Medium Wave ..... OBLITERATED!

A few weeks ago I abandoned DXing the medium waves from home as there was some interference, not hugely strong, but strong enough to bury all those nice weak DX signals.

Wondering if it had passed, I put the flag back on the garden this afternoon, intending to move it to another part of the garden should the interference still be there, but this time the band was completely saturated with strong noise. I presume it's PLT but I don't know for sure. Maybe somebody will recognise the patterns in this video I just made.

Even BBC Radio 4 long wave and my local BBC Radio Lincolnshire have lots of noise mixing with them.


Edited January 23rd 2016:
About a week ago, my noise problem disappeared. Since then I have had virtually no noise at all across the bands, apart from occasional daytime bits and pieces, which are usually very weak. 

I can only guess that whatever it was may have been a device or, more likely, a power supply which had become faulty, though it did seem like PLT a lot of the time. I say this because the noise became progressively worse over the weeks, peaking at S9+40dB. 

I was going to contact OFCOM again, but the bands have enjoyed a whole week of relative silence and, throughout the night time, medium wave has been as quiet as when out and about in the wilds using a Beverage. 

Skegness Log: 23-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 87.6 0308  I  RAI Radio1, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo vetta (RAI) (rm) 5201 __RA??__ 1568km
 88.3 0308  I  Radio Sportiva, Rocca di Papa (rm) 5244 1568km **
 90.3 0308  I  Radio Deejay, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo (rm) 5214 ????JAY_ 1568km
 90.7 0308  I  Tele Radio Più, Rocca di Papa (rm) 5347 1568km
 91.2 0308  I  RAI Radio2, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo vetta (RAI) (rm) 5202 1568km
 92.7 0308  I  Tele Radio Stereo, Rocca di Papa (rm) 5343 1568km
 87.9 0309  I  Radio Sportiva, Bologna/Colle Barbiano/Via Santa Liberata (bo)
               5244 SP??TIVA 1256km
 88.6 0312  I  Radio Radicale, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo vetta (rm) 5210 RA??O_??  1568km
 88.1 0339  I  RAI Radio1, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd) 5201 1197km
 89.0 0339  I  RAI Radio2, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd) With vocal ID too 5202 ????IO2_ 1197km
 89.9 0339  I  RAI Radio3, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd) 5203 _R??IO?? 1197km
 92.8 0339  I  Radio Studio Delta, Cesena/Frazione Borello-Via Luzzena 5366P-Monte
               Cavallo (fc) 53FB De?????? 1328km
 93.6 0405  I  RAI GR Parlamento, Multi-tx 5206 **
 98.1 0405  I  RTL 102.5, Casina (re) &  Terravecchia (cs) listed 5218
 97.4 0412  I  RAI Radio2, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 5202 __RAI___ _RADI??_ 1136km
 93.6 0416  E  Los 40 Principales, Segovia & Salamanca listed E235 CU????TA
 96.0 0416  E  Loca FM, Madrid (MAD-M) E246 1448km **
 96.5 0416  E  RNE Radio Clásica, Madrid/Torrespaña (MAD-M) Presumed. Same
               silence as 98.8  1447km
 97.2 0416  E  Top Radio Latina, Madrid/Torrespaña (MAD-M) E2E7 1447km
 98.8 0416  E  RNE Radio Clásica, Navacerrada/Bola del Mundo (MAD-M) E212 1413km
 95.3 0432  I  RAI Radio2, Tempio Pausania/Monte Limbara (RAI) (ot) Probably Tempo
               Pausania 5202 ??ADIO2_ 1521km
 98.0 0443  I  PrimaRadio-inBlu, Rocchetta Palafea (at) 5B63 PR?????? 1105km
103.7 0510  I  UNID, ? 503E  
100.6 0538  I  RTL 102.5, Multi-tx 5218 RT??????
104.9 0549  E  RNE Radio Nacional, Navacerrada/Bola del Mundo (MAD-M) E211 RN?????? 1413km
107.2 0639  I  Radio Deejay, Multi-tx 5214 **

** Personal First via this mode

The 9.2 was vertical and beaming at 160 degrees.

