@tx42 Hi Josh. I’m not surprised. The SWS Ionogram Viewer page for the Hobart ionosode earlier today & on some recent days for brief periods has been showing E-layer reflections up to 16MHz. Normally I don’t get interested until the frequencies show reflections at E layer of 18-20MHz & of sufficient density for SpE to reliably show on the FM broadcast band.
On many occasions in past I’ve heard NZ FM dx from the south island when the SpE ions get high enough in freq. & density as seen on the SWS Ionogram Viewer for Hobart.
I took a walk up to the lion’s park on Yallakool Rd to scout a potential MW DX site. Took my XHDATA & received some Sydney FM stations at fair levels incl WSFM, 2DAY & 2MMM. Orange ABCs were strong as were the Coonie ABCs on 107.1/107.9. As I was leaving (after only being there for 5mins & in broad daylight, the cops turned up - some **hole must have called them to report a “strange man” in the park…despite no-one being there…some people are real nosey parkers…ahem…I mean “karens”…Sheesh!!
BTW - the sign says the park is closed at night, so a no go as far as a DX site is concerned.
FM DXers in Vic & Qld might like to look for FM DX between those states or out to NZ.
SpE cloud over Sydney ‘growing’ (per Ionosode data) & WSPR noting some dx between Port Macquarie & NZ Nth Island (Maybe tropo?)
BTW Geminid Meteor shower tonight. Very early hours tomorrow morning could result in some brief dx or if venturing outside looking northward some shooting star displays.
I would also look for NSW-TAS tropo tonight. A very unusual setup with a cool wedge of Bass Strait air undercutting warm air in northern TAS. This is an extension of the easterlies in NSW; ducting could be supported all the way along.
No Sporadic E in Sydney tonight but a bit of inland tropo being received. Canberra nationals fluctuating from no signal to moderate levels. Triple J Canberra unable to overcome the splatter of WS Fm.
2XX comes in faintly when the Canberra nationals are at their strongest.
Weak 2BA Batemans Bay and no News Radio Bega so the duct is not going all the way down the coast.
102.3 is the usual battle between Triple J CWS and Classic Canberra.
All other signals Newcastle, Wollongong, Lithgow, Orange fluctuating madly.
87.6 River fm Kurrajong Heights which I normally get in stereo is fluctuating too and is dropping down to mono, I have LOS to the escarpment.
BTW where does the e clouds need to be for eskip to occur in Sydney, for NZ, Tasmania, Far north QLD?
In theory, with simple one hop, it would be mid point between between TX and RX. Never seen actual maps & it’s an inexact science with little money devoted to the study of the phenomenon. Size, height & movement can & does change. Backscatter reception from Es clouds can also occur enabling stronger reception of fringe stations to occur. Lots of stuff & theory to be found on the internet about it.
BTW At the moment 102.7 2ABCFM Orange has no audio.
Also now noting some dx reception of Batemans Bay 105.1, Canberra , ABCs Taree & briefly Young 93.9. UPDATE: Oh and 2HHH 100.1 has no audio atm.
Inland tropo really good today,
and probably up there with some of the strongest Canberra fm reception I have had so far this year.
102.3 Classic Canberra at the same strength as 102.7 Classic Orange.
All Canberra fm stations received in some form except Hit 104.7.
Tropo ducts seem to be amplifying 300km north to south. Middle Brother from the North, Canberra / Batemans Bay to the south with weak 2BA.
Looking ahead the Hepburn charts are forecasting some really good inland / coastal tropo over the coming days. Wednesday / Thursday the peak for inland. It seems to be associated with the rain event coming down from the north coast, so expect more Canberra, CWS and probably some Mt Dowe (Classic) into parts of Sydney.
Most of the SpE activity has been south past recent days, brief openings & low FM frequencies.
Hobart Ionosonde showing ion reflections upto 16MHz today. http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/HF_Systems/1/3
Be good when Brisbane Ionosonde reactivates.
In other news:
100.1 2HHH have restored their audio.
This morning 101.9 & 102.7 Orange were later BOTH a mix of Triple J & ABC Radio National for some time before fault was rectified. Almost thought (for a few moments) I had Batemans Bay on 101.9 mixing with Orange, even though I did have tropo DX from Batemans Bay on 105.1 at the same time!
just thought I’d pen this reminder to all DXers after what happened to me up at the Lion’s Park.
Given we tend to DX alone in public areas or in remote ones, always maintain “situational awareness” - be alert to what’s going on around you. If you sense danger - leave as soon as possible. Always carry a good torch with you.
If the police approach you - talk to them in a calm & reasonable manner. Explain to them what you’re doing & if they ask you to move on - do it! - don’t argue.
Given the paranoia in the public these days - avoid DXing in areas where there are children & remember, even if the area is devoid of people, there is always someone watching. People observe what you do & DXing is a “strange” activity from their perspective (esp at night).
Keep in mind wildlife (incl cats/dogs) - they can attack if they feel threatened.
After the cyclonic winds earlier in the week, I checked out my antennas etc and finally got around to putting in a new amp on the north facing FM antenna.
Testing it this afternoon and an receiving 2 very good signals from somewhere in the Pacific. Based on programming may be RFO Radio Polynesia but not 100% sure - could be something totally different! Frequencies are 95.2 and 96.8 - different programs on each. There have been mentions of Indonesia a number of times as well.
The more I think about it the more I am doubting RFO. I will have to try to find a clue in the recordings. One obvious thing was nor RS which most French stations seem to have. Any thoughts on where Pidgin English would be from on those frequencies welcome. All other even frequencies that I could isolate seemed free.
The Townsville Ionosonde is HOT for SpE at the moment. Greater than 20MHz. PNG FM possibilities are strong for Qld dxers & maybe Indonesia on FM BCB. Can’t find a possibility for 95.2 on the Internet (yet). Fiji has 2DayFM on 95.2, but it’s modern sounding. WSPR site must be being hammered at the moment as I can’t access it.
I was able to translate with Google Translate the phone number of one of the stations 96.8 and it was Radio Republic Indonesia Pro 2 Merauke in West Papua
Townsville Ionosonde latest scan showing SpE reflected at 18MHz, a little lower than earlier. No SpE from the Brisbane ionosonde, so that explains the lack of DX here. But the WSPRNet site has dx from the southern states receiving Brisbane & Townsville sites.
Keep an ear out for other Indonesian & PNG possibilities.
I’m going to look outside at my antenna & see if someone has attached a DX Vacuum Cleaner
