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Monday 30 September 2013

Skegness Log: 30-09-13 (MW)

 570 0500 CUB Radio Reloj, Santa Clara/CTOM1 (vc) Tick, tick, tick, etc.   7387 km
1570 0600 MEX XERF-AM La Poderosa, Ciudad Acuña (coa) Full ID - XERF ... la potencia, ... , etc.   8138 km **
1670 0600 USA WPLA Dry Branch GA. WPLA Dry Branch, Macon ID  6768 km **


** Personal Skegness 'First'

Poor conditions overnight.

Surprised XERF and WPLA don't feature in my Skegness log. For the record, I made the decision to start my log again from scratch when I moved to Skegness as it seems to be very different to my old Nottinghamshire QTH - better for the high latitude path but much worse when signals have to go across land since I am beaming across most of the UK.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor    

Sunday 29 September 2013

Skegness Log: 29-09-13 (MW)

1000 0300 USA KOMO Seattle WA.  ABC News on the hour on WMVP fade. Has to be KOMO.
                   Rolling news format.  7591 km

1470 0300 CAN CJVB Vancouver BC.  You're listening to Fairchild Radio, Vancouver's
                   multicultural station. Three pips and YL ID in Chinese   7453 km


After checking conditions at 0500 and 0600 I had almost decided to scrub any earlier top-of-the-hour recordings. 0400 wasn't much better but there were promising signs. I assumed 0300 would be too early for anything out of the ordinary, but how wrong I was, for CJVB's ID was audible with reasonable clarity on 1470 at this time!

Here's a recording of CJVB:
https://app.box.com/s/62cudvxwbuz5tkrjp1r0

KOMO comes in like this. Note the ABC News jingle:
https://app.box.com/s/c38t4fzz0n0a16voez6n

ABC News on 1000 is undoubtedly KOMO, but there were several other interesting stations which did not peak on the hour. A second talk station on 1130 appeared after 0230 but faded out by 0300. I understand KTCN was reported elsewhere in the UK this morning so maybe it was that.

I was also quite interested in the ID on 930, also at 0300: "One Word, One Station" was all I could make out, but I was wondering if this ID pointed to CJCA. It probably wouldn't be CJYQ as their top of the hour is our half past the hour. CFBC were dominant with their country format.

The northerly path is opening up!

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor

Saturday 28 September 2013

Skegness Log: 28-09-13 (MW)

1360 0400 USA WDRC Hartford CT. This is the talk of Hartford, WDRC AM and WDRC FM  5381 km
1580 0600 CAN CKDO Oshawa ON. On 107.7 and 1580, CKDA ID  5612 km   
         

I didn't concentrate much on my overnight recordings as I decided to spend time elsewhere - on the FM broadcast band where there is currently good tropospheric DX activity.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor  

Skegness Log: 28-09-13 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
105.7 0025 BEL Club FM, Oostkamp (vlg-wvl) Jingle ID and club beats  297km
106.6 0029  F  Radio Campus Lille, Lille/Cité Scientifique (59) CAMPUS__  342km
 87.7 0759  F  France Culture, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) Vocal ID  709km
 88.0 0759  D  SR 1 Europawelle, Göttelborner Höhe (saa) Full toh ID  629km
 88.9 0804 LUX RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) PS: _RTL.lu_  574km
 90.6 0805  D  SWR3, Saarburg/Geisberg (rlp) Pops, as web  586km
 90.7 0806  D  Bayern 1, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) Vocal ID  942km
 95.8 0807  D  Bayern 3, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) Vocal ID and pops  942km
 91.6 0808  D  SWR3, Koblenz/Naßheck (Waldesch) (rlp) Rock song, as web  591km
 92.0 0809  D  SWR2, Donnersberg (rlp) Phone in  657km
 92.1 0811  F  France Inter, Verdun/Septsarges (55) OMs, as web  548km
 93.0 0812  D  SWR2, Haardtkopf (rlp) YL and OM talking, as web  593km
 93.3 0813 LUX RTL Radio, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) ID and OM over music  574km
 93.4 0814  D  Bayern 3, Pfaffenberg (bay) Phone in  713km
 93.8 0815  D  SWR2, Saarburg/Geisberg (rlp) Interview, as web  586km
 94.0 0816  D  SWR2, Koblenz/Naßheck (Waldesch) (rlp) OMs, as web  591km
 94.8 0817  D  SWR3, Linz/Ginsterhahn (rlp) Pops, as web  560km
 95.0 0819  F  France Musique, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) Opera, as web  709km
 95.5 0821  D  SR 3 Saarlandwelle, Göttelborner Höhe (saa) German song, as web  629km
 97.2 0823  F  France Musique, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) Opera, as 95.0  446km
 97.3 0824  F  France Inter, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) Discussion, as 103.7  709km
 97.4 0824  F  France Musique, Verdun/Septsarges (55) Opera, as others  548km
 98.4 0826  D  SWR3, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) News of gas explosion, ID  748km
 98.3 0827 BEL RTBF Vivacité, Profondeville-Rivière/Sart à Soile (wal-nam) ID. Three bars, squashing 