The first burst of the morning was one of the strongest I have ever known. Some GOOD (S9+30dB) came in from Rocca di Papa but most of them would not RDS due to co-channel QRM. The RAI stations were not the strongest either. It was like a very brief Es event. Even BBC Radio 3 from Belmont on 90.9 was briefly noised out, such were the strengths.

This afternoon, I connected the FM3 through the HS Publications Antenna Phaser and tuned it against the 9.2. I quickly knocked out Belmont on 98.3. It didn't last though. There were constant reflections from Belmont after the signal had been nulled. It was fine for a few seconds and then bursts back up with RDS moments later, then I need to adjust the phaser to take it out again. I guess the Belmont signal is sufficiently huge around here to be bounced by minor fluctuations in the troposphere and many other things - passing vehicles on nearby roads? I sometimes wonder about the latter, as that's somehow what the fading sounds like - sort of reflected by something briefly, kind of meteor-ish though not quite.

To get 98.3 in the bag I really need a full-blown meteor shower so I can check bursts against web streams, so I will wait until the Geminids or Quadrantids in the hope of more frequent meteor activity so I might nail this difficult frequency. France Culture from Rennes lives on 98.3 and I expect this may be my only hope of achieving my goal.

I might try one more overnight meteor scatter session, then I will hold off until mid December. I need to catch up on some more Es files in the meantime.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.

Skegness Log: 22-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 99.1 0400 POL PR 3, Olsztyn/Pieczewo (WM) 3233 ??05???? 1334km
101.7 0400 POL Radio Plus, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) 321C 1195km
100.3 0448  S  SR P4, Skövde/Åsbotorp 2/Billingen TM (vg) E224 1023km
104.7 0501  I  RTL 102.5, Fiorano Modenese & Marano sul Panaro (mo) listed. 5218 RT??????
104.2 0503 POL PR 3, Lublin/Piaski (LB) 3233 __06:0?? _T??????  1548km
 99.1 0602  S  SR P3, Bäckefors (Mellerud)/Grönehög TM (vg) E203 969km
101.3 0605 LVA LR 2, Kuldiga (Kul) 9222 __LR-2__ 1434km
101.5 0605 LVA LR 2, Valmiera/LVRTC Valmieras RTS, Rigas iela 95 (Val) 9222 __?????? 1647km **
104.0 0605 LVA LR 1, Valmiera/LVRTC Valmieras RTS, Rigas iela 95 (Val) 9211 1647km **
101.3 0731  S  SR P4, Borlänge/Teracoms mast Idkerberget (da) E624 SR????a? 1204km

** Personal First via this mode

A long meteor train started at exactly 07:39:43 and was still trailing away beyond 07:42. Nothing could be identified as all empty frequencies became noise with a only a few few snippets of audio poking through. 104.2 was the only exception to this with a weak talk station (Polish?) which was below RDS levels. This was how the peak sounded: https://app.box.com/s/im0ux354y17cabrakakvoxxued9xp7lq

Other than this, it was a fairly uneventful morning for meteor scatter. There was one other exception though - the conquering of 101.5 (at last!) where there was a surprise visit from LR2 from Valmeira, Latvia. It was only a brief peak of audio riding above a reduced Tacolneston (the null didn't hold overnight this time) but Tacolneston was totally toppled! as can be seen in this video: https://youtu.be/F7wREoZu2nE There were lengthier bursts from other Latvians at this time, lasting several seconds. Latvia on meteor scatter is rare here.

So only one more frequency to go for my meteor scatter target. So I tried to reduce Belmont 98.3 during the evening but couldn't get it below S9+20dB. I will connect the FM3 tomorrow and try again, but this time using the HS Antenna Phaser.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.

Medium Wave DXing Abandoned At Home Due To Noise

A pulsating, growling din now resides over most of the medium wave band here. It started a few weeks ago, masking most of the upper parts of my medium wave band. Lower regions are also affected but not so severely.

