Pages

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Skegness Log: 30-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 93.3 0105 DNK DR P2, Aalborg-Frejlev/Svenstrupvej 25 (njy) Classical, as web  740km 
 96.5 0145 DNK DR P4, København-Gladsaxe/Isbanevej 4 (hvs) Slick Rick song, as 96.8 and 
               99.9  836km
 98.1 0147 DNK DR P4, Aalborg-Frejlev/Svenstrupvej 25 (njy) Jingle ID. Noise free  740km
 98.5 0148 DNK DR P4, Holstebro - Mejrup/Kalsgårdvej 11 (mjy) Pops, as 98.1  644km
 99.0 0149  S  SR P3, Nässjö/Teracom mast Berg (jo) Soft pops, as web  1031km
103.4 0151 DNK Nova, Holstebro - Mejrup/Kalsgårdvej 11 (mjy) Pops, as web  644km
103.9 0151 DNK Nova, Næstved - Øverup/Køgevej 291 (sjl) Pops, as 103.4  782km
103.0 1119 DNK Radio 24syv, Århus/Søsterhøj/Ny Moesgårdsvej 61 (mjy) 9204 __syv___  715km
 99.9 2231 DNK DR P4, Rangstrup/Gammel Tøndervej 28 (sdk-sjy) 9C02 DRP4_SYD  617km
 95.1 2232 DNK DR P1, Rangstrup/Gammel Tøndervej 28 (sdk-sjy) 9201  617km
 96.8 2234 DNK DR P4, Sønder Højrup/Sdr. Højrupvejen 21 (sdk-fyn) Danish pops, as 99.9  
               700km
 91.7 2235 DNK DR P3, Århus/Søsterhøj/Ny Moesgårdsvej 61 (mjy) Danish rap, as 92.6  715km
 92.6 2235 DNK DR P3, Sønder Højrup/Sdr. Højrupvejen 21 (sdk-fyn) Danish rap with English 
                      words like fukkum in, whatever that means  700km
 88.1 2237 DNK DR P1/DR P2, Århus/Søsterhøj/Ny Moesgårdsvej 61 (mjy) Opera, as 95.1  715km
 89.0 2237 DNK DR P1/DR P2, Sønder Højrup/Sdr. Højrupvejen 21 (sdk-fyn) Opera, as 95.1  
               700km
 97.0 2241  S  SR P3, Hörby/Sallerup TM (sn) E203. YL presenters then rap song  913km
 92.4 2244  S  SR P2, Hörby/Sallerup TM (sn) E402 Piano music  913km
101.4 2247  S  SR P4, Hörby/Sallerup TM (sn) E424 ____P4__  913km
101.0 2249  S  SR P4, Vislanda (Alvesta)/Nydala TM (kb) YL and pops, as 101.4  983km
101.8 2254  S  SR P4, Emmaboda/Eriksmåla-Bälshult TM (ka) Pops, as 101.4  1051km
100.3 2310 DNK Radio 24syv, Holstebro - Mejrup/Kalsgårdvej 11 (mjy) YL, as web  644km
102.7 2313 DNK Radio 24syv, Aalborg-Frejlev/Svenstrupvej 25 (njy) YL, as web  740km
102.9 2318  S  SR P4, Borås/Dalsjöfors-Häglared TM (vg) Relaying SR P3!   948km
 97.5 2328 DNK DR P4, Næstved - Øverup/Køgevej 291 (sjl) Pops, as 99.9  782km
 99.6 2329 DNK DR P3, Næstved - Øverup/Køgevej 291 (sjl) Pops, as 97.2  782km
101.6 2329 DNK Radio 24syv, Næstved - Øverup/Køgevej 291 (sjl) Phone in  782km
102.1 2330 DNK Radio 24syv, Rangstrup/Gammel Tøndervej 28 (sdk-sjy) Phone in  617km

** Personal 'First'

My first decent tropo opening to Sweden since moving here, with Swedish lower power outlets opening up at the top of the band. Denmark was also pretty, but I left out some of the more regular Danish tropo regulars regulars.

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.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Skegness Log: 29-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 96.3 0128  G  Heart, Bristol/Dundry (EN-BRI) Ads and Heart ID  281km
 89.0 1748  G  Manx Radio, Snaefell (IOM) The Nations Station, Manx Radio jingle  339km
 91.8 1753 NOR NRK Petre, Bjerkreim/Urdalsnipa (ro) YL whispered Petre jingle ID  703km
 90.4 1813 IRL RTÉ 2 FM, Truskmore (SO) Interview  587km
 92.6 1813 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Truskmore (SO) 2204  587km
 87.8 1815 IRL RTÉ Radio 1, Clermont Carn (LH) Interview, as 88.2  450km
 88.2 1815 IRL RTÉ Radio 1, Truskmore (SO) Interview  587km
 95.2 1817 IRL RTÉ Lyric FM, Clermont Carn (LH) 2203  450km
 96.0 1818  G  BBC Radio 4 FM, Divis (NI-ANT) As 93.1, etc.  446km
 97.0 1818 IRL RTÉ 2 FM, Clermont Carn (LH) Interview  450km
 97.4 1820  G  Cool FM, Black Mountain (NI-ANT) Cool FM Miami promo with United 
               Airlines, only on Cool FM  446km **
 97.8 1823 IRL RTÉ Lyric FM, Truskmore (SO) Classical, as 98.7  587km
102.7 1826 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Clermont Carn (LH) Irish folk, as web  450km
104.9 1833  G  Imagine FM, Stockport/Ratcliffe Towers (EN-GTM) Michael Jackson's Wanna 
               Be Startin' Sumfink, as web  167km **
106.0 1844 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Three Rock Mountain (D) OM, as 107.4  437km
107.4 1845 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Truskmore (SO) Interview, as web  587km
 96.6 1855  G  Downtown Radio, Brougher Mountain (NI-TYR) Country music show, 
               dedication for Bangor listener, as web  530km **
 95.6 1859 IRL South East Radio, Mount Leinster (CW) Wexford and other ads, as web  
               480km
 93.2 1904  G  Sheffield Live!, Sheffield/Tapton Hill (EN-SYK) OM, as web  125km
100.0 1945 IRL Today FM, Truskmore (SO) Pops, as 100.9  587km
101.2 1949  G  Q, Brougher Mountain 2 (NI-FER) Pops, as web  530km **
104.4 1954 IRL Dublin's FM 104, Three Rock Mountain (D) Pops, as web  437km **
 94.4 1956 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Mullaghanish (CO) Just poking through BBC R4 
               splatter  653km
 97.3 2248  G  Forth 1, Craigkelly (Edinburgh) (SC-FIF) Scottish ads, ID and pops, as 
               web  397km
 97.5 2251  G  Smooth Radio, Burnhope (EN-DUR) Smooth Love Songs  229km

** Personal 'First'

Recordings:
97.4 Cool FM, Black Mountain 1820 29-09-15 https://app.box.com/s/yegrx21qolowbs61i6w7emsnlmcvi2a0

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.

