DXpedition loggings - Conrad Meadows, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, WA
Guy Atkins
Conrad Meadows is a beautiful spot in the Mt. Rainier area, and is the starting point for hikers and packhorse trips heading into the Goat Rocks Wilderness. I set up camp in a nearby "dispersed camping" area, where you are free to set up camp in whatever spot looks inviting. I picked a location a short stone's throw from the South Fork of the Tieton River, and between two conveniently-placed pine trees (for antennas).
The area is green and lush during the spring, but this part of the state is bone-dry at the moment...still, it's a pleasant location to camp next to the burbling waters, string up some antennas, and DX completely free from local noise or interference sources. The photos on this individual's blog show what Conrad Meadows looks like in the month of May:
http://www.moderndogweblog.com/photos/conrad_meadows/conradmeadowsfromabove.html
This was the 3rd DXpedition I've used the PA0RDT Mini-Whip antenna, and it was great to find that it always equalled, and usually exceeded, my Wellbrook ALA 100. The Mini-Whip clearly performs best in a noise-free location and mounted as high as possible. At the campsite I was able to raise the Mini-Whip to a 40-foot level in the branches of a Ponderosa pine; the ALA 100 antenna was erected similarly, with the flat-top portion of an inverted delta loop also at 40 feet. Total loop circumference was 100 feet; probably overkill but the loop was still a fine performer.
Please see my latest blog entry for photos of the antennas and the Eton E1 setup during the trip to Conrad Meadows: www.sdr-1000.blogspot.com and further details on the performance of the antennas.
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AUSTRALIA 2310, 1115-1120, VL8A Alice Springs Sep 3 English announcer with
music and talk about John Denver. Very good signal parallel to 2325 VL8T
Tennant Creek; 2485 VL8K Katherine not heard, but noted the following night
9/4 with a good signal parallel to the other two 120mb Aussie outlets.
(Atkins-WA)
BRAZIL 4885, 0218-0223, R. Clube do Para Sep 4 Male announcers with lively
talk in Portuguese and lots of reverb effects. Advertisement at 0220; ID as
'R. Clube' 0221, with mentions of Para at 0222. Excellent signal.
(Atkins-WA)
announcer to 0230 Brazilian jazz vocals. Possible ID sung in Portuguese at
0234. Good level. (Atkins-WA)
but definitely Portuguese. Very tentative. (Atkins-WA)
announcer in Spanish with telephone program. Very good signal; presumed.
(Atkins-WA)
reading by man and woman in Spanish. Possible mentions of Napo at 0300. Poor
to fair signal; tentative log. (Atkins-WA)
Spanish, followed by campesino folk music. Good signal, and also heard 9/4
at 0205 with mentions of Coatan. (Atkins-WA)
Spanish, followed by instrumental Latin music. Nice ID by woman at 0212.
Good level. (Atkins-WA)
sermon. Fair to good level. (Atkins-WA)
language, with mentions of Indonesia. Indo pop music 1047. Fair signal, and
no sign of Radio Northern on the frequency. (Atkins-WA)
with ID, brief jazz music, and into talk by soft-spoken male announcer. Very
good signal. (Atkins-WA)
pops 1121-1129, followed by male announcer in Indonesian with time check and
RRI Serui ID at 1130. (Atkins-WA)
in Indonesian was heard, with a number of mentions of Indonesia. Quite
strong signal, but struggling with badly distorted audio, as is often the
case with Makassar. On 9/4, their audio was much better when heard at 1135.
(Atkins-WA)
Indonesian, and Indo pop music; patriotic-sounding public service
announcement or advertisement at 1223. Good level. (Atkins-WA)
content appeared to be brief news items from around the country. Presumed.
(Atkins-WA)
English lesson, using world news items as examples, given by male and female
announcers in Japanese. Heard throughout the weekend at pounding levels,
often with jazz music selections. (Atkins-WA)
with slow reading, possibly news items. Ham radio QRM at times. Tentative;
it's been a long time since I've had a definite logging of ZLXA. (Atkins-WA)
orchestral accompaniment; strong signal. (Atkins-WA)
with heavy-handed orchestral music. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)
in Korean by male, followed by dramatic vocals and orchestral music at 1117.