It peaks at about -70dB on my FDM-S2 and therefore kills all weak DX while creating an unpleasant racket on stronger signals. I know the approximate direction of the noise. It sounds (and looks) like a cheap psu. It has also been suggested that it could be a plasma TV.

At first, the noise was audible around 1500 when I would start to look for Asiatic signals, but had gone by 1600 and did not return in the evenings. For the last two weeks, however, it has existed non-stop, around the clock.

Only the strongest signals can be heard through the noise.

So my medium wave DXing is now out of the question from home. Maybe this will encourage me to venture out more and stretch out some longwires in remote locations again.

Skegness Log: 21-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
104.5 0319 CZE CRo Vltava, Ústí nad Labem/Buková hora (US) 232D 991km
103.8 0330 POL VIA - Katolickie Radio Rzeszów, Rzeszów/Magdalenka (PK) 3401 ????oVIA 1540km
 99.1 0407 POL PR 3, Olsztyn/Pieczewo (WM) 3233 Mi????os 1334km
 99.9 0407 POL PR 3, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) OM talking about David Bowie, as 99.1
               1195km
102.7 0524  S  SR P4, Västervik/Fårhult TM (ka) E224 1132km
104.1 0524 CZE Frekvence 1, Plzen/Krašov (PL) 2205 947km
103.6 0550 POL Radio RDN Malopolska, Tarnów/Lichwin (MP) 3508 6_20??00 1465km
104.7 0616  I  RTL 102.5, Fiorano Modenese (mo) and Marano sul Panaro (mo) listed.
               5218 ????02??
103.9 0702  F  France Bleu La Rochelle, Saintes/le Clone-Flanquet (17) F20A ????.L?? 835km
101.4 0741 POL PR Radio Kielce, Kielce/Swiety Krzyz (SK) 3434 i_?????? 1436km
104.1 0744 POL Radio FaMa, Zyrardów/Komin PEC Zyrardów (MW) 3064 ??8:???? 1359km **

** Personal First via this mode

Still monitoring 101.5 for meteor scatter. Plenty heard on there but nothing revealed any RDS. Maybe tomorrow. The antenna was the same as yesterday, almost vertical at approximately 70 degrees.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.

