[HCDX] DX adventures from the far north

[Walter Salmaniw <salmaniw@xxxxxxx>]

Sorry folks, but I forgot to add a subject line on my last posting, so here it is again!


Well, not exactly the far north, but just south and west of Ketchikan, AK on the Queen Charlotte Islands (now known as Haida Gwaii).  I DX'd for 4 days using 4 antennae:  A permanent N/S mini 450' Beverage, terminated at the north end.
A TP BOG (about 1000') aimed about 300 deg, but gradually slewed to about 290 degrees....an exceptionally quiet antenna.....no noise at all, and right on the noise floor on the SDR-IQ, a 900' BOG aimed 40 deg initially, but later slewed 30degrees.
Finally a 4th 350' elevated wire aimed about 340 deg, unterminated.  I used 2 receivers....my hot AOR 7030+ (I love this one for dxing), a SDR-IQ 190 kHz "drift net" receiver....a fantastic performer too, and finally a back up NRD 535D receiver for SW // frequencies, but just not in the same league as the first 2.  I recorded with ample back-ups this time to a 500 GB  HD.  Here are some of my best loggings.  TA reception on the 31st was very very good.  In fact, that night (New Year's eve) was about the only night that I received any kind of TA activity.  Not nearly as good as September, but the best I've had it since.  I've already posted an audio clip of the ultra rare (for North American DXers, anyway) 680 KBRW in Barrow, AK at Colin's great DX site, www.dxer.ca   under the downloads section.  I'll be posting more as they come available.  Keep his website bookmarked!  Shortwave conditions, for the most part were rather poor, overall, compared to the great MW conditons .......Walt Salmaniw, Victoria.







281 ALASKA Point Barrow VIR, Dec 29 0213 - 2 CW aerobeacons audible here, with hopefully one at Point Barrow.  Taped to my Edirol for confirmation later. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

531 AUSTRALIA 4KZ Innisfail, Queensland, Dec 29 1520 - Good reception this morning from DU on this frequency with local ads for Innisfail during a call-in program.  Cochannel JJ just started to fade-in.  Earlier, not heard at all (the JJ that is). (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

570 CANADA CFWH Whitehorse, Dec 31 07:00 - Very good reception with ID just before TOH as 'CBC 990 in Carmacks', which is a 40 w retranslator in Yukon.  Network news followed, and then the weather for southern Yukon.  Nothing more specific to give a positive ID. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

610 CANADA CKRW Whitehorse, Dec 29 0227 - Nice ID as, 'Your community radio station, CKRW'.  Cochannel several stations including CHNL Kamloops, and earlier on, CKYL, Peace River AB.  Only heard on my N/S Beverage (a consistently excellent performer).  Good to be back in Masset.  Very quiet electrically, as one would expect with no one out here during the winter period. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

630 ALASKA KIAM, Jan 1 1610 - Central and far north Alaskan weather (Brrr!) over cochannel presumed KJNO Juneau, followed by 'AM' and Christian Net IDs.  Not sure of why KJNO was so strong an hour or so ago, and now the weaker more distant Alaskans propagate better until local dawn. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

675 VIETNAM  Voice of Vietnam 1, Jan 1 1602 - A strong signal.  Unusual this season, compared to last, when this transmitter was heard daily at excellent levels at times.  Best I've heard them in a long while (October). (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

680 ALASKA KBRW Barrow, Dec 30 1904 - A tentative logging on this one.  I'm hearing 2 (possibly 3) stations with a church service with Christmas hymns in progress with fairly low modulation, usually under the dominant station with hit music.  As is so common with Alaskans, the voice modulation is much lower than the music component, making IDing more difficult.  I think I heard the ID for the other station...KKGR (East Helena, MT).  At least I heard KGR.  I'm going to let this one continue to see if I have any luck.  Interesting, that I'm hearing it best on my 40 deg BOG.  Yes, just heard the MT ID as '68 KGR'. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

680 ALASKA KBRW Barrow, Dec 31 1612 - Halleluiah!  Finally, good reception with Alaska news and then full ID and into local programming about the cancellation of the fireworks for tonight due to illness of the pyrotechnician!  After a late evening at my Haida adoptive parents, I slept in until after 8:00 am.  Darn!  But this makes up for it, after years of trying, and several tentative loggings.  Instead, celebrate at the roller rink tonight.  Into northern Alaska weather at 16:20 UTC.  High temps 5 to 15 below!  They were gone when rechecked at 16:45 recheck (instead the usual KNBR).  Perhaps someone could explain why this happens (seems to be consistent ....Alaskans really peak at dawn enhancement, and then are replaced by stations to the south, even though those stations were in darkness, and now in broad daylight). (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

