Cape Dx - Gary Deacon

The Voice Of Russia Bolshakovo 1215 kHz QSL

2011-10-16T17:56:00.002+02:00

The Voice Of Russia transmitter towers situated near Bolshakovo.

The Voice of Russia on 1215 kHz made it through on the 14th September during the recent dxpedition to Seefontein.

Fellow dxer Vince Stevens sent off a report to the station and received a reply which indicated that this was the first time that they had received a reception report for the transmission on 1215 kHz (beamed to Europe) from as far as South Africa.

A few days later, I received an email verification from Elena Osipova who also kindly sent a QSL card (commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first manned flight into space) which arrived in the post yesterday.

WWRU Jersey City NJ 1660 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-09-30T14:23:00.009+02:00

The WWRU/WKDM transmitter site, situated in Carlstadt, New Jersey (Photograph Mark Buniak).

WWRU on 1660 kHz is one of the more regular AM stations from the U.S. to make it through to South Africa during mediumwave propagation from North America. The signal can be heard with some remarkable peaks at times.

After one or two previous unsuccessful attempts to verify the station, I was fortunate to receive two separate email verifications yesterday!

Another view of the antenna masts and the swamp (Photograph Marc Buniak).

First Verification

Korean Radio Producer David Im from 1660 KRB New York (as the station is also known) responded with a kind email.

Second Verification

My report was also forwarded to Multi Cultural Radio Broadcasting Inc. (MRBI) Chief Operator Mark Buniak who kindly verified the reception with an informative email reply which included many interesting photographs.

It was a pleasure to receive the enthusiastic reply from Mark who is also "the voice" behind the WWRU station id announcement!

" ... Gary, it’s my pleasure to confirm you did hear WWRU on September 15, 2011 in South Africa. WOW! Your attached MP3 recording was perfect proof you heard our station and what turned out to be a personal thrill for me is the voice you heard doing the station ID is me and I'm pleased to know someone in Fish Hoek is listening ... "

Marc Buniak
Chief Operator
MRBI Radio Control
NYC

MRBI Master Control Room in New York City (Photograph Marc Buniak).

The sister station 1380 WKDM building at Carlstadt , New Jersey (Photograph Mark Buniak).

AUDIO CLIP

Mark Buniak's top of the hour WWRU id on 1660 kHz made it through at 0400 UTC in July 2008, during a dxpedition to the Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Pictured above is the Cape Of Good Hope, the south western tip of the African continent.

WTKT Harrisburg PA 1460 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-09-28T13:53:00.003+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear and identify WTKT Harrisburg PA on 1460 kHz (a personal first) on the 15th September 2011 during the recent Seefontein dxpedition.

The station's 4.2 kw signal made it through over a distance of 12 669 km via the Icom R71E and 220 metre beverage antenna directed towards Eastern Canada.

Programme Manger Richard Harris kindly verified my reception report with a prompt email reply (Thanks to fellow dxer Vince Stevens for the contact details) :

Gary,

This will confirm your reception of WTKT 1460khz licensed to Harrisburg, Pa on 150911 @ 12:32 AM. It is indeed our radio station.

Thank you for the report, South Africa is a first for us. If you DX the ham bands, hope you get a chance to find me on 20 or 80 meters as W3HP.

Best 73 and TNX.

RJ Harris

Program Manager

WTKT-WHP

Harrisburg, PA

Audio Clip

An edited audio clip of the station identification at 0432 UTC on the 15th September which was announced as "Fox - Sports - Radio" and "14-60 The Ticket".

Downtown Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania State Capitol, on the east bank of the Susquehanna River (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WSAN Allentown PA 1470 QSL and Audio

2011-09-25T13:38:00.007+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear and identify WSAN Allantown PA on 1470 kHz (A South African first) on the 15th September 2011 during the recent Seefontein dxpedition.

The station's 5 kw signal made it through over a distance of 12 570 km via the Icom R71E and 220 metre beverage antenna directed towards Eastern Canada.

Director of Operations, Craig Stevens kindly responded with a brief email verification.

The three WSAN antenna towers located on the Kohl's parking lot at the Whitehall Mall near Allentown, PA (Photograph with kind permission from Brett Saylor).

The base of one of the WSAN antenna towers (Photograph with kind permission from Brett Saylor. Visit Brett's flickr photostream for more interesting dx related photographs).

Audio Clip

A careful listen to the recording at 0438 UTC on the 15th September 2011 revealed the station website address and id :

" ... To participate go to fox1470.com - Search 'No cash' (pause) Sports Radio AM 14-70 The Fox ... "

Seefontein Dxpedition - 13th to 16th Sep 2011

2011-09-23T19:23:00.007+02:00

Seefontein Cottage.

Another enjoyable dxpedition from the 13th to 16th September at Seefontein included John and Dawn Plimmer, Vince Stevens and yours truly.

Highlights

Located on the west coast of South Africa, Seefontein is a favourable dx location for the reception of mediumwave radio stations from North America during good propagation from that part of the world.

Encouraging moments of North American reception during all three mornings resulted in an emphasis on trying to identify a few "new" catches for the first time.

Highlights included the reception of 1370 WVIE Pikesville MD, 1410 WNGL Mobile AL, 1470 WSAN Allentown PA and the tentative logging of 1430 CHKT Toronto ON (All personal firsts).

The Loggings :

710 0329 U.S.A. WOR New York NY w ad - fair 14/09

850 0413 U.S.A. WTAR Norfolk VA w comedy programme - poor/fair 14/09

880 0425 U.S.A. WCBS New York NY w ad - poor 14/09

1010 0349 U.S.A. WINS New York NY id and time check "WINS news time 11:49" - fair 14/09

1050 0450 U.S.A. WEPN New York NY w talkback - good peak 14/09

1130 0310 U.S.A. WBBR New York NY w sports commentary - poor 16/09

1160 0424 U.S.A. KSL Salt Lake City UT w ad for "Big Ed's steakhouse" - fair peak 14/09

1170 0224 U.S.A. WWVA Wheeling WV w Roy Masters' "Foundation Of Understanding" programme - poor 15/09

1180 0350 U.S.A. R. Marti Marathon Key FL w SS ann - fair 15/09

1190 0447 U.S.A. WLIB New York NY w contemporary gospel programme - fair 14/09

Animal tracks on the sand dunes.

1370 0450 U.S.A. WVIE Pikesville MD w ad and id "You give us 20 minutes. We'll give you the world - V1370" followed by "Fox Sports Tonight" - fair peak 15/09 * personal first

1390 0450 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED w ad - very poor 15/09

1410 0500 U.S.A. WNGL Mobile AL w id " ... 14-10 WNGL Archangel Radio ... " - very poor 15/09 * South African first

1430 0446 CANADA CHKT Toronto a possibility w multicultural talkback programme - fair peak (thanks to Vince) * personal first

1460 0432 U.S.A. WTKT Harrisburg PA w promo for "Fox Sports Tonight" and id as "Fox - Sports - Radio" and "14-60 The Ticket" - poor 15/09

1470 0438 U.S.A. WSAN Allentown PA w part of promo " ... to participate go to fox1470.com. Search 'No cash' ..." and id " ... Sports Radio AM 1470 The Fox ... " - very poor 15/09 * personal first

1480 0440 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED w talkback including the subject of workers' rights - talkshow host's first name was Alan - poor 16/09

1500 0501 U.S.A. WFED Washington DC w news - fair 14/09

1510 0405 U.S.A. WLAC Nashville TX w wx and id " ... I'm meteorologist Mark Woolsey from the weather channel on your official ... station Fox News Radio 15-10 WLAC ... " followed by an ad for a testosterone supplement "Ageless Male" - fair 14/09

1520 0454 U.S.A. WWKB Buffalo NY w the talkback presenter's quick response to an unhappy caller "You don't have to listen to me ... stop whining and tune me out!" fair 14/09

Sunset at Seefontein - looking across the Atlantic.

1530 0444 U.S.A. WCKY Cincinatti OH w baseball game highlights - fair peak 15/09

1540 0200 U.S.A. KXEL Waterloo IA w id and "Overcommer Ministeries" religious programme - fair peak 14/09

1540 0200 BAHAMAS ZNS1 Nassau w ann "AM 1540 ZNS1 The National Voice. That was the programme 'Jesus Is Still The Answer'. It's 10:00 pm. This is the Bahamas Radio Network". followed by id jingle - fair 14/09

1550 0505 CANADA CBE Windsor ON (presumed) w news - very poor 14/09

1560 0438 U.S.A. KGOW Houston TX (presumed) w discussion - poor 14/09

1600 0445 U.S.A. WWRL New York NY w talkback - fair 15/09

1610 0440 ANGUILLA Caribbean Beacon w religious programming and address ann " ... Pastor Scott, Post Office Box 1 Los Angeles California, 90053-0001, U.S.A. " - excellent peak 15/09

1620 0504 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WDHP Fredericksted w BBC news relay - poor 14/09

1660 0429 U.S.A. WWRU Elizabeth NJ w ann in KK - good peak 15/09

1670 0435 U.S.A. WFSM Dry Branch GA w "Fox Sports" promo - poor 14/09

1700 0441 U.S.A. KVNS Brownsville TX w id "Your home for Dallas Cowboys football - KVNS" - good peak 14/09

Receiver : Icom R71E

Antenna : 220 metre Beverage antenna 'over the shoulder' towards East Canada.

Yours truly, dxing with the Icom R71E at Seefontein.

WOR New York NY 710 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-08-23T21:52:00.021+02:00

New York City skyline from Ellis Island (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WOR New York on 710 kHz is one of the more regular stations heard at Fish Hoek during good mediumwave propagation from the U.S.A. The station made it through on the 21st of November 1988 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

Chief Engineer Paul Stewart kindly verified my reception report with the above QSL card.

An early photograph (circa 1922) showing WOR's transmitter room located on the roof of Bamberger's Department store in Newark, New Jersey (Photograph with kind permission from Tom Ray).

Audio Clip

WOR on 710 kHz was heard with a huge local sunrise peak at 0402 UTC on the 11th January 2011 at Noordhoek via the Sony SRF-M37V ultralight receiver which was inductively coupled to a 220 Metre BOG directed towards North America.

An early photograph (circa 1922) showing the first WOR antenna on top of Bamberger's Department store in Newark, New Jersey, when the station used to operate with 500 watts (Photograph Tom Ray).

Trans Atlantic Reception on an ultralight radio with the internal 2.5 inch ferrite antenna!

WOR New York also made a surprise appearance at Fish Hoek over a distance of 12 550 km - heard on a barefoot Sony M37V Ultralight radio with just the internal 2.5 inch ferrite antenna during the early hours on the 8th November 2009.

Rebuilding WOR Radio from the tip of the mic to the top of the tower

The present WOR twin Harris 3DX50 transmitters with HD rack inbetween, located in Rutherford, New Jersey (Photograph with kind permission from Tom Ray).

A fascinating and detailed account with photographs, by Vice President/Corporate Director of Engineering Tom Ray who was in charge of the rebuilding of the WOR facilities is available here.

WRKO Boston MA 680 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-08-19T20:15:00.005+02:00

Sunset across the Charles river with the Boston Skyline in the distance (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WRKO Boston MA on 680 kHz is one of the more regular stations heard at Fish Hoek during good mediumwave propagation from the U.S.A. The station made it through with a huge signal on the 21st of November 1988 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

Chief Engineer Ned Roos kindly responded to my reception report with an informative verification letter. The Steve Weisman Show was in progress as I tuned in and after seeing my letter, attorney Steve Weisman also kindly ressponded with a WRKO greeting card.

Audio Clip

A 1988 recording of the reception of 680 WRKO at Fish Hoek - a remarkable trans Atlantic signal peak over a distance of 12 444 km!

WLS Chicago IL 890 kHz QSL

2011-08-17T19:36:00.009+02:00

Welcome to post no. 250 on the Cape Dx Blog!

WLS Chicago, Illinois on 890 khz made it through to Fish Hoek on the 11th of November 1988 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

Chief Engineer Harry Priester kindly verified my reception report with a friendly and informative QSL letter and verification certificate.

An early photograph of the WLS transmitter site on the 1948 WLS Family Album magazine cover.

WLS History

The Radio Timeline and WLS History websites are both worth a visit for those interested in the radio station's history.

WHAM Rochester NY 1180 kHz QSL

2011-08-15T17:28:00.003+02:00

Rochester Skyline (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WHAM Rochester NY on 1180 khz made it through during a dxpedition to Swartriet on the 8th of June 1988 via the FRG7 and 1 km beverage antenna which was directed towards Eastern Canada.

I was fortunate to receive a QSL card from General Manager Jack Murphy in response to my reception report to the station.

Google Earth image showing the close proximity of the Swartriet holiday cottages to the coast. The cottages are situated just north of Saldanha Bay on the west coast of South Africa.

5AD Adelaide SA 1323 kHz QSL and Video

2011-08-14T10:28:00.000+02:00

5AD Adelaide SA on 1323 kHz made it through to Fish Hoek on the 13th June 1988 via the FRG 7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I received the above QSL card in response to my reception report to the station.

Video

A 1988 Promo for 5AD :

3MP Frankston VIC 1377 kHz QSL and Video

2011-08-12T11:28:00.005+02:00

Mediumwave stations from the Australian state of Victoria are not often noted at Fish Hoek so it was a pleasure to hear 3MP Frankston on 1377 kHz back on the 9th June 1988.

I received the above QSL card from Chief Engineer Rupe Macaw.

Video

A 1980 animated TV commercial for 3MP is available here for those interested in a creative radio station promo from a previous broadcasting era.

5MU Murray Bridge SA 1458 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-08-11T09:58:00.006+02:00

The rail and road bridges leading into the town of Murray Bridge, South Australia (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

5MU Murray Bridge SA was heard on their previous frequency of 1458 kHz on the 9th June 1988 via the FRG 7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Fish Hoek.

Chief Engineer Kevin May kindly responded to my reception report with an interesting letter from their new studio complex - the station had also changed frequency from 1458 Khz to the present 1125 kHz.

Audio Clip

The 5 kw signal from 5MU on 1125 kHz can get through remarkably well at times. The brief recording of the station id was made at 1708 UTC on the 13th April 2007 via the FRG7 and 220 metre BOG at Fish Hoek.

5KA Adelaide SA 1197 QSL - Audio from the 1950's

2011-08-07T19:41:00.018+02:00

5KA Adelaide, South Australia on 1197 kHz made it through to Fish Hoek on the 17th April 1988 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna - a memorable catch and a South African first.

I received a QSL card and station bumper sticker from Chief Engineer Rod Cranwell who kindly responded to my reception report.

A Brief History

5KA commencing broadcasting on the 25th March 1927 on 1200 kHz. The station changed frequency to 1197 kHz with the introduction of 9 kHz spacing on the mediumwave band in 1978.

5KA left the mediumwave band and converted to 104.7 MHz FM on the 1st January 1990. After a call sign change to 5KKA (branded on-air as KAFM), the station eventually became 5MMM (Triple M Adelaide).

Audio Clip : 1950's 5KA jingle

1950's Philco Tropic Radio (Photograph Gary Deacon).

Visit the archived 5KA Reunion website for a detailed history, early photographs and a treasure trove of 5KA airchecks and jingles.

An early photograph inside the 5KA studio during a visit from a few Australian football players.

