KNX Los Angeles CA 1070 kHz QSL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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).