As mentioned previously, the April 2017 Kona Ultralight DXpedition was held in an oceanfront room on the 6th floor of the Royal Kona Resort motel from April 8-12, and was the first in a series of long-range DXpeditions based on the newly-designed 5 inch "Frequent Flyer" FSL antenna (which is also being used by Craig Barnes, in his current Kauai, Hawaii DXpedition). The following loggings are the remainder of those transoceanic stations received during the visit. Because of the limited time for DXing during this trip the top priority was given to obtaining detailed information and recordings from Pacific island stations, especially those which are rarely received on the Mainland (540, 621, 1440 etc.). Hopefully this information will be useful to those DXers who can use it to make a "dream reception."
774 JOUB Akita, Japan Solar activity limited the usual potent signals from this NHK big gun, but it did manage fair strength at 1505 on 4-11 https://app.box.com/s/uigxcvv382u7ryq1k1xqcsvw7uuj5bd9 972 HLCA Dangjin, S. Korea Another Asian big gun taking somewhat of a hit from unfavorable solar activity at 1517 on 4-12 https://app.box.com/s/uigxcvv382u7ryq1k1xqcsvw7uuj5bd9 1017 A3Z Nuku'alofa, Tonga Island music at very good strength at 0944 on 4-9; this station was strong every evening at this same time https://app.box.com/s/6cq35g3lio356v4hserwpehi5o3cofcc Tongan male speech at good level at 0953 on 4-11, obviously this announcer is on "island time," with very long pauses in his speech pattern https://app.box.com/s/4y59xljxk0d24kvtbab8yjvnc5q1gc71 1035 Newstalk ZB Wellington, NZ Received late in sunrise enhancement at 1611 on 4-12, this was a rather modest signal from the Kiwi big gun, which never seemed to get anywhere close to its Oregon cliff strength during the entire trip https://app.box.com/s/1lwotewd38bn4z26l786ihjv5eyuklzf 1098 V7AB Radio Marshalls Majuro, Marshall Islands One of the regular Pacific island stations received in Kona, and one of the best bets for Mainland reception. The frequency has very little QRM, although Newstalk ZB could be weakly received in between the island music songs after around 0900. Strong island music at 0955 on 4-9 (its best performance during the trip) https://app.box.com/s/cmqbngvvtnfvkm201jqlpcbws4te5wk5 More energetic island music at 0958 on 4-9 https://app.box.com/s/nvljx11f8tvrnrb2hyelci4fsxjwff93 Typical island music on the same night at 0948 (4-9) https://app.box.com/s/znb2botiiuzq7201xponc35c7o06blov 1098 Newstalk ZB Christchurch, NZ Heard only once in between island songs on V7AB (at 0957 on 4-9); and never really strong enough to compete for the frequency with Radio Marshalls https://app.box.com/s/x1i5e35rxkzgx6wxrnome06r9g2122j5 1440 Radio Kiribati Bairiki, Kiribati Because of its domestic frequency this obscure station is another of the toughest Pacific island stations (and countries) to receive on the Mainland, but some very helpful identity clues were discovered in Kona (where the station is a breeze to hear). The station routinely signs off at 0936 UTC each evening, with a very loud 1000 Hz audio tone right before it cuts power. The sign off routine includes station ID's in both the local language and English around 0932 prior to the choral music national anthem, although because of her heavy accent the fact that the female announcer is talking in English might well go unnoticed. The full sign off routine is included in the following MP3, preceded by an Island music number (during which a 1400 Spanish pest attempts a run on the frequency, only to be immediately drowned out) https://app.box.com/s/s9sgwesnmi3ljjf1fkuhlsb08st7ty5y The station uses a distinctive 4-bong time signal on the half hour, as in this recording made at 0929 UTC (at the 35 second point). https://app.box.com/s/ks6n49yjreqdykdu2am76jl7qqj9mvyu The American country music format can be heard prior to the 4-bong time signal. Prior to the sign off routine this station also uses its female announcer to give a final news update (like 621-Tuvalu). This recording is of such a news update at 0925 on 4-11, with several mentions made of the American president https://app.box.com/s/a1zx6jelrvhguyzjfy6b5dgwlfjfceij This station plays a lot of American country music (of all formats). Here is typical programming at 0912 on 4-11 https://app.box.com/s/fdtbl3tk01yz7u2y5lb7xyaaauc33km8 1566 HLAZ Jeju, S. Korea Fairly regular with its Chinese Christian service around 1530 each morning in Kona, but never at very great strength (possibly due to unfavorable solar activity). Here at 1609 on 4-9 it is the music station playing the Chinese version of "I Would Rather Have Jesus," in a mix with the (presumed) Mainland Chinese Yanbian Jammer https://app.box.com/s/m66yi638bm6r1vrigiewo9680yuydvk6 1566 Yanbian, China (Presumed location, Jammer) Because of Chinese inflection this is the apparent co-channel of HLAZ in the same recording at 1609 on 4-9; it was also received at 1600 on 4-10 with Chinese 5+1 time pips (thanks to Chris Kadlec for his assessment) https://app.box.com/s/m66yi638bm6r1vrigiewo9680yuydvk6 1593 CNR1 Changzhou, China Good strength at 1525 on 4-12, with co-channel NHK2 quite a bit weaker underneath https://app.box.com/s/3shbri3d8hfpaej6kvzyklkz6kl1oq4j 1593 NHK2 Matsue/ Niigata, Japan In a mix with CNR1 at about an equal level around 1520 on 4-12 https://app.box.com/s/my9bdqgobvo4iuvgd3hhrkh9yap28xgr 73 and Good DX, Gary DeBock (DXing in Kona, Hawaii) 7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralight + 5 inch "Frequent Flyer" FSL antenna (Design photo posted at https://app.box.com/s/98f0idblzfg88v1d7373k5g7cekzhleu ) _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