Monday 28 September 2015

Skegness Log: 28-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 97.3 1845  G  Kohinoor FM, Leicester (EN-LEI) Singing, as web  112km
 95.6 1848 IRL South East Radio, Mount Leinster (CW) Wexford Festival promo,
               as web  480km

102.0 1850 IRL Beat 102-103 FM, Mount Leinster (CW) Ad for car dealership in
               Tipperary. ID  480km **

103.1 1852  G  IMAN FM, Wincobank VHF (EN-SYK) OMs discussion, as web  79km **
 99.6 1937 IRL RTÉ Lyric FM, Mullaghanish (CO) Classical, as 98.7  653km
101.8 1937 IRL Today FM, Mullaghanish (CO) YL and OM talking, as 101.4  653km
107.4 1938 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Mullaghanish (CO) News, etc.   653km
 88.2 1939 IRL RTÉ Radio 1, Truskmore (SO) OM presenter, as 89.6  587km
 92.6 1939 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Truskmore (SO) Irish music, as 94.0.
               Noise free  587km

107.2 1947 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Mount Leinster (CW) Vweak, as others  480km
105.2 2104 IRL TXFM, Three Rock Mountain (D) ID after news and soul music  437km
 93.8 2117  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Durris (SC-ABS) C615  461km
 94.3 2118  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Black Hill (SC-NLA) Vic Galloway show,
               as 93.8  405km

 93.5 2119  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Ashkirk (SC-BRD) YL interview, as 93.8  333km
104.2 2121  G  BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, Meldrum (SC-ABS) C316  501km
103.7 2122  G  BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, Forfar (SC-ANG) C316 BBC_Gael  430km
102.8 2123  G  Tay FM, Angus (SC-DDC) C6B1  434km
106.8 2125  G  Original 106, Durris (SC-ABS) CC94 original  461km
 99.0 2127  G  BBC Radio 1, Durris (SC-ABS) As others  461km
 92.7 2128  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Forfar (SC-ANG) C415 BBC_Scot  430km
 92.3 2130  G  BBC Radio 3, Chatton (EN-NBD) Presumed. Producing echo against
               Peterborough  299km **

 94.5 2130  G  BBC Radio 4 FM, Chatton (EN-NBD) Producing echo on 94.5  299km **
 90.1 2133  G  BBC Radio 2, Chatton (EN-NBD) Presumed. Producing echo against
               Peterborough  299km **

103.9 2211  G  BBC Radio 4 FM, Ashkirk (SC-BRD) C204  333km
101.8 2213  G  Heart, Burnhope (EN-DUR) Heart ID between songs  229km
106.1 2221  G  Capital FM, Black Hill (SC-NLA) Westlothian Leisure ad, ID  405km **
105.4 2223  G  Heart, Winter Hill (EN-GTM) Prince song, as web  196km
100.1 2228  G  Classic FM, Angus (SC-DDC) C5A1 Classic_ Scottish ads then back
               to national service  434km **

105.5 2258 IRL Today FM, Clermont Carn (LH) Music and OM, as web  450km
 90.4 2316 IRL RTÉ 2 FM, Truskmore (SO) OM presenter, as 91.8  587km
 97.0 2320 IRL RTÉ 2 FM, Clermont Carn (LH) Jingle ID  450km
 97.8 2320 IRL RTÉ Lyric FM, Truskmore (SO) Classical, as 98.7  587km
 97.2 2327  G  Heart, Blunsdon (EN-WLT) Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Swindon
               Borough Council PSAs  224km

 89.4 2329  F  France Musique, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) F203 Starting to improve  604km
 95.4 2331  F  France Inter, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) F201 __INTER_  604km
 97.8 2332  F  France Culture, Brest/Roc Trédudon (29) OM, as 98.0  604km

** Personal 'First'

A decent evening's opening to the eastern side of Scotland, eastern Ireland and the south-west of England, just touching into Brittany.

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.

Sunday 27 September 2015

Skegness Log: 27-09-15 (MW)

1010 0458 CAN CFRB Newstalk 1010, Toronto/Oakville (ON) Black Velvet song and Newstalk 
              Ten Ten ID. 416 area code number Fair  5692 km

1200 0500 CAN CFGO TSN 1200, Ottawa (ON) This is CFGO Ottawa, a Bell Media radio station 
              Fair  5334 km

1520 0502 USA WWKB ESPN Radio, Buffalo (NY) Worldwide media sports, expert analysis, 
              breaking news, on ESPN Radio and espnradio.com Fair     5697 km

 711 1900 TWN BCC Country Network, Tainan (TN) Interval signal, barely detectable behind 
              others V weak  9753 km

 738 1900 TWN Taiwan Chü Yuyeh Kuangpo Tientai, Baisha/Chiangmei Ts un (PG) Pops, ID, 
              time signal and another ID. As 1143. Weak  9675 km **

 891 1900 TWN BCC Local Tainan, Tainan (TN) V weak interval signal V weak  9753 km

 972 1900 KOR HLCA KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, Dangjin (ccg) Almost like a local. ID, etc.  
              Good  8740 km

1098 1900 CHN CNR 11, Golmud/SARFT916 (QH) Presume with Beijing time signal ID Good  
              7136 km

1143 1900 TWN Taiwan Chü Yuyeh Kuangpo Tientai, Baisha/Chiangmei Ts un (PG) Pops, ID, 
              time signal and further ID, as 738 Weak  9675 km

1188 1900  J  JOKP NHK Radio 1, Kitami (hok) Interval signal. Running national network. 
              Thanks to Bjarne Melde at RealDX for checking my recording and confirming. 
              V weak  8682 km **

1224 1900 TWN BCC Country Network, Kaohsiung (KH) Interval signal V weak  9816 km **

1566 1900 KOR HLAZ FEBC, Jeju=Cheju (jej) Booming through with time signal and ID. Good  
              9067 km

** Personal First

One of the best days of Asiatic DX I can recall. Regulars like Taiwan 1557, Cheju Island 1566 and Thailand 1575 were also thwomping through.

