AM and FM DX

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1205

Because I’m only about 60km from the 2ST transmitter as the crow flies, KO is the hardest of the Newcastle commercial FM stations to receive, whilst New FM & Hit 106.9 are the easiest.

Then again though, like you said…

…I’m not missing out on much.

It’s pretty sad, especially from a DXers perspective, that a lot of the regional commercial FM stations, particularly those that are part of the Hit & Triple M networks, run the same music across all their stations. It takes the fun away from what I enjoy about FM DXing. :frowning:

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1206

Wollongong is getting stronger now, approaching Sydney levels, which are now showing low 50s on my signal meter, which are not quite as good earlier tonight.

But what is becoming clearer is just how much Power’s signal has deteriorated on its northerly beam since last summer, which has been mentioned in this thread by some Sydney observers.

For instance, my peak last summer showed Wave FM.reached 55db whereas Power at the same time hit 46db, a 9db difference. But tonight, Wave is reaching 49db whereas Power is only getting to 35db, a 14db difference.

1207

Canberra community stations 1CMS 91.1 and 1WAY 91.9 now being received! Hit104.7 and MIX106.3 are not strong enough to break though splatter from high power stations on either side of their frequencies.

I can hear 2XX up against splatter from i98 but can’t really hear it very well…

Not sure yet whether 92.7 is Artsound or 2BAB as 2ST on 91.7 is also being received from the Shoalhaven.

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1208

Triple M Mackay 98.7 into Brisbane carrying a different program to MMM Brisbane.

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1209

Just managed to get VOX Wollongong in a null of Hit106.9 in the bedroom! Heard a “Playing the best radio… 106.9 VOX FM” ID.

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1210

Some local enhancement this morning with KROCK 95.5 coming in from Geelong by the looks of it and also something coming in on 94.5.

96Three also coming in under the noise floor from Geelong too.

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1211

yeah but I actually sit and segue the music log on KO so it sounds nice and tight and bright and out of sight. 2GO just take Gold Coast :stuck_out_tongue:

What I’m trying to say is - it might be the same music (different times though) but it sounds hotter on KO :stuck_out_tongue:

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1212

I was out in the car at Maitland and got the following e-skip from NZ

91.6 The Breeze - Invercargill

Meanwhile, the tropo continues, the following stations were notables that were received from Stockade Hill Heritage Park at East Maitland.

91.5 Triple J Coffs Harbour (weak)
92.3 ABC Coffs Coast (weak)
92.7 ZOO FM Dubbo (weak)
93.1 Real FM Mudgee (weak)
Hit 93.5 Dubbo (weak)
96.7 ABC Classic FM Upper Namoi (faint)
97.9 ABC Coffs Harbour (weak)
99.1 ABC Local Radio Upper Namoi (faint)
99.5 ABC Radio National Coffs Harbour (weak)
101.9 Triple J Orange (weak)
102.3 Triple J Central West Slopes (weak)
102.7 ABC Classic FM.Orange (fair)
104.3 ABC Radio National Orange (fair)
105.1 Triple M Orange (weak)
Hit 105.9 Orange (weak)
106.3 ABC News Central West Slopes (fair)
106.7 SKY Sports Radio Orange (weak)
107.1 ABC Western Plains (weak)

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1213

Smorgasbord tonight including Rockhampton, Taree, Inverell, Mt Dowe with both 2GGG Gunedah and 2NOW Moree.

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1214

The humid but stormy conditions are creating a bit of activity again tonight, with most community stations from Sydney plus 107.1 Highland FM Bowral and 92.7 2BAB Vincentia received, though they are fairly regular catches at this time of year. 2ST 91.7 also received.

1215

Northern Tasmanian ABC stations starting to come in to Melbourne.

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1216

Good reception this morning of ABC and Hit 107.9 Rockhampton and Gladstone commercials (93.5 and 96.7) plus Rebel at Banana (88.9). Also Triple M Mackay 98.7.

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1217

Some ducting about tonight.