Skegness Log: 20-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 97.3 0418 HRV HRT-HR 1, Psunj (sb) C201 HRT-??_1 1500km
 97.7 0418 HRV HRT-HR 3, Papuk/Kapovac (vt) C203 ????HR?? 1523km
 99.1 0418 AUT Antenne Steiermark, Graz 1/Schöckl (ste) A943 ??TENN?? 1261km
 93.3 0420 HRV HRT-HR 1, Beli Manastir (os) C201 1552km
 98.1 0420 HRV HRT-HR 2, Beli Manastir (os) C202 1552km
 98.9 0420 HRV HRT-HR 2, Biokovo/Sveti Jure (st) C202 1643km
 96.4 0422 POL PR 3, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3233 _T?????? 1127km
 94.8 0424  D  SWR3, Linz (Rhein)/Ginsterhahner Kopf (rlp) Pops, as 96.5  560km
 96.5 0424  D  SWR3, Waldenburg (bwü) D3A3 786km
 98.5 0424  D  Bayern 3, Wendelstein (bay) D313 ????RN?? 1024km
 96.5 0425 SRB Radio Beograd 2/3, Crveni Cot (Voj) D2F6 1659km
 97.6 0425 SRB Radio Beograd 2/3, Beograd/Avala (Srb) D2F6 1740km
 97.4 0431  I  RAI Radio2, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 5202 _RADIO?? 1136km
 97.5 0435 DNK DR P4, Næstved - Øverup/Køgevej 291 (sjl) 9902 ??????JL 782km
 94.8 0439 AUT Ö2 - Radio Salzburg, Salzburg 1/Gaisberg (ORS) (sal) A802 1080km
 97.5 0456 AUT Ö1, Linz 1/Lichtenberg (obe) A201 1111km
103.4 0503  F  France Info, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) F206 ??IN???? 917km
103.6 0503  F  France Bleu Provence, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) F405 BLEUPROV 1149km
103.7 0503  F  France Bleu Bourgogne, Dijon/Nuits-Saint-Georges (21) F205 BLEUBOUR 745km **
100.6 0505  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Witthoh (Tuttlingen) (bwü) D210 ????F_?? 834km
100.7 0505  D  Energy Stuttgart, Güglingen (bwü) 1309 758km
101.3 0505 HRV HRT Radio Pula, Ucka (ri) C318 1330km **
101.7 0505  D  Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) D3B8 ??????E_ 628km
102.5 0505  D  Radio 7, Witthoh (Tuttlingen) (bwü) OM vocal ID  834km
102.7 0505  F  Radio Mélodie, Sarreguemines/Nousseviller (57) F793 643km **
104.0 0505  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) D3A9 590km
104.7 0505 HRV HRT Radio Rijeka, Ucka (ri) C319 ??RI???? 1330km
104.9 0505  D  Hitradio Ohr, Offenburg (bwü) D40D 751km
103.8 0509 ROU SRR Radio România Actualitati, Arad/Siria (AR) EE00 1706km
100.1 0518 CZE CRo Dvojka, Pardubice/Krásné (PA) 232E ??DV???? 1127km
100.9 0518 SVK Europa 2, Poprad/Králová hola (PO) 534F 1459km
102.0 0518 CZE CRo Dvojka, Brno/Kojál (JM) 232E R-?????? 1219km
102.7 0518 CZE CRo Vltava, Pardubice/Krásné (PA) 232D 1127km
103.5 0518 SVK SRo 1 Rádio Slovensko, Žilina/Krížava (ZA) 5201 1363km
100.2 0526 POL PR 3, Wroclaw/G.Sleza (DS) 3233 1147km
102.1 0529 POL PR 3, Bydgoszcz/Trzeciewiec (KP) 3233 _TROJK?? 1186km **
103.6 0529 POL PR Radio Merkury, Walcz/Rusinowo (Pila) (ZP) 3755 1060km
103.0 0533 HRV HRT Radio Zadar, Celevac (zd) C31B ??ZA???? 1499km
100.1 0537  D  RBB Fritz, Casekow (brb) D333 923km
103.1 0537  D  RBB Fritz, Pritzwalk (brb) Alternative pops, as 100.1  790km
104.0 0539 SVK Fun Rádio, Banská Bystrica/Suchá hora (BB) 5340 1392km
102.8 0542 HRV HRT Radio Osijek, Beli Manastir (os) C317 R-OS???? 1552km
103.7 0545  D  SR Unser Ding, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) D3B5 Ding__?? 628km
100.3 0549  S  SR P4, Skövde/Åsbotorp 2/Billingen TM (vg)   PI reg logged: ED24 1023km
101.7 0554 AUT FM 4, Graz 1/Schöckl (ste) A213 __FM4___ 1261km
102.1 0554 AUT FM 4, Multi-tx Alternative pops, as 101.7
100.9 0557 POL PR Radio Merkury, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3755 ??EL*_61 1127km
105.5 0601 CZE Evropa 2, Votice/Mezivrata (ST) 2204 EV?????? 1069km
103.9 0604 HRV HKR-Hrvatski Katolicki Radio, Psunj (sb) C204 1500km
105.7 0607  D  B5 aktuell, Wendelstein (bay) D315 1024km
104.1 0639  I  Radio Subasio, Bagno a Ripoli/Poggio Incontro (fi) 53FD 1323km
107.9 0640 POL Radio Maryja, Ryki/Janiszewska (LB) Conditions point to Ryki 3232 1473km **
105.0 0651 CVA Radio Vaticana 105 Live, Cittá del Vaticano/Palazzina
               Leone XIII (cva) 4104 Vati???? 1542km
104.8 0654 CZE CRo Vltava, Ostrava/Hoštálkovice (MO) 232D R-VLTAVA 1287km
106.8 0700 ROU SRR Radio România Cultural, Arad/Siria (AR) EE01 ??LTURAL 1706km
103.5 0709 HRV HKR-Hrvatski Katolicki Radio, Zagreb/Sljeme (zg) C204 1381km
104.6 0709 AUT FM 4, Salzburg 1/Gaisberg (ORS) (sal)   1080km
104.9 0709 POL Radio ESKA, Wroclaw/G.Sleza (DS) 3293 ????KA?? 1147km
105.6 0711 POL PR 2, Katowice/Kosztowy (SL) 3222 Dw?????? 1333km
107.6 0711 POL Radio eM, Katowice/Kosztowy (SL) 3E88 Radio_?? 1333km
102.6 0714  F  France Bleu Alsace, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) F405 781km **
103.0 0714  I  RAI Radio1, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 5201 ????O1__ 1136km