Audio Clip : 1954 Adelaide Earthquake on 5KA

On the 1st March 1954, Adelaide experienced an earthquake during the early hours. 5KA announcer Jack Fox was on duty at the time when showers of plaster fell down from the studio ceiling, the lights went out and his cup of tea fell across the record turntable!

The station was down for only three minutes after which the all night announcer was soon back on air :

" ... The whole of the building here - my chair that I'm sitting on absolutely rocked underneath me. I thought the building for one minute was collapsing ... now we continue with our musical programme, if I can find my records under all the plaster that's around the studio here ... "

In the hours that followed, Jack Fox kept up a constant stream of reassurances in between selections of bright, cheerful music which did much to calm many anxious mothers and frightened children!

5KA announcer Jack Fox.

KNX Los Angeles CA 1070 kHz QSL

2011-08-06T18:49:00.007+02:00

KNX Los Angeles CA on 1070 kHz was heard on the 29th April 1988. Another memorable catch, the station made it through over an impressive distance of 16 050 km to Fish Hoek via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

Director of Techical Operations, Erik Disen kindly replied to my reception report with the above QSL.

A Salute To Columbia Square

The historic Columbia Square - the home of KNX from 1938 (until 2005) and the Columbia Broadcasting System's West Coast operations headquarters until 2007 (photograph Wikimedia Commons).

Michael Linder's special audio programme, "A Salute To Columbia Square", is well worth a listen for anyone interested in a fascinating account of the broadcast history of KNX's Sunset Boulevard studios.

The programme, available here (scroll to the bottom of the Air Checks page), includes many interesting archive broadcasts and interviews with pioneers who helped create radio’s Golden Age.

WTIC Hartford CT 1080 kHz QSL

2011-08-05T16:22:00.003+02:00

WTIC Hartford on 1080 khz made it through to Fish Hoek on the 11th of February 1988 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

Engineer Bob Downes kindly verified my reception report with a QSL card.

Historic photograph of reel to reel tape machines inside WTIC Broadcast House (Photogaph Jeff Hugabonne).

Historic photograph of WTIC Broadcast House (Photograph Jeff Hugabonne).

WARV Warwick RI 1590 kHz QSL

2011-08-04T20:01:00.000+02:00

WARV Warwick on 1590 kHz was heard at Fish Hoek for the first time (A South African first) on the 17th February 1988 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive an interesting verification letter from WARV President Bill Blount who kindly responded to my reception report.

The Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island, RI (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WJMX Florence SC 970 kHz QSL

2011-08-03T15:33:00.001+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear WJMX Florence SC for the first time (A South African first) on 970 kHz on the 9th November 1987. Another memorable catch, the station's 3 kw signal made it through to Fish Hoek via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive an interesting verification letter with detailed information from Engineer Ken Evens who kindly responded to my reception report.

Google Earth Image showing the three WJMX AM Antenna towers - the southeastern tower is 510 ft in height (approximately 1/2 wavelength) and the two other towers are 250 ft (1/4 wavelength) each. The night time antenna pattern of the major lobe towards the south east helped account for the unusual trans Atlantic reception at Fish Hoek.

St Kitts Radio ZIZ 555 kHz QSL

2011-08-02T19:39:00.003+02:00

It was a surprise to hear ZIZ St Kitts on 555 kHz back on the 5th November 1987. A memorable catch at the time, the station's 10 kw signal made it through to Fish Hoek via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report.

Brimstone Hill Fortress, St Kitts (Photograph TripAdvisor).

Canada CFRX Toronto ON 6070 kHz QSL

2011-08-01T13:16:00.004+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear CFRX Toronto Ontario on 6070 kHz on the 13th August 1987. The 1 kw signal made it through over a distance of 13 100 km to Fish Hoek via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card from Vice President, Engineering Ron Hopkins.

Toronto Skyline (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

6NR Perth WA 927 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-07-29T14:01:00.013+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear and identify 6NR Perth WA on 927 kHz (A South African first) at Leisure Isle, Knysna on the 15th July 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive a verification letter, 6NR stickers and a programme guide from Senior Technician Geoff Rowley in response to my reception report.

6NR has since moved from the mediumwave band to FM and presently broadcasts on a frequency of 101.1 MHz.

AUDIO CLIP 1

A 6NR "Late Nite" alternative music promo - recorded at 1535 UTC on the 15th July 1987 at Leisure Isle.

AUDIO CLIP 2

A time check followed by "Not Any More" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins during 6NR's "Late Nite" programme - recorded at 1540 UTC on the 15th July 1987 at Leisure Isle.

The T.L. Robertson Library on the Curtin University Bentley campus, Perth WA (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

6WN Perth WA 810 kHz QSL

2011-07-28T11:20:00.003+02:00

Perth and the appropriately named Swan River in the foreground

(Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

6WN Perth WA on 810 kHz was heard at Leisure Isle, Knysna on the 15th July 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I received the above QSL card in response to my reception report.

6PR Perth WA 882 kHz QSL

2011-07-27T13:51:00.005+02:00

Leisure Isle, Knysna, situated on the picturesque Garden Route -

a good location for Australian mediumwave reception in 1987!

6PR Perth WA on 882 kHz was heard at Leisure Isle, Knysna on the 7th July 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above verification letter from Operations Manager Dick Heming in response to my reception report.

5CC Port Lincoln SA 765 kHz QSL card and letter

2011-07-26T15:16:00.007+02:00

5CC Port Lincoln SA on 765 khz made it through to Leisure Isle, Knysna on the 7th July 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

Technician Jack Martin kindly verified my reception report (the most distant in that direction) with a QSL card and letter.

2BE Bega NSW 765 kHz letter

2011-07-25T13:00:00.010+02:00

Back in July 1987, while dxing at Leisure Isle, Knysna, I stumbled across an Australian station on 765 kHz for the first time. The talkback programme which I heard, originated from Sydney and 2BE Bega was the only station from New South Wales listed on 765 kHz at the time.

I sent a tentative reception report to 2BE and received the above letter and bumper sticker from Chief Engineer Peter Carson who indicated that they were unable to confirm reception as their station was off air at the time I heard the signal. He suggested that I contact 5CC, Port Lincoln, the only other Australian station on 765 kHz.

Peter kindly included the address of 5CC and indicated that the SA station obtained a landline feed of the midnight to dawn shift from 2GB Sydney during the time that I heard the broadcast.

I posted a reception report to 5CC and was fortunate to receive a confirmation, the details of which will be included in the next post ...

5AU Port Augusta SA 1242 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-07-24T16:05:00.006+02:00

5AU Port Augusta SA on 1242 kHz was heard at Leisure Isle, Knysna on the 7th July 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above verification from technician Tonnet Penascoza in response to my reception report.

AUDIO CLIP

5AU is one of the more regular Australian mediumwave stations heard at Fish Hoek. The 2kw signal can get through remakably well at times as was the case during the above recording, made on the 15th April 2009 at Fish Hoek via the Sony SRF-M37V Ultralight and 200 metre BOG.

Google Earth Image of the 5AU transmitter site which is situated just over 2 km from the coast, at Mambray Creek in South Australia.

6WF Perth WA 720 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-07-23T11:30:00.022+02:00

A 1937 photograph of ABC Broadcast House, located in the Supreme Court Gardens, Perth, WA - the home of 6WF from 1937 until 1958 (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

6WF Perth WA on 720 kHz was heard during a holiday / dxpedition at Leisure Isle, Knysna on the 6th July 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report.

Google Earth Image of the 6WF 720 kHz 180 metre mast with a "top hat", located in Hamersley, Perth, Western Australia.

Another surprise verification ...

A few years ago, I received an interesting email from an announcer at 720 6WF, in response to the youtube 2008 Jongensgat DXpedition Video :

" ... Hi Gary, A friend sent me a link to your YouTube piece about Dx int. He suggested I listen about 2:00 mins in. To my great surprise I found myself listening to a broadcast I made through 6WF in Perth Western Australia. It was sure strange to sit and watch-and listen- as my words came back to me via youtube and South Africa. Regards, John ... "

AUDIO CLIP

6WF is a regular here in Fish Hoek and does get through remarkably well at times when it seems as if one is listening from downtown Perth instead of over 8 650 kilometers away !

The present ABC studio and office building, located on the corner of Fielder and Royal Streets in East Perth (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

6PM Perth WA 990 kHz QSL

2011-07-22T15:33:00.003+02:00

6PM Perth WA on 990 kHz was heard at Sandbaai on the 28th June 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report.

On the 31st Deceember 1990, the station obtained a license to convert to the FM band.

The studio building at 283 Rokeby Road, Subiaco (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

5AA Adelaide SA 1386 kHz QSL and Video

2011-07-21T17:02:00.010+02:00

5AA Adelaide, South Australia on 1386 kHz made it through to Fish Hoek on the 24th June 1987 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

I received a detailed form letter QSL, signed by Chief Engineer John Ferguson, in response to my reception report.

A brief history

5AA commenced broadcasting on the 14th March 1976 on 1390 kHz. The station moved to 1386 kHz with the introduction of 9 kHz spacing on the mediumwave band in 1978. 5AA presently broadcasts on 1395 kHz and is one of the more regular Australian mediumwave stations heard at Fish Hoek.

1991 5AA Video Promo

A 1991 5AA "Radio That Still Talks To You" 30 sec TV Commercial.

4QD Emerald QLD 1548 kHz QSL

2011-07-20T09:30:00.008+02:00

4QD on 1548 kHz was the first Australian mediumwave station that I was fortunate to hear at Fish Hoek. A memorable catch at the time, the station made it through on the 10th June 1987 via the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

I received the 4QD QSL card in response to my reception report.

The station has been heard at Fish Hoek on many occasions since - at times with astonishing local quality peaks !

The historic Emerald Railway Station opened on the 18th December 1900 (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

PANAMA Southern Command Network Canal Zone 1420 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-07-18T09:44:00.012+02:00

SCN building 209 at Fort Clayton (Photographed in November 2007 by Alan Hawkins - with kind permission from Thom Whetston).

It was a surprise to hear the Southern Command Network from the Canal Zone in Panama on 1420 kHz for the first time on the 11th June 1987 (The station was received on a few previous occasions on 790 kHz).

The 5 kw signal made it through across the Atlantic to Fish Hoek over a distance of 11 290 km and was heard with the FRG7 and 25 metre longwire antenna.

Inside the SCN radio studio at Fort Clayton (Photograph with kind permission from Thom Whetston).

A glance at my radio logbook confirms that SCN was noted with fair to good peaks at 0445 UTC that morning with the "East Of Midnite" show. Station identification was announced as " SCN AM Radio 7-90 Pacific and 14-20 Atlantic ".

Senior Broadcaster Sergeant Kenneth Fries kindly verified my reception report with a letter and SCN sticker (Please click onto the image of the verification letter for a higher resolution).

AUDIO CLIP

SCN Canal Zone station identification announcement and jingle.

Visit Midge England's interesting website for more SCN audio clips from a bygone era.

Another view of SCN building 209 (Photographed in November 2007 by Alan Hawkins - with kind permission from Thom Whetston whose interesting website is available here).

THE END OF A BROADCASTING ERA

The official closing ceremonies for SCN occurred on July 1st, 1999. The station continued to broadcast from a mobile van on top of Ancon hill until the last of the American forces departed on December 31st, 1999.

WLW Cincinnati OH 700 kHz QSL

2011-07-17T13:49:00.019+02:00

WLW Cincinnatin Ohio on 700 kHz made it through over a distance of 13 295 km to Pinelands on the 23rd January 1987. The station was received on the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report.

Google Earth image of the WLW transmitter site at Mason, Ohio, showing the diamond shaped Blaw-Knox tower.

The WLW 739 ft Blaw-Knox tower (Photographs with kind permission from Barry Mishkind whose Broadcasters' Desktop Resource website is available here ).

Another view of the WLW tower (Photograph with kind permission from Dan Stiver).

WGY Schenectady NY 810 kHz QSL

2011-07-16T22:22:00.006+02:00

The first QSL card to arrive in the mailbox back in 1987 was from WGY Schenectady on 810 kHz. The station made it through on the 8th January 1987 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to receive the QSL card from Chief Engineer Louis Correia in response to my reception report.

An impressive composite image of the WGY Antenna Tower (Photograph with kind permission from Peter Barvoets whose original image is available here).

Fish Hoek - An aerial photograph from 750m a.s.l.

2011-06-15T22:36:00.013+02:00

The view of Fish Hoek from 750 metres above sea level - looking east towards False Bay - click onto the image for a higher resolution (Photograph : John Ryland).

It was a pleasure to meet up with UK dxer John Ryland for the first time in April this year. Together with Vince Stevens, the three of us managed an evening mini dxpedition at the Fish Hoek sports fields. Despite the mediocre reception conditions, John enjoyed the opportunity to listen to a few good mediumwave signal peaks from Western Australia.

John kindly sent me an interesting aerial photograph which he took during a helicopter flight above the Cape Peninsula. The Fish Hoek sportsfields can be seen in the foreground. By good fortune, the gravel road to the left of the sports fields is aligned towards Australia and convenient for a quick set-up of the BOG (Beverage On Ground) antenna.

Seefontein Dxpedition - 28th to 31st March 2011

2011-04-12T14:17:00.029+02:00

Sunset over the Atlantic - the view from the Seefontein cottage.

Another enjoyable dxpedition to Seefontein on the west coast included four South African Dxers with a total of 156 years of dxing experience - thanks to John Plimmer for the calculation!

It was great to dx with the guys again after not being able to attend the last two dxpeditions due to work commitments.

Those in attendance included John Plimmer and his wife Dawn, Vince Stevens, Vashek Korinek and yours truly.

Dxers (L to R) John Plimmer, Vashek Korinek, Gary Deacon and Vince Stevens.

It was good to finally meet up with Vashek whose impressive dx achievements and reports of exotic QSLs appeared in the South African Shortwave Listener during my early days behind the dials.

Vashek achieved some remarkable dxing results from his inland QTH during the 1970's/1980's and subsequently from various dxpeditions to Copperton near Prieska on the Orange River.

Highlights :

Highlights of this dxpedition included the reception of Radio Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea on 3275 kHz (a personal first) and a surprise appearance of SIBS, Solomon Islands on 5020 kHz.

Vince managed a first time logging of WSAR Fall River MA on 1480kHz. Vashek heard CBE Windsor ON on 1550 kHz. John logged XEPE Tecate Mexico on 1700 kHz (over a distance of 15 800 km).

A great description and detailed report (with all loggings) by John Plimmer is available here at the dxing.info website.