               Belmont!  441km **
 99.7 0835  F  France Culture, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) Old 78, as web  446km
100.4 0838  D  Radio Regenbogen, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) Pops, as web  748km
101.3 0840  F  France Bleu Picardie, Hirson/Landouzy-la-Ville (02) PS: BLEU.PIC  446km
101.7 0841  D  Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) ID and pops  628km
105.7 0848  D  B5 aktuell, Wendelstein (bay) News, as web  1024km
102.3 0849  D  BR Klassik, Wendelstein (bay) OM and Classical music, as web  1024km
102.8 0850  F  France Bleu Picardie, Sailly-Saillisel (80) French pops, as 101.3  391km **
103.2 0853 BEL NRJ, Léglise/Vlessart (wal-lux) Jingle ID between pops  524km
103.5 0856  D  RPR 1., Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) ID and ads  554km
104.0 0857  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Koblenz/Kühkopf (rlp) Yo rap mutha farmers!  590km
104.9 0858  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Ahrweiler/Schöneberg (rlp) POps, as web  554km
105.3 0900  D  B5 aktuell, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) Pips and ID on the hour  733km
105.6 0901 SUI Radio SRF 3, Säntis (ar) YL news, as web (Not Donnersberg)  917km
105.9 0902  F  France Info, Charleville-Mézières/Sury (08) OM news, as 105.2  479km
106.3 0903  F  France Info, Verdun/Septsarges (55) OM news, as 105.9  548km
106.8 0904  F  France Info, Metz/Luttange (57) OM, as others  600km
107.1 0905  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Haardtkopf (rlp) Vocal ID  593km
107.3 0905  D  hr4, Heidelstein (Rhön) [bay] (hes) Jolly schlager!  729km
107.4 0906  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz/Naßheck (Waldesch) (rlp) More jolly Schlager  591km
107.8 0906 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Säntis (ar) Paul Youngs Common People, as web  917km
107.9 0907  D  BR Klassik, Kreuzberg (Rhön) (bay) Classicao, as web  733km
 99.9 0918 SUI RTS La Première, Säntis (ar) Clarinet version of Girl From Ipanema, as web  917km
 95.4 0921 SUI Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Säntis (ar) YL, as web  917km
 98.7 0927  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Grünten (Allgäu) [bay] (bwü) OM ID, then Pink Floyds
               "Money", as web  942km
103.0 0928  D  SWR3, Grünten (Allgäu) [bay] (bwü) Adele, as web  942km
107.3 0934  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Raichberg (bwü) ID and Cher cover  813km
107.9 0936 BEL AFN Benelux-The Eagle, Chièvres/Air Base (wal-hnt) PSAs in US accents. ID  374km
 87.9 0941  F  Virgin Radio, Montreuil/le Bois-de-Sel (62) Jingle ID in pile-up  302km
 90.6 0946  F  Fun Radio, Maubeuge/château d'eau (59) Rap-a-de-doo-dah, as web  406km
 92.1 0955  F  RTL, Cambrai/Mont Blanc (59) ID after ads  384km
 92.2 0958  F  NRJ, Laon/rue Saint-Jean (02) Jingle ID between pops  460km **
105.3 1000  F  France Info, Laon/Château d'eau (02) Presumed site as Laon also in on 92.2  459km **
106.7 1026  F  Fun Radio, Hesdin/le Quesnoy-en-Artois (62) I Have A Dream sample in dance song,
               as web  334km
107.9 1028  F  N'Radio, Soissons/Mont de Belleu (02) N Radio jingle ID between pops. As web  471km **
 91.2 1052  F  Contact, Abbeville/Behen Blockhaus (80) I Have A Dream track, as web  358km
 92.8 1059  F  NRJ, Béthune/Fresnicourt-le-Dolmen (62) French Latino beats and jingle ID  341km
 93.6 1104  F  Rire et Chansons, Laon/rue Saint-Jean (02) Hysterical YL humour, as 93.3  460km **
 98.4 1117  F  RTL, Dieppe/la Côte Enragée (76) Ads and phone in, as web  364km
 98.5 1118  F  Transat FM, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Outreau (62) French song, as web  286km
 99.2 1122  F  Chérie FM, Abbeville/Huchenneville (80) Ads, as web  359km
100.2 1123  F  France Bleu Picardie, Amiens/Dury Towercast (80) V weak. 50s song, as 100.6  390km
100.8 1124  F  Contact, Lens or Valenciennes Dance pop track, as web 
101.6 1128  F  RFM, Cambrai/Mont Blanc (59) Jingle ID and Phil Collins track  384km **
101.7 1129  G  Flight FM, London pirate Yo DJ. D and B **
 97.5 1657  D  SWR3, Bornberg (rlp) POps, as web  640km
 98.5 1659  D  SWR3, Scharteberg (Eifel) (rlp) Pops, as 98.4  550km
 99.8 1700  F  France Inter, Metz/Luttange (57) OM ID  600km
101.4 1705  F  France Bleu Alsace, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) Westher forecast, as web  709km
100.1 1715  D  RPR 1., Haardtkopf (rlp) German song, as web  593km
107.6 1716  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Bornberg (rlp) Pops, as web  640km
107.7 1719 LUX Den Neie Radio (DNR), Blaschette/Kandel (gld) IDs and pops. Scrolling RDS  557km
 90.0 1728  D  SWR3, Haardtkopf (rlp) Pops, mixing BBC R2, as web  593km
105.0 1734  D  Radio 7, Iberger Kugel  (bwü) German pop song, as web  923km
105.7 1803  D  SWR2, Stuttgart/Hoher Bopser (bwü) ID and classical music  790km
104.2 1940  G  BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, Meldrum (SC-ABS) BBC_Gael  501km
 95.3 1941  G  BBC Radio 4 FM, Meldrum (SC-ABS) As 93.1  501km
 94.3 1942  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Black Hill (SC-NLA) Live concert, as web  405km
 93.8 1943  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Durris (SC-ABS) Live Gaelic band, as 94.3, etc.  461km
 99.0 1944  G  BBC Radio 1, Durris (SC-ABS) As 98.3, etc.  461km
106.8 1944  G  Original 106, Durris (SC-ABS) Jingle ID   461km
 91.6 1945  G  BBC Radio 3, Durris (SC-ABS) Piano piece, as 90.9  461km **
 89.4 1946  G  BBC Radio 2, Durris (SC-ABS) Paul Gambacini  461km **
 88.7 1947  G  BBC Radio 2, Meldrum (SC-ABS) As 88.8  501km **
102.8 1952  G  Star Durham, Burnhope (EN-DUR) Star Radio ID and pops, as 103.2  228km
103.2 1952  G  Star Radio, Darlington (EN-NYK) Star Radio ID and pops  200km
103.7 1953  G  BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, Forfar (SC-ANG) BBC Radio Scotland ID by OM  429km
 92.7 1954  G  BBC Radio Scotland, Forfar (SC-ANG) Presume Forfar as 103.7 in. Two bars  429km
 90.6 2103  F  Radio 6, Hesdin/le Quesnoy-en-Artois (62) 70s disco and jingle ID  334km
 91.5 2108  F  Virgin Radio, Boulogne-sur-Mer/Mont Lambert (62) Noise free. Stable. Various
               pops and IDs  285km

** Personal Skegness 'First'


Another good day of tropo with plenty of signals and plenty of movement. There were some good signals again though they were choppy at times, more so during the evening. I ignored the more regular tropo transmitters.

The best catch today was one which got away - B5 Aktuell on 106.9, I think from the Brotjacklriegel transmitter, which would have been a tropo first for me. The Grunten transmitter of B5 Aktuell also uses 106.9 and was heard earlier, along with other stations from the Grunten transmitter. Tonight, I am assuming this was Brotjacklriegel because none of the other Grunten stations were audible this time. I thought the antenna beam was slightly further towards the east too, though the difference in bearing would be negligible. The other Brotjacklriegel stations were on blocked frequencies, ironically, blocked by other German stations, though I think I heard Bayern 1 on 92.1. Alas, it was just too weak for any certainty. So Brotjacklriegel got away on this occasion.