Signals from the far east were largely squashed by 1900 due to the influx of Spanish stations.

Recordings:
738 Taiwan Chü Yuyeh Kuangpo Tientai, Baisha 1900 27-09-15
https://app.box.com/s/39a0w4y52z25en6ejorm8ua4udb2hwvo

972 HLCA KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, Dangjin 1800 27-09-15
https://app.box.com/s/d7xm37ra9a3isko5fp0pypm0hln26446

1143 Taiwan Chü Yuyeh Kuangpo Tientai, Baisha 1900 27-09-15
https://app.box.com/s/8ri6mjby3h4082806vn44uwvley5xqin

1188 JOKP NHK-1 Kitami 1900 27-09-15
https://app.box.com/s/4slvkltuaefz0lfg8x94nuwsxbnmx300

Other notes:

1900
 603 Oriental time signal
 612 Oriental time signal, probably RTI Lukang
 630 2 x Chinese time pips, 1 Oriental time signal
 666 Oriental time signal
 720 Chinese time signal
 729 Oriental time signal. Japan?
 747 Oriental time signal. Japan?
 765 Extremely weak Oriental time signal
 774 Extremely weak Oriental time signal
 864 Oriental time signal
 882 Oriental time signal
 927 Oriental time signal
 945 Oriental time signal
 963 Oriental time signal
 972 UNID interval signal behind Dangjin
 999 Chinese time signal
1017 Oriental language?
1035 Chinese time signal
1044 Chinese time signal, Oriental time signal
1224 BCC Taiwan plus Oriental time signal
1242 Tentative v v v weak Oriental time signal behind Absolute
1296 Oriental OM? Oriental time signal
1332 Chinese time signal?
1341 Oriental time signal
1359 Chinese time signals
1368 Oriental time signal
1467 Chinese time signal
1584 Oriental interval signal?

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 300 and 030 degrees

Friday 25 September 2015

Skegness Log: 25-09-15 (MW)

 930 0033 CAN CFBC Country Favorites 93, Saint John (NB) Country music, as web V weak
              4728 km

1070 0354 CLM HJCG Radio Santa Fé, Bogotá D. C. (bdc) "Escuchar .... _ _ _ Radio,
              ____ musical 
_____ Radio Santa Fe". Thanks Mauricio Molano and Mike Shcherbakov
              at RealDX for 

              help.  V weak  8563 km
1390 0502 USA WEGP, Presque Isle (ME) EWTN reference. Religion, etc.  Weak  4760 km
 891 1800 TWN BCC Local Tainan, Tainan (TN) Interval signal in noise V weak  9753 km
 972 1800 KOR HLCA KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, Dangjin (ccg) Clear time signal aid ID -
              in English 
too! Fair  8740 km
1071 1800 IND All India Radio GOS, Rajkot (GJ) Indian music, mixing Iran Fair  6716 km
1566 1800 KOR HLAZ FEBC, Jeju=Cheju (jej) Sung FEBC jingle, time signal and ID Good  9067 km

Recordings:
972 HLCA KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, Dangjin 1800 25-09-15 https://app.box.com/s/19tyyhbika7sikgzlg2wxzxr5q10hxk1
1566 HLAZ FEBC, Cheju Island 1800 25-09-15 https://app.box.com/s/ar4hwecko8hkmaqjr3aj0kq1y5lmlf2w


Some observations:

1800
612 RTI presumed - time signal
639 Chinese time signal
738 Chinese time signal
891 Taiwan BCC Local, Tainan
963 Oriental time signal
981 Chinese time signal with Beijing ID, multi-tx
1044 Chinese time signal
1107 Chinese time signal
1134 Oriental time signal, maybe HLKC
1143 Oriental language and time signal - possiby not related
1305 Chinese time signal
1350 Oriental time signal. JOER Etajima?
1359 2 x Chinese time signals. Clear Beijing IDs (echo)
1377 Chinese time signal under Lille
1395 Oriental time signal
1494 Chinese time signals (echo) multi-tx
1521 CRI, Urumqi - thumping!
1539 Oriental time signal. Clear Beijing ID
1566 HLAZ, Cheju Island. Thumping!

1900
1098 Chinese time signal and clear Beijing ID

Signals from the far east were mostly squashed by 1900 was mostly dominated by Spanish stations at 1900.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 300 and 030 degrees

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Skegness Log: 22-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Sporadic E:
 91.6 1702 GRC ERA 1 Proto Programma, Parnitha ERA (att)
               ERA News jingle, YL, etc. as 88.6  2445km

 92.5 1702 GRC ERA Diktyo Peloponisou - Patra, Patra/Panahaiko (wgr-akh)
               ERA News, as 88.6  2336km

 87.7 1705 ALB Radio Travel, Fier (fie) 9499  1999km
 88.6 1705 GRC ERA 1 Proto Programma, Florina & Kastoria/Vitsi (wmc-flo)
               OM correspondent, as 92.8  2105km

 89.3 1705 ALB Radio Kontakt, Tiranë (Tirana)/Fushë Dajt (tir) Two vocal IDs  1964km
 92.2 1705 ALB Radio 1, Mide (shk) FFFF RADIO_1_ NASER_EL KITTAMI_ _Er_Rad_  1906km
 92.8 1705 GRC ERA 1 Proto Programma, Volos/Mt. Pilion (the-mag) 1201 ER____A1  2303km
 94.8 1706 GRC ERA 2 Deutero Programma, Volos/Mt. Pilion (the-mag) 1202  2303km
 87.6 1711 GRC Laikos 87.6, Thessaloniki/Hortiatis (cmc-tsk) 00A8  2208km
 88.0 1711 GRC ERA 1 Proto Programma, Thessaloniki/Hortiatis (ERT Tower) (cmc-tsk)
               1201  2207km

 95.5 1712 GRC Metropolis 95,5, Thessaloniki/Hortiatis (cmc-tsk) OM ID  2208km
 97.3 1712 MKD Makedonsko Radio 1 - Radio Skopje, Veles/Crn Vrv (VA)
               4201 _RADIO__ MAKEON-_ __SKA___ __PRVA__  2027km

102.7 1712 SRB Play Radio, Bitovik (Srb) D25C __B_92_  1804km
 99.1 1713 BIH BN Radio, Rogatica/Tmor (srp) F222 _RTV_BN_  1720km
101.3 1713 MKD Makedonsko Radio 3 (Treta prog.), Veles/Crn Vrv (VA)
               4203 MAKEDON- J.P.____ PROGRAMA TRETA___  2027km

 90.2 1714 SRB Radio K4 Shqip, Golesh=Goleš (Kos) D201 RADIOK4_  1927km
 88.3 1722 GRC Energy 88.3, Veria/Rahi (cmc-ima)
               That's Entertainment Weller song, ID  2165km


This was a real surprise! Sporadic E in late September! Distances reached 2445 km with the Parnitha transmitter from Greece being received on 91.6. Patra and Volos also appeared at 2336 km and 2303 km, respectively.