The Loggings :

531 0435 ALGERIA Alger Chaîne 1 Ain-El-Beida in AA w male vocals, drums and strings w 'jazz style' pentatonic piano responses 1 sec delay // 549 kHz - very good 28/3

540 0423 MOROCCO RTM Sidi Bennour w AA chants - fair 28/3

549 0422 ALGERIA Alger Chaîne 1 Les Trembles in AA - good 28/3

585 0422 SPAIN Radio Nacional, Majadahonda (Madrid) in SS - fair

594 0432 NIGERIA FRCN Kaduna National Station, Jaji w EE recitation of the National Pledge of Nigeria - good 29/3

594 2114 MALAWI MBC Radio One Lilongwe w id and mx - good 30/3

621 0430 CANARY ISLANDS RNE Tenerife w id in SS - good 28/3

684 0430 SPAIN RNE Dos Hermanas (Sevilla) in SS - good 28/3

684 1810 MAURITIUS Radio Maurcice, Malherbes w "The Logical Song" by Supertramp and "MBC" id in FF - good 30/3

720 1845 AUSTRALIA 6WF Perth w discussion - fair 29/3

729 1810 AUSTRALIA 5RN Adelaide w interview - poor 30/3

729 2058 GREECE NET Athínai w traditional mx - fair 28/3

729 0429 NIGERIA Kano Broadcasting Corporation, Jogana w sign on sig tune, Nigerian National Anthem and EE recitation of the National Pledge of Nigeria - fair 30/3

738 0432 SPAIN Radio Nacional, Palau de Plegamans (Barcelona) in SS w news - fair

30/3

747 0438 CANARY ISLANDS Radio Nacional 5, Mesas de Galaz (Las Palmas) in SS w news - fair 30/3

747 0405 HOLLAND Radio 5 Nostalgia Zeewolde (Flevoland) w Oldies mx incl "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly - good peak 30/3

783 0435 SPAIN Rock y Gol Radio Miramar, Ctra. Consería (Barcelona) in SS - poor 30/3

792 0438 SPAIN SER Radio Sevilla, Sevilla in SS w news - poor 30/3

819 1815 MAURITIUS Radio Mauritius 2, Malherbes w traditional Indian female vocals, tablas and strings - very good 30/3

828 1820 AUSTRALIA 6GN Geraldton // 720 kHz - poor 30/3

837 0436 SPAIN COPE Various locations - fair 30/3

855 0440 SPAIN Radio Nacional Various locations - fair 30/3

864 0412 FRANCE France Bleu Paris - Villebon-sur-Yvette w rock mx - poor 30/3

John and Vince take a break from dxing to enjoy the favourite South African tradition of a braai (barbecue).

1008 2214 HOLLAND GrootNieuwsradio, Zeewolde (Flevoland) w mx - fair 30/3

1008 0438 SPAIN SER various locations in SS w news - fair 30/3

1017 1618 GERMANY SWR Cont.Ra, Wolfsheim w GG ann by female presenter - fair 30/3

1020 0140 PARAGUAY R.Nanduti, Asuncion, w discussion in SS poor 30/3

1026 0425 SPAIN SER Radio w "Horse With No Name" by America - fair 31/3

1035 2220 ESTONIA Tartuskoe Semeinoe Radio (Tartu Family Radio)Tartu (presumed) w male ann in RR - fair 30/3

1062 0348 DENMARK DR P5, Kalundborg w wx forecast - fair w good peaks 31/3

1088 2122 ANGOLA Radio Nacional de Angola, Mulenvos in PP - good 30/3

1098 0440 SPAIN Radio Nacional 5 various locations in SS w id - very good 31/3

1110 0455 ARGENTINA R.De La Ciudad w classical and latin jazz music - fair w good peaks 30/3 Always enjoyable to listen to the quality music played on this station!

1125 0419 SPAIN Radio Nacional 5, various locations in SS w ann - fair 30/3

1143 0415 SPAIN COPE various locations in SS - poor 31/3

1152 0412 UNITED KINGDOM LBC News 1152, Saffron Green (London) w discussion by male presenter - very poor 31/3

1179 0425 SPAIN SER Radio Valencia / Rioja w "Horse With No Name" by America - good 31/3

1206 0420 FRANCE France Info, Bordeaux-Néac in FF fair - 31/3

1215 0420 UNITED KINGDOM Absolute Radio various locations w mx - very poor under Radio Botswana 30/3

1224 0421 SPAIN COPE various locations in SS w ann - fair 30/3

1242 0431 FRANCE France Info, Marseille-Cabriès-Réaltor in FF - poor 31/3

1278 0422 FRANCE France Bleu Sélestat w "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas - fair 30/3

1296 0329 SUDAN Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation Reiba w id in AA - very good 30/3

1305 0417 SPAIN Radio Nacional 5 various locations in SS - fair 31/3

1314 0417 SPAIN Radio Nacional 5 various locations in SS - fair 31/3

1341 0335 UNITED KINGDOM BBC Radio Ulster, Lisnagarvey w Radio 5 live programming - poor w fair peaks 31/3

1377 0424 FRANCE France Info, Lille-Camphin en Carembault in FF w ann - good 30/3

1260 0406 SPAIN SER Radio Murcia, Murcia (Presumed) in SS - poor 31/3

1422 0404 GERMANY Deutschlandfunk, Heusweiler w news in GG by female announcer - fair

1431 2209 DJIBOUTI Radio Sawa, Arta w id and hip hop mx - good 30/3

1440 0332 LUXEMBOURG KBS World w religious pr in GG - very good 31/3

1449 0333 LIBYA Radio Free Libya Misrata w AA chants - very good 31/3

1458 2120 ANGOLA Emissora Provincial do Moxico, Luena in PP - good 30/3

1458 0401 UNITED KINGDOIM Sunrise Radio Brookmans Park w news in EE - fair 31/3

1485 0352 SPAIN UNIDENTIFIED under Radio Today in SS poor 31/3

1494 0358 GREECE NET Rhodos w ann by female presenter poor 31/3 * personal first

1494 0427 FRANCE France Info various locations in FF - poor 30/3

1503 0357 SPAIN Radio Nacional 5, various locations in SS - very good 31/3

1521 0358 SPAIN SER Radio Castellón, Ctra Valencia (Castellón) in SS - very good 31/3

1539 00432 SPAIN SER Radio various locations in SS poor 31/3

1540 0259 BRAZIL Radio Litoranea Guaratuba w id and mx - fair 30/3

1548 0355 UNITED KINGDOM Capital Gold, Saffron Green w "House Of The Rising Sun" by the Animals - poor under Radio Islam 31/3

1593 2112 UNIDENTIFIED w EE pop mx - poor 28/3

1602 0315 SUDAN Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation Kadogi in AA // 1296 kHz - good 30/3

The Seefontein cottage.

2310 1848 AUSTRALIA VLA Alice Springs w discussion - poor 29/3

2485 1848 AUSTRALIA VL8K Katherine w discussion - fair 29/3

3275 2019 PAPUA NEW GUINEA Radio Southern Highlands - a surprise appearance w mx - very poor 30/3. Noted for the first time after checking the PNG frequencies.

3345 2022 INDONESIA Radio Republik Indonesia w chants - fair 30/3. Thanks to Vashek for pointing this out.

3365 1919 PAPUA NEW GUINEA Radio Milne Bay w mx. NBC id, indigenous fanfare and news at 2002 UTC - very poor 30/3

3385 1919 PAPUA NEW GUINEA Radio East New Britain w mx incl inspirational gospel song "We Will Glorify" by Twila Paris at 1945 UTC. Phone in programme and abrupt sign/off at 1958 UTC which may have been the result of a possible tx problem - poor 30/3

3480 2014 KOREA Voice Of The People in KK w mx - poor 30/3

3912 1930 KOREA Voice Of The People in KK w mx - poor 30/3

4319 2100 DIEGO GARCIA AFN w id "Your 24 hour news, talk and information source ; The Voice on AFN Radio" - good 30/3

4750 2132 INDONESIA RRI Makassar w id - good 30/3

4780 2028 DJIBOUTI Radio Djibouti w conversation exchanges inbetween regular drum beats - poor 30/3

4835 2155 AUSTRALIA VL8A Alice Springs w interview by male presenter with David Helmers, CEO of the Australian Men's Shed Association. Time check for "26 past 7:00" at 2154 UTC, followed by a birthday tribute to Herb Alpert who turned 76 that day (31st March) and his 1962 hit "The Lonely Bull" - fair 30/3

4885 0525 BRAZIL Radio Clube do Para w romantic ballads and id in PP - fair 29/3

5005 2032 EQUATORIAL GUINEA Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial Bata w african mx - fair 30/3

5010 1853 MADAGASCAR Radio Madagasikara w id and mx ballad - good 30/3

5020 1912 SOLOMON ISLANDS SIBC Honiara w religious early morning devotion programme in EE - poor 30/3. Another surprise visit from a rare Pacific guest. I last heard the SIBC on 9545 kHz during September 1989!

5025 2150 AUSTRALIA VL8K Katherine w an interview by female presenter with Mark Holden who mentioned the upcomming Urban Quest Finals Concert on the 2nd April at 7 o'clock at the Darwin Entertainment Centre. Also promo and id for "ABC Darwin". News headlines by Katrina Bolton at 2200 UTC - fair 30/3

5035 0525 BRAZIL Radio Aparecida w id jingle in PP - fair 29/3

5765 1700 GUAM AFN w id "Get the most talk, news and information from the only source that brings it all. The Voice on AFN Radio" followed by AP Radio News by Rita Foley - good 30/3

6010 0515 BRAZIL R Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte in PP - fair 29/3

6090 0518 ANGUILLA Caribbean Beacon w religious programme - fair 29/3

7295 1800 MALAYSIA Radio Malaysia w id and news - good 30/3

9470 1910 INDIA AIR Aligarh w tabla and sitar mx - fair 29/3

9525 1508 INDONESIA Voice of Indonesia, Jakarta in EE w news and id - fair 29/3 9565 0610 BRAZIL Radio Tupi w sports commentary - fair 29/3

9595 0620 JAPAN R Nikkei 1, Nagara, Chiba, Tokyo in JJ w discussion - fair 29/3

9655 1704 ALASKA KNLS Anchor Point w id in Russian - fair 29/3

9820 1915 BRAZIL Radio Nove de Julho Sao Paulo w id in PP - fair 29/3

11715 1355 USA KJES Vado New Mexico w id - fair 30/3

11725 0528 NEW ZEALAND Radio New Zealand International w news and promo for "Our Changing World" - good 30/3

11735 1930 BRAZIL R Transmundial, Santa Maria w id in PP - poor 29/3

12133.5 0525 U.S.A. AFN w sports news and a message re pre-diabetes - fair 30/3

Receiver : Icom R71

Antenna : 220 metre BOG towards Europe

200 metre BOG towards Australia

Charles "Copper" Slingsby - Cape Town's Pioneer Dxer during the 1920's and 1930's

2011-02-25T15:15:00.028+02:00

Charles "Copper" Slingsby tuning in during the 1920's (Photograph with kind permission from David Slingsby).

What began as a recent chance discovery of an interesting letter from David Slingsby on the KDKA website has resulted in an astonishing futher discovery - an unprecedented treasure trove of priceless QSL's and original letters, addressed to his grandfather Charles, from pioneering and experimental short wave radio stations which broadcast during the 1920's!

The likelihood of individual QSL cards and especially QSL letters to survive over 80 years is rare, so to discover that an entire collection from this era has remained intact (barely a few minutes from my QTH) is quite remarkable to say the least!

A rare January 1928 QSL letter from the BBC experimental shortwave station 5SW at Chelmsford was possibly one of the first replies to be received in South Africa. The reported date of reception in Cape Town was on the 1st and 2nd November 1927 : at least 10 days before the official commencement date of the 11th November that year. The station operated on 11 750 kc with a power of 15 kw.

After a phone call to David, I was invited to view the astonishing well preserved collection of early QSL's, letters, log books and original newspaper cuttings, meticulously compiled by grandfather Charles.

Charles Slingsby, or "Copper" as he was nicknamed (he was born with a shock of red/auburn hair), was one of the first pioneering short wave radio enthusiasts to operate in Cape Town, South Africa. During the 1920's Copper dxed with a home constructed three valve receiver from his radio shack, situated in Belmont Road, Mowbray and later, Thelma Road, Claremont (suburbs of Cape Town).

Copper Slingsby's radio shack, situated in Thelma Road, Claremont (Photograph circa 1929 - with kind permission from David Slingsby).

It is interesting to note that the Post Master of Cape Town, Mr. Girling, lived next door. Girling understood morse code and was able to pick up news from passing ships. Perhaps this futher helped to ignite Copper's interest in long distant radio reception.

Broadcasts were meticulously recorded in various log books. Fortunately, thanks to grandson David who has a great interest in family history, three of these logbooks have been preserved alongside the QSL's and letters and serve as a fascinating record of the long distance radio reception experienced in Cape Town during the 1920's.

Copper's dxing skills and follow-up reporting resulted in the various interesting QSL's and letters from pioneering and experimental short wave radio stations in the U.S.A. , U.K. and Australia. These stations appreciated the important feedback regarding distant reception. It must have been a pioneer dxer's dream to receive the enthusiastic replies from KDKA Pittsburgh, WGY Schenectady, 2NM Caterham, 5SW Chelmsford and 3LO Melborne to name a few!

A rare 1928 QSL card from the amateur experimental shortwave broadcasting station 6AG Perth Western Australia, operated by Wally Coxon. In 1928 the shortwave transmitter was co-sited with the mediumwave unit of 6WF on the rooftop of the Westralian Farmers building, located in downtown Perth. Operating on 33 metres with just 150 watts, the station would have been a memorable catch and an impressive dx achievement!

Local newspaper reporters from the Cape Times and Cape Argus would often sit alongside Copper and write up world events from the broadcasts received on his radio. For example, the famous Jack Dempsey / Sharkey fight broadcast via KDKA from the Yankee Stadium, New York on the 22nd July 1927 was received at Copper's radio shack and reported by the Argus sports writer.

Copper Slingsby also wrote various articles which were published in the two local newspapers. He advised on the purchase or construction of a shortwave receiver, how to tune in and what one could expect to hear. "Wireless", especially shortwave, was in its infancy and the articles would have done much to promote an interest in tuning in.

A radio humour cartoon postcard from the 1920's - perhaps still appropriate over 80 years later!

Charles Slingsbly was born on the 17th May 1887. He joined the British forces in 1901 at the age of 14 as a bugler during the Anglo Boer War. He met and married Violet Alice Dove in a whirlwind romance lasting a week during WW I. They had four children, three of whom are still alive today. It is interesting to note that the family arrived back from Kenya and spent a brief time at Fish Hoek before moving to Mowbray.

My thanks and appreciation to David Slingsby for his kind hospitality (the coffee was most enjoyable by the way!), for preserving an important part of pioneering radio history and for his enthusiasm and willingness to share the fascinating collection and information.

I hope to share some more early QSLs, letters, and articles from the Copper Slingsby collection in future posts.

Cape DX on Amateur Radio Today

2011-02-05T18:27:00.018+02:00

I have been approached by Hans van de Groenendal from the South African Radio League to present a regular audio programme for "Amateur Radio Today" - the weekly radio programme for radio amateurs, shortwave listeners and the electronic hobbyist - aired by the SARL.

CAPE DX Edition 1 - The Cape Peninsula

The Cape of Good Hope on the Cape Peninsula is the most south-westerly point on the African continent (Photograph Gary Deacon).

The first programme featured mediumwave dx highlights from various locations on the Cape Peninsula and was aired last week.

CAPE DX Edition 2 - Cyclone Yasi

The second programme touches on the dramatic ABC Local Radio coverage of Catagory 5 Cyclone Yasi as it hit the north Queensland coast this week. The radio coverage was well planned, professional and impressive to say the least!

Apart from the non-stop coverage of updates and reports, listeners were invited to phone in with their personal experiences of the effects of the cyclone as the storm ripped through their respective neighbourhoods. Some of the calls were quite intense.

Broadcast Schedule

You can listen to Amateur Radio Today every Sunday at 08:00 UTC on the following frequencies:

17 570 kHz AM / 7205 kHz AM / 7082 kHz SSB.