** Personal First via this mode

What an odd morning! There was almost zero activity from meteor scatter between 0300 and 0400 I extracted just one PI code - D311 on 90.7 which could be Grünten or Oschenkopf. It's a regular one so I ignored it, but there were no other strong pings. Then at 0418 the band suddenly opened up with decent bursts of meteor activity at regular intervals. At one point there were so many meteors that I wondered if the Leonids had woken up and finally arrived several days late. I'm sure that wouldn't be likely. It was probably just a good morning for random meteors.

It's interesting to see a few recent personal firsts now making regular appearances. I sometimes wonder if the various showers have their own individual propagational characteristics, such that each shower favours its own paths of propagation.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.

Skegness Log: 19-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
104.5 0343  I  Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana, Multi-tx 5220 **
 99.3 0523  S  SR P3, Stockholm/Nacka TM (st) Lively discussion with Sveriges Radio
               Petre ID in minute long meteor burst  1292km **
 99.4 0523  S  SR P3, Göteborg/Brudaremossen 100/Brudaremossen TM (vg) Likely Göteborg.
               Lively discussion with Sveriges Radio Petre ID in minute long meteor
               burst.  894km **
103.6 0523 POL PR Radio Merkury, Walcz/Rusinowo (Pila) (ZP) 3755 1060km
100.2 0524  S  SR P4, Visby/Follingbo TM (go) E824 1238km
 99.1 0601 POL PR 3, Olsztyn/Pieczewo (WM) 3233 1334km
100.2 0601 POL RMF FM, Bialystok/Krynice (PL) 3F44 _R??_F?? 1506km
101.6 0601 POL Radio Maryja, Pisz/Liski (WM) Presumed site as more on-beam. 3232 1429km **
104.7 0601 POL Radio Maryja, Bialystok/Krynice (PL) 3232 1506km
101.6 0603  S  SR P4, Östhammar/Valö TM (up) E524 SR?????? 1334km
102.0 0603  S  SR P4, Gävle/Skogmur TM (ga) EB24 PS reg logged: SR_Gäv?? 1310km
102.8 0603  S  SR P4, Örebro/Lockhyttan TM (or) E424 PS reg logged: SR????b_ 1142km
104.0 0603  S  Mix Megapol, Lidköping/Silotorn (vg) Presumed tx. Swedish YL, as 104.2
               996km **
104.2 0603  S  Mix Megapol, Halmstad/Oskarström/Teracoms mast Fjällgime (ha) E243 899km
104.7 0603  S  Mix Megapol, Örebro/Almby (or) Swedish YL, as 104.2  1145km **
104.9 0603  S  Mix Megapol, Gävle/Skogmur TM (ga) Swedish YL, as 104.2  1310km
 99.9 0622 AUT Hitradio Ö3, Wien 1/Kahlenberg (wie) A203 1247km **
101.2 0622  D  MDR JUMP, Auerbach/Schöneck (sac) D3C2 881km
103.8 0622 AUT FM 4, Wien 1/Kahlenberg (wie) A213 1247km
104.1 0622 CZE Frekvence 1, Plzen/Krašov (PL) 2205 ????O_F1 947km
102.7 0627  S  SR P4, Västervik/Fårhult TM (ka) E624 SR?????? 1132km
101.4 0735 POL PR Radio Kielce, Kielce/Swiety Krzyz (SK) 3434 KI?????? 1436km
100.9 0754 POL PR Radio Merkury, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3755 ??DI???? 1127km

** Personal First via this mode

The 9.2 was slanted at 45 degrees again overnight, which probably resulted in an equal reduction of horizontal and vertical signals, but there were still a few new catches.

