km **

 97.3 0237  I  RAI Radio3, Santu Lussurgiu/Punta Badde Urbara (RAI) (or) Opera, as web  1575km
 97.3 0845  S  SR P4, Halmstad/Oskarström-Slättåkra TM (ha) Bruno Murs thing, as web  899km **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Very lively meteor scatter today. A few long bursts but mostly short pings, but LOTS of them!

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, horizontal, etc.

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Skegness Log: 04-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Aircraft Scatter:
 97.2 0853  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Inselsberg (thü) Scatter. German YL, as web  739km
107.4 0859  D  Radio Wuppertal, Wuppertal/Westfalenweg (nrw) Pops and ID  508km
 99.0 0906  D  hr1, Hoher Meißner (hes) Scatter. Almost noise free on peak.  684km
 87.9 0910  D  MDR Figaro, Inselsberg (thü) Scatter. Katie Melua song, as web  739km
103.1 0911  D  Radio ffn, Aurich (nds) Scatter. Freddie Mercury, breaking free. As web  478km
102.8 0913  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Wesel-Büderich (nrw) Scatter. German YL, as 101.8  456km
101.7 0915 BEL AFN PowerNet, Everberg (vlg-vbr) Scatter. Alternating with Kleve with US
               accented YL  386km

101.7 0915  D  WDR 4, Kleve/Bresserberg (nrw) Scatter. Sting song, as 101.3  420km

Radio Wuppertal 107.4 has been in daily via scatter recently. 107.4 used to be dominated by SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz from Koblenz, but this has been less frequent recently. I love it how these general trends slowly change over time.

I will also submit loggings in chronological format in future. I know some of you prefer to see loggings in frequency order. Personally, I am torn between the two and would like to include loggings in both odrers, but that would be adding to the work involved. Most logbooks show detail in chronological order these days and I am basing my choice on that alone.

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, horizontal, etc.

Sunday, 2 November 2014

Skegness Log: 02-11-14 (MW)

1470 0200 USA WLAM  Lewiston (ME) Struggling in the noise. Mentions of Portland and WLVP Vweak
              (Relays WLVP)  5069 km

1560 0200 USA WQEW, New York/Queens (NY) Presumed with back to back kid's pops. Can never get an
              ID on this.  Weak  5537 km

1580 0200 CAN CKDO, Oshawa (ON) This is CKDO, A something radio incorporated station, mentioning
              107.7 Vweak     5612 km

 830 0400 USA WCRN, Worcester (MA) Barely audible, WCRN Worcester heard in background Vweak
              5301 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, 1 November 2014

Skegness Log: 01-11-14 (MW)

1098 1700 TWN R.Taiwan Int./R.Free Asia/Ikuan Tao/RFI, Kouhu (YL) Time pips and ID. Rave music!
              Fair  9715 km

1575 1700 THA Voice of America/Radio Saranrom, Ban Phachi/Rasom (pay) Yankee Doodle. Now nightly
              for the last week! Weak  9410 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

Skegness Log: 01-11-14 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 93.7 0835 CZE Radio Helax, Ostrava/Hostálkovice (MO) 2091 _HELAX__  1287km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

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, horizontal, etc.