Yanks are about

Having turned my EWE from south east to north east recently I have been able to hear Mediumwave Yanks.

I had a quick flick around the dial on Saturday evening at 1000 UTC and as a result heard the following:

580	1100	USA, KMJ (presumed) fair with news then talk 22/9 SMF
590	1100	HAWAII, KSSK Fair/ poor 22/9
650	1059	ALASKA, KENI Fair with ads for the Alaskan National Guard then ABC nx. 22/9 SMF
710	1100	USA, KIRO with ESPN ID and mentions of KIRO Fair/ Good. 22/9 SMF
760	1100	USA/ HAWAII – unknown with talk – possibly either KGU or KFMB – Fair 22/9 SMF
940	1100	USA, KFIG – ESPN ads. Fair. Mixed with music station 22/9 SMF

It is not a great list, but the Alaskan in September was interesting.

A new verification

All India Radio was heard on 10 August 2018 on the frequency of 9380 kHz coming out of Aligarh. A verification arrived this week.

Inactivity 
Once we got home from living in Malaysia, I eventually erected a 5 metre high EWE antenna (15 metres between verticals) in a generally southeasterly direction. However, this aerial has proved quite disappointing with a lot of noise on it. The only two stations I could positively identify are Radio Capital in Lima, Peru on 1470 and Radio Rebelde, Cuba on 1620 and that had to be verified by listening ot the shortwave parallel on 5055.

The difference between listening for Latins up north and down in the deep south is that because of the angle of the antenna, you have to go through a lot of New Zealand and of course the stations that are there as well. It was very annoying as there were carriers on every 10 kHz, but they just were not good enough to rise above the locals.

So, having had enough of the noise and no signals, I turned my aerial to the north east. Unfortunately conditions were still noisy, however, I was able to easily hear and identify KUAU in Hawaii on 1570 kHz. I haven't listened to my recording yet, but I haven't got them verified so my task next weekend is to write a report.

I might yet get that elusive first verifiaction from my home QTH!

It might also be noted that Bryan Clark, living 3 or 4 km away in a very good DX location also reported that conditions were so noisy that he wasn't prepared to waste time lsitening either. This may be the end of the solar cycle, but compard to 11 years ago, it is rubbish!

Verifications Received

We arrived home in Mangawhai this evening and found two QSLs from Radio Romania International awaiting. They are for loggings in January on 7345 kHz and March on 15255 kHz. Both were logged in Malaysia.

The 5m EWE is up

... and the signals are coming in - they haven't been great, but they are there. The problem with a SE pointing EWE up north is that in order to catch the Latin signals, you have to go through all the NZ ones. On the SDR I can see all the carriers on 10kHz spacings, but the locals are just too strong.

I have managed to hear Radio Capital in Lima, Peru on 1470 and I think it may have been Radio Bandolera in Mexico on 1410. However, others are also lurking and just waiting to be heard....

I haven't had an opportunity yet to listen at the crucial period an hour before sunset. However, this weekend might just be the time. My wife and I now have jobs down in Auckland - about 120km away. We are down there from Monday-Friday and home at the weekend. Saturday night is the night to listen!

Home at last!

Maureen and I arrived home two weeks ago. I finally have my 3m EWE up, but it is not enough. I can see carriers on my SDR but I need to get a 5m EWE erected so as to capitalise on those signals.

On the positive side, I noted SW signals from Sth Africa last night - couldn't hear those in Malaysia!

On returning home I found QSLs from AIR 5010, 7550, 9445 and 9945 and another from the Voice of Turkey 5960 and 9460.

I hope to add to the list soon!

To those who look at my blog

I have a world map on my site which shows me where people who have logged onto the site come from. There are people from all over the place.

There is the facility to send me a message, so if you come and have a look, send me a hello via the message so I know who you are as well as where you are from.