Ultralight Radio Awards Received From The U.S.A.

Today I was fortunate to receive ultralight award certificates from John Bryant on behalf of the other ultralight awards commitee members Robert Ross and Gary DeBock.

The above award is for the recent reception of one hundred Australian mediumwave stations from across the Indian Ocean utilizing an ultralight radio receiver of the unlimited class.

The above "Master Dxer" award is for the first 50 MW stations received from across the Indian Ocean utilizing an ultralight radio receiver of the unlimited class.

The above award is for the reception of my first radio station from across the Indian Ocean (Family Radio, Taiwan on 1503 kHz) utilizing an ultralight radio receiver of the barefoot class.

My humble thanks and appreciation for the acknowledgement guys !

Visit http://www.dxer.ca/ for an excellent insight into the fascinating hobby of Ultralight Radio Dxing

Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ultralightdx/ which is an interesting discussion area regarding ULR Dxing.

3RN Melbourne VIC 621 kHz QSL

3RN Melbourne, VIC was heard and identified for the first time on 621 kHz, a frequency usually dominated by co-channel Radio Botswana. The station was received in Fish Hoek on the 27th May with the SRF-M37V and 220 m BOG.

Graham from the ABC kindly verified my reception report and attached a coverage map.

Google Earth Image of the 3RN transmitter site situated in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne at 37 43 19S / 144 46 58E. 3RN broadcasts with a power of 50kW on a 215m mast (one of the few remaining giant masts in Australia).

Fish Hoek Dx Report - 6 April to 27 May 2009

Google Satellite Image of Fish Hoek, looking across False Bay towards Australia.

The second quarter of 2009 proved to be an excellent season for MW reception from Australia.

I was fortunate to hear 104 stations from down under (including 13 South African firsts) with the Sony SRF-M37V Ultralight and 220 metre BOG (The M37V has turned out to be an impressive performer in the Cape Peninsula / South African environment with few local stations to contend with).

Highlights included the reception and first time positive identification of 5LN Port Lincoln on 1485 kHz (200 watts) over a distance of 6 200 miles / 9 979 km and 5LC Leigh Creek (200 watts) over 6 502 miles / 10 465 km.

Perhaps the most remarkable reception of the season occurred when 2RN Wilcannia (100 watts) or 4HU Hughenden (50 watts) also made it through on 1485 kHz while 2WA Wilcannia (100 watts) or 5WM Woomera (50 watts) occupied 1584 khz.

The report (including pics and QSL highlights) is avaliable as a pdf file at http://www.box.net/shared/ouo1y8exzj

Vision Radio Bunbury WA 1017 kHz QSL

The 1 kw signal from Vision Radio Network made it through to Fish Hoek on 1017 khz via the M37V and 220 metre BOG during the good propagation conditions experienced on the 13th May this year.

Network and Admin Assistant Anne Nicholson kindly verified my e-report this morning and added :

" I can confirm that you did if fact receive our relay signal from 1017 AM in Bunbury, Western Australia. At more than 8 500 km from Fish Hoek I would say that this was a pretty good effort ! "

Thank you Anne for the reply which represents the third verified station from the Christian radio network to get through to Fish Hoek, the other two being Kalgoorlie on 1431kHz (2 kw) and Margaret River on 1611 kHz (400 watts).

5PB Adelaide SA 972 kHz QSL

5PB transmits on 972 kHz with a power of 2kW and is located in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

It was a pleasant surprise to hear and identify 5PB for the first time at Fish Hoek on the 12th May this year. The reception occurred via the M37V and 220 metre BOG.

I have often heard BBC programming on 972 kHz during the usual propagation peaks from Australia, typically between 1600 UTC and 1900 UTC. On the 12th May, the signal was still present at 2030 UTC with a clear "News Radio" id during local programming from Sydney.

Graham from the ABC kindly verified the reception and added :

" This is a difficult transmitter site with a history of problems, and hard enough to hear from parts of Adelaide, so a very good catch from your part of the globe ! "