Rockwork DXpedition August 2023

Results from the Coastal Oregon Cliffs   2023 DXpedition Aug 01-04   by Tom Rothlisberger K7WV


Dawn at the Rockwork4 site on Aug 02
Unusually clear dawn scenery at the famous Rockwork 4 cliff on Aug 02.  What Trans-Pacific LW and MW stations will we catch this time?
 

K7WV Rockwork DXpedition 2023 Medium Wave Results


Rockwork DXpedition Aug 2023 K7WV Results
KHz Country Station City Date UTC KW Comments MP3
531 New Zealand 531 PI Auckland 8/2/2023 1238 5 Presumed with discussion in apparent Samoan, on top  
531 Australia 2PM Superstation Kempsey, NSW 8/2/2023 1257 5 "Another one bites the dust" bass line under talk // 639, over PI  
540 New Zealand Star Tauranga 8/2/2023 1300 5 "The very latest from home & around the world; This is STAR News"  STAR
549 Australia 2CR ABC Central West Orange, NSW 8/4/2023 1300 50 ABC fanfare and ABC News  
549 New Zealand SENZ Napier-Hastings 8/3/2023 1254 5 Horse race live call by excited announcer, not // 648  
550 Hawaii KNUI  Wailuku, Maui 8/2/2023 1305 7.5 "K-Country, FM 106.1 AM 550" by male announcer between somgs  KNUI
558 Fiji Fiji 1 Naulu 8/2/2023 1306 10 "Radio Fiji One Na Domoiviti" by female announcer, strong  Fiji One
567 New Zealand RNZ National Wellington 8/2/2023 1300 50 Pips and "RNZ News at one o'clock"  
570 Hawaii KUAI Eleele, Kauai 8/4/2023 1320 1 "KUAI FM 104.5, AM 570 Kawai's Country" and callsign jingle  KUAI
576 New Zealand Star Hamilton 8/2/2023 1308 2.5 Distinctive Christian pop song // 657, 963  
576 Australia 2RN ABC National Sydney, NSW 8/2/2023 1259 50 ABC program ends with ABC mentions by woman // 792  
585 Australia 2WEB Bourke, NSW 8/2/2023 1300 10 "2WEB News is next" just prior to TOH  
590 Hawaii KSSK Honolulu 8/3/2023 1302 7.5 Musical jingle "92-3 KSSK Honolulu, Hawaii"  KSSK
594 Australia 3WV ABC W. Victoria Horsham, VIC 8/2/2023 1302 50 ABC news with male announcer // 612  
594 Japan JOAK NHK-1 Tokyo    8/4/2023 1257 300 Japanese spoken, man with monologue  
603 New Zealand Radio Waatea Manukau 8/2/2023 1245 5 Island style song by male vocalist // 765, weak  
603 Australia 2RN ABC National Nowra, NSW 8/2/2023 1300 10 ABC fanfare and ABC News  
612 Australia 4QR ABC Brisbane Brisbane, QLD 8/2/2023 1300 50 Fanfare and "ABC News, good evening" loud  
630 Australia 4QN ABC North QLD Townsville, QLD 8/2/2023 1300 50 ABC fanfare and ABC News  
639 Australia 2HC Superstation Coff's Harbour, NSW 8/2/2023 1257 5 "Another one bites the dust" bass line under talk // 531  
648 Australia 2NU ABC R New England Tamworth, NSW 8/2/2023 1300 10 ABC fanfare and news  
657 Australia 2BY ABC Western Plains Byrock, NSW 8/2/2023 1315 50 Discussion of athletic competition // 612, on top  
657 New Zealand Star Wellington 8/4/2023 1301 50 "The very latest from home & around the world; This is STAR News"  
666 Australia 2CN ABC Canberra Canberra, ACT 8/2/2023 1300 5 weak ABC fanfare at TOH  
670 Hawaii KPUA Hilo, Hawaii 8/3/2023 1300 5 Musical jingle, "AM KPUA Hilo, K252CR Hilo"  
675 New Zealand RNZ National Christchurch 8/2/2023 1258 10 Jazz sax and piano // 567, 756, 837  
684 Australia 2KP ABC Mid-North Coast Kempsey, NSW 8/2/2023 1300 10 ABC fanfare and ABC News  
690 Hawaii KHNR Honolulu 8/2/2023 1300 10 "AM 690 FM 94.3 You.ve got The Answer KHNR Honolulu"  KHNR
702 New Zealand HUMM Bollywood Hits Auckland 8/2/2023 1246 10 Loud with Indian-style vocals and instrumentation  HUMM-FM