There were many Greek stations I could not identify as they were below the RDS threshold.

No personal firsts can be given at the moment as I still have the rest of my summertime Es files to check.

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.

Monday 21 September 2015

Skegness Log: 21-09-15 (MW)

1140 0400 CUB Radio Rebelde, Multi-tx National Anthem and Havana ID V weak
1180 0400 CUB Radio Rebelde, Multi-tx National Anthem and Havana ID Fair
1620 0400 CUB Radio Rebelde, Multi-tx National Anthem and Havana ID V weak

Dismal! And it was a struggle to hear these!

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Sunday 20 September 2015

Skegness Log: 20-09-15 (MW)

1200 0324 USA WXKS Bloomberg 1200, Newton (MA) Bloomberg Radio ID Fair  5251 km

 750 0330 VEN YVKS RCR 750 Radio Caracas, Caracas (dcf) Mention of Trasnocho Hípico, 
              etc. Thanks Andrew Brade for help.  V weak  7574 km **

1470 0339 USA WLAM r:WLVP 8-70 News, Lewiston (ME) Good Time Oldies 14-70 WLAM ID 
              Weak  5069 km

1430 0400 USA WKOX Mia 1430, Everett (MA) Muffled 14-30 WKOX ID. Listed only 1kW 
              at night. https://app.box.com/s/3iuk0xxcmapdg455z5ohgjdf7lijeicn V weak  
              5236 km

1190 0424 CLM HJCV Radio Cordillera, Bogotá D.C. (bdc) OM shouting ID between Latin 
                   songs Weak  8566 km **

** Personal First in Skegness

Not a bad night at all with many frequencies yielding a second North American station. Of note were 1010 1130 1500 and 1520.

I didn't start recording until well after 0300 so I don't know what conditions were like before this. Two solar shocks were received overnight, the second one around 0420, roughly the time conditions strarted to take a dive. North America had started to disappear by this time and there was brief influx of South American signals with some fair levels from a Latin music station in the Spanish language on 890, usually a difficult channel. 1060 had a lively Latin station, as did 1070 - almost certainly Radio Santa Fe with IDs mentioning Bogota.

By 0430, ALL reception, including European, took a dive, maybe because of the solar shock. It was like a partial short-wave fade-out. Nothing was left on transatlantic routes by 0500. I didn't bother to check the Asiatic path later in the afternoon because of the now badly deteriorated conditions.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Graveyard DXing

St Helen's Church, West Keal, Lincolnshire

Ah, of course! You're thinking I am talking about DXing 'the graveyard channels' on medium wave. Right? Wrong!

OK then, it's got to be something to do with a 'graveyard shift' perhaps? Nope!

So what have I been up to involving graveyards? Well, of course you can rule out actual DXing inside a graveyard, yes? WRONG! I am officially laying claim to being the first DXer who has put up a band 2 beam in a graveyard! It's true. The question is .... am I really the first?

It took me several attempts to pluck up the courage to do this, but I eventually I just had to try it. Why? Because one of my nearest DX hilltops happens to have a church on it. Churches are open to the public? OK, the vicar might have been curious, maybe even dismayed had he seen me putting up a Triax FM3 in his grounds, which is exactly what I did.

All this happened under the cover of darkness, which wasn't actually planned. I was late getting to the church and the last dregs of daylight had almost disappeared. I had planned to arrive sooner, but other things took precedence. I didn't stick around for long though. it was just too dark and I couldn't even see the antenna after a while. The wildlife around the church grounds was indeed quite creepy and various creatures were squawking and fluttering in the trees around me. Surprisingly, this did not deter me. I have been to this location many times before and have sometimes heard an absolute racket from the wildlife in the nearby wooded areas.

The location, St Helen's Church in West Keal. This has to be one of the best VHF DX locations around here. It sits part way down a hillside at the southern end of this ridge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Reception of France is simply stunning, with virtually the whole of the northern half of France coming through on band 2 - main transmitters of course, but there are also plenty of vertical, low power stations too from the northern tip of France and beyond which come through. I could imagine very regular reception of the Paris area up there but I need to clean up my power supply situation in order to dig deep for those very weak signals. This has been a long-standing problem and one which has been getting worse. The current mains inverter throws out too much noise across band 2, even with the antenna being 20 metres away from it, so I really need to find a quieter one and probably even stick a choke inline, should any of the noise be travelling down the outside of the coax feed from the antenna. Reception to the west, north and east, is blocked by the hills here, plus the church itself, so this definitely is the place to be should Spanish tropo spring up.

This is one of the most stunning church locations around here with superb views across the Fens to the south. It's definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Saturday 19 September 2015

Skegness Log: 19-09-15 (MW)

1400 0300 CAN CBG CBC Radio 1, Gander (NL) CBC promo, News jingle Fair  3775 km

Lots of North American signals overnight, but they all faded just right for their top of the hour IDs. Typical!

I'm sure I hear CBC Radio on 1140. I thought they had moved to FM and vacated their MS outlet in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Can anybody advise?

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Friday 18 September 2015

Skegness Log: 18-09-15 (MW)

 750 0300 CAN CBGY CBC Radio 1, Bonavista Bay (NL) CBC Radio news jingle in noise Vweak  3733 km
1510 0500 USA WMEX, Boston (Waverley) (MA) Fifteen Ten WMEX Boston ID Weak  5245 km
1520 0500 USA WWKB ESPN Radio, Buffalo (NY) ESPN Radio IDs Weak  5697 km
1540 0500 CAN CHIN, Toronto Island (ON) Usual Your Ideas Matter ID Weak  5669 km

Transatlantic signals were best around midnight, then signals gradually tapered off. I wasn't aware of this at the time but there was a minor blow-out around midnight, which was probably responsible for briefly beefing up the reception at that time before gradually reducing it.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Thursday 17 September 2015

Skegness Log: 17-09-15 (MW)

1575 1700 THA Voice of America/Radio Saranrom, Ban Phachi/Rasom (pay) Yankee Doodle
              signature tune well down in the noise V weak  9410 km