Most notable thing so far is that the Wollongong ABC stations seem to be on reduced power, though there’s nothing about that on the ABC website.

Wave and i98 are in at about 46db whereas the ABCs are only about 38db.

1218

My log from Cromwell NZ on 23/12, using just my Tecsun PL-880+whip, is below. Most of the signals were amazingly strong given my zero gain setup. The highlight was receiving Mildura FM at 2600 km/1615 miles. This is pushing the limits of single hop Es; it was either unusually elevated Es or short 2Es.

VK1:

102.3,103.9 MHz Canberra.

VK2:

102.5 MHz Deniliquin (“Echuca” talk).
96.5,97.3… etc. Griffith.
88.3,89.1… etc. Riverina.
93.1,95.5 Wagga.
102.7, 104.3, 106.7, 107.5 (w/“the local station” ID) Orange.
99.3,100.1,100.9 Bathurst.
102.9 ABC Local Radio Tumbarumba (tent, either this or Alexandra VIC).
99.3,100.1,100.9 Bega…
103.5, 105.1 Batemans Bay.
93.3,97.7 Cooma.
96.1 Katoomba.
95.7… etc Wollongong.
95.3, 97.7, 101…7,102.5,103.2,106.5 Sydney.
102.9 Bowral (sounded like this rather than KO FM Newcastle).
101.3,104.5 Gosford.
106.1 Newcastle.
97.1 Taree (brief but strong).
102…3 Coonabarabran (//JJJ).
92.7 Dubbo (brief “Zoo FM” ID).

VK3:

97.9,99.5,101.1,102.7,104.3, 105.9 Mildura.
102.1,103.7 Swan Hill.
89.3,101.3 Horsham.
88.9, 94.9 Hamilton.
92.9 Portland (“3HA” ID).
89.7, 95.3 (“Coast FM” ID),103.7 Warrnambool.
92.7 Bendigo (others blocked by locals).
89.3 (“Kix Country” ID), 93.9,95.5 Geelong.
89.9,90.7,91.5…,107.5 Melbourne.
95.3 (“Triple M” ID),96.9 Shepparton.
100.7 Latrobe Valley (others blocked by locals).
101.7,103.3,104.1,106.5 Albury.

VK5:

102.5 (JJJ ID), 103.3,104.1,104.9 (“Lime FM” ID), 105.7 Mount Gambier.

VK7:

88.5,98.9 King Island.
90.9…etc. Launceston.
89.3,90.1 Launceston City (high powered)
100.3,101.1,102.7 Launceston City (low powered).
99.7 Scottsdale.
94.5 St Mary’s (“Chilli FM on 99.7 in Scottsdale and 94.5 in St Mary’s” ID).
93.7/98.5 St Mary’s/St Helens (both in //).
92.9,93.9…106.5 Hobart.

ZL:

90.0 Kaitaia (presumed w/commercials).
89.0,…93.8 Palmerston North (amazed at this short skip but no mistaking the frequencies)…

I also had a short opening to SE VK4 on the 18th, about 2500 km distant and once again pushing the limit for single hop Es. NE VK2 (Lismore/Coffs) was also received on the 18th.

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1219

Some great catches there!

Though I’m not sure what you mean by VK1 to VK7… I always thought they were just amateur/ham references?

1220

VK1 - ACT
VK2 - NSW
VK3 - VIC
VK4 - QLD
VK5 - SA
VK6 - WA
VK7 - TAS

ZL - NZ

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1221

Also used on Radio Callsigns such as 2UE and for Two Way Comms such as VH3OHR, and VKC for Victorian Police comms.

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1222

Happy Christmas Dxing this morning with Gladstone 93.5 and 95.1, Mackay on 98.7 plus usual CQ stations like hit 107.9.

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1223

Yeah, they are the ham callsign prefixes (apologies; I copy-pasted from another DX forum).

I have some video of the opening, but it will have to wait until I’m back in Australia (27th)- no Wi Fi here to upload to YT. I’ll then be in the Monaro over the New Year.

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1224

I’m getting Vic and SA this morning on the North side of Brisbane

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