Logs from Newfoundland , Nov. 24-29 - very poor conditions

newfoundland dxer · Post by **newfoundland dxer** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 02:07 am

Hi everyone:

After last Sunday's exceptionally good conditions, I was really looking forward to this weekend. I was, however, concerned when conditions seemed poor for most of Saturday, but Borderhunter put in a fair signal Saturday night, so I was encouraged enough to rise early on Sunday.

Unfortunately, conditions were extremely poor on Sunday morning. I heard only a few stations around 0800-0900, mostly with very weak signals. I monitored continually until past 1200, and rechecked throughout the day, but the bands remained dead. The noise level was very high on Saturday and Sunday, which conrtibuted to poor receptions. It remained high Monday, but has settled down tonight, Tuesday.

Despite the poor conditions, there were a few highlights this week. First was Borderhunter's Saturday night show, which I was fortunate enough to hear at a decent level. BH always puts on a good show, and it brought back memories of my first pirate reception back on February 22, which was a Saturday night show from BH, also on 6210.

Also of note is my first confirmed Canadian pirate. X-Ray Radio broadcast Friday night and right into Saturday.

And special thanks to Radio Ronin Shortwave, who sent me an email confirming my reception, which I posted on frn as an UNID.

Tuesday, November 24
6923,8 . . 0113-0120 . Radio Ronin Shortwave (US), weak music including The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again", confirmed by email from op, new station, 14331

Wednesday, November 25
6925,0 . . 0108-0120 . UNID , peaked around 0115 with song by man and his piano, barely audible
6925,0u . 0246-0255 . Spider Radio, Ultravox, "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes", Police "Every Breath You Take", ID

Thursday, November 26
6925,0L . 0230-0250 . Outhouse Radio (US), rap music, IDs, 24442

Friday, November 27
6925,0u . 0040-0052 . Turkey Breast (Grass) Radio (US), pop music and multiple IDs, op was doing a fake accent, which made "Breast" sound like "Grass". Both posters on frn agreed it was grass, so op changed the name and sent us a QSL from "Turkey Grass", 44444
3901,0 . . 2139-2150 . Continental Radio, Dutch music with lots of synthesizer, ID 2145, 33442, ham QRM
1655,2 . . 2157-2206 . UNID, song with yodeling, Dutch or German song by woman, 24432
1665,0 . . 2206-0130 . Relmus Radio, BOC "Don't Fear the Reaper", ABBA "Waterloo", ID, 24432
6925.0u . 2223-2224 . Radio Marlene (US), ID, email, and c/d.
6925,0 . . 2224-2320 . X-Ray Radio (Canada), "Peter Pumpkinhead", lots of country songs, "Holly Jolly Christmas", IDs in English with a French accent, 24432
1655,8 . . 2335-2339 . Radio James Bond, Dutch music with woman singing, talk, more of the same song, 24432

Saturday, November 28
6925,0 . . 1436-1840 . X-Ray Radio (Canada), country music, English and French IDs, email, 24442
6955,2 . . 1938-1945 . WMPR (US), very weak music, ID via frn, 14331
7610,0 . . 2015-2022 . Radio Amica, dance music, ID by man at 2022, 24341
6905,0 . . 2022-2030 . Cactus Jack Radio, nice blues music, ID, 24341
6304,5 . . 2251-2259 . Cupid Radio, pop music, greetings, ID, 24331
6210,0 . . 2322-0037 . Borderhunter Radio, on at 2322 with dance music, Dutch, country, Dire Straits, Led Zep, Alice Cooper, IDs, greetings, brought back memories of my first pirate reception in February, which was BH on 6210!, c/d 0037 up to 34443

Sunday, November 29
6950,2 . . 0044-0048 . Northwoods Radio (US), country music, ID 0047, loon calls and c/d, 34442
6925,0u . 0054-0100 . Voice of the Robots (US), music, ID, email, Styx "Mr. Roboto", 24442
6925,0u . 0210-0215 . Radio Marlene (US), ID, email, Styx "Fooling Yourself", 24442
4025,0 . . 0804-0808 . Laser Hot Hits, barely audible music
5815,0 . . 0811-0820 . Orion Radio, I knew it was going to be a bad morning when I could barely hear music, I recognized John's voice on a couple of words that poked through the noise at 0813, 24341
6280,1 . . 0852-0925 . Radio Merlin Int., barely audible music on peaks, ID via Iann's chat
6205,0 . . 0933-0941 . Borderhunter Radio, Supertramp "Give a Little Bit", ID repeated, 24342, had faded out by 0950 recheck
6265,0 . . 0941-0950 . Geronimo Shortwave, pop music, I could hear the music, but did not know the songs, 24341, ID via Iann's chat
12257,3 . 1139-1150 . WR International, barely audible pop music.

Cheers, Terry

Receivers: JRC NRD-525 & Yaesu-Musen FRG-7
Antenna: 75 m long wire, 30 m from house
QTH: Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, Canada

Abbreviations and references:
(US) = United States
IS = Interval Signal
u = usb (upper side band)
L = lsb (lower side band)
v = variable
tent = tentative
pos = possible
QRM = interference
QSO = conversation
ham = licensed radio amateur operator
c/d = close down (transmitter off)
op = operator
othr = over the horizon radar
frn = Free Radio Network (US) http://www.frn.net/vines/
Iann's chat = http://www.easyshopdiscountzone.com/rad ... e/english/

Post by **Glowbug** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:43 pm

X-Ray? Canadian?

That's interesting........ I thought Maple Leaf was the only other pirate to me

Unless the mass food poisoning under the same "brand" axed that

Cheers!

newfoundland dxer · Post by **newfoundland dxer** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 23:18 pm

Hi Glowbug:

X-Ray is definitely Canadian. I had an email from the op with the location. Let's just say that the French/English IDs are a good hint. He is using 100w and a 17m dipole, and is putting in a good signal here.

X-Ray was heard here tonight at s7 relaying Radio Waves international. Nice to be able to hear RWI at such a nice level, and interesting that X-Ray is relaying a European pirate.

Cheers, Terry