Tuesday, April 12, 2011

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