Recordings:

92.8 NRJ, Bethune 1059 28-09-13
88.0 Frequence Horizon, Bethune 1036 28-09-13
107.9 N Radio, Soissons 1028 28-09-13
107.9 AFN, Chievres 0936 28-09-13
102.8 France Bleu Picardie, Sailly-Saillisel 0848 28-09-13
98.3 RTBF Vivacite, Profondeville 0827 28-09-13


Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Friday 27 September 2013

Skegness Log: 27-09-13 (MW)

1520 0544 USA KKXA Snohomish WA. Glen Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy, then ID - The only
              music you need - the all new Classic Country 15-20 KXA Briefly equal
              with WWKB  7538 km
1320 0600 CAN CHMB Vancouver BC. V weak Chinese YL. CNR style time pip, OM ID and news
              jingle  7457 km **

            
** Personal Skegness 'First'

Conditions improving further! Nice to have these two west coasters in the bag. Thankto Mark Borthwick for the KKXA tip.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor      

Skegness Log: 27-09-13 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 87.8 1031  F  France Inter, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Phone caller, as 103.7  497km
 89.0 1033  F  RFI Paris, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) YL, as web  497km
 94.3 1040  F  Radio Orient, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Asian music, as web, then ads  497km
 92.1 1042  F  Le Mouv', Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Scissor Brothers, as web  497km
 96.9 1044  F  Voltage, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) In the mix, ID and OM  497km **
 97.4 1048  F  Rire et Chansons, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Toto song, as web  497km
100.3 1051  F  NRJ, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) French pops, as web  497km **
102.3 1055  F  Ouï FM, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Rock song, as web  497km **
103.1 1057  F  RMC, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) OM talk, sd web  497km **
103.5 1058  F  Virgin Radio, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Pops, as web  497km **
104.3 1059  F  RTL, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Presume Paris. OM ID  497km
104.7 1059  F  Europe 1, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Paris adverts, ID. TWO bars!  497km **
105.1 1102  F  FIP, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Pop song, as web. TWO bars!  497km
105.5 1103  F  France Info, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) As 105.2  497km
105.9 1104  F  RTL 2, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Rock song, jingle ID  497km
107.1 1106  F  France Bleu 107.1, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Weather, as web  497km
107.5 1107  F  Africa No.1, Paris/Fort de Romainville (93) African French OM and phone in, as web  496km **
 90.4 1109  F  Nostalgie, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Nostalgie jingle, v weak  497km **
101.1 1111  F  Radio Classique, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Violin concerto, as web  497km **
101.9 1120  F  Fun Radio, Paris/Tour Eiffel (75) Brief appearance. Ad break, as web  497km **
 88.2 1126  F  Générations, Bagnolet(Paris)/Tour Mercuriales Ouest (93) Blurred Lines song,
               as web  498km **
 92.8 1129  F  Music Box, Pontoise/Vaux-sur-Seine (95) Country style song, as web  475km
 93.3 1130  F  France Culture, Beaumont-sur-Oise/les Sablons (95) OM  YL, as 98.0  466km **
 87.6 1133  F  France Inter, Beaumont-sur-Oise/les Sablons (95) Tentative. V difficult xf RTL  Nostalgie.
               Deep voiced OM, as web. V difficult copy  466km **
 95.4 1536  F  RTL, Fécamp/les Plantis (76) Adverts, as web  377km **
 98.0 1604  F  ID FM, Paris-Nord/Sannois (95) French rap, as web. xf unid English, not
               BBC Three Counties  484km **
 99.2 1614  F  Chérie FM, Abbeville/Huchenneville (80) Jingle ID between songs  359km **
105.1 1631  F  Résonance, Fécamp/les Plantis (76) OMs lively discussion, then pop music, as web  377km **
106.0 1637  F  RTL, Montargis/Pannes (45) OM serious discussion, as web  595km **
 89.2 1646  F  NRJ, Fécamp/les Plantis (76) Club beats and accordeon, as web  377km **
 89.8 1648  F  Canal FM Sambre Avesnois, Avesnes-sur-Helpe/Pont-sur-Sambre (59) Accordeon music and
               French YL, as web  405km **
 88.9 1655  F  Contact, Noyon/Maison Rouge (60) Dance songs and jingle ID  456km **
101.5 1754  G  Radio Plus, Coventry/Mercia House (EN-WMD) Pops and ID. V difficult under
               Tacolneston  148km **
102.5 1801  G  Galaxy, London pirate Soulful oldies, as web **
 87.7 1819  F  France Bleu Nord, Valenciennes/Château d'eau (59) OMs and YL discussion, as web.
               Briefly over RTL  381km **
 87.9 1821  F  Fun Radio, Yvetot-Autretot/le Bout du Haut (76) ID in adverts  389km
104.1 1935  F  RTL, Abbeville-Mareuil 2 (80) OMs conversation and ID  356km **
107.5 2110  G  Sovereign Radio, Eastbourne/Butts Brow (EN-ESU) Jingle ID and pops  262km


** Personal Skegness 'First'


WHAT IS HAPPENING? The tropo season got underway with a BANG here on Monday (23rd) but it keeps on going! I never expected any of this today!

Today's opening began with the Reims transmitter in NE France blasting through with its national TDF outlets on 89.2, 97.8 and 98.8 during the late morning, so I flipped the 9.2 into vertical, expecting to hear local networks from Reims, but heard Paris stations instead - in excess of 20 of them! Some  of them were hitting two bars on the XDR-F1HD. After a necessary trip into town I returned to find conditions had fallen away a little, but they began to recover by the early evening - the same time we had some friends round. They didn't leave until 1am so I missed virtually all of the evening's tropo conditions. Grrrrr!

At the time of compiling this report (2am) I have Lille locals slamming through with THREE bars and instant RDS! I need to get some sleep at some point. When? :O)


Recordings:

105.1 unid 1937 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/137ft39m47kv9lcfzn7g

101.5 Radio Plus, Coventry 1753 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/z4ysmbj9a0bs9arc8pib

95.5 BBC Somerset, Mendip 1718 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/vb4zaxet9mu92m4t3xev

95.4 RTL, Fecamp 1713 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/l68iwov1rsmh0l0h0cic

88.9 Contact, Noyon 1656 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/enh1xifcmdc0ojk1ehyl

89.8 Canal Sambre, Avesnes 1645 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/dfcula0p4uzc8g4mxvqd

105.1 FIP, Paris 1641 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/glsdk8wsptfcq374l0gg

99.2 Cherie FM, Abbeville 1613 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/z548twyc3qp7m048vo17

107.1 France Bleu 107.1, Paris 1135 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/zab2arbjdfs1pf7hkas8

101.9 Fun Radio, Paris 1129 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/8qopk4piclawgqmno87v

101.1 Radio Classique, Paris 1109 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/cnusfa79210cn29qhmo4

90.4 Nostalgie, Paris 1108 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/6ezf7j909kfc3nsb3in6

105.9 RTL2, Paris 1103 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/kj71ymg3j8g7fj5mjulg

104.7 Europe 1, Paris 1100 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/ubbatsx64eqaa3dktsw3

96.9 Voltage, Paris 1044 27-09-13
https://app.box.com/s/vtla0mtaqtf2g8li68du


One final piece of news which will be of interest to those looking for free clud storage, I discovered yesterday that box.net now give you 10GB storage as standard to free account holders. That's quite amazing! They don't seem to mind you having more than one account either - I have been running two for several years now.


Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Thursday 26 September 2013

Skegness Log: 26-09-13 (MW)

1510 0500 USA WLAC  Nashville TN. Newsradio 15-10 WLAC, dominant over WUFC at 0500. Fox News Radio  6686 km
1530 0500 USA WCKY Cincinnati OH. This is WCKY BY YL on the hour. Equal levels Euros  6332 km
1590 0500 USA WAKR Akron OH. Distinctive Gong chime on the hour in pile-up  5991 km


Improving conditions. Nice to hear WCKY in with the Euros at 0500.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor  

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Skegness Log: 24-09-13 (MW)

840 0500 USA WHAS, Louisville (KY) Newsradio 8-40 WHAS ID  6445 km **

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor

Monday 23 September 2013

Skegness Log: 23-09-13 (FM) ... SUPER TROPO !!!

Band 2 Tropospheric:
103.4 0656  F  France Info, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) OM and YL, as 105.2  917km
 99.8 0658  F  France Inter, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) Two bars. As 103.7  917km
105.0 0704  D  Radio 7, Iberger Kugel  (bwü) ID after news  923km
 99.9 0710 SUI RTS La Première, Säntis (ar) OM  YL discussion, as web  917km
103.8 0711 SUI Radio SRF 3, Rigi/Kulm (sz) Rap song, as 105.6  892km
 93.8 0714  D  SWR3, Feldberg (Schwarzwald) (bwü) D3A3. ID and pops  799km
 97.0 0716  D  SWR3, Blauen (bwü) ID and pops  793km **
 96.6 0724 SUI Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Rigi/Kulm (sz) YLs discussion, as web  892km **
106.3 0725  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) OMs, as web  748km
 98.5 0732  D  Bayern 3, Wendelstein (bay) Weather and ID  1024km **
 95.8 0736  D  Bayern 3, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) Pops, as 98.5  942km
106.8 0738  F  France Info, Metz/Luttange (57) National weather and ID, as 105.2  600km
106.9 0738  D  B5 aktuell, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) D315  942km
105.7 0739  D  B5 aktuell, Wendelstein (bay) YL financial news?  1024km
105.1 0740  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Blauen (bwü) As web  793km **
101.0 0747  D  BR Klassik, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) Classical, as web  942km
 88.7 0749  D  Bayern 2, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) Political discussion, as web  942km **
 89.2 0750  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Blauen (bwü) Pops, as web  793km **
 89.5 0750  D  Bayern 2, Wendelstein (bay) D312 Bayern_2  1024km
 89.8 0752  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Feldberg (Schwarzwald) (bwü) Interviews, as web  799km
 98.4 0754  D  SWR3, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) Pops, as web  748km
 97.9 0755  D  SWR2, Feldberg (Schwarzwald) (bwü) Gregorian chant stylee, as web  799km **
 97.2 0758  G  Cam FM, Cambridge/University Library (EN-CAM) ID and pops  106km **
104.8 0803 SUI RTS Couleur 3, Bourrignon/Les Ordons (ju) YL news, as web  807km **
100.4 0806  D  Radio Regenbogen, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) D308 REGNBOGN  748km
102.3 0808  D  BR Klassik, Wendelstein (bay) Classical, as web  1024km
 96.2 0825  D  SWR2, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) D3A2   748km
 92.2 0830  D  SWR3, Stuttgart/Hoher Bopser (bwü) Pops, as web  790km
 92.6 0831  D  SWR2, Blauen (bwü) Concert, as web  793km
 92.9 0832  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Langenbrand (bwü) Cars song, as web  755km
 93.5 0834  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Hornisgrinde/SWR (bwü) D301 SWR1_BW_. Three bars  748km **
 94.2 0836 SUI RTS La Première, Bourrignon/Les Ordons (ju) OM on phone to YL, as web  807km **
107.0 0855 SUI Radio SRF 3, Four low power listed IDs, as web. All 90 watts or less!! **
105.6 0908 SUI Radio SRF 3, Säntis (ar) 43B3 _SRF_3__  917km
104.0 0920  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg,
               Feldberg (Schwarzwald) (bwü) Schlager, as web  799km