1071 1753 IND All India Radio GOS, Rajkot (GJ) OM in Indian language and Indian
              song. Good signal! Good  6716 km

 590 2306 CAN VOCM, Saint John s (NL) Phone-in, as web V weak  3730 km
1560 2312 USA WFME Family Radio, New York/Queens (NY) Jesus Christ, etc.
              As web Weak  5538 km

1660 2319 PTR WGIT Faro de Santidad, Canóvanas (PR) OM lively shouting, presume
              with sports, as web Fair  6806 km **

1600 2321 USA WUNR, Brookline (MA) Spanish music, as web Weak  5251 km
1130 2332 USA WBBR Bloomberg 1130, New York/Carlstadt [NJ] (NY) Dow news Weak  5539 km
1010 2337 USA WINS 1010 WINS, New York/Lyndhurst [NJ] (NY) NY ads and phone-in,
              as web Weak  5543 km


** Personal first

The first North American reception in this very disturbed season and this after about two weeks of listening! I doubt things will be quiet for long but hopefully we'll get a few days of this.

Asiatic DX was also starting to surface in the afternoon with many familiar oriental time signals being heard in the noise.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Perseus SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 300 degrees

Monday 14 September 2015

Skegness Log: 14-09-15 (MW)

1190 0300 ARG LR9 Radio América, Buenos Aires (df) National anthem.
              Plenty of Once Noventa America IDs. Clear with fair peaks between
              0200 and 0400+. Fair  11286 km

1270 0301 ARG LS11 Radio Provincia de Buenos Aires, La Plata (ba) ID and news
              jingle Weak  11285 km **


** Personal first

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Friday 11 September 2015

Skegness Log: 11-09-15 (MW)

1400 0300 GRD Harbour Light of the Windwards, Carriacou/Tarleton Point (cpm)
              Presumed with 
the usual religious programming Weak  7032 km

1610 0300 AIA Caribbean Beacon, The Valley (tvy)
              Presumed with usual religious programming
Weak  6629 km

1190 0400 ARG LR9 Radio América, Buenos Aires (df) Tentative.
              Very weak but "America" heard 
in ID sequence. Not 100% sure as several
              things happening on the frequency. 
Vweak  11286 km **

1540 0400 BAH ZNS-1 Radio Bahamas, Nassau/South Beach (npr) Presumed with a mention
              of the 
constitution of The commonwealth of The Bahamas ... Vweak  7003 km

1290 0402 VEN YVLF Radio Puerto Cabello, Puerto Cabello (cbb) Vocal ID Weak  7637 km

** Personal first

Radio Buenos Aires was again heard clearly on 1350 between 0300 and 0400. Several snippets of south American audio were heard on other frequencies too, including 980, 1200 and 1380.

I have never concentrated my efforts on the South American continent since living in Skegness, always focusing on North America and the far east.

What was of more interest this morning was the Argantine national anthem, heard on 1190 at 0300. This may be Radio America again, but Henrik Klemetz at Real DX suggested it 'might' be Radio Nacional Tucuman. There were two stations on the frequency at the time. I will have to watch this frequency more closely.

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Skegness Log: 08-09-15 (MW)

740 2327  B  ZYH446 Rádio Sociedade da Bahia, Salvador/Ilha de Itaparica (BA)
             Portuguese OM sports commentary, as web Vweak  8230 km


A promising start with lots of carriers and some audio arriving on 10 kHz channels by 2200. Latin rhythms were clearly audible on 1350 by this time, but that signal only peaked briefly, not to return.

I left the software recording overnight and was hoping to have heard more, but I accidentally left a laptop power supply on overnight. This psu doesn't cause interference elsewhere, though I now know not to leave this one on again overnight. I also forgot to de-activate the timer on my FDM-S2 and so it started recording band 2 at 0300 for meteor scatter. Oh well. Better luck next time. :)

Good DX!

John Faulkner, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1m ASL
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.com

Receiver: Elad FDM-S2 SDR Receiver
Antenna:  10ft x 25ft flag at 225 degrees

Skegness Log: 08-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Troposhperic:
 91.8 1155 NOR NRK Petre, Bjerkreim/Urdalsnipa (ro) Pops, as web  703km
 98.7 1206 NOR NRK P2, Bjerkreim/Urdalsnipa (ro) YL, as web  703km
 94.2 1207 NOR NRK P1, Bjerkreim/Urdalsnipa (ro) YL and OM, as web  703km
 97.3 1209 NOR NRK P2, Bokn/Grønnestadvegen (ro) OM and YL, as 94.2  745km
 91.1 1213 NOR NRK Petre, Bokn/Grønnestadvegen (ro) YL, as 91.8  745km
102.8 1218 NOR P4 Radio Hele Norge, Bokn/Grønnestadvegen (ro) OM and YL, as web  745km
103.7 1220  G  BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, Forfar (SC-ANG) Gaelic YL, as 104.2  430km
 95.0 1224 NOR NRK Petre, Lyngdal/Kalåskniben (va) Pops, as 91.8  696km
 97.6 1225 NOR NRK P1, Lyngdal/Kalåskniben (va) YL, as web  696km
 99.0 1247 NOR NRK Petre, Bergen/Ulriken (ho) Pops, as web  860km
 94.8 1319 NOR NRK P2, Bergen/Ulriken (ho) OM, as web  860km
101.0 1326 NOR Radio Norge, Bjerkreim/Urdalsnipa (ro) Aha song, as web  703km
 92.6 1603 NOR NRK Petre, Stord/Kattnakken (ho) Petre ID and pops  811km
 96.0 1606 NOR NRK P1, Stord/Kattnakken (ho) YL and phone caller, as web  811km
101.4 1608 NOR Radio Norge, Gulen/Bråsviksåta (sf) Pops, as web  923km
101.8 1609 NOR Radio Norge, Stord/Kattnakken (ho) Pops, as 101.4  811km
102.5 1610 NOR Radio Norge, Bergen/Ulriken (ho) Pops, as 101.4  860km
 93.8 1653  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Durris (SC-ABS) Scottish politics  461km
 99.6 2133 NOR NRK P2, Stord/Kattnakken (ho) YL, as 97.3  811km
106.8 2342  G  Original 106, Durris (SC-ABS) CC94 Aberdeen ads and jingle ID  461km
102.8 2343  G  Tay FM, Angus (SC-DDC) C6B1 _Tay____  434km

** Personal 'First'

It seems a long time since there has been any decent tropo ... and it's s STILL a long time since there has been any decent tropo. Some of these were a struggle. The unusual exception was Radio Tay on 102.8 with RDS, though still weak. All the other signals were weak at best with the majority of the Norwegians being well down in the noise. 