693 GREAT BRITAIN BBC Radio 5 Live, Jan 1 0355 - Good reception, except for some splatter from CBU 690 with talk program. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

711 KOREA HLKA KBS1, Jan 1 1558 - Good to very good reception with KK banter, but more interesting is a cochannel playing the old American tune, 'Close to You'.  This might be an Australian station, although there wasn't any ABC fanfare ot 16:00.  On top of this, there is a jammer.  Presumably CC against the Voice of Han?. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

720 ALASKA Russia, Jan 1 16:59 - Noticed Radio Rossii's IS while checking to see whether KOTZ was there (no luck on the latter.  Inspirational music instead without a TOH ID, so not sure who that would be.  Could still be KOTZ, I suppose.  Will have to review the mp3 files for sure. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

720 USA WGN Chicago IL, Dec 31 0138 - Searching for KOTZ, instead I'm hearing Chicago with good reception except for some pretty fierce splatter from both above and below.  Had to turn off the AGC for best results.  Surprised, since Alaskans are coming in quite well tonight so far. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

720 USA WGN Chicago IL, Jan 1 0514 - Still searching for Kotzebue, AK.  Instead, I'm hearing the New Year's bash on WGN from Chicago with good reception except for the awful adjacent splatter.  Still fun to listen to them, though!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

810 RUSSIA Radio Rossii, Jan 1 1545 - Fair to good reception Razdolnoye on the Pacific coast of Russia.  Radio Rossii programming, // to 279. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

819 NORTH KOREA KCBS, Jan 1 1540 - Very good reception, with clean audio, unlike so many of  their other transmitters.  Usual female operatic performances.  North Korea particularly well heard on this trip to Masset. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

873 KOREA (NORTH) KCBS, Dec 31 1731 - With NHK2 off at this late hour, the North Korean is very well heard with KK operatic singing.  Appears to be right on frequency with good modulation....a rarity with the North Koreans. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

909 GREAT BRITAIN BBC Radio 5 Live, Jan 1 0439 - Again, at times very nice reception with the same lovely modulation and clarity heard on 693 earlier.  Some sort of a discussion program with some laughter, etc, but once again would fade down.  Seems in // to 693. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

