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).

PANAMA Southern Command Network Canal Zone 1420 kHz QSL and Audio

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 (Click onto the image of the verification letter for a higher resolution).

AUDIO CLIP

SCN Canal Zone station identification announcement and jingle.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.