Some spectacular FM DX today within 3km of the coast at various locations & heights & not too far from the Sydney CBD.
This morning DX favoured the north coast region up as far as Kempsey.
Highlights were first reception of: 87.8 Newy FM, 90.3 North Haven (200W) with full RDS, 88.9 2RE (RDS) over 2RSR & 104.7 Taree - all first time reception for me in Sydney. Also had RDS from the Kempsey & Port Macquarie Hit & Triple M stations. These were received around 10am & started to weaken after ~10.30am.
Later in the afternoon from 3-6pm at various heights & locations, received Eden stations on 103.9, 104.7 & 105.5 with RDS.
At around 5.30pm reception improved further of Eden stations & I received my first reception of the low powered 50W 2BA Eden outlet on 106.3MHz & RDS reception of the 1kW Sky Sports Radio outlet from Eden on 107.1MHz, both received at an elevation of just 15m ASL, some 3km from the coastline. Some pics will follow later, too tired at the moment.
All were received on the TEF-6686 receiver with replacement 1m whip antenna.
I’m amazed at the FM performance of this little gem of a receiver. The receiver is extremely quiet, thus it doesn’t take much of a signal to hear something & the selectivity is superb even against Sydney’s high powered FM stations. I didn’t have any problems with spurs or overload from them.
I’m sure the RX could perform even better with a low noise/low gain amp & directional antenna.
That tropo path right into Queensland paid dividends this morning. New loggings of Wide Bay National FM, along with 101.9 and 103.5 Fraser Coast. Managed only partial RDS with 103.5 as per screenshot. 103.1 Radio National Rockhampton noted as well but only briefly. Had to do some antenna gymnastics to null out Grafton and Kempsey.
You need to be mindful that to gain ‘reliable’ RDS decoding you need to open the ‘manual’ BW beyond 114kHz.
I’ve also posted a few Eden RDS logs on the RDS thread from yesterday’s dx. More pics will follow in coming days…
Per @Ant5476 earlier post re NZ Tropo DX possibilities. Looking at the latest Hepburn Maps, it would appear Mid North Coast to Newcastle might be the optimum rx locations on Sunday morning.
Path seems to be going in the opposite direction as well with Coffs stations up in Brisbane including RDS on occasion on commercials. Also enhanced inland to Mt Dowe. Rockhampton reception continues for another day.
Big signals from Mt Dowe incl GGG and NOW, Sky, MAX. Plus Inverell GEM etc; Glen Inness 2CBD Plus My Cenn Cruaich - JJJ. Middle Brother Classic FM. Rebel Stanthorpe. Breeze Tenterfield (conf with RDS).
This is how I think the tropo will play out today.
The signals from Mt Moombil currently into Sydney is the most northerly of the tropo. As the day progresses the ducts will enhance and move south down the coast.
After the midday flat conditions., the ducts will enhance Middle Brother into Sydney from late afternoon to early evening . Followed by Newcastle and Wollongong later tonight. I don’t think there will be any enhancements south of Knights Hill into Sydney based on the tropo forecadt.
I guess the strength will depend on whether the marine level cloud clears, and if Thunderstorms develop and disrupt the paths like they did on Friday…
Thursday’s night Tropo was the best I experienced for a few years. I not expecting anything like that tonight. Hopefully it is still good.
I’m not getting anything much from up north, for me the best signals are from Batemans Bay and Canberra… getting mono reception of around 15db on the ABCs 101.9, 103.5, 105.1 as well as 102.3 and 103.9.
Goulburn is also being received, slightly weaker than Canberra, with RN 97.9 and Eagle 93.5 heard.
Sydney is average strength, Wollongong is also strong at around 35db, not as strong as recent days though.
Agree with others that Thursday night was the best tropo for a few years.
There’s a weak easterly/southerly change at the moment. This setup often enhances Batemans Bay and Canberra into Sydney and Newcastle. Ducting should contract to the coast tomorrow as Canberra gets more heat, followed by another weak easterly on Tuesday.
The hot airmass over inland NSW isn’t budging all week, and Sydney will cop another 40C day on Thursday. Some level of coastal ducting should be present on all other days.
Tonight is almost as good Thursday night with quite a variety of signals.
Eagle fm ad strong as I have ever had it with tropo, just below RDS level.
Newcastle moderate enhancements, but better than Thursday night.
Canberra strong as I have ever had it, Mix 106.3 and Hit 104.7 above splatter of locals and semi locals.
102.3 Classic fm in good stereo, strongest of the Canberra outlets.
101.5 Triple J Canberra RDS decode
98.7 Kandos Community Radio / Classic Middle Brother
98.3 2XFM
92.7 Art sound
91.9 1Way good stereo just slightly weaker than Classic fm
91.5 News Radio SW Slopes moderate
91.1 1CMS weak hissy stereo
90.7 Triple J SW Slopes stereo
Weak Orange fm commercials
Knights Hill outlets weaker than normal, signal must be overflying me.