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.

Monday 7 September 2015

Skegness Log: 07-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 88.4 0407  F  France Culture, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) OM, as 89.0  607km
 88.6 0407  F  France Culture, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) OM, as 89.0  781km
 88.7 0407  F  France Culture, Nancy/Malzéville (54) OM, as 89.0  642km **
 89.0 0407  F  France Culture, Vittel/Thuillières (88) F202 _C______
               Presumed site. Metz in AF list  684km **

 89.4 0407  F  France Musique, Épinal/Bois de la Vierge (88)
               Classical, as 92.7  704km **

 91.6 0407  F  France Musique, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) Classical, as 92.7  781km
 91.7 0407  F  France Musique, Nancy/Malzéville (54) Presumed site.
               Classical, as 92.7  642km **

 92.4 0407  F  France Culture, Épinal/Bois de la Vierge (88) F202  704km **
 92.7 0407  F  France Musique, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) F203 MUSUQU__  607km **
 93.3 0409 POL RMF FM, Bydgoszcz/Trzeciewiec (KP) 3F44 _R______  1186kmz
 88.7 0414  D  Bayern 2, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) D312  942km
 90.7 0414  D  Bayern 1, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) D311 Bayern_1  942km
 88.3 0419 HRV HRT-HR 1, Vinkovci/Borinci (vu) C201 __T_____  1590km
 89.2 0419 AUT Hitradio Ö3, Graz 1/Schöckl (ste) A203  1261km
 91.2 0419 AUT Ö1, Graz 1/Schöckl (ste) A201  1261km
 89.5 0422 HNG Music FM, Budapest - Széchenyi-hegy (Bud) B418  1460km
 88.5 0424  D  SWR2, Geislingen/Oberböhringen (bwü) Presumed with classical,
               as 89.2  832km **

 89.2 0424  D  SWR2, Ulm/Kuhberg (bwü) D3A2 __SW____  859km
 92.6 0424  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Ulm/Kuhberg (bwü) D301 SW______  859km
 92.8 0424  D  Bayern 1, Hohenpeißenberg (bay) D311 __uy____  961km
 88.3 0452 POL PR 1, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3211 __06:52_  1229km
 89.4 0452 POL PR 1, Kraków/Choragwica (MP) 3211 __06____  1406km
 90.3 0452 POL PR 3, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3233 _TROJKA_  1229km
 90.5 0452 CZE CRo Hradec Králové, Trutnov/Cerná hora (KR) 280A  1091km
 91.7 0456  D  MDR Thüringen, Sonneberg/Bleßberg (thü) D6F1 MD______  793km
 92.5 0456  D  MDR Thüringen, Inselsberg (thü) ONJ, as 91.7  739km
 94.2 0500  I  RAI Radio1, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 5201 __RA____  1136km
 97.4 0500  I  RAI Radio2, Menconico/Monte Penice (RAI) (pv) 5202 __RAI___ _RADIO2_  1136km
 97.3 0510  F  France Inter, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) F201  709km
 97.3 0523 HRV HRT-HR 1, Psunj (sb) C201  1500km
 94.6 0526 POL RMF FM, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3F44 scrolling PS  1127km
 96.4 0526 POL PR 3, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3233 _TROJK__  1127km
 95.3 0527 POL RMF FM, Opole/Chrzelice (OP) 3F44 _muzyka_  1229km
 96.0 0527 POL RMF FM, Kraków/Choragwica (MP) Pops, as 94.3  1406km
 96.6 0527 SVK SRo 1 Rádio Slovensko, Košice/Dubník (KE) 5201 _____1__  1544km
 96.9 0527 SVK SRo 2 Rádio Regina, Poprad/Králová hola (PO) 5960  1459km
 98.6 0527 SVK Rádio Jemné, Košice/Dubník (KE) 5354 JEMNE___  1544km
 94.3 0530 POL RMF FM, Plock/Rachocin (MW) 3F44 __MF__M_  1289km
 95.4 0530 POL RMF FM, Tarnów/Góra Sw. Marcina (MP) Pops, as 94.3  1467km **
 97.3 0530 POL Radio ZET, Plock/Rachocin (MW) 3205 Radi____  1289km
 97.6 0539 SVK Rádio Anténa Rock, Banská Bystrica/Suchá hora (BB) 5345  1392km
 94.6 0540 SVN Radio SI, Tinjan (kp) 933A  1289km **
 93.9 0542 HNG MR 2 Petöfi Rádió, Kab-hegy (Ves) B201 _P__OFI_  1405km
 94.7 0542  D  Bayern 3, Hoher Bogen (bay) D313 BA______  975km
 94.7 0552  S  SR P3, Vislanda (Alvesta)/Nydala TM (kb) Pops, as 97.2  983km
 95.4 0552  S  SR P3, Halmstad/Oskarström/Teracoms mast Fjällgime (ha) Pops, as 97.2  899km
 96.0 0552  S  SR P3, Västervik/Fårhult TM (ka) Pops, as 97.2  1132km **
 97.2 0552  S  SR P3, Visby/Follingbo TM (go) E203 ____3___  1238km
102.9 0603  D  Radio PSR, Leipzig Wiederau (sac) D3C8  843km
104.9 0603  D  Radio SAW, Leipzig Wiederau [sac] (san) D3D9  843km
103.8 0612 ROU SRR Radio România Actualitati, Arad/Siria (AR) EE00  1706km
104.0 0617  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Sassnitz (Rügen) (mev) D210  883km **
101.7 0639 POL Radio Plus, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) 321C __PL__+_  1195km
103.7 0639 POL PR Radio Gdansk, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) 309C ____HA__  1195km
105.0 0639 POL Radio ZET, Gdansk/Chwaszczyno (PM) 3205  1195km
103.6 0643 POL PR Radio Merkury, Walcz/Rusinowo (Pila) (ZP) 3755 __RA____  1060km
104.1 0728 POL Radio ZET, Kraków/Choragwica (MP) 3205 _0______  1406km
107.4 0728 POL Radio ZET, Krosno/Sucha Góra (PK) Pops, as 104.1  1530km
107.8 0728 POL Radio ZET, Tarnów/Lichwin (MP) Pops, as 104.1  1465km
102.9 0750 POL Radio ZET, Przysucha/Kozlowiec (MW) 3205 ____oZ__  1388km **
103.4 0750 POL Radio ZET, Czestochowa/Wreczyca (SL) Annie Lummox, as 102.9  1291km
104.0 0750  D  MDR Figaro, Wittenberg/Gallunberg (san) D3C3 __MD__O_  839km
104.7 0750 POL PR 2, Zagan/Wichów (LU) 3222 Ra______  1037km **
104.8 0750 POL PR 2, Przysucha/Kozlowiec (MW) 3222 Radio___  1388km
102.8 0812 HRV HRT Radio Osijek, Beli Manastir (os) C317 ____IJ__  1552km
102.9 0812 CZE Radio Impuls, Ceské Budejovice/Klet - CRa (JC) 2203 _IMPULS_  1084km
105.0 0812 HNG MR 3 Bartók Rádió, Kab-hegy (Ves) B202  1405km
107.2 0812 HNG MR 1 Kossuth Rádió, Kab-hegy (Ves) B203  1405km
107.3 0812  D  hr4, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) D364  729km
107.6 0812  D  B5 aktuell, Hühnerberg (bay) Vocal ID  871km
107.8 0812 HNG MR 1 Kossuth Rádió, Budapest - Széchenyi-hegy (Bud) OM,
               as 107.2  1460km