Repeat broadcasts are availlable every Monday at 19:05 UTC on 3215 kHz AM.

Podcasts

The weekly radio programme is also available via a Podcast at :

http://www.zs6ro.co.za/podcast

WFAN New York NY 660 kHz QSL and Audio

2011-02-01T00:12:00.013+02:00

WFAN New York NY on 660 kHz was heard with decent peaks during the recent visit to Noordhoek. The station made it through on the 13th January 2011 at 0320 UTC via the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG.

Programme Director Eric Spitz kindly verified my email report within an impressive 15 minutes!

Google Earth image of the WFAN 167 metre antenna mast situated on High Island.

HIGH ISLAND

High Island is a small private island which is connected to City Island via a small bridge and a sandbar that emerges at very low tide.

Google Earth image of High island showing the sandbar and bridge.

In the early 20th Century the island was privately owned with a community of summer rental cottages for approximately 40 families. In 1961, the island was purchased for the use of radio transmission towers.

The island consists of the transmitters and antenna towers for 660 WFAN and 880 WCBS, both of which are owned by CBS.

On August 27, 1967, a small private airplane crashed into the radio tower, destroying the antenna and taking WNBC and WCBS off the air. Both stations were able to borrow nearby transmission facilities for about a week, until an emergency tower could be erected on the island. The permanent replacement was built with a second (shorter) tower as an emergency backup.

Another view of High island, showing the WFAN antenna mast in the foreground with the auxilary tower behind (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

The taller of the towers is 549 feet (167 meters). The shorter tower is 300 feet (91.4 meters) and was built in 2001 to replace the emergency tower erected in 1967. The proximity of these two AM radio stations has, at times, caused interference on telephones and electronic equipment on nearby City Island.

High Island is an AM radio transmission facility with no studios or tower tenants (WFAN and WCBS broadcast from studios located in Manhattan).

A full-time caretaker's residence was in use from 1961 to 2007. The island is currently uninhabited and maintained by the radio stations' engineers and contractors.

AUDIO CLIP

A recording of a post local sunrise peak of 660 WFAN at 0420 UTC on the 11th January 2011 via the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG at Noordhoek is available here. The station made it through over a distance of 12 536 km.

Noordhoek DXpedition Ultralight Loggings : 11th - 15th January 2011

2011-01-20T20:11:00.067+02:00

Noordhoek Beach - towards the south.

Noordhoek's ideal position on the Cape Peninsula provides a great opportunity for dxing mediumwave radio stations from across the Atlantic.

After the early evening reception from Africa and the Middle East, many stations from Brazil usually make it through to this location from late evening until our local sunrise with astonishing and consistent near "local" quality peaks.

Reception from the more distant North American continent can also be quite productive during our mid summer season, as was the case during another interesting annual dxpedition to Noordhoek from the 11th - 15th January 2011.

Noordhoek Beach - towards the north.

ECUADOR

The highlight of the dxpedition was the reception of HD210A, Guayaquil, Ecuador on 1510 khz with 500 watts. The time signal station was heard over a distance of 10 626 km / 6 602 miles - a new ULR country and the most distant 500 watt station that I've been fortunate to receive via the Sony SRF M37V.

The station was last received more than 25 years ago on June 3rd, 1985 via the FRG7 receiver and a 30 metre random antenna at Sandbaai.

My thanks and appreciation to Bruce Portzer for kindly providing the information and URL links and to Chuck Hutton for listening to the audio clip and providing some sound advice!

BRAZIL

Another highlight included the reception of Super Radio Tupi, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim on 1590 kHz with 250 watts - a personal first.

TRINIDAD

It was also a pleasant surprise to hear Inspirational Radio 730 AM, Port of Spain, Trinidad on 730 khz for the first time - a personal first and another new ULR country.

U.S.A.

The reception of KOA Denver CO on 850 khz over 14 981 km / 9 308 miles represents a new ULR logging and the most distant 50 kw station that I've been fortunate to identify via the Sony SRF-M37V.

KSL Salt Lake City UT on 1160 kHz would have been eligible as the most distant station heard with the Sony Ultralight but could not be identified during a brief tentative appearance.

No fires are allowed on the beach - but dxing with an ultralight radio is permitted!

The Loggings : Freq (kHz) and Time (UTC)

531 2130 ALGERIA Alger Chaîne 1 Ain-El-Beida in AA 1 sec delay // 549 kHz 14/01

549 2130 ALGERIA Alger Chaîne 1 Les Trembles in AA 14/01

621 0400 CANARY ISLANDS RNE Tenerife in SS w tail end of 60's music programme, time "pips" and station identification - a common guest here with a huge "local quality" signal 15/01 audio clip

660 0320 U.S.A. WFAN New York NY w Nets vs Phoenix Suns basketball commentary by Chris Carino , id " Sports Radio 66 WFAN " and ads 13/01

670 0350 U.S.A. WSCR Chicago IL w Minissota Vikings game highlights, a reference to sister station WBBM News Radio 7-80 and talkback 11/01

680 0259 U.S.A. WRKO Boston MA w promo by Pat Whitley : " ... Hi. This is Pat Whitley. You can join me for the 'Pat Whitley Restaurant Programme', Sunday at 10:00 am until 1:00 pm that makes you the restaurant critic. Sunday at 10:00 o'clock on WRKO ... " followed by WRKO news at 0400 UTC 11/01

680 0405 U.S.A. WCBM Baltimore MD w id "Talk Radio 6-80 WCBM" 13/01 * new ULR log

700 0336 U.S.A. WLW Cincinatti OH w ad : " ... Call now. You'll get free installation the very next day - three ways to save and free next-day installation from Time Warner Cable ... call 1800 TW Cable today ... " 14/01

710 0402 U.S.A. WOR New York NY w promo by pharmacist/nutritionist Jerry Hickey of InviteHealth : "Call 800 765 73 58 now to join Jerry at this special live broadcast of InviteHealth Saturday Morning Show. Doors open at 8:30 and the show starts at 9:00. Hurry - tickets are going fast. Call 800 765 73 58 now or visit WOR 710.com/newyou for more details ... ". Most consistent station from the U.S.A. with good peaks 11-01 audio clip

720 0320 U.S.A. WGN Chicago IL w id and talkback 11/01

730 0325 TRINIDAD Inspirational Radio 710 AM Port of Spain w ann of upcoming events by female announcer w Caribbean accent - also heard during a subsequent peak with a prayer 13/01 * personal first and a new ULR country audio clip

730 0259 CANADA CKAC Montreal ON w sports commentary in FF 13/01

750 0304 U.S.A. WSB Atlanta GA w id and news report 11/01

750 0255 VENEZUELA RCR Caracas w ann in SS - a regular here - fair peak 13/01 audio clip

The main headquarters of RCR, Caracas, Venuzuela (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

760 0044 U.S.A. WJR Detroit MI w ad and ann incl id : " ... and now back to Mark Levin. ' JR ' News/Talk station ... " followed by The Mark Levin Show 14/01

770 0315 U.S.A. WABC New York NY w telephonic interview by male presenter 13/01

780 0328 U.S.A. WBBM Chicago IL w id and ads 11/01

790 0307 U.S.A. WNIS Norfolk VA w Virginia Tech Hokies vs North Carolina basketball commentary 14/01 audio clip

800 0025 NETHERLANDS ANTILLES TWR Bonaire w "Through The Bible Radio" 11/01

800 0356 CANADA CKLW Windsor ON w talkback 14/01

810 0320 U.S.A. WGY Schentectady NY w talkback 13/01

820 0320 U.S.A. WBAP Fort Woth TX (presumed) w nutritional advice 13/01

820 0345 ST. KITTS Radio Paradise w gospel music - good peak 14/01

830 0305 U.S.A. WCRN Worcester MA with news and ads incl "Diamond Chevrolet" : " ... It takes a tough truck to stand up to New England weather and it's why you see more and more Chevrolet trucks on the road than ever before. At Diamond Chevrolet ... we've got a great selection of 2011 Chevy trucks ... " 13/01

830 0358 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED co-channel mix with WCRN 11/01

840 0304 U.S.A. WHAS Louisville KY w Fox News Radio id, WHAS "jingle" and stock market report 13/01

A picturesque pathway through Chapmans Peak Caravan Farm.

850 0400 U.S.A. WTAR Norfolk VA w id "News, talk, sports, financial news, consumer information, personal advice, traffic, weather. AM 8-50 WTAR, Norfolk" followed by time check for 11:00 pm and CNN Radio news read by Greg Black - very good peak 11/01 audio clip

850 0415 U.S.A. KOA Denver CO w ads including mention of telephone number with Denver area code 303 (303 759 44 ... 4) and "The First Annual Truck, Trailor and Equipment Sale at ... main road in Denver ... " received over a distance of 14 981 km / 9 308 miles * a new ULR log and the most distant 50 kw station received with the Sony SRF M37V 13/01 audio clip

860 0336 CANADA CJBC Toronto w discussion in FF 11/01

880 0339 U.S.A. WCBS New York NY w traffic update, a wx forecast by meteoroligist Bob Smerbeck followed by an airport wx condition forecast by the anchor/presenter and an id with time check as : " WCBS News time : 10:40 ... " - good peak 13/01

890 0345 U.S.A. WLS Chicago IL (presumed) w ads - 13/01

900 0210 CANADA CHML Hamilton ON w id as "Hamilton's News Talk Leader ... CHML" 13/01

930 0310 U.S.A. WBEN Buffalo NY (presumed) w sports discussion 11/01

950 0315 U.S.A. WPEN Philadelphia PA w ESPN promo : " ... BCS National Championships Game on ESPN Radio ... Join Michael McNamara ... breakdown the game at 9:00 am (Eastern) at ESPN radio ... " 13/01

990 0023 U.S.A. WNML Knoxville TN a possibility here w discussion by male presenter 14/01

The dx location inside the caravan farm. A 100 metre BOG was directed from the car, past the Bougainvillea flowers on the left, towards the U.S.A.

1000 0335 U.S.A. WMVP Chicago IL w ads : " ... Visit athletico.com or call 1-877 ATLETICO. AthletiCo : physical and cccupational therapy for the Chicago Bulls ... Start your week off right and chill out at Chili's. Visit any Chicago Chili's restuarant and take advantage of these great meal deals ... " 13/01

1010 0340 U.S.A. WINS New York NY w id : " All news all the time. This is 10-10 WINS. You give us 25 minutes, we'll give you the world ". News anchor Susan Richard continued : " ... Good evening. Five degrees. We have clear skies. It is 10:40 on this Monday, January 10th. I'm Susan Richard and here is what's happening ... " 11/01

1010 0230 U.S.A. WJXL Jacksonville Beach FL (presumed) w sports commentary 13/01 * new ULR log

1020 0324 U.S.A. KDKA Pittsburgh w the Jim Bohannon Show 14/01

1040 0325 U.S.A. WHO Des Moines IA w political item by male presenter 14/01

1050 0310 U.S.A. WEVD New York NY with post sports game talkback 14/01

1060 0254 U.S.A. KYW Philadelphia PA w id and time check by female as "KYW News time. 9:54" followed by news reports 14/01

1070 0351 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED two stations w sports commentary and discussion 14/01

1080 0406 U.S.A. WTIC Hartford CT w sports results and wx 14/01

1090 0405 U.S.A. WBAL Baltimore MD w wx " ... temperatures will range in the mid thirties on Sunday. I'm John Patti in the WBAL News room and that's the latest Insta-Weather Plus Forecast ... " 14/01

1100 0340 U.S.A. WTAM Cleveland OH w discussion and lineup by male presenter 14/01

1110 0310 U.S.A. WBT Charlotte NC (presumed) w discussion 13/01

1120 2335 U.S.A. KMOX St. Louis MO w ads incl "The Blue Ocean Portfolios of St. Loius" index funds - also id as "News Radio 11-20 KMOX" 11/01

The view from our caravan.

1130 0420 U.S.A. WBBR New York NY w ad for ' Gold Bond Intensive Healing Cream ' and sports commentary from the campus of Stanford HIgh School 15/01

1140 0300 U.S.A. WRVA Richmond VA w id and Virginia Tech Hokies vs North Carolina basketball commentary 14/01

1160 0325 U.S.A. KSL Salt Lake City (presumed) heard briefly with male presenter - very poor 13/01

1180 0306 U.S.A. R. Marti Marathon Key FL w SS ann 14/01

1190 0300 U.S.A. WLIB New York NY w id : "This is 11-90 WLIB and WBLS HGT New York" followed by programme introduction : " ... and now from the sanctuary of Healing From Heaven Temple : Dr Leo Stallworth on your Praise and Inspiration station 11-90 WLIB ... " 13/01

1200 0316 U.S.A. WOAI San Antonio TX w religious programme 14/01

1300 0330 U.S.A. UNIDENTIFIED w ads 14/01

1400 2320 GRENADA The Harbour Light Of The Windwards w religious programme 11/01

1500 0018 U.S.A. WFED Washington DC w ads including " ...1 866 Quicken ... " 14/01

1510 0354 U.S.A. WLAC Nashville TX (presumed) w heath nutrition programme by male presenter 14/01

1510 0345 EQUADOR HD210A Guayaquil Time Signal Station w time "pips" which were absent during the final 10 seconds of each minute to allow for regular time / station identification announcements under the noise floor. A characteristic longer 0.5 second time "pip" occured at the beginning of each minute.

The reception of the 500 watt station over a distance of 10 626 km / 6 602 miles proved to be the highlight of the dxpedition 15/01 * personal first, a new ULR country and the most distant 500 watt station received with the Sony M37V. audio clip

The restored neighbourhood of Las Penas, located in downtown Guyaquil, Ecuador (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

1530 0342 U.S.A. WCKY Cincinatti OH w sports commentary under VOA São Tomé e Príncipe 14/01

1530 2035 SAO TOME E PRINCIPE VOA Pinheira in EE with "African Beat" - a regular guest here with a huge "local quality" signal 14/01 audio clip

1539 2000 UNITED ARAB EMIRITES VOA Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa, Al Dhabbaya w VOA EE news and Urdu id - another regular guest with a good signal via a 50 metre cable slide antenna (see pic below) 14/01 audio clip

The 50 metre cable slide inside the caravan farm also served as a good antenna for evening reception from Africa and the Middle East!

1540 0310 BAHAMAS ZNS1 Nassau w upbeat music - good peak 13/01

1560 0355 U.S.A. KGOW Houston TX (presumed) w sports discussion 14/01

1590 2220 BRAZIL Super Radio Tupi Cachoeiro de Itapemirim w id in PP (250 watts) 13/01* a new ULR log and personal first audio clip

1600 2215 U.S.A. WWRL New York NY w anns under Radio Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil 13/01

1610 0342 ANGUILLA Caribbean Beacon w religious sermon - consistent good peaks 14/01

1660 2315 U.S.A. WWRU Elizabeth NJ 11/1

1700 0305 U.S.A. KVNS Brownsville TX w ad for "Ludens Wild Cherry Drops" - fair peak 13/01

BRAZIL

1590 Super Radio Tupi Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (250 watts) 5 970 km / 3 710 miles

CANARY ISLANDS

621 RNE Tenerife

EQUADOR

1510 HD210A Guayaquil (500 watts) 10 626 km / 6 602 miles

SAO TOME E PRINCIPE

1530 VOA Pinheira

TRINIDAD

730 Inspirational Radio 730 AM Port of Spain

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

1539 VOA Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa Al Dhabbaya

U.S.A.