702 Australia 2BL ABC Sydney Sydney, NSW 8/2/2023 1300 50 ABC fanfare and ABC News  
720 New Zealand RNZ National Invercargill 8/4/2023 1300 10 5 short one long time pips // 756, open domesic carrier  
729 Australia 5RN ABC National Adelaide, SA 8/2/2023 1302 50 DU accented Man and woman reviewing a book  
738 Australia 2NR ABC North Coast Grafton, NSW 8/2/2023 1300 50 ABC fanfare and news // 648  
740 Hawaii KCIK Kihae, Maui 8/2/2023 1300 5 "KCIK Kihae, Maui AM 740 AM"  
747 Australia 4QS ABC Southern Qld Toowoomba, QLD 8/2/2023 1305 50 ABC News with male announcer // 612, 792  
756 New Zealand RNZ National Auckland 8/2/2023 1308 10 Talk into solo guitar music // 567, 819  
760 Hawaii KGU Honolulu 8/3/2023 1300 10 "KGU AM K236CR Hawaii sports radio network, 95.1 FM & AM 760  
765 New Zealand Radio Kahungunu Napier-Hastings 8/2/2023 1245 2.5 Loud with island style song by male vocalist // 603  Kahungunu
774 New Zealand Gold Sport New Plymouth 8/4/2023 1309 5 Oldies music // 792, 1503 mixing with 3LO  
774 Australia 3LO ABC Melbourne Melbourne, VIC 8/2/2023 1259 50 ABC program ending // 612, 648  
792 Australia 4RN ABC National Brisbane, QLD 8/2/2023 1300 25 Fanfare and ABC News // 738
792 New Zealand Gold Sport Hamilton 8/4/2023 1309 5 Oldies music // 1503  
819 New Zealand RNZ National Tauranga 8/2/2023 1308 10 Talk into solo guitar music // 567, 756  
828 Australia 3GI ABC Gippsland Sale, VIC 8/3/2023 1300 50 ABC fanfare into ABC News  
830 Hawaii KHVH Honolulu 8/3/2023 1300 10 "Newsradio 830 KHVH Honolulu an I-heart radio station"  
837 New Zealand RNZ National Kaitaia / Whangarei 8/2/2023 1300 2.5 Jazz sax ending. Pips and "RNZ News" // 567  
846 Australia 2RN ABC National Canberra, ACT 8/2/2023 1300 10 ABC fanfare and news  
850 Hawaii KHLO Hilo, Hawaii 8/2/2023 1300 5 "This is KHLO Hilo and KKON Kealakekua, Hawaii"  KHLO
855 Australia 4QO ABC Wide Bay (4QB) Eidsvold, QLD 8/2/2023 1300 10 ABC fanfare and news  
864 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Invercargill 8/2/2023 1244 10 Male announcer with call-in guest, discussion and laughter // not avail.  
882 New Zealand Star Auckland 8/4/2023 1303 10 End of news and weather report begins // 657  
891 Australia 5AN ABC Adelaide Adelaide, SA 8/4/2023 1300 50 "This is ABC Radio" on local half-hour  
900 Hawaii KMVI Kahului, Maui 8/1/2023 1315 5 "KMVI AM 900 and 102.5 FM Maui's ESPN"  
909 New Zealand Star Napier-Hastings 8/2/2023 1308 5 Distinctive Christian pop song // 657, 963  
927 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Palmerston North 8/2/2023 1301 2 News with male announcer playing clip by woman // 1296  
936 New Zealand Chinese Voice Waiuku-Auckland 8/4/2023 1301 1 Chinese Language announcement after end of operatic song  ChineseVoice
936 Australia 4PB ABC NewsRadio Brisbane, QLD 8/2/2023 1300 10 Fanfare and ABC News // 738  
963 New Zealand Star Christchurch 8/2/2023 1308 10 Distinctive Christian pop song // 657  
990 Hawaii KIKI Honolulu 8/3/2023 1300 5 Fox Sports 990 KIKI Honolulu an I-heart radio station  
1008 Australia 4TAB Brisbane, QLD 8/4/2023 1257 10 Post-race results and payouts, winner congratulated  
1017 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Christchurch 8/1/2023 1312 2.5 Man with monologue about publishing // 1035, 1098  