Good level, and clearly parallel with 4557 (Haeju). 4450 was accompanied by
a warbler jammer, but 4557 was in the clear. Likely KCBS on these
frequencies, rather than the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, as
it's been reported elsewhere that the clandestines are not using these
transmitters currently. (Atkins-WA)
selection at tune-in; male announcer in Pidgin with time check 'Come up long
seven o'clock' at 1149. PSA or advertisement at 1150. Good level.
(Atkins-WA)
in Pidgin, possibly with a sermon. Poor to fair signal, but heard at good
level on 9/4 with ID at 1140. (Atkins-WA)
followed by male announcer with news items in English at 1200 re-check of
frequency; mentions of Papua New Guinea. Fair level. (Atkins-WA)
possible Pidgin language. Music style sounded like typical PNG Melanesian
folk music, but signal was poor-fair. No break at top of hour. Tentative.
(Atkins-WA)
talk or news in English and mentions of Papua New Guinea. Into R&B pop music
at 1203. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)
good signal of contemporary Christian music, heard on a good night for PNG
reception. Presumed. (Atkins-WA)
signal of reggae music, and male announcer in English at 1230, mentioning
Karai Network. (Atkins-WA)
signal of English talk by a female announcer; it seemed to be a religious
devotion or prayer. Tentative. (Atkins-WA)
this station loud and clear again; probably the best reception I've heard
since logging their multi-hour inaugural day celebration broadcast in June,
2005. Noted female announcer with ID, ad into contemporary Christian music.
Despite Wantok's 'NVIS' antenna, designed to restrict radiated power to the
region, their signal clearly reaches far past Papua New Guinea!. (Atkins-WA)
campesino music to 1030 ID. Into sermon or religious talk at 1031. Fair.
(Atkins-WA)
sounded like a live, outdoor political speech. Fair level; presumed.
(Atkins-WA)
with occasional mentions of Cajamarca. Weak signal. (Atkins-WA)
here, the only LW frequency noted in audio, with Russian talk and EZL music.
Announcements and possible ID at 1130. Fair to good signal, and MUCH better
on PA0RDT Mini-whip antenna than the Wellbrook ALA 100 loop!. (Atkins-WA)
one of my personal favorites--SIBC Honiara. Female announcer in English with
'nine o'clock' time check at 1000, SIBC ID, usual bamboo pipes interval
signal, and into news items. At later re-tune, I caught the sign-off at 1159
with ID, announcements, and national anthem. Immediately after the anthem,
SIBC began their BBC relay. (Atkins-WA)
Afrikaans at 0305; male & female talk in Afrikaans at 0308; Simon and
Garfunkel's 'Mrs. Robinson' at 0313. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)
English, with political commentary on UK affairs. Poor to fair signal,
peaking sharply at 0322. (Atkins-WA)
English with mention of upcoming German language program, and ID 'You are
listening to TWR, broadcasting from Manzini, Swaziland.' Into German program
0400. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)
items, read by a man in English. Tentative. (Atkins-WA)
Puyallup, WA USA
www.sdr-1000.blogspot.com
DXing from Conrad Meadows, WA
Eton E1 & Degen DE1103 portable receivers;
PA0RDT Mini-Whip & Wellbrook ALA 100 antennas at 40-ft height
Telamon
"Guy Atkins" <dxNO...@guyatkins.com> wrote:
I'm surprised you don't have any China domestic in there as they are all
over the band with some transmitters at 100Kw.
You sure heard a lot of stations from different parts of the world for
this time of the year. Next time I have insomnia in the early hours of
the morning I'll have to try some of these stations.
You got the one Japanese domestic I usually get on 3925 listed in
Passport as 10/50 Kw. Like you found that one can come in big time. I
only have passive antennas and on that band I use a 50 foot shielded
loop.
--
Telamon
Ventura, California
Guy Atkins
"Telamon" <telamon_s...@pacbell.net.is.invalid> wrote in message
news:telamon_spamshield-5...@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
<SNIP>
> I'm surprised you don't have any China domestic in there as they are all
> over the band with some transmitters at 100Kw.
>
> You sure heard a lot of stations from different parts of the world for
> this time of the year. Next time I have insomnia in the early hours of
> the morning I'll have to try some of these stations.
>
> You got the one Japanese domestic I usually get on 3925 listed in
> Passport as 10/50 Kw. Like you found that one can come in big time. I
> only have passive antennas and on that band I use a 50 foot shielded
> loop.