910 ALASKA KIYU Big River Radio, Galena, Dec 29 1745 - One of my still to hear stations.  Not ID'd yet, but NPR programming // to 870 KSKO, McGrath.  Fair level to good.  Not  quite in sync with KSKO (satellite delay).  Unfortunately starting to fade out before the TOH leaving CKDQ, Drumheller AB, and another station. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1026 PHILIPPINES DZAR Soshine Radio, Dec 29 1533 - A very interesting morning.  Initially, I heard a CNR jingle at 15:33, then almost immediately conditions flipped to a preacher in English and then inspirational music.  This must be DZAR, Soshine Radio.  A very good signal as I type this!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1089 GREAT BRITAIN Talk Sport, Jan 1 0251 - Surprisingly strong reception with call-in program, presumably about the sports highlights from the year.  Excellent clean and strong modulation. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1098 MARSHALL ISLANDS V7AB Radio Marshalls, Jan 1 0824 - Poor to fair reception with islands music.  I'm not usually up to hear the station, just the OC that's always present during dawn enhancement, so nice to hear them during their normal programming day. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1107 UNID unid, Jan 1 0425 - I'm hearing two transmitters on this frequency.  Someone is on the high side....upto to 50 Hz high, it seems causing a disturbing hum which destroys any chance of IDing the stations.  The other is spot on, it seems.  Any ideas?  There is weak music in the background, though.  I wondered about AFN.  When stationed in Germany, I really enjoyed listening to them here. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1161 UNID unid, Dec 29 1723 - I'll need help on this frequency.  I'm hearing an Asian language, perhaps Thai? The trouble is that most possibilities have signed-off, including the Thai and Filipino stations.  Light-hearted bantering between a man and woman. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1170 ALASKA KJNP North Pole, Dec 31 0606 - Excellent reception tonight of many Alaskans tonight.  PAL suggests that KJNP signs-off at 06:00 during the winter.  Not so!  They had a lovely full ID at 06:00, then news and extensive weather forecast followed by a syndicated program called the Voice of Hope.  Not sure whether they're 24 hrs or not.  Still on at 07:17 recheck. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1170 ALASKA KJNP North Pole, Dec 29 1711 - Very good reception with description of  upcoming New Year's celebrations.  Cochannel presumed HLSR, Korea. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1170 KOREA (SOUTH) HLSR KBS Liberty 2, Dec 30 1616 - A very interesting channel.  At times, HLSR will be absolutely armchair, and then fade down into the mud to be overtaken by KPUG, Bellingham, and then fade right back up to dominate totally.  Disturbed conditions today for certain!  Rechecked them at 18:00 UTC (10:00 am local) and they still dominated the frequency completely with a very nice ID.  Wonder when they'll fade out!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1188 UNID unid, Dec 31 1725 - Presumably one of the CC stations with very exotic sounding traditional music with brief talk by a woman.  Not exactly sure who this is.  The last 2 days I've heard both FEBC and JOKP on this frequency, but much earlier. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1206 FRANCE France Info, Jan 1 0331 - Right up there with Virgin 1215's strength with French news, but suffering from serious adjacent splatter from both sides.  Good when they fade up and then briefly fading down again.  Weather at 0335 (heard mentions of the Pyrenees).  ID at 03:36. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1215 GREAT BRITAIN Virgin Radio, Jan 1 0143 - Finally some good TA activity!  Good reception with, '2008 is here on Virgin Radio' into Boy George piece.  Highly variable, though, so interesting things are going on with the ionosphere for sure!  There at good level one minute and gone the next.  Turning out to be the best TA evening in a long while for me, and surely by far the best (and only) TA night of this brief visit to the Queen Charlottes.  Lot's of 'Happy New Year from Virgin Radio', etc between songs.  No signs of any other cochannel stations (like Russia or Spain) so far.  Spoke too soon.  At 03:26 started to hear some Russian as Virgin faded down, before they came blasting back. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1224 SPAIN COPE Albacete, Jan 1 0419 - A presumed logging, as I don't know who else this could be.  A ballad sung by a male....sounded akin to an Irish ballad to me, then some weak speach.  This night has really opened up.  Earlier, only the upper half of the band was open to TA, but from around 03:45, the entire band opened (except for LW).  Haven't seen it as good since September!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1230 ALASKA KVAK, Dec 29 0316 - A very interesting frequency with a number of cochannels.  The dominant is an unid French language station, but slightly off frequency are 2 Alaskans.  I heard a distinct KVAK ID (the staton witch is off, I think).  About a minute later I heard 'KIFW.com'.  KIFW is easily heard here during the day, but KVAK is a new one for me.  Now to ID the other station!  At 03:30, there was clear Korean, so that would be KWYZ  in Everett, WA.  No longer hearing any French.  One of the Alaskans in on 1229.95, so quite a way off!  Got it!  ID as 'KVAK Country' at 03:52.  They are off frequency for sure.  In fact, I think both Alaskans are off frequency on the low side.  They take turns dominating the frequency.  KVAK seems to be the most off at around 1229.95 while KIFW is about 1229.97. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1340 CANADA CFYK Yellowknife, Jan 1 0235 - CBC Radio 1 programming.  There are many transmitters listed, but this transmission was in the MT zone, and parallel to Calgary on 740, so clearly must be Yellowknife, and only heard on my North Beverage.  Good at times, and then down into the mud.  A new one to me.  Let's hope it holds for the TOH.  2500 watts listed.  Wonder why others don't report this one very often (if ever)?  At 02:57 they said they'd take a break for news and local weather and then resume.  As was my luck, they faded down at the top of the hour then returned about 1 minute past.  Best heard on my 30 degree BOG, although a C&W station comes up to dominate at times.  Good again at 03:03 about Benezir Bhutto's assassination.  Darn!  It faded down again just as the forecast was given....lots of minus 20s etc, and then back into dispatches at 03:05 (which then faded up again!).  Next hour again!  Into a comedy program at 03:30 until 03:58.  I noticed that 740 had local weather for Alberta, but Yellowknife just had network filler music...not a good sign.  Very good reception, though!  At 04:00, all that was said was, 'It's 9:00', and into network news.  Let's see if weather follows.  Yes!  At 04:05, they went into the Yellowknife weather.  Sure wish they'd give a proper 'CBC Yellowknife' ID, though! At 04:59, they gave a CBC North ID, and a frequency of 105.1 at Cape Hope (I think), and then into the hourly CBC news.  Then faded down to nothing again.  Quite the night!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1431 JAPAN unid STV, Dec 29 1620 - I'm not sure about this one.  1440 STV Sapporo is booming in, and I see that 1431 is in // to it, but my PAL does not reflect this.  No STV JJ transmitters, just BSS, WBS, and GBS transmitters.  Hmmm.  Good reception. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1450 ALASKA KLAM Cordova, Dec 31 1639 - Although not Unalaska, which I really wanted, I'm still very pleased to hear this one with marine weather (synches Alaska), and then mentions of Cordova followed by IDs and mentions of Cordova count down tonight.  There is another weaker station cochannel....I can dream that this just might be KIAL!  A VERY good morning!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1503 JAPAN JOUK Akita, Dec 29 1609 - Very strong reception with NHK1 programming.  Remarkable for a 10 kw station.  Sure sounding more like 100!  Traditional Japanese male vocal. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1592 UNID unid beacon, Dec 29 1544 - Very weakly heard, but there's a weak CW beacon on this frequency.  Not listed in PAL. I'm suspecting a Russian FE location.  Further checks necessary.  Just barely audible, but with a significant het. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