 87.7 0924  F  France Culture, Strasbourg/TDF Nordheim (67) OMs discussion, as web  709km
 88.2 0926  D  Bayern 2, Büttelberg (bay) YLs, as web  813km
 90.4 0931  F  France Culture, Chaumont/Chalindrey (52) OM, as web  694km
106.5 0934 AUT Antenne Vorarlberg, Bregenz 1/Pfänder (vor) Pops, as web  918km **
 93.3 0936  F  France Musique, Chaumont/Chalindrey (52) OM and YL, as web  694km
 95.4 0943 SUI Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Säntis (ar) 43B2 _Kultur_  917km
107.8 0948 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Säntis (ar) 43E1 RETE_UNO  917km
 98.2 1003 AUT Ö2 - Radio Vorarlberg, Bregenz 1/Pfänder (vor) YL news, as web  918km **
105.8 1010 SUI Radio SRF 3, Beatenberg/Niederhorn (be) German OM on phone, as web  892km **
 93.6 1011 SUI Radio SRF 1, Beatenberg/Niederhorn (be) German OM, as web  892km **
 97.2 1012 SUI Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Beatenberg/Niederhorn (be) German OM, as web  892km **
100.6 1015  D  Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Witthoh (Tuttlingen) (bwü) YL, as web  834km **
100.6 1018 SUI Radio Fréquence Jura, Chaux-de-Fonds/Loge (ne) 1kW! Phone in, as web  818km **
 89.0 1026  F  France Culture, Vittel/Thuillières (88) OM and music, as 98  684km **
 88.4 1029  D  Bayern 2, Pfaffenberg (bay) OM, as web  713km
106.7 1135  D  big fm (Rheinland-Pfalz), Kalmit (rlp) Rap, as web  687km
107.3 1136 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Chasseral (be) ID in speech  823km
101.7 1143 SUI Radio RTN, Chaux-de-Fonds/Loge (ne) 1kW Jingle ID between pops  818km **
 97.5 1146 SUI GRRIF, Chaux-de-Fonds/Loge (ne) 500 watts! Very weak pops, as web  818km **
101.4 1202  F  France Bleu Besançon, Besançon/Lomont (25) YL news, as web  783km
 92.9 1204  F  France Musique, Besançon/Lomont (25) Piano piece, as 88.7  783km
 96.3 1212 SUI RTS Espace 2, Chaux-de-Fonds/Mont Cornu (ne) Scary operatics, as web  817km **
103.4 1219 SUI RTS Couleur 3, Chaux-de-Fonds/Mont Cornu (ne) Pops, as web. Noise free peaks!  817km **
 89.9 1231  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Weinbiet (rlp) Vocal ID and traffic  686km
 95.9 1238  D  SWR4 Rheinland-Pfalz, Weinbiet (rlp) Just above the pile-up. Light pops, as web  686km **
 90.7 1241  D  Bayern 1, Grünten (Allgäu) (bay) Light pops, as web  942km
 91.6 1256  F  France Musique, Mulhouse/Belvédère (68) Piano piece, as web  781km
 99.0 1319 AUT Hitradio Ö3, Salzburg 1/Gaisberg (ORS) (sal) Pops, as web  1081km
104.6 1338 AUT FM 4, Salzburg 1/Gaisberg (ORS) (sal) Pop song, as web, over Suffolk! Two bars!  1081km **
 94.8 1340 AUT Ö2 - Radio Salzburg, Salzburg 1/Gaisberg (ORS) (sal) ID after pops. Almost
               noise free  1081km **
107.6 1459  D  B5 aktuell, Hühnerberg (bay) Ads, as web  871km
103.3 1504  D  Antenne Bayern, Unterringingen (bay) ID and traffic report after news  863km **
103.0 1506  D  Antenne Bayern, Pfaffenberg (bay) ID and pops, as 103.3  713km
 98.7 1508  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Grünten (Allgäu) [bay] (bwü) Traffic and ID  942km **
100.3 1514 SUI RTS Espace 2, Chasseral (be) Classical and OM talk, as web  823km **
100.7 1518  D  Energy Stuttgart, Güglingen (bwü) Pops, as web  759km **
100.8 1520  D  SWR1 Rheinland-Pfalz, Kettrichhof (rlp) Pops, as web  674km **
107.7 1524  D  Antenne Bayern, Hochries (bay) D318 ANTENNE  1034km
 93.7 1526  D  Bayern 1, Wendelstein (bay) Old song, as web  1024km **
104.1 1536  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg Königstuhl, SWR (bwü) OM and YL info, pops,
               as web, beaming east to avoid Suffolk  717km **
104.2 1540 SUI RTS Couleur 3, Chasseral (be) OM and phone caller, as web  823km **
104.2 1541  D  Radio TON Ostwürttemberg, Heidenheim a.d Brenz Schmittenberg (bwü) Two v weak pops followed
               under RTS. 100% as web stream  849km **
104.7 1544  D  RPR 1., Kettrichhof (rlp) Linkin Park, as web  674km **
106.2 1550 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Rigi/Kulm (sz) 43E1  892km
101.5 1553 SUI Radio SRF 1, Säntis (ar) Rod Stewarts Baby Jane, as web. Tacolneston nulled  917km **
101.7 1557  D  Radio Salü, Saarbrücken/Schoksberg (saa) D3B8 _SALUE__  628km
107.2 1600  D  SWR3, Kettrichhof (rlp) ID and news  674km **
 89.3 1606  F  France Culture, Besançon/Montfaucon (25) Woman on phone, as 89.0  774km **
 99.4 1627  F  France Culture, Sarrebourg/le Donon (57) YL, as web  704km
 93.3 1631 LUX RTL Radio, Dudelange/Ginsterberg (gld) News, as web  574km
 98.1 1639  D  SWR3, Aalen/Braunenberg (bwü) Shanice song, as web  835km
106.9 1648  D  Hitradio RTL Sachsen, Leipzig-Wiederau (sac) Sylvester song, as web  844km
 87.9 1650  D  SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, Sankt Chrischona [SUI bs] (bwü) Leo Sayer song, as web  810km **
103.6 1704  D  RPR 1., Kalmit (rlp) ID and info  687km
105.0 1714  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Neunkirchen (Saar)/Kuchenberg (saa) OM and YL talks,
               as web  637km **
105.9 1717  F  France Info, Charleville-Mézières/Sury (08) YL and OM, as 105.2  479km **
 88.4 1727  F  France Culture, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) OM, as 88.5  607km
104.5 1729  F  France Info, Bar-le-Duc/Willeroncourt (55) Phone caller and YL, as web  607km
 90.0 1754  F  France Inter, Besançon/Lomont (25) YL, as web  783km

 97.0 1823 LUX RTL Radio, Hosingen/Banert (gld) Pops, as web  530km

 95.2 1826  D  MDR Figaro, Sonneberg/Bleßberg (thü) Soft rock or folk Concert, as web  793km
 95.0 1827  D  hr-info, Rimberg (hes) OMs, as web  678km
 94.2 1828  D  Deutschlandradio Kultur, Sonneberg/Bleßberg (thü) Soft YL vocals and piano, as web  793km
 94.0 1830  F  France Musique, Vittel/Thuillières (88) Screechy violins played with saws, as 88.7  684km
 93.6 1834  F  France Musique, Forbach/Kreutzberg (57) Screechy, twangy, violin music, as 88.7  637km **
 90.1 1836  D  SWR4 Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart/Hoher Bopser (bwü) German Schlager, as web  790km **
 90.8 1837  D  DasDing (SWR), Stuttgart/Hoher Bopser (bwü) Pops, as web  790km **
 94.7 1838  D  Bayern 3, Hoher Bogen (bay) Rock track, as web  976km
103.0 1933  D  SWR3, Grünten (Allgäu) [bay] (bwü) Pops, as web  942km
103.2 1935  F  France Bleu Berry, Bourges/Neuvy (18) F205 BLEU.BER  672km
103.4 1943  D  Antenna 1, Raichberg (bwü) ID between pop and rock  813km
 93.3 2317 AUT Ö1, Bregenz 1/Pfänder (vor) Operatics, as web  918km **


** Personal Skegness 'First'

Unlisted:
 91.6 1757  F  RTL, Unlisted site Lively OM, as web

Wow!! Let me reiterate more strongly ... WOW!!!

This was the best tropo I have personally experienced in terms of quality, as opposed to quantity, but I was lucky with both today. Almost half the above are personal firsts! I have omitted the more usual tropo suspects.

There were stunning signals from Switzerland and a few rare Baviarian transmitters. Many produced full RDS too. I was also blown away by the low powered Swiss reception - something I never thought I would here. It just shows you the power of tropo. Signals were very largely noise free from many of these low powered transmitters as you will hear on my recordings. Austria put up a terrific show too with noise free signals at times. Did it all really happen?


Recordings:

One or two of the weaker signals do not contain IDs, so I have used web stream comparisons as confirmation. You will also hear me switching between receivers on a few recordings to demonstrate the differences in audio quality between the XDR and the KT6040 (which I used in conjunction with the Conrad RDS Manager and RDS Spy to obtain the PI codes). The audiophile KT6040 clearly has superior audio. You shjould know which receiver is which quite easily. The clue is that the KT6040 produces more hiss due to it having less gain than the XDR-F1HD. It's still surprising how well the XDR-F1HD can somehow 'appear' to clean up the audio from stations which use high compression levels and actually make them sound brighter than the KT6040. This is clever stuff on Sony's part.

I am wondering whether I should elaborate on this point. Putting it simply, the XDR knows how to make the best of a bad job in such cases, but put the XDR-F1HD's audio through true audiophile equipment (as I have in the past) and the many flaws in the audio immediately become obvious. I hope that makes sense.