I added two more frequencies to my MS log, 99.3 and 99.4, thanks to the FM3 phasing antenna which reduced Tacolneston so that I could grab these two. This now leaves just two other frequencies: 101.5 which should be fairly straight-forward, and 98.3 which definitely will not. I'm not sure quite how I am going to remove the latter. It's not as straight-forward as the other Belmont frequencies as any significant reduction in signal just breaks up the audio into a noisy wide mess. I'll still need a decent meteor burst to override this, so the Geminids in the middle of December might be the best time to try for this one.

Just looking at Tacolneston 99.3 again: This was easy to null during the early hours, but it's been impossible to bring it down this evening for some reason, even with the antenna in the same position. It's now a solid noise-free stereo at 50 dBf. This highlights just how frustrating antenna phasing can sometimes be.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.

Körner 9.2 Antenna Plots

Some time ago, I was asked about the directivity of my Körner 9.2 antenna. Using the Konrad XDR-GTK software, I was able to take some 360° plots.

To save too much unnecessary rotation of the rotator, some of these plots are reversed 180 degrees as I took the readings while the rotator was travelling back to zero. As a result, Belmont appears to be in the North Sea, etc. Those which are reversed will be highlighted in the descriptions. I hope this is of interest, but antenna directivity will be marred as the antenna was only two metres above the roof (fully lowered) when these plots were taken.

Also, you can see how the XDR-F1HD attenuates signals above a certain level.

Beamed directly at my three local transmitters with the 9.2 horizontal, these are the signal strengths I have:

Belmont: 84 dBf. Tacolneston: 70 dBf. Peterborough: 66 dBf.

There is no real difference to these readings when the antenna is two metres higher, but I do not have plots for this. Ground wave signals from inland start to increase which is not desirable, however, continental scatter is not affected by the antenna height. The only other detrimental effect with the 9.2 lowered is a slight increase in man-made noise levels.

88.8 BBC Radio 2, Belmont (Antenna Horizontal)

89.7 BBC R2, Tacolneston (Antenna Horizontal)

90.1 BBC Radio 2, Peterborough (Antenna Horizontal)

93.1 BBC Radio 3, Belmont (Antenna Horizontal) (Reversed Plot)

95.6 BBC Radio Norfolk, West Runton (Antenna Horizontal)

95.6 BBC Radio Norfolk, West Runton (Antenna Vertical) (Reversed Plot)

95.9 BBC Radio Humberside, High Hunsley (Antenna Horizontal)

104.4 BBC Radio Norfolk, Great Massingham (Antenna Horizontal) (Reversed Plot)

104.4 BBC Radio Norfolk, Great Massingham (Antenna Vertical)

106.4 Kiss FM, Mendelsham (Antenna Horizontal)

106.4 Kiss FM, Mendelsham (Antenna Vertical)

Skegness LogL 18-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
103.6 0501  F  France Bleu Provence, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) F405 ????PR?? 1149km
100.0 0552  G  Classic FM, North Hessary Tor (EN-DVN) Vocal piece, as other Classic
               FMs  415km
100.8 0829  E  Onda Cero, Toledo/Cerro de los Palos (CAM-TO)   PI logged: E888 1517km

I took a gamble and it didn't pay off. I recorded only the middle of the band overnight, specifically for 99.3, 99.4 and 101.5 as I am still looking for MS catches there, but nothing too specific was heard, apart from a Spanish and a German station on 99.3. They weren't strong enough to produce a PI.