710 WOR New York NY

790 WNIS Norfolk VA (5 kw) 12 548 km / 7 797 miles

850 WTAR Norfolk VA.

850 KOA Denver CO 14 981 km / 9 308 miles

VENEZUELA

750 RCR 750 AM Caracas 10 220 km / 6 350 miles.

Receiver : Sony SRF-M37V

Antenna : 220 m, 100 m BOGs and 50 m random "cable slide"

Looking Back - Part 5

2011-01-01T09:58:00.005+02:00

The Pilot A.C. Super Wasp receiver was available in kit form.

Part Five of the account of the early days of radio in South Africa during the 1920's as told by South African Dxer, Nick Kendall.

The candid account, in Nick's own words, provides an insight into what was involved in being able to listen in during the early pioneering days of radio broadcasting.

The Pilot A.C. Super Wasp Receiver

In or about 1927, while glancing through "Cape Town Calling" (a weekly bulletin that provided program details for the Cape Town broadcasting station), I came across an advertisement for the Pilot AC Super Wasp - an all electric shortwave receiver - Yes!

I had never heard of the Pilot Company before so I phoned Carlton Davies (who was familiar with the set). He operated from his house in Sea Point and I was invited to come out and see him. After our initial meeting, I got to know him very well.

The Super Wasp came out in kit form and when assembled became a four valve set. It was similar to the Reinatz circuit but had the advantage of a tuned RF stage and a separate power pack and speaker. Five pairs of plug-in coils were supplied giving a coverage of 500 to 17700 kilocycles (600 to 16 metres). Tuning was very broad but it did not matter as there were only a few stations on the air. If you used one today you would get at least ten stations all in a jumble.

A few months later the Pilot Company (USA) sent out a table model complete with speaker. Valves improved and special ones took the place of the all purpose ones. Screengrids were used in the RF stages and detectors, power valves in the amplifiers which of course improved the performance of the set tremendously.

A great number of American sets arrived on the market but broadcast band only. The all wave with a wave change switch was introduced much later.

The Crosley Corporation tried to market their bandbox all wave set but it was not a success. As a matter of interest they owned WLW at the time.

I cannot recall any other shortwave all electric sets available during that time and so the Super Wasp reigned supreme.

Looking Back - Part 4

2010-12-28T15:25:00.024+02:00

Part Four of the account of the early days of radio in South Africa during the 1920's as told by South African Dxer, Nick Kendall.

The candid account, in Nick's own words, provides an insight into what was involved in being able to listen in during the early pioneering days of radio broadcasting.

The commercial sets before 1925 (as far as I can remember) were all battery powered.

It must have been at the end of that year that the "all electric" sets arrived from the U.S.A. They were all cabinet or "console" designs - beautifully and solidly built - seven or eight valves. Thanks to Rice and Kellog the sets were all fitted with Moving Coil speakers which in my opinion are far superior to present day Permanent Magnet speakers (General Electric engineers Chester W. Rice and Edward W. Kellogg designed the moving coil loudspeaker in 1925 - GD).

Well known makes were FADA, Radiola (RCA), Stewart Warner, Majestic, Stromberg Carlson, Capehart and a few isolated custom built sets. Incidently, all the dials were calibrated in kilocycles - not metres. If you were lucky you could pick up Johannesburg and Durban.

Philips was next with their two, three and four valve table models with separate speakers followed by the Loewe "Three in One" set.

Philips brought out the H.T. Eliminator which plugged into the mains. It took the place of the H.T. and grid bias batteries but I still had to contend with the accumulator and keep it charged to work my three volt home-made Reinartz-grebe set.

The Reinartz-grebe set proved to be far more sensitive than any of the commercial sets on the market so I decided to wait before purchasing an "all electric" model. I continued to use the set for broadcast band reception and easily pulled in Johannesburg and Durban.

Looking Back - Part 3

2010-12-26T22:41:00.013+02:00

Part Three of the account of the early days of radio in South Africa during the 1920's as told by South African Dxer, Nick Kendall.

The candid account, in Nick's own words, provides an insight into what was involved in being able to listen in during the early pioneering days of radio broadcasting.

The reception of KDKA in Cape Town during the early 1920's

While reading through The Argus (Cape Town newspaper) one evening, I saw the caption "New Experimental Radio Station from the United States heard in Cape Town" or words to that effect :

" ... Mr. X from Long Street reports hearing the new experimental station KDKA - owned and operated by the Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh. He said that he sat up night after night trying out different coils to get down to 63 metres and eventually his patience was rewarded. He heard the announcer say "This is KDKA" followed by music. The signal faded between 4:00 am - 5:00 am. Reception of course varied ... "

(From July 1923, apart from the regular broadcast frequency of 326 meters / 920 kHz with an output of 500 watts, KDKA programs were also transmitted via shortwave station 8XS on a frequency of 63 meters / 4 760 kHz with an output of 40 kw. The shortwave station made it through to Cape Town as described in the Argus newspaper report - GD).

A couple of nights later he wrote an article entitled, "How to listen to KDKA" :

" ... The aerial and secondary coil should consist of 3 turns of no.16 bare or enamled copper wire - each turn about 3/16 of an inch apart and kept apart by ebonite spreaders. The reactor coil should be 5 turns... "

This greatly intrigued me and I decided to see what the "Family Four" could do.

After hours of winding and re-winding coils, I managed to get the set to oscillate over just one half of the condenser - I hoped that it would be the right half. At 3:00 am I patiently and slowly tuned the condenser dials. The only sound was the oscillation "hiss". I plugged the hydrometer into the accumulator (LT battery) - it showed only half charge. The next day I lugged it up to the garage to be recharged and borrowed another one.

After sitting down again with the set during the third morning (after two previous fruitless efforts), I was delighted to hear a strong carrier wave. Moving the reactor coil away from the two other coils and after adjusting the condenser a fraction, I heard music.

As I took my hand off the condenser dial, the signal disappeard (capacity effect) so I had to hold my hand on the condenser to hear the signal which meant standing about two feet away from the set in order to tune it.

Then I had an idea - using two bicycle pump clips which opened and closed like cloths pegs when attached to the condenser knob, I was able to slip a 3 ft long bamboo rod into the other end of the clip - as the panel of the set sloped, the rod rested on the edge of the table - it worked very well.

I heard an announcement which I shall never forget :

" ... This is KDKA - The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh - The Pioneer broadcasting station of the world ... "

(During late 1924 KDKA programmes were also received in South Africa via shortwave and rebroadcast via the JB mediumwave station in Johannesburg - GD)

Looking Back - Part 2

2010-12-24T20:46:00.050+02:00

The Cape Town broadcasting studio opened officially in September 1924 and was was situated in J.N.X. building, Greenmarket Square (Photograph circa 1924).

Part Two of the account of the early days of radio in South Africa during the 1920's as told by South African Dxer, Nick Kendall.

The candid account, in Nick's own words, provides an insight into what was involved in being able to listen in during the early pioneering days of radio broadcasting.

It was about 1923 when Johannesburg started testing (and a little later Cape Town).

Five Valve Superhet

I decided that I wanted a beter receiver so I bought a home-made five valve superhet from a friend. This comprised of three staged HF (RF), oscillator, detector and two stages of LF (AF). It had thirteen controls : seven rheostats, three variable condensers, volume, potentiometer and tone.

The tuning was so tricky that it took about 10 minutes to tune Cape Town. Just imagine three stages of HF - each tuned by a separate condenser - there was no "ganging" in those days.

After a while I got fed up with the set and wrote to "Modern Wireless" for a suitable circuit. I told them that I wanted a four valve set and enclosed a postal order for 2/6 (25 cents).

The "Family Four"

The set was called the "family Four" and consisted of one HF (tuned anode), a detector and two LF's with switching arrangements so that one, two, three or four valves could be used.

They sent me a blue print (actual size) template, drilling panel, wiring diagrams (both practical and schematic). I had the panel drilled by sombody that I knew - did not take a chance myself. Ebonite had a nasty habit of splitting at the last moment. These days ebonite panels have a glossy surface. It was believed that this glossy surface acted as a conductor so it had to be sandpapered and polished again before using. You have no idea of the trouble we went to in building those old sets. I wired it up okay, switched it on and it worked fine - picked up Johanessburg quite easily.

Amplion Horn Speaker

I had an "Amplion" loudspeaker - the only one with an oak horn which produced a much better tone than other metal horns or trumpets.

Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban radio stations

Johannesburg opened officially in 1924 (1st July) and a couple of months later, Cape Town (September 1924), followed by Durban (December 1924). We thought it wonderful to be able to switch between Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban.

AUDIO CLIP

In September 1924, the Cape Peninsula Broadcasting Association officially launched Cape Town's radio service in JNX Building, Greenmarket Square.

Studio manager Rene Caprara (who later became the Director-General of the SABC) described those early broadcasting days during an interesting interview with Colin du Plessis, available here.

The Johanesburg Broadcasting Station cage antenna on top of Stuttaford's Building, Rissik Street. The control room was located directly below the antenna and the studio was situated on the third floor (Photograph circa 1924).

Marconi, Gecophone and home-made radio sets

Everybody was thrilled and either made or bought sets. As far as I can remember, the only sets on the market at the time were Marconi and Gecophone but nearly every shop sold components - not at all like today (1970's) when if you ask for an for an egg insulator, the chap just googles at you and says "W-w-what is that ?"

I used to try for stations after Cape Town closed down but heard nothing but atmospherics.

Looking Back - Part 1

2010-12-21T23:34:00.064+02:00

Two South African radio enthusiats in front of a 1922 Gecophone BC2001 'smoker's cabinet' two-valve receiver (Photograph circa 1924).

The following is an interesting and fascinating account of the early days of radio in South Africa during the 1920's as told by late South African Dxer, Nick Kendall (a respected and prominent dxer during the 1970's when I first joined the SADXC).

The candid account, in Nick's own words, provides an insight into what was involved in being able to listen in during those early pioneering days of radio broadcasting.

I have transcribed and edited the 5-part series (with additional information and comments) from the 1978 July - December issues of the SASWL.

Constructing a crystal receiver

It was about 1920 when all my friends were “wireless mad”, some of whom had built crystal sets and some valve sets. One of them said to me, “Why don't you make a crystal set. It is great fun. Come and see mine”.

So we went up to his bedroom and he showed me his set which consisted of a coil of wire around a former about 10 inches x 3 inches (approximately 25 cm x 7 cm) diameter – one end of this connected to the aerial and crystal and the other to earth and one leg of the phone. The other leg of the phones was connected to the “whisker” end of the detector.

Tuning was effected by a variable condenser “shunted” across the earial and earth. In order to find a “sensitive spot” on the crystal, somebody pressed an electric bell-push. The detector would pick up the spark made by the break - and break on the bell. Then you were all set to listen in.

All there was to hear were ships (if you were lucky) in morse code (CW) and the time signal from Slangkop Light House at 11:00 pm. Anyhow, I got bitten and made up a crystal set and listened to ships on 600 metres.

Slangkop lighthouse, situated at the southern boundry of Kommetjie, Cape Peninsula. A radio station with a 5 kw Marconi transmitter was established on the seaward slopes of Slangkop in 1912. The station was later relocated to Kommetjie (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

John Samuel Streeter's early record broadcasts

In 1919 radio amateur John Streeter began broadcasting records on Tuesday and Thursday nights on 200 metres (initially from Sea Point and then Observatory, Cape Town - GD). It was so weak on the crystal set that I decided to build a one valve set.

(Two other prominent amateur radio enthusiasts also began broadcasting in 1919 :

Reginald Hopkins broadcast pianola music and messages from his home in Wynberg, Cape Town. With local newspaper publicity, both Cape Town stations became popular and were received across the Cape Peninsula and thoughout the Cape Province including the Karoo region of South Africa.

Further north, Arthur Sydney Innes was very successful with his broadcast of gramophone recordings from his radio station, known as 2OB, located in Observatory, Johannesburg - GD).

Arthur Sydney "Toby" Innes, broadcasting from his radio station 2OB, situated in Observatory, Johannesburg. Standing behind is Alf Goodman who became a well known radio enginner with the SABC (Photograph circa 1922).

Constructing a one valve receiver

I went to R.M. Ross & Co. (where Electricity House is today) and saw Mr. Smith who had helped me with my crystal set and bought the necessary parts : A 60 volt H.T. Battery, a 2 volt accumulator, a rheostat (for reasons unknown in those days , each valve filament had to be controlled by its own rheostat). I built my one valve set and Mr. Streeter was so loud that he had to be de-tuned. I still remember his signature tune, “Carry Me Back To Ole Virginny”.

2LO London

2LO London had just begun to broadcast and people here were trying to pick them up – the power used was 1.5 kw. Occasionally, due to unusual reception conditions they were heard here.

(2LO commenced broadcasting on 350 metres with 100 watts on the 11th May 1922 - a more advanced 1.5 kw transmitter was rebuilt and installed soon afterwards during that year, in line with new regulations which allowed for the increase in transmitter power.

The 2LO antenna, situated on top of Marconi House in London, consisted of a 100 ft long two cage system of four wires each and was suspended between two 50 ft masts - GD).

6BM Bournemouth

I tried with my own one valve set and one night as I took my hand off the condenser knob, I heard music. Boy, was I exited. As long as I kept my hand just poised above the condenser, the signal stayed. Fortunately, I was able to rest my elbow on the table so that it was not so tiring. This was not 2LO – the wavelength (frequency was not used in those days) was not right and it turned out to be 6BM Bournemouth. Like Sullivan's “lost Chord” it was not heard again.

(A sensational catch! 6BM commenced broadcasting on 385 metres with 1.5 kw on the 17th October 1923 - GD).

1932 Vintage Revere Junior Cathedral Radio

2010-12-01T23:49:00.029+02:00

A 1932 Revere Junior cathedral radio (Photograph Gary Deacon).

Apart from dxing, I have an interest in vintage radios from the early 1930's to late 1950's - a time when families used to gather around in the evening to listen to the news or their special radio show. (Photographs of my radio collection from a bygone era are available here).

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a rare Revere Junior cathedral radio during a visit to an antique shop in Cape Town last week.

A close-up of the decorative escutcheon and tuning display.

Vintage cathedral-style radios are very hard to find in South Africa so I consider myself fortunate to have discovered one - and a real gem it is too. The radio is in good condition with an original factory finish. The pleasing cabinet design is simple yet elegant with the original decorative escutcheon, wooden speaker grill pattern and original wooden knobs which add to the charm of this set from a bygone era.

All the electronic components are intact apart from a missing valve. Aside from a few minor chips and scratches with some damage to the speaker and grill cloth, the cathedral radio looks really good after an initial repair and clean-up, especially considering its been around for nearly 80 years!

Another close-up of the escutcheon and tuning display - before and after the initial clean-up.

The Revere Radio Corporation was situated in Ashland, Ohio, U.S.A. and produced radios for a brief duration - from 1930 to 1932.

CATHEDRAL RADIOS - A BRIEF HISTORY

Cathedral tabletop radios were popular during the Depression due to their affordability (their shape required less material to make) and became icons of pre-war America. The 'cathedral' title refers to the design (the top and front resembled the ornate facades of European cathedrals). The style was short lived, however, with the majority produced between the mid 1920s and early 1930s.