107.8 Rete Uno, Santis 0720 23-09-13
107.7 Antenne Bayern, Hochries 1525 23-09-13
107.6 B5 Aktuell, Hühnerberg 1500 23-09-13
107.3 Rete Uno, Chasseral 1136 23-09-13
107.2 SWR3, Kettrichhof 1600 23-09-13
107.0 Radio SRF 3, Four low power sites, 90W or less 0902 23-09-13
105.8 Radio SRF 3, Beatenberg 1223 23-09-13
105.6 Radio SRF 3, Santis 0907 23-09-13
105.0 Radio 7, Iberger Kugel 0704 23-09-13
104.8 RTS Couleur 3, Bourrignon 0803 23-09-13
103.4 RTS Couleur 3, Chaux De Fonds (Mont Cornu) 1218 23-09-13
103.4 Antenne 1, Raichberg 1943 23-09-13
103.3 Antenna Bayern, Unterringingen 1504 23-09-13
103.2 NRJ, Leglise 0916 23-09-13
103.2 France Bleu Berry, Bourges 1215 23-09-13
101.7 Radio Salu, Saarbrucken 1557 23-09-13
100.6 Frequence Jura, Chaux De Fonds (Loge) 1515 23-09-13
100.6 Frequence Jura, Chaux De Fonds (Loge) 1015 23-09-13
100.4 Radio Regenbogen, Hornisgrinde 0806 23-09-13
99.0 Hitradio O3, Salzburg 1335 23-09-13
99.0 Hitradio O3, Salzburg 0859 24-09-13
98.7 SWR1, Grunten 1507 23-09-13
98.5 Bayern 3, Grunten 0732 23-09-13
97.5 GRRIF, Chaux De Fonds (Loge) 1200 23-09-13
97.5 GRRIF, Chaux De Fonds (Loge) 1156 23-09-13
97.2 Cam FM, Cambridge University Library 0758 23-09-13
95.4 Radio SRF 2 Kultur, Santis 0942 23-09-13
94.8 Radio Salzburg, Salzburg 0803 24-09-13
94.2 RTS La Première, Bourrignon 0836 23-09-13
93.8 SWR3, Feldberg 0712 23-09-13
89.9 SWR1, Weinbiet 1231 23-09-13
89.5 SWR1, Feldberg 0752 23-09-13


Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Sunday 22 September 2013

Skegness Log: 22-09-13 (MW)

 820 0300 USA WBAP Fort Worth (TX) WBAP Fort Worth ID on the hour. Not alone
              7624 km **
1060 0500 USA WQOM Natick) (MA) Heard WQOM Natick, very weak. Then Gregorian
              chant  5269 km
1470 0500 CAN CJVB Vancouver (BC) Very poor Fairchild Radio ID, confirmed by
              the three distinctive time pips. Chinese after that.  7453 km
1180 0600 CUB Radio Rebelde, Oodles of sites to choose from ID and cuckoo **


** Personal Skegness 'First'

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor    

Skegness Log: 22-09-13 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 90.2 0839  G  BBC Radio 2, Pendle Forest (EN-LNC) As other BBC R2s  187km **
 90.0 0840 IRL RTÉ Radio 1, Mullaghanish (CO) Irish info, as 89.2  652km
 99.6 0845 IRL RTÉ Lyric FM, Mullaghanish (CO) Choral piece, as 99.2  652km **
107.4 0849 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Mullaghanish (CO) Irish phone-in  652km
107.6 0850 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Three sites listed As 107.4   **
 89.2 0852 IRL RTÉ Radio 1, Three sites listed As 89.6 **
 93.6 0856 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Three sites listed As 94.0 **
104.8 0856  G  BBC Radio 4 FM, Llwyn-Onn (WA-GWY) Talk, as 93.1  295km **
 92.6 0858  G  BBC Radio 3, Pendle Forest (EN-LNC) Classical, just audible  187km **
 92.2 0900 IRL RTÉ 2 FM, Mullaghanish (CO) 2FM News. Noise free  652km
 91.4 0901 IRL RTÉ 2 FM, Three sites listed 2FM News **
107.8 0908 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Two sites listed Presume Cork but Kilduff Mountain also listed
107.0 0917 IRL Newstalk 106-108 FM, Wicklow or Woodcock Hill? Three sites listed Discussion, as 107.2 **
101.0 0926  G  Kiss FM, Mendip (EN-SOM) Anti-white (c)rap music, as web  292km
 94.4 0929 IRL RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Mullaghanish (CO) Gaeilc, as 94.0  652km
107.8 1619 SUI RSI Rete Uno, Säntis (ar) Italian OM and YL, as web  917km
 95.0 1647  F  France Inter, Mantes-la-Jolie/Maudétour [95] (78) YLs, as 103.7  463km
 94.6 1648  F  France Inter, Chartres/Montlandon (28) YLs, as 95.0  531km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Very little in the way of German tropo made it here today. Just the usual Langenberg and weak signals from Haarddtkopf, Koblenz and Donnersberg during the early evening. Radio Salu on 101.7 was weak around 10pm local but we had company so I wasn't able to listen much. I kept checking the band at regular intervals though.

There was much more in the way of northern and central France than my log would suggest with Bourges and Troyes at two bars on the XDR-F1HD.

Hopefully I will have more time to listen tomorrow.

Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Saturday 21 September 2013

Skegness Log: 21-09-13 (FM)

Band 2 Tropospheric:
 98.4 0916  F  France Culture, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) YL talk, as 98.0  842km
 95.5 0926  F  France Musique, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) French nostalgia, as 88.7  842km
 95.8 0926  F  France Culture, Orléans/Traînou (45) OM  YL, as 98.0  590km
 90.4 0927  F  France Inter, Clermont-Ferrand/Puy-de-Dôme (63) OM, as 95.0  842km
 95.0 0928  F  France Inter, Mantes-la-Jolie/Maudétour [95] (78) OM, as 103.7  463km
 94.3 0940  F  France Bleu Creuse, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) Traditional French music, as web. Not as 94.7  785km
 92.2 0941  F  France Musique, Tours/Chissay [41] (37) Gaelic song, as 91.8  646km
 90.8 0943  F  France Musique, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) OM, as 88.7  785km
 88.2 0945  F  France Culture, Ussel-Meymac/Mont Bessou (19) OM, as 98.0  853km
103.4 0950  F  France Info, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) OM and YL, as 105.2  917km
 99.8 0952  F  France Inter, Lyon/Mont Pilat (42) OM over music, as web  917km
100.7 1000  F  France Inter, Guéret/Signal du Maupuy (23) ID on the hour  785km


Good DX!

John, Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) 1.7m (5'9") ASL.
Website: skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk

Personal All Time VHF Logbooks: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/vhf-band-2-logs
VHF Band 2 DX Recordings: https://sites.google.com/site/skegnessdx/skegness-vhf-band-2-fm-dx-recordings

Receivers:
Sony XDR-F1HD (tropospheric)
Kenwood KT6040 (sporadic E & meteor scatter)
Icom IC7000 (OIRT)
Conrad RDS Manager

Aerials:
Rooftop Körner 9.2, 8m AGL www.box.com/s/h1a5z3bu94vppln3zsfn
Yaesu G-5500 azimuthal/elevation rotator

Software:
RDS Spy v1.00r2 www.rdsspy.com

Friday 20 September 2013

Skegness Log: 20-09-13 (MW)

1400  0500  USA  WOND Pleasantville (NJ)  "Newstalk Fourteen Hundred WOND" ID. AP Network 
                 news jingle after this though unclear if this belonged to WOND (I 
                 thought they took CBS news ?)  5673 km

Surprised to here this given the poor conditions.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Skegness Log: 18-09-13 (MW)

1590  0500  USA  WAKR Akron (OH)  Only the gong heard at the toh in the v weak pile-up  5991 km
1640  0500  USA  WTNI Biloxi (Gulfport) (MS)  WTNI ID and sports  7293 km

** Personal Skegness 'First'

Poor conditions here overnight. I thought I'd log the Cubans just to get them in the log but I struggled even with them! The Cuban on 1620 identified as "Desde Habana, Cuba" but no obvious ID other than "La Una". I wondered if this was Radio Bayamo as I didn't hear any of the familiar Rebelde cuckoo sounds.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor

Monday 16 September 2013

Skegness Log: 16-09-13 (MW)

 620 0158 CAN CKCM Grand Falls (NL)  VOCM ID and ads. Not alone  3839 km
1410 0200 USA WPOP Fox Sports Radio, Hartford (CT)  0200:38 - WPOP Hartford ID.
                   Mostly under presumed CJWI.   5393 km
1500 0200 USA WFED Federal News R., Washington (DC)  Federal News Radio Fifteen
                   Hundred AM and federalnewsradio.com ID  5860 km
1410 0204 CAN CJWI CPAM 1410, Saint-Constant (QC)  Ici Emanuel Joulou(?). Vouz
                   ecoutez CPAM Radio Union pont com. C-Pam. C-pam tu(?)  5191 km **
 760 0300 USA WJR  Detroit (MI)  Newstalk 7-60 WJR ID  6009 km
1300 0300 USA WJMO Praise 1300, Cleveland (OH)  Presumed with Gospel over the hour
                   5981 km
1300 0300 USA WOOD Grand Rapids (MI)  Your official weather station Newsradio Wood
                   (spoken as a word) Thirteen Hundred and 106.9 FM. Fox News. 
                   6111 km
1280 0400 USA WNAM Neenah-Menasha (WI)  WNAM, Neenah Menasha. A Cumulus Station. ABC
                   News  6178 km
1430 0400 CAN CHKT Fairchild Radio, Toronto Island (ON)  Two IDs. First by OM, then
                   YL. AM 14-30 CHKT, Fairchild, Radio Toronto  5668 km **
 640 0500 CAN CBN  CBC Radio 1, Saint John s (NL)  CBC Radio One news jingle. Mixing
                   second NA  3731 km
 860 0500 CAN CJBC SRC Première Chaîne, Toronto/Meadowvale (ON)  CBC Premiere Chaine
                   news jingle and OM  5698 km
 890 0500 USA WLS  Chicago/Tinley Gardens Park (IL)  WLS letters spoken slowly in 891
                   splatter. Mentioning Chicago. Sung WLS jingle ID. A Cumulus Station
                   6334 km
 900 0500  ?  UNID North American accented English OM under Spain. V difficult copy
 920 0500 CAN CKNX Wingham (ON)  Mid Western Ontario's .... CKNX ID heard vweak in
                   noise  5771 km
1000 0500 USA WMVP Chicago (IL)  You're listening to the all new ESPN One Thousand.
                   This is WMVP Chicago  6322 km
1040 0500 USA WHO  Des Moines/Mitchellville (IA)  WHO call letters heard. ABC News
                   6648 km
1450 0500 USA WPGG Atlantic City (NJ)  You're home for .... WPGG .... Atlantic City
                   weak in 1449 splatter  5670 km


** Personal Skegness 'First'

Conditions about the same as yesterday.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor

Sunday 15 September 2013

Skegness Log: 14/15-09-13 (MW)

14-09-13:
 927  1930  TJK  NHK Radio Japan/Voice of Russia, Dushanbe/Yangiyul (dsb) Voice of Russia IDs  5329 km

