4MK Mackay QLD 1026 QSL

The excellent reception conditions from Queensland, Australia on the 15th April, included 4MK Mackay on 1026 kHz. I also heard a "4MK ten 26" id on the 19th May. The 5kw station made it through via the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG.

I emailed a reception report last night and received a reply within a few minutes from breakfast presenter and radio veteran Meecham Philpot :

" Gday Gary... I think I can safely say that you hold the record for longest distance listener. Get plenty of calls from boats in The South Pacific , but at 11 965 ks you have flogged them. Thanks for letting us know mate. I will send you some stuff in the mail. "

Thank you Meech for kindly taking the time to reply. I was also fortunate to receive stickers, balloons with the 4MK logo and a 3 CD music compilation in the post !

4MK, owned by regional broadcaster Prime, recently made a move back to its former AM band position at 1026 kHz.

5LC Leigh Creek SA 1602 kHz QSL

Google Earth Image of Leigh Creek SA, showing the location of the 5LC transmitter site. The town is situated on the edge of the desert, to the west of the Flinders Rangers. At an altitude of approximately 265 metres above sea level, Leigh Creek is one of the smaller towns in Australia with a population of around 630.

It was a pleasant surprise to hear and identify 5LC Leigh Creek on 1602 kHz this week. The 200 watt ABC station made it through to Fish Hoek over a remarkable distance of 10 465 km / 6 502 miles via the Sony SRF-M37V ultralight and 220 metre BOG.

I was fortunate to hear an ABC local id and a weather report during a signal peak on the 19th and 20th May respectively. Graham from ABC Master Control kindly verified my reception report via email this morning :

Hi Gary,

I am happy to confirm your reception on May 19, 2009 of 5LC Leigh Creek, 1602 kHz broadcasting with an ERP of 200 watts. Attached is a transmitter coverage map for your interest.

Congratulations on a rare catch!

Regards,

Graham

Google Street View of the 5LC 30 metre antenna tower, situated just south east of Leigh Creek, South Australia.

Google Earth Image showing the (great circle) take off bearing from Leigh Creek towards Fish Hoek. After take off above 459 km of land, the signal continued over the Indian Ocean, covering a total distance of 10 465 km /6 502 miles.

4CC Gladstone QLD 927 QSL and on air verification

It was a pleasant surprise to hear 4CC Gladstone, Queensland on 927 kHz for the first time this week. The station made it through on the 12th May via the M37V and 220 metre BOG opposite my QTH in Fish Hoek. 4CC has recently changed their slogan to "Zinc Double C" and broadcasts a Rock music format. 

I emailed a reception report last night and received a reply within a few minutes from their astonished breakfast programme host and programme director, Justin "Drex" Wilcomes : 

" ... That is us ! Isnt that amazing the conditions can carry that far, that's amazing ! I will mention it on air ... "

AUDIO 

A recording via the internet of the mention over the air has been uploaded below. The ULR audio grab of the reception was also broadcast - the M37V's debut on air performance over 11 872 km away.

 

Thank you Drex for the verification and for kindly sharing the reception report with your listeners in Central Queensland!

4TO Townsville QLD 774 QSL

Excellent reception conditions from Queensland, Australia on the 15th April, included 4TO FM, Townsville on 774 kHz for the first time. The 5kw station made it through via the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG.

Station Engineer Matt Paton verified the reception via email with a nice letter attachment, a photograph of one of the tx towers and a Google Earth link to the site location. Thank you Matt for kindly taking the time to reply !

At over 11 965 km away, the 4TO FM repeater service on 774 kHz is one of the most distant Australian AM stations to make it through to this part of the world.

The following link from Bernd Waniewski's interesting web site http://www.waniewski.de/besucher/cape_cleveland_en.htm features quite a few photographs of the 4TO transmitter site.

One of the two 160 metre 4TO FM AM Repeater Towers situated at Cape Cleveland, south of Townsville (Click onto the pic for a high resolution).