A 1931 Philco 90 cathedral radio - A remarkable example of one of the most famous and widely recognized vintage radios of all times (Photograph courtesy of Scott Robinson via Wikimedia Commons).

RADIO BROADCASTING EVENTS IN 1932

Apart from the production of the Revere Junior cathedral radio, the year 1932 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

March 1 – Both NBC and CBS go to Hopewell, New Jersey to provide live coverage of the Lindbergh kidnapping.

March 24 – A radio variety show is broadcast from a moving train for the first time, when Belle Baker hosts a show on a train traveling around the New York area. It was broadcast on the New York City station WABC. She talked first about the weather then, about local news regarding home-towns or stations of the train with the radio.

14 May – The BBC moves into its new headquarters, Broadcasting House in London.

The Art Deco style of Broadcasting House in London (Photograph Wikimedia Ccommons).

26 May – The Canadian Radio Broadcasting Act is passed, providing for the establishment of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission.

1 July – Following nationalization of the Australian Broadcasting Company, the Australian Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, officially inaugurates transmissions from the twelve stations of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, forerunner of today's Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

19 December – The BBC Empire Service (ancestor of the BBC World Service) begins transmissions.

CKCW Moncton New Brunswick 1220 kHz QSL

2010-11-25T19:59:00.010+02:00

The City of Moncton, New Brunswick, showing the 127 metre Bell Aliant Tower (centre). It is the tallest radio tower in Atlantic Canada and is used to provide directional radio services (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

It was a pleasure to hear CKCW Moncton New Bruswick on 1220 kHz for the first time (A South African First) on the 21st of December 1986. The station made it through via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to receive a friendly and informative QSL letter from Brian Hooper from VP Engineering, Eastern Broadcasting, in response to my reception report.

In 2001 CKCW moved to the FM band and is presently known as "K94.5" with the slogan, "Today's Best Music".

CBW Winnipeg Manitoba 990 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-11-19T17:00:00.009+02:00

It was a pleasure to identify CBW Winnipeg on 990 kHz for the first time (A South African First) on the 22nd of October 1986. The station made it through over a distance of 14 586 km / 9 063 miles via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to receive a QSL card in response to my reception report.

AUDIO CLIP

An audio clip of the reception at 0410 hours UTC on the 22nd October 1986 has been preserved and is available here. A weather report, id and the beginning of the programme "Late Night Classics" with host Norris Bick, can be heard.

A dramatic photograph of the F5 tornado that struck the town of Elie, Manitoba (40 kilometres west of Winnipeg) on Friday, June 22, 2007 (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

The funnel cloud that produced the category F5 tornado that hit Elie, Manitoba on Friday, June 22nd, 2007 (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WNYM New York NY 1330 kHz QSL

2010-11-18T16:04:00.002+02:00

WNYM New York NY on 1330 kHz was heard for the first time on the 21st October 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire at Pinelands.

Chief Engineer H. Ed Smith kindly verified my reception report with a form letter.

ALASKA KNLS Anchor Point 9720 kHz QSL

2010-11-17T16:44:00.006+02:00

Alaska, at over 17 000 km away, has proved to be an illusive medium wave target for the South African DXer.

However, Christian station KNLS from Anchor Point, Alaska made it through on 9 720 kHz shortwave on the 11th October 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

The picturesque QSL card above was received in response to my reception report to the station.

The time when a distant SOS distress call was received by a South African Dxer

2010-11-10T13:02:00.017+02:00

Reg Sweet (Photograph from the September 1980 issue of the SASWL).

A dramatic account which recently caught my attention while researching through various back issues of the SASWL concerns a distant SOS distress call which was received by South African dxer / ham radio operator Reg Sweet, back in 1980.

The heart warming story serves as a tribute to Reg Sweet whose valuable dxing skills helped save the lives on an Australian yacht in distress.

Reg Sweet, branch correspondent of The Daily News and an ardent radio ham, received a telephone call from Toowoomba in far-off Queensland, Australia :

"My name is Chris and I am Jenny's sister. It's been five dreadful days, but we're very happy now. We just want to thank you."

Six hours or so before that, Reg had picked up an almost inaudible SOS distress signal while listening from his QTH in Durban North, South Africa. It came from the Australian yacht White Wave, a tiny sloop which had taken a hammering from hurricane Albert, lost its mast and its radio antenna, and was unaccounted for somewhere in the Indian ocean.

Five days had passed. Its radio operator was the girl Jenny, sister of Chris. She held the Australian novice amateur certificate, which was just as well, for it became their lifeline. The remainder of the crew were her husband Steve and his brother Gary. It took them five days to rig up a makeshift mast, a bit of sail and a rudimentary antenna for Jenny.

Reg was one link in a far-flung radio hams "search party" when Jenny tapped out her SOS, her call sign, the name White Wave and her position on the morse key. He was the only one to read that morse signal. It never carried to Malaysia or Australia.

But he read back to the others what he had copied from White Wave and informed Durban Radio of his find while the Australian hams reported to Marine Operations, Canberra.

Three ships were diverted. One, the Alta Queen, found the yacht within 24 hours, 160 km or so from Rodrigues Island. The White Wave saga was over.

"Certainly, that call from Toowoomba moved me. I confess I went to bed a very happy man", said Reg.

Reg himself sent out an SOS during World War 2 when he had to ditch his Spitfire in the sea off Malta. It saved his life ...

Via the Sepetmber 1980 issue of the South African Shortwave Listener (The monthly magazine of the defunct SADXC).

Recent Trans-Atlantic ULR Reception At Fish Hoek

2010-11-07T23:54:00.007+02:00

The Sony SRF-M37V Ultralight Radio - an impressive performer with the internal 5cm ferrite antenna.

A few recent barefoot TA highlights were received while listening via the Sony SRF-M37V from my QTH at Fish Hoek :

710 0010 U.S.A. WOR New York NY w talkback 10/28 (12 561 km / 7 805 miles)

800 0024 NETHERLANDS ANTILLES TWR Bonaire mp3 w "Through The Bible Radio Network" and "This Day In History" 10/28 (10 449 km/ 6 492 miles)

1180 0045 U.S.A. Radio Marti Marathon FL mp3 (edited) w baseball commentary in SS and id 10/28 (12 327 km / 7 660 miles)

Google Earth Image of Radio Marti's mediumwave directional four-tower antenna array situated on Marathon Key, Florida.

1190 0045 U.S.A. WLIB New York NY w gospel mx 10/22 (12 562 km / 7 806 miles)

1400 2235 GRENADA Harbour Light Of The Windwards Carriacou mp3 w "Stories Of Great Christians" Threshold audio with a few key words and organ interludes were noted from the 5 kw station 10/20 (9 860 km / 6 127 miles) * new barefoot country.

1610 0055 ANGUILLA Carribean Beacon The Valley mp3 w religious sermon 10/17 (10 366 km / 6 441 miles)

Received barefoot via the Sony SRF-M37V.

BRAZIL

Many Brazilian stations can be heard from across the South Atlantic via the barefoot SRF-M37V from late evening until sunrise at Fish Hoek. One of the most consistent is Radio Novo Tempo, Salvador on 920 kHz (listed 25 kw/2kw nights) which can get through with fair-good peaks at times - a 50 metre longwire antenna inductively coupled to the SRF-M37V opposite my QTH at Fish Hoek resulted in an astonishing signal from the station during the evening of 29th October.

The view over the harbor area with the Old Customs House in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

920 2150 BRAZIL Radio Novo Tempo Salvador mp3 w quality easy listening mx incl "Londonderry Air" ("Danny Boy") huge "local quality" signal 10/29 (6 173 km / 3 835 miles)

567 Cape Talk Antenna Mast at Klipheuwel, Western Cape, South Africa

2010-10-25T23:18:00.022+02:00

The 120 metre antenna mast situated at Klipheuwel, Western Cape, South Africa (Photograph Gary Deacon).

An appropriate road sign (Photograph Gary Deacon).

It seems an appropriate time to feature the antenna mast of Cape Town's local mediumwave radio station, 567 Cape Talk. The station commenced broadcasting just over 13 years ago on the 14th October 1997

A visit to the SENTECH broadcasting site at Klipheuwel for the first time last week has been long overdue. I managed to take a few interesting photographs of the mediumwave facility.

Another view of part of the antenna mast, showing two of the three wind turbines at Eskom’s first experimental wind energy farm at Klipheuwel (Photograph Gary Deacon).

The mediumwave facility is situated on relatively high ground clear of mountains and has long been the preferred site for a radio transmitter and antenna system. Marconi erected 245 meter high radio masts at Klipheuwel in 1923. This was part of a plan to establish long-wave radio links between London and the entire British Empire.

The sign at the entrance of the mediumwave facility at Klipheuwel. SENTECH is "The Common Carrier for Broadcasting in South Africa" to quote from the almost faded description on the sign (Photograph Gary Deacon).

A view of the entrance with the transmitter building in the distance (Photograph Gary Deacon).

Google Earth Image of the 567 Cape Talk mediumwave facility at Klipheuwel (Click onto the image for a higher resolution) .

The 25 kw signal on 567 kHz at Klipheuwel covers the entire Western Cape. Cape Town's first talk radio station is twinned with Johannesburg's 702 Talk Radio and is owned by Primedia.

AUDIO CLIPS

567 Cape Talk Station identification recorded at 2000 UTC this evening (25th October 2010) in Fish Hoek.

UNUSUAL TRANS-ATLANTIC RECEPTION !

It was interesting to read about dxer Jean Burnell's trans-Atlantic reception of 567 Cape Talk's mediumwave signal which made it through over an impressive distance of 11 425 km / 7 100 miles at 2158 UTC on the 30th April 2009 during a dxpedition at Cappahayden on the south-east coast of Newfoundland.

An audio clip of the distant reception is available here.

Ultralight Dxing At Castle Rock - 15th and 16th October 2010

2010-10-19T21:30:00.015+02:00

Google Earth Image showing the dx locations of Fish Hoek and Castle Rock, Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

Castle Rock, Cape Peninsula, South Africa

Castle Rock is situated in a picturesque marine reserve just south of Millers Point on the Cape Peninsula. The remote conservation area has some of the most impressive views over False Bay. It is a short 20 minute drive from my QTH at Fish Hoek to an excellent elevated coastal position which is especially suited to early evening dxing. The isolated dx location is very quiet for dx reception with no local electrical noise sources to contend with - a huge advantage when trying to dig out long haul dx or distant low power stations that would be difficult or impossible to hear in Fish Hoek's more urban environment.

Google Earth Image showing the dx location at Castle Rock, situated south of Millers Point along the winding coastal road overlooking False Bay .

The South African dxer is in a fortunate position with few local stations to contend with and utilising the non-directional properties of a relatively short antenna at Castle Rock allows for the reception of quite a variety of TIO (Trans-Indian Ocean) and African/Middle East DX. It's interesting to hear distant stations fight it out on certain frequencies in line with constantly changing propagation conditions.

A visit to Castle Rock during the evenings of the 15th and 16th October 2010 produced a few interesting stations despite average reception conditions with some moderate static.

The dx location with the mountainside towards the west.

Highlights

The tentative reception of SBC Victoria, Seychelles on 1386 khz (10 kw) and fair peaks from 3ABN Busselton Western Austalia on 1629 kHz (400 watts) occured. Huge consistent "local" quality peaks from 6WF Perth on 720 kHz was quite astonishing - it is usually the most consistent of the Australian mediumwave stations received here. HLAZ Juju, South Korea owned 1566 kHz with some remarkable clear peaks - no sign of co-channel AIR Nagpur, India which has the reputation of quite a balanced fight with HLAZ. Radio Tanzania, Mwanza blew the usually dominant co-channel 6WF out of the water on 720 khz via the 220 metre BOG which was aligned towards the north, along the left hand side of the road, during the later part of the evening.

Another view of the dx location with convenient picnic site tables.

The Loggings (mp3 audio clips have been included below).

Freq (kHz) Time (UTC)

594 2002 MALAWI MBC Radio 1 Lilongwe in Chichewa // 756 kHz 16 Oct *

612 1806 AUSTRALIA 6RN Dalwallinu w Radio National programming 15 Oct

666 1912 REUNION Radiodiffusion Vision Réunion St.Pierre in FF 15 Oct

684 1736 MAURITIUS Radio Maurice Malherbes mp3 audio clip in FF w pops 16 Oct

684 1840 AUSTRALIA 6BS Busselton w mx interlude // 720 6WF 15 Oct

702 1838 AUSTRALIA 6KP Karratha w detailed wx rpt // 720 6WF 15 Oct

720 1834 AUSTRALIA 6WF Perth mp3 audio clip w wx - consistent with excellent "local" quality peaks (8 685 km / 5 397 miles) 15 Oct

Google Earth Image of the 6WF 720 kHz 180 metre mast with a "top hat", located in Hamersley, Perth, Western Australia.

720 2024 TANZANIA Radio Tanzania Mwanza mp3 audio clip in Swahili w local music 15 Oct *

729 1852 AUSTRALIA 5RN Adelaide w human interest report 15 Oct

729 2015 GREECE GRC NET Athínai 15 Oct *

747 1842 AUSTRALIA 6SE Radio West Esperance w ads 15 Oct

756 2002 MALAWI MBC Blantyre in Chichewa 16 Oct *

774 1841 AUSTRALIA 3LO Melbourne // 720 6WF 15 Oct

810 1820 AUSTRALIA 6RN Perth under Mozambique 15 Oct

882 1740 AUSTRALIA 6PR Perth w ad 15 Oct

891 1820 AUSTRALIA 5AN ABC Adelaide under Lesotho 15 Oct

990 1747 AUSTRALIA 6RPH Perth w BBC relay 15 Oct

1044 1815 AUSTRALIA 5CS Port Pirie w classic hits 15 Oct

1098 1748 AUSTRALIA 6MD Radio West Merredin 15 Oct

1098 1934 TAIWAN Radio Free Asia in Mandarin 16 Oct

1134 1927 KENYA KBC Kitale 16 Oct

1143 1933 TAIWAN Taiwan Area Fishery Broadcasting Station Penghu w music 15 Oct

1152 1918 AUSTRALIA 6PNN Busselton w ABC News Radio programming 15 Oct

1242 1737 AUSTRALIA 5AU Port Augusta w ads 15 Oct

1242 1924 JAPAN JOLF Tokyo in JJ 15 Oct

1242 1940 FRANCE France Info, Marseille-Cabriès-Réaltor in FF 15 Oct

1296 1721 AUSTRALIA 6RN Wagin w interview15 Oct

1323 1804 AUSTRALIA 5DN Adelaide w classic hits 15 Oct

1368 1738 SEYCHELLES SBC Victoria mp3 audio clip (tentative) w ann on top of overdrive lead guitar rock music bed - very poor 15 Oct

1359 1720 TAIWAN Family Radio 15 Oct

1395 1832 AUSTRALIA 5AA Adelaide w news 15 Oct

1404 1755 AUSTRALIA 6TAB Busselton w discussion //1449 kHz 15 Oct

1404 2002 MALAWI MBC Chitpa in Chichewa // 756 kHz 16 Oct *

1413 1854 JAPAN Fukuoka in JJ under Oman 16 Oct

1422 2002 MALAWI MBC Matiya in Chichewa // 756 kHz 16 Oct *

1431 1709 DJIBOUTI Radio Sawa Arta w id 15 Oct

1440 2004 TANZANIA Radio One w EE id jingle mp3 16 Oct *

1449 1755 AUSTRALIA 6TAB Mandurah w discussion //1404 kHz 15 Oct

1458 1708 MAYOTTE Radio Vision Mayotte Pamandzi in FF 15 Oct

1458 1923 ANGOLA Emissora Provincial do Moxico Luena in PP 16 Oct

1503 1735 TAIWAN Family Radio Fangliao mp3 in Vietnamese 15 Oct

1548 1712 AUSTRALIA 4QD Emerald w talkback under Radio Islam Lenasia 15 Oct

1557 1920 TAIWAN Family Radio Kouhu in EE 15 Oct

1566 1729 SOUTH KOREA HLAZ Jeju mp3 audio clip (13 482 km / 8 377 miles) 15 Oct

Google Earth Image of the HLAZ 1566 khz antenna masts, located in Jeju Province, South Korea.