15-09-13:
1020  0259  USA  KDKA  Pittsburgh/Allison Park (KDKA Drive) (PA)  Rapidfire Newsradio
                       Ten Twenty KDKA ID heard  5929 km
 970  0300  USA  WZAN  Portland/Sunset Park (ME)  WZAN Portland heard in harsh 972 splatter
                       5104 km
1010  0300  CAN  CFRB  Newstalk 1010, Toronto/Oakville (ON)  This is Newstalk Ten Ten Toronto
                       5692 km
1030  0300  USA  WBZ   Boston/Nantasket Beach (MA)  WBZ ID heard in mess  5232 km
1200  0300  CAN  CFGO  The Team 1200, Ottawa (ON)  Sportsradio The Team Twelve Hundred ID
                       5334 km
1290  0300  VEN  YVLF  Radio Puerto Cabello, Puerto Cabello (cbb)  OM lively ID  7637 km
1360  0300  USA  WDRC  Hartford (N) (CT)  Lots of calls in the toh ID, including WDRC. Not alone
                       on channel  5381 km
1560  0300  USA  WQEW  Radio Disney, New York/Queens (NY)  Radio Disney ID  5537 km
 650  0354  USA  WSM   Nashville/Blaw-Knox Mast (TN)  This is the golden ... of ... on 6-50 AM
                       WSM  6710 km
 590  0358  CAN  VOCM  Saint John s (NL)  VOCM's Openline, Backtalk and Nightline. Join The
                       conversation. Be heard, on the VOCM/CFCB Radio Network  3730 km
 680  0400  CAN  CFTR  680 News, Toronto/Grimsby (ON)  Weather for Ottawa and Niagara Falls.
                       6-80 News  5711 km
 710  0400  USA  WOR   New York/Lyndhurst [NJ] (NY)  Mentions of WOR in 711 splatter  5542 km
 930  0400  CAN  CFBC  Saint John (NB)  You can sing along with every song, 93 CFBC  4728 km
1130  0400  USA  WBBR  Bloomberg 1130, New York/Carlstadt [NJ] (NY)  Financial news on Bloomberg
                       Eleven Three Oh  5538 km
1200  0400  USA  WXKS  Talk 1200, Newton (MA)  This is WXKS News. Another call mentioned too. 
                       5251 km
 540  0500  CAN  CBT   CBC Radio 1, Grand Falls (NL)  CBC Radio 1 news jingle  3837 km
 580  0500  CAN  CFRA  Ottawa (ON)  Ottawa's only news ... CFRA ID  5332 km
 600  0500  CAN  CBNA  CBC Radio 1, Saint Anthony (NL)  CBC Radio 1 news jingle  3714 km
 650  0500  CAN  CKGA  Gander (NL)  Red hot from the VOCM Newsteam, at 5-90 VOCM  3775 km
 660  0500  USA  WFAN  New York/High Island (NY)  The Bear. Sports Radio 66 and 1019 FM. WFAN and
                       WFAN FM, New York. ID  5518 km
 700  0500  USA  WLW   Cincinnati/Tower Drive (D) (OH)  Newsradio Seven Hundred WLW ID  6292 km
 730  0500  CAN  CKAC  Radio Circulation, Montréal/Pointe-Calumet (QC)  Radio Circulation ID
                       5203 km
 750  0500  CAN  CBGY  CBC Radio 1, Bonavista Bay (NL)  CBC Radio 1 news jingle
                       3733 km
 770  0500  USA  WABC  New York/Lodi [NJ] (NY)  Ads. Presumed with ABC news. Bad 774 splatter
                       5535 km
 830  0500  USA  WCRN  Worcester (MA)  WCRN letters heard in 828 splash  5301 km
 850  0500  USA  WEEI  Boston/Starr Ridge (MA)  Personal First! WEEI heard in 855 splatter
                       5257 km
 880  0500  USA  WCBS  New York/High Island (NY)  WCBS Newstime ID and CBS News jingle  5518 km
 930  0500  USA  WBEN  Newsradio 930, Buffalo/Grand Island (NY)  WBEN, it's one o' clock. CBS
                       News  5689 km
1010  0500  USA  WINS  New York/Lyndhurst [NJ] (NY)  This is Ten Ten News. New York's one and
                       only all news station  5543 km
1080  0500  USA  WTIC  Hartford (CT)  ID - The news never stops. This is the only place to hear
                       local news twice an hour every hour. WTIC Newstalk 10-80 and wtic.com.
                       WTIC. WTIC HD Hartford  5390 km
1100  0500  USA  WTAM  Cleveland (OH)  WTAM Newsradio ID heard  5978 km
1120  0500  USA  KMOX  Saint Louis (MO)  Presumed. Sports news. Late CBS News jingle. Possible ID
                       buried in local 1107 splatter.   6690 km
1140  0500  CAN  CBI   CBC Radio 1, Sydney (NS)  CBC Radio 1 News jingle  4297 km
1180  0500  USA  WHAM  Rochester/Brook Road (NY)  News, weather ... Wham Eleven Eighty  5605 km
1190  0500  USA  WLIB  New York/Lyndhurst [NJ] (NY)  This is 11-90 WLIB and WBLS (822?) New York
                       5543 km
1290  0500  CAN  CJBK  NewsTalk 1290, London (ON)  We are 12-90 CJBK. Canadian Press news 
                       5836 km
1310  0500  CAN  CIWW  1310 News, Ottawa (ON)  Long list of presenter's names. Ottawa's only all
                       news radio station. This is Thirteen Ten News.   5332 km
1320  0500  CAN  CJMR  Oakville (ON)  You're listening to .... finest radio stations. CJYE  AM
                       12-50 and CJMR am 13-20  5703 km
1370  0500  USA  WDEA  Ellsworth (ME)  This is AM 13-70 WDEA Ellsworth heard with other network
                       calls. Rare as right next to local BBC Lincolnshire 1368  4929 km
1390  0500  USA  WEGP  Presque Isle (ME)  WEGP AM 13-90 Presque Isle  4760 km
1400  0500  CAN  CBG   CBC Radio 1, Gander (NL)  CBC Radio 1 news jingle  3774 km
1430  0500  USA  WENE  The Team, Endicott (NY)  PERSONAL FIRST! 14-30 The Team heard in pile-up
                       5572 km
1510  0500  USA  WUFC  NBC Sports Radio Boston, Boston (Waverley) (MA)  WUFC NBC Sports Radio
                       5245 km
1520  0500  USA  WWKB  ESPN Radio, Buffalo (NY)  Buffalo's home for the number 1 brand in
                       worldwide sports. ESPN 15-20 AM WWKB  5697 km
1540  0500  USA  KXEL  Waterloo (D) (IA)  Newstalk 1540 KXEL Waterloo, Cedar Falls  6546 km
1570  0500  CAN  CJLV  Radio Laval 1570, Laval (QC)  French ID ... soixante-Dix, Laval  5194 km
1610  0500  AIA        Caribbean Beacon, The Valley (tvy)  Presumed with Caribbean accented
                       presenter and Gospel music  6629 km
 950  0501  CAN  CKNB  Campbellton (NB)  Your community, classic ..... 95 CKNB  4583 km
1690  0501  CAN  CHTO  Toronto/Scarborough (ON)  CHTO and Toronto heard very weakly  5657 km
 890  0503  USA  WLS   Chicago/Tinley Gardens Park (IL)  Presumed with ABC news, over Latin station
                       6334 km


** Personal Skegness 'First'


I re-built my flag yesterday, with one or two minor modifications, paying particular attention to keeping the two vertical wires as straight and vertical as possible. It seems to have paid off too with some very deep nulls. The direction is currently 350 degrees.

I was surprised to hear how clean the band was too, despite the antenna pointing to the south-west corner of the bungalow. The last three seasons here saw S9+10dB of noise across the whole MW. This time it's barely detectable with a noise floor of -120dB. I still found that sticking a couple of chokes inline made a small improvement, removing a little bit of that background 'growl' and eliminating the need for additional noise filtering for the first time.

Conditions were better than I had expected and the whole band was alive with TA signals, extending as far west as Wisconsin with a tentative WNAM on 1280 with ABC News.

I downloaded the latest version of HDSDR and found I could hear more IDs with its cleaner audio than with Perseus. I wish it were possible to loop the playback on HDSDR though - the one really useful thing that's missing.

Notes:

Chicago was in on 780, 890 and 1000 though they weren't logged as I didn't catch any IDs. The respective formats would have been correct though.

There was a second English station on 1130 shortly before 0500. Maybe KWKH judging by the conditions.

Perhaps that's KDHL I am hearing on 920 at 0500 - it's very weak.

1040 had a newstalk station at 0430, presumably WHO. Not bad going considering the conditions!

Even 1230 is producing audio!

There was so much more too. It's all nice and early in the season and I don't think conditions were generally regarded as being anything great either, going by other DXer's reports.

As last year, I will log all TA stations I hear in order to build a complete logbook, though I will only log the common east coasters once.

Good DX!

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

Receiver: Perseus SDR
Antenna:  3m x 7m flag at 350 degrees
Software: Perseus v4.1a; HDSDR v2.63; Mestor