1017 Tonga A3Z Nuku'alofa 8/3/2023 1300 2.5 up-tempo choral music, Nuku'alofa mention by woman, strong  A3Z Tonga
1026 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Whangarai/Kaitaia 8/4/2023 1258 2 female interviewer // 1035  
1035 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Wellington 8/1/2023 1312 20 Man with monologue about publishing // 1017, 1098  
1040 Hawaii KLHT Honolulu 8/3/2023 1300 10 "This is KLHT Honolulu"  
1062 New Zealand Gold Sport Wanganui 8/2/2023 1254 1 Oldies song // 1503, weak  
1098 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Christchurch 8/1/2023 1312 7.5 Man with monologue about publishing // 1017, 1035  
1116 Australia 4BH Brisbane, QLD 8/3/2023 1300 17 "4BH…More variety, less talk"  
1143 New Zealand RNZ National Whangarei / Kaitaia 8/2/2023 1259 2.5 Ending of jazz sax and piano // 567, 738  
1152 Australia 6PNN ABC Newsradio Busselton, WE 8/4/2023 1300 10 ABC fanfare, all alone, weak  
1161 Australia 7FG ABC North Tasmania Fingal, TAS 8/4/2023 1300 1 ABC fanfare and ABC News, weak  
1161 New Zealand Te Reo Irirangi o te Upoko… Wellington 8/2/2023 1247 5 Maori music with western instruments, male vocalist // 765  
1179 New Zealand Radio Ake Auckland 8/2/2023 1257 5 "Ake" announcement between songs, weak  
1206 New Zealand SENZ Dunedin 8/1/2023 1310 5 Racing call by excited announcer  
1215 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Kaikohe 8/4/2023 1257 2 Lead out music from talk show // 1296  
1233 Australia 2NC ABC Newcastle Newcastle, NSW 8/2/2023 1305 10 ABC News with male announcer // 612, 792  
1251 New Zealand Rhema Auckland 8/3/2023 1302 5 News with man and woman, many mentions of New Zealand  
1287 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Westport 8/4/2023 1258 2 Lead out music by female vocalist // 1215, 1296  
1296 New Zealand Newstalk ZB Hamilton 8/2/2023 1301 2.5 News with male announcer playing clip by woman // 927  
1314 New Zealand Star Invercargill 8/2/2023 1308 5 Distinctive Christian pop song // 657, weak  
1332 New Zealand Gold Sport Auckland 8/4/2023 1305 10 Gold News musical lead-out // 1503  
1386 New Zealand R. Tarana Auckland 8/4/2023 1311 10 Bollywood style music with female singer  
1476 New Zealand SENZ Auckland 8/3/2023 1302 5 Announcer with results, in briefly, no //'s available  
1500 Hawaii KHKA Honolulu 8/4/2023 1300 5 "KHKA AM Honolulu" by male announcer  
1503 New Zealand Gold Sport Wellington 8/1/2023 1314 5 oldies, Private Dancer (Tina Turner), others  
1512 Australia 2RN ABC National Newcastle, NSW 8/3/2023 1300 10 Fanfare and ABC News // 738  
1548 Australia 4QD ABC Central QLD Emerald, QLD 8/3/2023 1300 50 ABC fanfare and ABC News  
1566 S. Korea HLAZ FEBC Jeju 8/4/2023 1259 250 Japanese language programming  
1570 Hawaii KUAU Haiku, Maui 8/3/2023 1300 15 "At home or in the car KUAU 1570 AM Haiku"  
1610 USA WQHE837 Stevenson, WA 8/2/2023 1240 0.01 You are listening to WQHE 8-3-7" by woman (Bridge of the Gods)  WQHE837
1610 USA WQEL382 Harbor, OR 8/2/2023 1308 0.01 "This is Chetco River Coast Guard bar and weather report"  
1610 USA WQEL382 Depoe Bay, OR 8/1/2023 1311 0.01 This is "Coast Guard Station Depoe Bay" by female announcer  
1629 Australia Vision Radio Network Bathhurst/Dubbo NSW 8/4/2023 1251 0.4 Discussion of youth conference, "Vision" mentions  
1701 Australia R. Brisvaani Brisbane, QLD 8/4/2023 1251 0.1 Up-tempo Bollywood style music  