1566 1848 AUSTRALIA 3NE Wangaratta w ad and id 15 Oct

1575 1812 MAURITIUS BBC World Service Relay Bigara w interview 15 Oct

1593 1701 CHINA CNR1 Changzhou in CC 15 Oct

1611 1822 VISION Radio Network Margaret River w Christian programme 15 Oct

1629 1758 AUSTRALIA 3ABN Busselton mp3 audio clip (8 545 km / 5 310 miles) w Christian programme 15 Oct

The 3ABN 1629 kHz 30 metre AM mast with a "top hat", situated just north of Busselton (Photograph with kind permission from Rosemary Malkiewycz).

Receiver : Sony SRF-M37V ULR

Antenna : Most stations were received inductively via a modest 30 metre sloper antenna directed towards the north. Stations indicated with an asterix * were heard inductively via the 220 metre BOG directed along the left hand side ot the road towards the north.

TAIWAN Voice of Asia 612 kHz QSL

2010-10-14T20:02:00.006+02:00

The Voice of Asia, Taiwan was heard on the 30th August 1986 at Hermanus. The station made it through on 612 kHz via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive a QSL card and station pennant in response to my reception report.

KSL Salt Lake City UT 1160 kHz QSL

2010-10-12T14:09:00.007+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear KSL Salt Lake City Utah on 1160 kHz over a distance of 15 623 km / 9 707 miles on the 28th August 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL in response to my reception report.

Google Earth Image showing the Pinelands QTH and Cape Town - a good location for long haul dx from the U.S.A. during the 1980's.

5RN Adelaide 729 kHz and 5AN Adelaide 891 Khz Barefoot Ultralight Radio QSL

2010-10-10T17:02:00.007+02:00

Graham from the ABC kindly responded to my reception report regarding the unusual barefoot appearance of 729 5RN Adelaide and 891 5AN Adelaide on the 22nd September 2010.

Both 50 kw stations made it through to Fish Hoek, South Africa over a distance of 10 125 km / 6 291 miles via the Sony SRF-M37V's internal 5cm loopstick antenna.

Hi Gary,

I am happy to confirm your reception of:

729kHz 5RN Adelaide @ 1929Z 22/09/2010, and
891kHz 5AN Adelaide @ 1916Z 22/09/2010.

Both stations operate at a power of 50kW from a site at Pimpala in the southern suburbs of Adelaide in South Australia.

Impressive reception - thanks for the report!

Regards,

Graham.

Yours truly with the Sony SRF-M37V ultralight receiver - an impressive performer in the Cape Peninsula / South African environment with only a few local stations to contend with.

Audio : 729 5RN Adelaide and 891 5AN Adelaide received barefoot at Fish Hoek, South Africa.

2010-10-09T15:09:00.013+02:00

I thought I'd share the unusual reception of 729 5RN Adelaide and 891 5AN Adelaide on the 22nd September 2010 , with the Sony SRF M37V via its internal 5 cm loopstick antenna!

Both 50 kw stations made it through to Fish Hoek, South Africa over a distance of 10 125 km / 6 291 miles via the barefoot Sony SRF-M37V.

891 5AN Adelaide peaked to an astonishing level at 1916 UTC - the most remarkable barefoot signal that I've been fortunate to hear from the station.

AUDIO

Two brief audio clips of the reception have been included below :

891 5AN Adelaide recorded at 1916 UTC on 22nd Sep 2010.

729 5RN Adelaide recorded at 1929 UTC on 22nd Sep 2010.

Google Earth Image of the 729 5RN and 891 5AN antenna masts site at Pimpala, situated in the southern suburbs of Adelaide in South Australia.

Google Earth Image showing the arrival bearing of 5RN and 5AN from Adelaide. After an initial takeoff above 6.6 km of land from down under, the signals continued over an all-sea path across the Indian ocean, arriving above False Bay and only 1 km of land to the dx location at Fish Hoek, over 10 125 km / 6 291 miles away.

KDKA Pittsburgh PA 1020 kHz QSL

2010-10-05T19:10:00.006+02:00

KDKA Pittsburg PA on 1020 khz made it through to Pinelands via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna on the 21st August 1986.

Radio Programming Intern Rodger Sauer kindly responded to my reception report with a letter and an interesting 1970 booklet "It Started Hear", about the early history of KDKA.

Carried aloft by a big balloon, an experimental antenna is tested in the Pittsburgh area by KDKA personnel (Photographs from "It Started Hear" - a KDKA booklet commemorating 50 years of broadcasting).

WMAZ Macon GA 940 khz QSL

2010-10-01T00:03:00.005+02:00

WMAZ logo on the station's letterhead from 1986.

WMAZ Macon, Georgia on 940 kHz made it through on the 27th July 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire at Sandbaai (The station was heard with co-channel WINZ Miami, Florida).

Chief Engineer William Sowell kindly verified my reception report.

WINZ Miami FL 940 kHz QSL

2010-09-30T14:58:00.002+02:00

WINZ Miami Florida on 940 kHz made it through on the 27th July 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire at Sandbaai.

Technical Director Mitch Wein kindly verified my reception report.

CAYMAN ISLANDS Radio Cayman 1555 kHz QSL

2010-09-25T10:39:00.009+02:00

The Caribbean has always been an interesting target for the South African Dxer. It was a pleasure to hear Radio Cayman on their previous mediumwave frequency of 1555 kHz. The station made it through to Sandbaai on the 17th July 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

Brodcasting Director Loxley Banks kindly verified my reception report with a friendly letter.

Stingray City, Grand Cayman (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

CBE Windsor Ontario 1550 khz QSL

2010-09-22T16:39:00.005+02:00

CBE Windsor Ontario on 1550 khz made it through to Pinelands via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna on the 14th July 1986.

Radio Resources Manager Rod Clark kindly responded to my reception report with a letter in which he included the following interesting comment :

" ... I have just verified another report from Norway, at a weather station in the Arctic ocean. Your report gives us almost 180 degrees of coverage."

Skyline of Windsor, the southernmost city in Canada, viewed from Detroit (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

NIGERIA Radio Benue Makurdi 918 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-09-08T20:31:00.006+02:00

The Benue River in Nigeria, looking south east from Jimeta/Yola (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

Radio Benue, Makurdi, Nigeria on 918 khz was heard at 1900 UTC on the 5th July at Fish Hoek via the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG.

Radio Benue Director of Administration & Finance, Espie Adzape kindly verified my reception report with a recent friendly email :

Nice to hear from you. Your report is correct. we broadcast on 918 khz and 95 mhz FM and our sub station at Idekpa. The reception report is cheering news because our radial wires were recently vandalized so we are unsure of our present reach. It is heart warning to know that we can still be heard far away. Somebody wrote in from Russia as well. Look forward to more communication with you. My regards, Espei Adzape.

AUDIO CLIP

Station Identification in English was included in the following announcement which preceded a local newscast at 1900 UTC on the 5th July 2010 :

" ... 8 'o clock ... This is the combined service of Radio Benue. You can listen to this broadcast on 95 megahertz FM, 918 kHz mediumwave band or our local sub station ... "

6NA Narrogin WA 918 kHz QSL

2010-08-25T18:08:00.005+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear 6NA Narrogin WA on 918 khz for the first time during the exceptional reception conditions on the 27th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai.

I received a friendly QSL letter from Radio Technician Peter Brown who kindly responded to my reception report.

The checkered Bunbury lighthouse was built in 1959. The original lighthouse was subsequently attached to the top of the 10 metre base extension which was constructed in 1971 (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

6GE Geraldton WA 1008 kHz QSL

2010-08-24T18:15:00.010+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear 6GE Geraldton WA on 1008 khz for the first time during the exceptional reception conditions on the 27th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai.

I received a QSL letter from General Manager Lyle J. Harris who kindly verified to my reception report.

Coronation Beach, just north of Geraldton WA, is a popular windsurfing location (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

2CH Sydney NSW 1170 kHz QSL

2010-08-17T17:03:00.011+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear 2CH Sydney on 1170 khz for the first time (A South African First) during the exceptional reception conditions on the 25th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai.

I received a QSL card, letter, bumper stickers and promo pamphlet from Network Chief Engineer Alan Liddelow who kindly responded to my reception report.

The 2CH "9 O'Clock Specials" promo pamphlet for August 1986.

One of the old 2CH antenna towers at Ermington, New South Wales (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

The old 2CH transmitter building and antenna towers at Ermington New South Wales (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

5PI Port Pirie SA 1044 kHz QSL

2010-08-14T15:33:00.009+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear 5PI Port Pirie for the first time on the 25th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai.

I received a QSL card, letter and bumper stickers from Chief Engineer Richard Kruger who kindly responded to my reception report. Richard added that in the 4 and a half years that he had been with the station, this was the first report received from the Continent of Africa - a reflection of superb reception conditions experienced at an ideal coastal location!

The station changed their callsign to 5CS in 1987.

The former Port Pirie railway station. The impressive Victorian pavilion-style building was built in 1902 and is now a museum (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

KRGV Weslaco TX 1290 kHz QSL

2010-08-12T16:27:00.003+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear KRGV Weslaco TX on 1290 kHz on the 25th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai. The music request phone-in programme was heard until fade out at 0645 hours UTC that morning - the latest that I managed to hear a mediumwave radio station from the U.S.A. at the time.

I received the friendly and informative QSL letter with a station sticker from Chief Engineer Lawson Campbell who kindly responded to my reception report.

6IX Perth WA 1080 kHz QSL

2010-08-10T14:23:00.006+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear 6IX Perth for the first time on the 24th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai. The 2 kw signal was received with consistent good peaks that evening.

I received the above QSL letter and microphone stickers from Chief Engineer Alan D'Mello who kindly responded to my reception report.

NEW ZEALAND 4ZB Dunedin 1044 kHz QSL

2010-08-06T10:38:00.013+02:00

The sensational appearance of 4ZB Dunedin, New Zealand on 1044 kHz on the 24th and 25th June 1986 via the FRG7 and a modest 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai, South Africa, was a remarkable and rare occurrence.

To the best of my knowledge New Zealand has not been logged on the mediumwave band in South Africa since.

The 4ZB envelope with the enclosed QSL card was received in response to my reception report and was a cause for great celebration!

Polar Absorption

The proximity of the signal path to the South Pole would help explain the rare appearance of a New Zealand mediumwave station in South Africa.

Google Earth Image showing the 10 646 km great circle path between Dunedin, New Zealand and Sandbaai, South Africa.

Polar absorption seems to reduce the ability of signals from the more southerly latitudes to reach here. It would appear that quiet ionospheric conditions with very low A/K indices are essential in order to receive dx signals from the south east part of Australia and New Zealand.

My guess is that the zero sunspot count with the quiet geomagnetic field on the 24th and 25th June 1986 would have contributed greatly to the reception of 4ZB.

Google Earth Image showing the ZB 1044 kHz 122 metre antenna mast at Highcliff to the east above Dunedin (Click onto the image for a high resolution).

WAME Charlotte NC 1480 kHz QSL

2010-08-04T12:52:00.004+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear WAME on 1480 kHz for the first time (A South African First) on the 4th June 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I received the above QSL letter from Chief Engineer Fred Roberts who kindly responded to my reception report. Fred indicated that this was their first report from South Africa and quite possibly the most distant.

After many call sign and ownership changes, the station is now operating as WGFY 1480 Radio Disney, presently owned by the ABC.

WWL New Orleans LA 870 kHz QSL

2010-07-29T11:04:00.002+02:00

WWL New Orleans LA on 870 kHz was heard on the 14th May 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

WWL Director Of Technical Services Hugh Burney kindly responded to my reception report to the station.

Hurricane Katrina

WWL was one of the few radio stations to remain on air in the area during the immediate effects and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in late August 2005. Announcer Garland Robinette kept broadcasting for a time from an improvised studio built in a closet after the studio's windows were blown out.

KWKH Shreveport LA 1130 kHz QSL

2010-07-28T11:02:00.004+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear KWKH on 1130 kHz for the first time (A South African First) on the 12th May 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL form letter in response to my reception report.

WOAI San Antonio TX 1200 kHz QSL

2010-07-27T12:52:00.007+02:00

WOAI San Antonio TX on 1200 kHz was heard on the 5th May 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report.

KFI Los Angeles CA 640 kHz QSL

2010-07-22T15:58:00.011+02:00

KFI on 640 kHz was received at Sandbaai for the first time (A South African First) on the 22nd March 1986. It was a pleasant surprise to hear the station over a remarkable distance of 16 091 km via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card and car bumper sticker in response to my reception report.

An early 1940's photograph of the KFI/KECA studios, located at 141 North Vermont Avenue. KFI remained in The Morgan, Walls and Clements building until 1975 (Photograph with kind permission from Barry Mishkind whose interesting and informative website www.oldradio.com includes additional images and recollections from KFI's early days).

UNITED KINGDOM BBC Radio 2 909 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-07-20T19:35:00.005+02:00

BBC Radio 2 on 909 kHz used to be a regular guest at Pinelands during the 1980's.

The above QSL card was received in response to my reception report from the 4th March 1986.

AUDIO CLIP

A recording of the reception has been preserved and is available here. The recording was made at 0100 UTC on the 4th March 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

6RN Busselton WA 1269 kHz QSL

2010-07-16T16:44:00.004+02:00

6RN Busselton WA was heard on a new frequency of 1269 kHz on the 28th June 2010 at Fish Hoek. The station has been transmitting on 1269 khz (ex 1224 kHz) since 13th April 2010.

Graham from ABC Master Control kindly responded to my reception report :

Hi Gary,

I can confirm your reception of Radio National broadcasting from Busselton on the new frequency of 1269 kHz at 1700Z on 28th June, 2010. This service changed frequency on April 13 this year to make way for a new News Radio service operating on 1152kHz which has just commenced test transmissions.

The Busselton transmitter site is located at 33 39 40S / 115 13 40E with Radio National 1269kHz operating at a power of 5kW in an omnidirectional radiation pattern (this may be varied in the future depending on the 1152Khz News Radio tests).

Kind regards,

Graham

ABC Radio National Busselton WA on 1269 khz (ex 1224 kHz)

2010-06-29T21:09:00.013+02:00

ABC Radio National, Busselton WA was heard on a new frequency of 1269 kHz at Fish Hoek this week. The station has been transmitting on 1269 khz (ex 1224 kHz) since 14th April 2010.

The following notice was posted on the ABC website :

New Frequency for Radio National from 14 April 2010

The ABC would like to advise listeners the Radio National service broadcasting from Busselton will relocate from 1224 AM to 1269 AM in the early hours of the morning on 14 April . All listeners will need to retune their radio from this date to continue to receive their Radio National broadcast.