My 9.2 was beamed at approximately 200 degrees since that's the direction where I found I was able to completely take out Tacolneston. It was also necessary to have the 9.2 slanted at approximately 45 degrees to achieve this. However, I discovered today that I could achieve a near perfect Tacolneston null at 80 degrees, a far better direction for meteor scatter, but only if the 9.2 is rotated into the opposite 45 degree slant, if that makes sense.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.

Skegness Log: 17-11-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 94.5 ????  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Ulm/Kuhberg (bwü) UnattendedDE04 859km **
 88.1 0328 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Monte San Salvatore (ti) 43E1 1010km
 91.4 0329  F  France Musique, Troyes/les Riceys (10) F203 643km
 88.0 0337 POL PR 1, Krosno/Sucha Góra (PK) 3211 __RADI?? 1530km
 88.3 0337 POL PR 1, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3211 __RADI?? 1229km
 90.3 0337 POL PR 3, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3233 Spoza_?? 1229km
 88.1 0341  F  France Inter, Autun/Bois du Roi (71) F201 734km **
 91.1 0341  F  France Inter, Villers-Cotterêts/Fleury (02) OM, as 91.3  474km **
 91.3 0341  F  France Inter, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) F201 __????R_ 1149km
 94.6 0402 POL RMF FM, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3F44 ??????M_ 1127km
 96.4 0402 POL PR 3, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3233 _TRO??A_ 1127km
 97.5 0402 AUT Ö1, Linz 1/Lichtenberg (obe) A201 1111km
 95.3 0413 POL RMF FM, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3F44 _RMF_FM_ 1229km
 97.3 0419  F  France Inter, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) F201 ??????R_ 709km
 93.9 0423  D  SWR2, Bornberg (rlp) D3A2 __?????? 640km **
 95.8 0423  D  Bayern 3, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) D313 BA??RN_3 942km
 98.7 0423  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Grünten (Allgäu) [bay] (bwü) D301 SWR1_B?? 942km
 98.1 0429 HRV HRT-HR 2, Celevac (zd) C202 1499km
 98.5 0429  D  Bayern 3, Wendelstein (bay) D313 1024km
 95.4 0432 AUT Ö2 - Radio Steiermark, Graz 1/Schöckl (ste) A902 1261km
 99.0 0432  F  France Culture, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) F202 1149km
 99.0 0432 AUT Hitradio Ö3, Salzburg 1/Gaisberg (ORS) (sal) OM ID  1080km
 99.1 0432 AUT Antenne Steiermark, Graz 1/Schöckl (ste) A943 1261km
 97.4 0450  I  RAI Radio2, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 52025202 __RA??__ 1136km
 97.4 0450 POL PR 3, Koszalin/Gologóra (ZP) 3233 1085km
100.2 0505 POL PR 3, Wroclaw/G.Sleza (DS) 3233 _TRO??A_ 1147km
103.8 0505 ROU SRR Radio România Actualitati, Arad/Siria (AR) EE00 RRACTUAL 1706km
104.9 0505  D  Radio SAW, Leipzig Wiederau [sac] (san) D3D9 843km
100.1 0523 NOR Radio Norge, Greipstad/Eidsåvegen (va) F21A 734km **
103.6 0524 POL PR Radio Merkury, Walcz/Rusinowo (Pila) (ZP) 3755 1060km
103.0 0526  I  RAI Radio1, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 5201 ??????__ 1136km
100.3 0530  I  RAI Auditorium, Roma/Monte Mario (RAI) (rm) 5205 1541km **
105.0 0530 CVA Radio Vaticana 105 Live, Cittá del Vaticano/Palazzina
               Leone XIII (cva) Those bells  1542km
102.8 0538 HRV HRT Radio Osijek, Beli Manastir (os) C317 ????IJ?? 1552km
104.0 0605  D  MDR Figaro, Wittenberg/Gallunberg (san) D3C3 839km
104.9 0605 POL Radio ESKA, Wroclaw/G.Sleza (DS) 3293 >_?????? 1147km
105.3 0605 AUT KRONEHIT, Sankt Pölten/Jauerling (nie) A3FF ??05???? 1181km