1602 JAPAN NHK2 low powered stations, Dec 29 1540 - Good reception with sign-off earlier than I had thought, but NHK2 has changed the times.  This is a UTC Saturday.  Surprisingly good.  There's a lot of 0.1 and 1 kw stations.  The most likely is probably JOCC in Asahikawa, Hokkaido with 1 kw listed, although there's another 1 kw Hokkaido station as well at Embetsu without a call-sign. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

4800 CHINA China National Radio 1, Dec 30 0049 - Very good reception of CNR1.  No sign of CODAR using the west Beverage.  Only in the deep of winter would this be possible here!  Almost graylining all the way.  Remember Radio Moscow?  Well I heard no less than 13 parallel frequencies!  11720, 12045, 13610, 9690, 9675, 15380, 15550, 11750 (very strong), 11760, 11710 (very strong), 11925 (superb), 15480 and 11960 (very strong).  Wow!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

4830 MONGOLIA Mongolian Radio 1st Program, Dec 31 00:55 - Poor reception, but there with Mongolian music, time pips at 01:00 and then speech too weak to understand.  Parallels noted on 4895 and 7260, both also very poor.  A rare catch here for sure!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

4880 SOUTH AFRICA SWR Africa, Dec 29 1819 - Fair reception with English talk.  Not noted on listed // of 7125 (VOR with very good strength).  This is at 10:20 am local time.  Northerly latitudes sure help!  Still lots of MW 9 kHz stations audible, by the way!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

4880 SOUTH AFRICA SW Radio Africa, Dec 30 1731 - Good reception with modern EZL music.  Not heard again on 7125 due to VOR in E with excellent reception. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

4905 CHAD Radio Diff TV Tchadienne, Dec 29 0519 - Good reception with African music.  Best heard on NE Beverage...aimed towards Europe and Africa. Listened again at 18:30 and sure enough they're hear again at fair level in French.  Africa does propagate in the winter in our mornings. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

6240 RUSSIA Voice of Russia World Service, Dec 29 0205 - Surprised to hear VOR here at good level in English with news.  Best heard on my N/S Beverage. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

7245 TAJIKISTAN Radio Tajikistan, Dec 30 0232 - Not 100% certain this is them, but I can hear weak Russian talk by a male and woman. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

9445 INDIA AIR GOS Service, Dec 29 2125 - Good reception of the GOS of AIR in English.  The only other parallel noted was 9410 which was weak.  Listed as from Aligarh to Europe.  Into news at 21:30. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

12025 PHILIPPINES Radio Filipinas, Dec 29 0209 - Fair reception in English.  Nothing heard on listed // of 17770 and 15285. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

12095 THAILAND Radio Thailand, Dec 30 0046 - Very good reception in English direct, to ECNA with trendy, very western sounding programming.  Sounds more like a local program for westerners. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

13590 ZAMBIA CVC, Dec 29 1824 - Christian vocals at fair level.  Presumable Christian Voice from Zambia. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)

15275 THAILAND Radio Thailand, Dec 29 0202 - Good reception with English news in this direct transmission to WCNA.  Some deep fades noted.  Surprised that this worked!  Very strong the following night, with up to S9 signal strength and superb modulation.  'Good morning, and thank you for tuning in to the morning news'.  Proves that propagation is possible at this late hour!. (Salmaniw, Masset, BC)



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