This frequency change is necessary to prepare for the introduction of ABC News Radio to the region later this year.

It is important to note, there will be no frequency changes to any other ABC radio broadcasts.

Google Earth Image of the 6RN ABC Radio National 183 metre mast at Busselton (33° 39' 39"S, 115° 13' 39"E). The mast is situated approximately 500 metres from the coast.

ABC News Radio Busselton WA Test Transmission on 1152 kHz

2010-06-25T17:51:00.014+02:00

A test transmission from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was heard at Fish Hoek this week. The transmission is being broadcast from Busselton WA on 1152 kHz and is a new proposed ABC News Radio service for the Bunbury-Busselton area.

A loop of the following pre-recorded announcement by ABC News Radio Breakfast announcer Glen Bartholomew was heard over a music bed :

" ... Hi. I'm Glen Bartholomew, breakfast presenter with ABC News Radio and this is a test transmission for ABC News Radio in the Bunbury-Busselton area on 1152 AM. If you think this test transmission is interfering with other broadcasts please contact the ABC's Reception Advice Line on 1300 13 9994 - that's 1300 13 9994. ABC News Radio will commence broadcasting on this frequency once the test transmission is complete. If you would like to know more about ABC News Radio, why not visit our website at abc.net.au/newsradio. Thanks for listening and make sure you spread the news ... "

An audio clip of the announcement heard at Fish Hoek during the evening of the 23rd June 2010 is available here.

The test transmission, heard via the Sony SRF-M37V and 220 metre BOG directed towards Perth WA, was verified this morning by Graham from ABC Master Control.

Hi Gary,

I am happy to confirm your reception of our test transmission on 1152kHz at 1935UTC on June 23 of our new News Radio service at Busselton, Western Australia. Unfortunately being a test service I don't have details of the transmitter for you, but can confirm your reception report. I'm also impressed you've managed to feed a beverage antenna into a portable radio without overloading it - well done!

Regards,

Graham

The Australian Federal Government has pledged additional funding for the expansion of new ABC News Radio services into all centres around the country with populations of more than 10,000 (subject to the availability of spectrum) and will include over 80 frequencies by the end of 2010, according to the ABC News Radio website.

ABC NewsRadio is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's national radio network providing continuous news and information 24 hours a day.

WKIX Raleigh NC 850 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-06-23T14:08:00.011+02:00

The interesting QSL letter and bumper sticker was received from Chief Engineer Steven Boucher who kindly verified my report (Click onto the image for a higher resolution).

WKIX on 850 kHz made it through to Pinelands for the first time (A South African First) on the 24th January 1986.

The station turned out to be a rare guest - to the best of my knowledge WKIX has not been logged in South Africa since.

Chief Engineer Steven Boucher was surprised to receive my reception report and indicated that this was the first dx report received from outside the U.S.

AUDIO CLIP also available on the right hand side of the web page.

The original cassette tape recording of the reception has fortunately been preserved. A brief extract of the recording is available here.

The recording was made at 0339 UTC on the 24th January 1986 and consists of a time check for 10:39 in addition to two WKIX ids during a promo for a high school basketball match, between Smithfield-Selma and Athens Drive, that was due to occur at 7:45 pm on Friday that week.

WHDH Boston MA 850 kHz QSL

2010-06-22T12:34:00.011+02:00

WHDH Boston MA on 850 kHz was heard on the 24th January 1986 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

Broadcast Engineer Alan Carp kindly responded to my reception report with a friendly verification letter, QSL card, stickers and information brochures.

WHDH information brochures were included with the reply in 1985.

WHDH operated on 850 kHz until August 1994 when it signed off permanently and was replaced by WEEI.

U.K. LBC London 1152 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-06-20T12:49:00.016+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear LBC London on 1152 kHz for the first time (A South African First) on the 13th November 1985 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

Head of Engineering, Roger Francis, kindly responded to my reception report with a QSL card (on which "record distance" was indicated), sticker and station brochure.

Google Earth image showing LBC's 23.5 kw signal path from Saffron Green across the African continent to Pinelands (a distance of 9 648 km).

The LBC brochure above was received with the QSL in 1985.

AUDIO CLIPS also available on the right hand side of the web page.

The first recording of a weather report for London and an advertisement for a car auction establishment was made on the 13th November 1985 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

The second recording of a clear LBC id was made on the 6th June 1988 via the FRG7 and 1 km beverage antenna at Swartriet.

WPTF Raleigh NC 680 kHz QSL

2010-06-19T12:58:00.007+02:00

WPTF Raleigh NC on 680 kHz was heard on a few occasions via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

The QSL card above was received in response to my reception report from the 12th November 1985.

Gogle Earth image showing the three WPTF antenna towers (One tower is used during the day and two at night).

WHAS Louisville KY 840 khz QSL

2010-06-18T12:52:00.003+02:00

WHAS on 840 kHz made it through to Pinelands on a few occasions during good propagation conditions from the U.S.A.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card and car bumper sticker in response to my reception report from the 7th November 1985.

CBD Saint John NB 1110 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-06-16T13:06:00.007+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to hear CBD Saint John NB on 1110 kHz for the first time on the 27th October 1985 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

I was fortunate to recieve the above QSL card in response to my reception report to the station.

SWARTRIET

Google Earth image showing the close proximity of the Swartriet holiday cottages to the coast. The cottages are situated just north of Saldanha Bay on the west coast of South Africa.

AUDIO CLIP

A memorable dxpedition to Swartriet in June 1988 with dxers Vince Stevens and James Arm included a sensational opening from North America and Europe. Strong signals from North America included CBD on 1110 kHz over a distance of 12 080 km via the FRG7 and 1 km beverage antenna.

A recording of the historical reception has been preserved and is available here. The recording was made during station sign-off on the 6th June 1988. CBD ceased broadcasting on AM later that year.

NETHERLANDS Radio 1 Hilversum 1008 kHz QSL

2010-06-15T16:15:00.007+02:00

Google Earth Image of the two MW antenna masts at Flevoland.

NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting) Radio 1, Hilversum, The Netherlands on 1008 kHz was heard via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Pinelands.

The above QSL card, signed by Carel Hagen, was received in response to my reception report from the 14th October 1985.

TRINIDAD NBS Port of Spain 610 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-06-13T11:31:00.013+02:00

Mayaro Beach coconut palms on the east coast of Trinidad (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

It was a pleasant surprise to hear NBS Radio 610 from Trinidad for the first time (A South African First) on the 29th September 1985.

I was fortunate to receive the NBS for about 45 minutes, until increasing co-channel QRM occurred from the usually dominant Brazilian station, Radio Itatiaia, while dxing with the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai.

General Manager Frank Thompson kindly verified my reception report with a QSL letter.

The QSL letter from NBS General Manger Frank Thompson (click onto the image for a higher resolution).

AUDIO CLIP

The historical recording of the first time I heard the NBS on 610 kHz from across the Atlantic Ocean has been preserved and is available here.

The recording was made at 2215 UTC on the 29th September 1985 via the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai and includes the beginning of the news programme , "The Caribbean Today".

THE END OF A CARIBBEAN AM RADIO STATION

During the 1990's, Radio 610 progressively lost its traditional listening audience due to a weakening of the quality of its broadcast signal and a diminishing of allocated financial resources to upgrade equipment and programming.

Both radio and TV broadcast entities of the National Broadcasting Network / NBN (a name change in 2001) ceased operations at midnight on January 15, 2005.

St.Kitts Radio Paradise 825 kHz QSL

2010-06-12T16:34:00.005+02:00

Looking towards the island of Nevis from the peninsula on the south-east tip of St. Kitts (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

Radio Paradise from the Caribbean island of St.Kitts used to be a regular guest at Sandbaai during the 1980's.

The above QSL card and car bumper sticker was received in response to my reception report from the 26th September 1985.

KXEL Waterloo IA 1540 kHz QSL

2010-06-11T18:49:00.008+02:00

KXEL on 1540 kHz made it through to Pinelands over a distance of 14 030 km on a few occasions during good propagation conditions from the U.S.A.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card and car bumper sticker in response to my reception report from the 20th September 1985.

WMAQ Chicago IL 670 kHz QSL

2010-06-10T11:56:00.004+02:00

A QSL form letter was received from WMAQ (signed by Michael J Bock) and included an A4 folder of promotional material with a coverage map in response to my reception report from the 12th September 1985.

A 1985 promotional brochure for "The WMAQ Dancing Dollars"!

The station operated from 1922 to 2000 and was the oldest surviving broadcast outlet in Chicago. The AM 670 transmitter is now in use by WMAQ's successor, WSCR and remains under CBS radio ownership.

WABC New York NY 770 kHz QSL

2010-06-08T17:47:00.003+02:00

The interesting QSL letter was received from WABC Chief Engineer Winston Loyd who kindly responded to my reception report from the 3rd September 1985.

CYPRUS TWR Cape Greco Relay 1233 kHz QSL

2010-06-07T16:39:00.007+02:00

Choirokoitia, an archaeological site on the island of Cyprus, was occupied from the 7th until the 4th millennia BC. The site is known as one of the most important and best preserved prehistoric sites in the eastern Mediterranean (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WTOP Washington DC 1500 kHz QSL

2010-05-27T13:58:00.005+02:00

WTOP on 1500 kHz was heard on numerous occasions at Pinelands during good propagation conditions from the U.S.A.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report from the 28th August 1985.

The Wheaton transmitter site pics on the QSL card.

WNEW New York NY 1130 kHz QSL

2010-05-23T18:53:00.009+02:00

WNEW on 1130 kHz used to get through to Pinelands on a few occasions during good propagation conditions from the U.S.A.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in response to my reception report from the 26th August 1985.

WNEW signed off in December 1992 after Bloomberg bought the station. The format was changed to business news with the callsign WBBR.

Visit the 1130 WNEW tribute website http://www.wnew1130.com/ for a nostalgic audio clip of Nat King Cole when he recorded the WNEW station ID during a broadcast with William B. Williams.

WFBR Baltimore MD 1300 kHz QSL

2010-05-19T13:00:00.006+02:00

It was a pleasant surprise to receive WFBR Baltimore on 1300 kHz for the first time (A South African First) back on the 16th August 1985 at Pinelands.

President and General Manager Harry Shriver kindly verified my reception report with an interesting letter and included what has turned out to be the longest bumper sticker received to date!

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the impressive baseball-only facility in downtown Baltimore, became the official home of the Orioles on April 6, 1992 (Photograph Wikimedia Commons).

WJR Detroit MI 760 kHz QSL

2010-05-18T19:44:00.009+02:00

WJR on 760 kHz has been heard on numerous occasions during good propagation conditions from the U.S.A.

I was fortunate to receive the above QSL card in addition to the WJR Tigers and Lions bumper stickers in response to my reception report from the 21st August 1985.

In November 1940 WJR's 733 foot tower at Riverview blew down in heavy winds and was replaced with the 700 foot tower , pictured in the above Google Earth Image.

WFSM Dry Banch GA 1670 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-05-16T21:11:00.009+02:00

WFSM Dry Branch GA was heard via the Sony SRF-M37V Ultralight receiver and 60 metre BOG at Noordhoek on the 8th January this year. Chief Engineer James Gay kindly verified my reception report this week.

Google Earth Image showing the path of WFSM's 1 kw signal across the Atlantic Ocean to Noordhoek over a distance of 12 947 km.

Google Earth Image showing WSFM's transmitter mast, close to the Ocmulgee River at Macon, Georgia.

AUDIO CLIP * Also available on the right hand side of the web page

The "Fox Sports 16-70" id was recorded at 0104 hours UTC on the 8th January 2010 via the Sony SRF-M37V Ultralight receiver and 60 metre BOG antenna at Noordhoek.

6WA Wagin WA 558 kHz QSL

2010-05-15T17:07:00.004+02:00

The second Australian mediumwave station to make it through to Sandbaai was 6WA Wagin WA on 558 kHz. The station was heard on the 18th August 1985 with ABC news, weather, the Australian National Anthem and sign-off at 1602 hours UTC.

The QSL card above was received in response to my reception report.

The name of the "Australian Broadcasting Commission" was changed to the "Australian Broadcasting Corporation" from the 1st July 1983.

THE HISTORY OF THE ABC IN WAGIN

Construction of the ABC station at Wagin began in 1935. A very windy day on the 25th August 1936 blew down the top 91 metres of the mast just as construction was nearly complete. At the time the station had the tallest mast (nearly 200 metres) and most powerful transmitter (10 kw) in Australia.

On the 7th December 1936 opening celebrations were held at the Wagin Town Hall and transmitted across the country - the first national broadcast from south west Western Australia. Visiting musicians who performed for the celebrations were taken by bus back to Perth. One bus crashed and the station briefly became a first aid centre as the injured were treated by ABC staff.

Read more about the station's history here at the ABC website.

6KY Perth WA 1206 kHz QSL and Audio

2010-05-14T11:56:00.011+02:00

It was sensational to hear Australia on mediumwave for the first time in August 1985. I nearly fell off my chair with disbelief when I stumbled onto 1206 kHz while dxing with the FRG7 and 30 metre longwire antenna at Sandbaai.

A programme of easy listening music got through with remarkable peaks and turned out to be 6KY Tuart Hill WA. Chief Engineer K Cantelo kindly verified my report with a letter and car sticker.

AUDIO CLIP

The historical recording of the first time I heard 6KY on 1206 khz from across the Indian Ocean has been preserved and is available here.

The recording was made on the 16th August 1985 at 1641 UTC (The electrical noise pulse originated from the tape deck which I used to make the recording). It was a pleasant surprise to hear the "6KY Nice and Easy" id for the first time!

The station became a good indicator for reception from Australia during the middle 1980's despite the modest 2 kw output.

The original cassette tape on which the recording of 6KY was made. Many other trans-oceanic recordings of radio stations from a previous broadcasting era are now quite historical and have fortunately been preserved.

A BRIEF HISTORY

6KY began broadcasting in October 1941 on 1210 kHz. In 1978 the frequency was changed to 1206 kHz. The station moved to FM in 1991.

WPTR Albany NY 1540 kHz QSL

2010-05-13T11:49:00.005+02:00

The interesting QSL letter and sticker was received from WPTR Chief Engineer James Seaman who kindly responded to my reception report from the 9th August 1985.

In 1995 Albany Broadcasting sold WPTR to current owners Crawford Broadcasting who changed the call sign to WDCD. The format was changed to Christian Contemporary music and related Christian programming.

In 2000 the company introduced the "Legends" adult-standards music format along with the classic WPTR call letters. This proved to be a ratings success but a financial pitfall.

In 2004 Christian programming returned to AM 1540, with the WDCD call sign. The WPTR call letters were moved to their sister FM station on 96.7, briefly with the 'Legends' format, then changing to the current Christian Contemporary music format.

GERMANY VOA Munich Relay 1197 kHz QSL

2010-05-12T12:33:00.005+02:00

The Munich Relay station began broadcasting VOA programmes in December 1946. The United States International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) closed down the station on the 27th March 2005.

The four 120 metre transmitter masts, in the foreground at Ismaning, were used for the VOA Munich relay (Photograph with kind permission from Walter Brummer. Walter's interesting and comprehensive radio website includes many fascinating historical transmitter / antenna mast photographs and is well worth a visit).