106.8 0817 POL Radio Maryja, Poznan/Srem (WP) 3232  1127km
107.9 0817 POL Radio Maryja, Suwalki or Ryki 3232

** Personal 'First'

Using the 9.2 horizontally, to the south-east.

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.

Sunday 6 September 2015

Skegness Log: 06-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Troposhperic:
 95.6 1148 IRL South East Radio, Mount Leinster (CW) Ads, OM and Annies Song song.
               As web  480km

105.2 1201 IRL TXFM, Three Rock Mountain (D) Irish accented YL news.
               Checked web stream and 100% //  437km

100.3 1205 IRL Nova 100, Three Rock Mountain (D) Ad break, as web  437km
 92.6 1210 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Truskmore (SO) Gaelic OM, as 94.0  587km
 87.5 1250  G  Merseyland Alternative Radio, Somewhere in Merseyland!
               Samantha Sang dirge, as web **

 96.1 1331  G  BBC Radio Cumbria, Morecambe Bay (EN-CUM)
               Ambleside traffic news. ID  258km


** Personal 'First'

Quite a poor tropo to the west and Ireland this morning with only weak signals. Kippure (not logged above) was the exception with noise-free signals on 98.7, Lyric FM and on 100.9, Today FM. Neither were quite strong enough for RDS.

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.

Saturday 5 September 2015

Skegness Log: 05-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 89.2 0408  E  Onda Cero, A Coruña (GAL-C) E2EE ON??????  1264km
 87.7 0442 HRV HRT-HR 1, Licka Plješivica (gs) C201  1456km
 90.5 0442 HRV HRT-HR 2, Licka Plješivica (gs) C202  1456km
 93.3 0442 HRV HRT-HR 2, Mirkovica (ri) Pops, as 90.5  1374km **
 91.2 0443  E  RNE Radio 3, Burgos/San Bartolomé (CAL-BU) E213 (with presumed
               Clasica on 90.3)  1240km **

 92.2 0443  E  RNE Radio 3, Multi-tx OM speech, as 91.2 **
 98.0 0542  I  PrimaRadio-inBlu, Rocchetta Palafea (at) 5B63 PRIMA_R.  1105km
 98.0 0551  E  MegaStar FM, San Sebastián=Donostia/Monte Ulía (PVA-SS) E2DC ??St??  1105km
103.0 0637  E  Unika FM, Villaviciosa de Odón/Pinares Llanos (MAD-M) E42C UNIKA_FM  1458km
104.1 0637  E  SER, Segovia (CAL-SG) E239 __SER___  1399km
104.9 0637  E  RNE Radio Nacional, Navacerrada/Bola del Mundo (MAD-M)
               E211 RNE_1___  1413km **

105.3 0714  I  Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana, Meldola/Frazione
               Valdinoce-Il Botteghino (fc) 5220  1328km

107.9 0734  I  Radio 24, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo (rm) 5245  1568km
103.0 0752  I  Radio Verona, Verona/Torricelle (Via Santa Giuliana) (vr) 54F8  1150km

** Personal '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:
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.

Friday 4 September 2015

Skegness Log: 04-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 88.0 0400  E  Radio Nervión, Bilbao=Bilbo/Ganeta (PVA-BI) E343  1130km
 88.1 0449  E  Onda Cero, Chinchilla de Monte Aragón or Sanlúcar de Barr. E2EE **
 91.0 0450 POL RMF FM, Warszawa/Raszyn (MW) Pops, as 88.2  1388km **
 93.6 0522  E  Los 40 Principales, Segovia or Salamanca E235 CUARENTA **
 93.8 0522  E  Cadena 100, Palencia (CAL-P) E2CE CAD-100_  1291km **
 94.7 0522  E  Los 40 Principales, Palencia (CAL-P) Pops, as 93.6  1291km **
 96.8 0522  E  Radio María, Palencia (CAL-P) So obviously Radio Maria but no RDS.
               Fits the conditions  1296km **

 98.1 0522  E  M80 Radio, Valladolid/Cuesta Redonda (CAL-VA) E230 ____AD__  1335km **
 98.0 0524  I  Radio Subasio, Fabriano/Poggio San Romualdo (an) 53FD  1434km
 95.8 0545  E  RNE Radio 3, Navacerrada/Bola del Mundo (MAD-M) Group Analyser
               gives "Ra" repeatedly. Too weak for RDS. Fits with Navacerrada 98.8  1413km

 98.8 0545  E  RNE Radio Clásica, Navacerrada/Bola del Mundo (MAD-M)
               E212 __E_CL__  1413km **

103.9 0606  I  RAI Radioquattro - Trieste, Trieste/Monte Belvedere (RAI) (ts)
               5404 Presumed tx 1278km

103.9 0611  F  France Bleu La Rochelle, Saintes/le Clone-Flanquet (17) 
               F20A BL__.L__  835km **
101.7 0622  I  Radio Sportiva, Multi-tx 5244
102.0 0622  I  Radio 105 Network, Multi-tx 5211
104.6 0622  I  Radio 24, Multi-tx OM on phone, as 105.0 **
105.0 0622  I  Radio 24, Multi-tx 5245 RA____24   **
104.2 0624  I  Rete Sport, Multi-tx 5148 ??????__ **
103.8 0630 POL VIA - Katolickie Radio Rzeszów, Rzeszów/Magdalenka (PK) 3401 08:3____  1540km **
105.1 0636  I  R101,  5215 Multi-tx **
104.0 0708  E  Radio Castilla La Mancha, Chinchilla de Monte Aragón (CAM-AB)
               E396 CAST__LA  1590km

103.8 0729 CVA Radio Vaticana Africa-Asia, Cittá del Vaticano/Palazzina
               Leone XIII (cva) Vatican Radio interval signal  1542km **

105.0 0729 CVA Radio Vaticana 105 Live, Cittá del Vaticano/Palazzina
               Leone XIII (cva) 4104  1542km

105.3 0729  I  Dimensione Suono Due, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo (rm) 5E49  1568km
104.1 0741  I  Radio Italia Anni 60, Ercolano-Vesuvio/Area Osservatorio (na)
               5495 AN______  1730km

107.8 0741  I  Radio Radicale, Vico Equense/Monte Faito (na) 5210 ______LE  1751km **

** Personal 'First'

The meteor bursts resembled sporadic E at times.