>
> --
> Telamon
> Ventura, California
Actually, I hear so many Chinese stations on the tropical bands that I
consider them "pests", and I rarely log or report them. Also, certain other
geographic areas interest me more for DX and the music that is broadcast
from places like the South Pacific and Africa, so I tend to concentrate my
DXing on those stations from the parts of the world. However, when it comes
to medium wave DXing I seek out the Chinese stations as much as any other.
They are not as common for me on medium wave as the Japanese or Korean
stations.
Guy
cuh...@webtv.net
about 34 years old by now,that nasty talkin woman) from me,she emailed
me auld arse a few times this evening.YES!
cuhulin
Telamon
"Guy Atkins" <dxno...@guyatkins.com> wrote:
> "Telamon" <telamon_s...@pacbell.net.is.invalid> wrote in message
> news:telamon_spamshield-5...@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
>
>
> <SNIP>
>
> > I'm surprised you don't have any China domestic in there as they are all
> > over the band with some transmitters at 100Kw.
> >
> > You sure heard a lot of stations from different parts of the world for
> > this time of the year. Next time I have insomnia in the early hours of
> > the morning I'll have to try some of these stations.
> >
> > You got the one Japanese domestic I usually get on 3925 listed in
> > Passport as 10/50 Kw. Like you found that one can come in big time. I
> > only have passive antennas and on that band I use a 50 foot shielded
> > loop.
> >
>
>
> Actually, I hear so many Chinese stations on the tropical bands that I
> consider them "pests", and I rarely log or report them. Also, certain other
> geographic areas interest me more for DX and the music that is broadcast
> from places like the South Pacific and Africa, so I tend to concentrate my
> DXing on those stations from the parts of the world. However, when it comes
> to medium wave DXing I seek out the Chinese stations as much as any other.
> They are not as common for me on medium wave as the Japanese or Korean
> stations.
I don't know about you but I get most interference from the Chinese on
49, 41, and 31 meters. I might see more interference from them on the
tropical bands if I had a bigger passive or active antenna.
--
Telamon
Ventura, California
Slow Code
Steve
Guy Atkins wrote:
> For the first time in many years, I traveled inland within Washington rather than to a coastal site for a DXpedition. My intent was to concentrate on tropical band DXing for a change, as trans-Pacific MW DX is the primary target from the WA coast DXpedition locations such as Grayland and Ocean City State Park.
>
> Conrad Meadows is a beautiful spot in the Mt. Rainier area, and is the starting point for hikers and packhorse trips heading into the Goat Rocks Wilderness. I set up camp in a nearby "dispersed camping" area, where you are free to set up camp in whatever spot looks inviting. I picked a location a short stone's throw from the South Fork of the Tieton River, and between two conveniently-placed pine trees (for antennas).
>
> The area is green and lush during the spring, but this part of the state is bone-dry at the moment...still, it's a pleasant location to camp next to the burbling waters, string up some antennas, and DX completely free from local noise or interference sources. The photos on this individual's blog show what Conrad Meadows looks like in the month of May:
> http://www.moderndogweblog.com/photos/conrad_meadows/conradmeadowsfromabove.html
>
> This was the 3rd DXpedition I've used the PA0RDT Mini-Whip antenna, and it was great to find that it always equalled, and usually exceeded, my Wellbrook ALA 100. The Mini-Whip clearly performs best in a noise-free location and mounted as high as possible. At the campsite I was able to raise the Mini-Whip to a 40-foot level in the branches of a Ponderosa pine; the ALA 100 antenna was erected similarly, with the flat-top portion of an inverted delta loop also at 40 feet. Total loop circumference was 100 feet; probably overkill but the loop was still a fine performer.
>
It's weird that the mini-whip is so vulnerable to noise. Its creator
says he designed it specifically for use in urban environments and so
that he'd have an antenna for LF work that would be quieter than an
active loop. And yet the reviews I read all talk about what a noise
magnet the mini-whip is. I don't get it.
Steve
cuh...@webtv.net
either.
cuhulin
Telamon
"Steve" <sdan...@speakeasy.net> wrote:
The down side of the design is that it is a short E field antenna
perfect for picking up those local noise fields.
The upside of the design is that it is small so if you can locate it
away some distance from the local noise sources then it could have a
low local noise floor. It might be possible to do this with a small
antenna where you could not manage the same with a full size antenna on
an urban lot.
--
Telamon
Ventura, California