107.4 0605  D  MDR Figaro, Magdeburg/Burg Kapaunberg (san) D3C3 782km
107.7 0607  D  AFN Bavaria-The Eagle, Vilseck/Rose Barracks (bay) D04E 885km **
103.4 0621  F  France Info, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) F206 ??IN???? 917km
103.6 0621  F  France Bleu Provence, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13) F405 ??EUPR?? 1149km
103.9 0632 SVN Slovenija 3, Kum (ce) 9203 ??????__ 1317km
107.5 0632  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Buchen/Walldürner Str. (bwü) DC04 743km
107.7 0632  D  Antenne Bayern, Hochries (bay) D318 1034km
103.0 0639  E  Unika FM, Villaviciosa de Odón/Pinares Llanos (MAD-M) E42C 1458km
104.9 0639  E  RNE Radio Nacional, Navacerrada/Bola del Mundo (MAD-M) E211 1413km
106.8 0645  F  France Info, Metz/Luttange (57) YL ID  599km **
104.1 0646  D  delta radio, Bungsberg/DTAG-Turm (shs) D3E9 694km
104.9 0646  D  Hitradio Ohr, Offenburg (bwü) D40D 751km
107.9 0646 POL PR 1, Koszalin/Gologóra (ZP) 3211 ??07:4?? 1085km
106.8 0647 ROU SRR Radio România Cultural, Arad/Siria (AR) EE01 ????URAL 1706km
104.8 0704 CZE CRo Vltava, Ostrava/Hoštálkovice (MO) 232D ??VL???? 1287km
103.7 0712 POL PR Radio Gdansk, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) 309C 1195km
105.0 0712 POL Radio ZET, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) 3205 __08:??__ 1195km
105.3 0712 POL Radio ZET, Koszalin/Gologóra (ZP) YL, as 105.0  1085km **
102.6 0713  D  Radio ffn, Cuxhaven Otterndorf (nds) D388 571km
107.1 0713 POL Radio ZET, Konin/Zólwieniec (WP) OM ID  1211km
104.1 0744 POL Radio ZET, Kraków/Choragwica (MP) YL ID  1406km
103.0 0747  D  SWR3, Grünten (Allgäu) [bay] (bwü) D3A3 ??????__ 942km
103.4 0747  D  ANTENNE 1, Raichberg (bwü) D30A 813km **
103.9 0747  D  Radio Seefunk, Iberger Kugel (bwü) 140A 922km
104.2 0747  D  Radio Seefunk, Sigmaringen/Franziskanerweg (bwü) Pops, as 103.9  841km **
105.0 0747  D  Radio 7, Iberger Kugel (bwü) D30B ????O7?? 922km
105.2 0747  D  big fm (Baden-Württemberg), Langenbrand (bwü) D3A9 755km
106.9 0747  D  B5 aktuell, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) D315 B5_akt__ 942km
107.3 0747  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Raichberg (bwü) D704 813km **

**  Personal First via this mode

Some very pleasant surprises in this log - and I managed to get through all five hours this time!

I still don't see any real evidence of any meteor shower here. Random meteors often produce better results than this. So it seems the Leonids are elsewhere in the solar system again this year. Or maybe there will be a peak during the early hours of the 18th.

Another frequency bites the dust! This time it's 94.5 where I had a few bursts from SWR4, Ulm. Peterborough was nulled thanks to the siting of a Triax FM3. The FM3 is not physically connected. Merely placed close to the 9.2 to disrupt the pattern of my 9.2 and achieve nulls on my closest transmitters: Belmont; Tacolneston and Peterborough. I am pleased to say that 99.3 and 101.5 can be lifted out completely, though not simultaneously. A tiny adjustment in the direction of the 9.2 has to be made.

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 (Meteor Scatter and sporadic E)
Sony XDR-F1HD with Konrad i2c mod. (Tropo/Scatter)

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is approximately 3 metres asl, 1km from the sea.
Fringe Electronics 20dB pre-amp.

Software:
Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console File Analyser & RDS Spy via VAC.
XDR-GTK v0.3.1 for the Sony XDR-F1HD

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.