Unfortunately, I had to delete the last hour'#s worth of files due to needing the hard drive space for medium wave recordings.

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.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Skegness Log: 03-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 88.3 0401  I  RAI Radio1, Sirolo/Monte Conero (RAI) (an)
               Italian OM, as Monte Venda 88.1  1445km **

 90.3 0401  I  RAI Radio2, Sirolo/Monte Conero (RAI) (an)
               YL, as Monte Venda 89.0  1445km **

 96.1 0501  I  Radio 105 Network, Rocca di Papa/Monte Cavo (rm) 5211  1568km
 96.3 0501  I  Radio 105 Network, Canepina/Poggio Nibbio (vt) Likely tx - inline with Rocca di Papa at this time. YL, as 96.1  1487km **
 94.7 0513  I  RAI Radio1, Genova (unlisted) 5601. Thank you Hannu for help **
 98.0 0536  I  PrimaRadio-inBlu, Rocchetta Palafea (at) 5B63 PRIMA_R.  1105km **
104.7 0601  I  Radio Toscana, Multi-tx 5AA7 RTOSCANA **
104.9 0601  E  RNE Radio Nacional, Villadiego (CAL-BU) E211 ____1___.
               AFs point to CAM region  1216km

105.1 0611  I  Radio Radicale, Monte Amiata (Seggiano) (gr) 5210  1414km **
105.8 0808 POL Muzyczne Radio, Jelenia Góra/G.Baraniec (DS) 3656 MU____NE  1090km **
102.9 0813 POL PR Radio Rzeszów, Lezajsk/Giedlarowa (PK) 3417 __ls____  1549km **
104.2 0819  I  Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana, Fontechiari and Mattinata
               listed Pops, as 105.3 **

105.3 0819  I  Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana, Meldola (fc)
               5220 R_IT____  1328km

103.1 0844  I  Radio Monte Kanate, Pellegrino Parmense/Monte Canate (pr)
               58A6 57______  1165km **

107.75 0844 I  Radio Incontro, Buti/Monte Serra (pi) 5001  1286km **

** Personal 'First'

Videos:
 98.0 Prima Radio in Blu, Rocchetta Palafea 0536 03-09-15 (1105 km) https://youtu.be/hB-q594FG1w
104.7 Radio Toscana, Multi-tx 0601 03-09-15 https://youtu.be/Hx-a2YSWmIE
105.1 Radio Radicale, Monte Amiata (Seggiano) 0611 03-09-15 (1414 km) https://youtu.be/QDgznRG9SgQ
105.8 Muzyczne Radio, Jelenia Góra 0808 03-09-15 (1090 km) https://youtu.be/eVMGrTIvdo8
103.1 Radio Monte Kanate, Pellegrino Parmense 0844 03-09-15 (1165 km) https://youtu.be/C4O60dIQK5E
107.75 Radio Incontro, Buti 0844 03-09-15 (1286 km) https://youtu.be/6Z4VUM9oRlI

My Körner 9.2 antenna was vertical tonight, beamed approximately 150 degrees. Nice to hear so many interesting personal firsts too. I didn't bother to log the more regular catches, but to be honest there weren't many regulars anyway!

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.

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Skegness Log: 02-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 91.9 0402 POL PR Radio Merkury, Konin/Zólwieniec (WP)  
               PI logged: 3755 PS logged: ____61__ 1211km **

 89.0 0415  I  RAI Radio2, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd)  
               PI logged: 5202 1197km

 89.9 0415  I  RAI Radio3, Monte Venda (RAI) (pd)  
               PI logged: 5203 PS logged: __AD____ 1197km

 91.3 0432  F  France Inter, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13)  
               PI logged: F201 1149km

 89.4 0434  F  France Inter, Montpellier/Sainte-Baudille (34) OM, as 90.4  1072km
 90.4 0434  F  France Inter, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63)  
               PI logged: F201 842km **

 90.7 0434  F  France Musique, Multi-tx Suspect Orleans **
 91.8 0434  F  France Musique, Bourges/Neuvy (18)  
               PI logged: F203 672km

 92.9 0434  F  France Musique, Montpellier/Sainte-Baudille (34)  
               PI logged: F203 1072km **

 88.2 0443  E  RNE Radio Clásica, O Páramo/M. Páramo (GAL-LU)  
               PI logged: E212 PS logged: ____CL__ 1287km

103.6 0625  F  France Bleu Provence, Marseille/Grande Etoile (13)
               PI logged: F405 1149km


** Personal 'First'

Tonight, the antenna was horizontal and pointing at approximately 200 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.

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Skegness Log: 01-09-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 90.7 0424  E  Radio María, Madrid (MAD-M) E1CC  1444km **
 92.4 0424  E  Radiolé, Madrid/Parque de la Almudena (MAD-M) E238  1447km **
 96.1 0521 IRL Midwest Radio, Kiltimagh (MO) 241E  626km
 94.7 0552  E  Gaztea, Bilbao=Bilbo/Ganeta (PVA-BI) E303  1130km **
105.0 0628  E  RNE Radio 5 Todo Noticias, Liérganes/Peña Cabarga (CNT-S) E515  1128km
100.5 0631  F  France Bleu Gascogne, Bayonne/la Rhune (64) F207  1104km **
103.1 0848  F  France Bleu Armorique, Rennes/Saint-Pern (35) F207  564km

** Personal 'First'

At last some meteor action after a few days of nothing. For the last few days I have had the antenna vertical and beaming west for Ireland, but without success. I repositioned the 9.2 horizontal this morning and beamed to the south-west. This brought in a few new catches.

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.