Comments and highlights of the Aug 2023 MW Results

MW was negatively affected by the high sunspot count. The entire upper band (mostly lower powered Kiwis) was mostly missing all four mornings with some weak exceptions. Aug 02 had some good signals 1017 Khz and below. Tonga and Fiji were excellent. Unusual propagation on Aug 04 brought in 6PNN 1152, 10KW from Western Australia along with 1KW 7FG 1161 from Tasmania. Australia was highlighted as is seldom experienced here, replacing the usual Kiwi on a number of frequencies. The Australian count of 33 stations actually exceeded two previous visits here, it was the Kiwis that fell short. Hawaii was very strong during these sessions as well, outperforming last year as two prominent stations went QRT during the year (650 and 940 Khz) but we still managed 14 stations in 2023, two more than last year. Partner Gary D. reported good upper band on Aug 05 but I had departed and lost my opportunity for a more populated Kiwi-weighted log as is the norm here. Kiwis still outnumbered Australians though, as always.



Pacific Ocean at Grayland                    Lunar Reflection to DX by                    Tom, Mark and Gary on Aug 04
     Stan and Gary finishing up on Aug 02                                              Lunar Reflections and TP DX                                         Tom, Mark and Gary post-DX on Aug 04  


K7WV Rockwork DXpedition 2023 NDB Results


Pacific / Australia / NZ  / AK   NDBs received during 'Rockwork' DXpedition 2023
UTC DATE UTC KHz CALL MI KM Location Country MP3
8/2/2023 12:16 183.5 WH2XVN 793 1269 Burbank, CA  (Ham beacon 1 watt)  USA  
8/4/2023 12:14 233 ALJ 2209 1373 Orca Bay - Hinchinbrook Island  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:55 270 FA 5090 8189 Apia (Upolu Island)  SMO  
8/2/2023 12:23 277 ACE 1481 2384 Kachemak - Homer Apt  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:22 283 DUT 1947 3134 Dutch Harbor  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:41 284.5 MH 4382 7050 Manihi Atoll (Tuamoto Archipelago)  TUA  
8/2/2023 12:37 294 AN 3949 6354 Hiva Oa MAR  
8/2/2023 12:53 316 MAJ 4660 7500 Majuro Atoll - Amata Kabua IAP MHL  
8/2/2023 12:47 320 AI 4992 8036 Aitutaki - Amuri CKS  
8/2/2023 13:07 322 CI 6985 11239 Chatham Islands  NZL  
8/2/2023 12:54 327 VYI 2512 4043 Valley Island - Kahului, Maui  HWA  
8/2/2023 12:16 332 POA 2526 4065 Pahoa, Hawai'i  HWA  
8/2/2023 12:43 341 MG 4805 7733 Totegegie Apt OCE  
8/2/2023 12:23 341 ELF 1800 2897 Elfee - Cold Bay  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:49 346 TG 6857 11034 Tauranga Apt  NZL  
8/2/2023 12:43 347 TB 5039 8108 Tubuai Apt  AUI  
8/2/2023 12:48 352 RG 5144 8278 Nikau - Rarotonga IAP  CKS  
8/4/2023 12:08 353 NH 3800 6277 Nuku Hiva MAR  
8/2/2023 12:57 355 NI 5252 8451 Nauru - Nauru IAP  NRU  
8/2/2023 12:53 356 HID 6921 11138 Horn Island, QLD  AUS  
8/2/2023 12:42 364 MI 5724 9211 Momi-Nadi FJI  
8/2/2023 12:43 364 CS 7196 11363 Cairns, QLD  AUS  
8/2/2023 12:45 370 HAO 4279 7301 Tuamotu Archipeligo  TUA  
8/2/2023 12:52 372 RU 4647 7478 Raiatea Apt Uturoa  OCE  
8/2/2023 12:55 376 NP 4279 6886 Napuka Apt  TUA  
8/2/2023 12:42 377.5 MO 4658 7496 Moorae - Temae Apt  OCE  
8/2/2023 12:54 383 HV 3949 6354 Hiva Oa  MAR  
8/2/2023 13:02 384 BB 4636 7459 Bora Bora IAP  OCE  
8/2/2023 12:24 385 EHM 1809 2912 Cape Newenham LRRS Apt  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:24 390 HBT 1712 2755 Borland - Sand Point Apt  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:48 392 LHR 6979 11232 Lockhart River, QLD  AUS  
8/2/2023 12:54 393 FK 4481 7210 Fakarava (Iles Gambier)  TUA  
8/2/2023 12:25 394 RWO 1694 2339 Woody Island - Kodiak  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:49 395 PMQ 7438 11967 Port MacQuarie Apt, NSW  AUS  
8/2/2023 12:23 399 SRI 2071 3332 'Pribilof' St George  ALS  
8/2/2023 12:55 400 MDY 3121 5022 Midway - Henderson Field  MDW  
8/2/2023 12:54 403 TUT 5071 8160 Pago Pago IAP  SMA  
8/2/2023 12:16 411 ILI 2382 3833 Iliamna Apt  ALS  
  

Comments and highlights of the Aug 2023 LW Results

The sunspot numbers reaching 20 year highs of 150+ did not bode well for this DXpedition and confidence was not high for getting any stations from down under. However the cliff definitely had some magic left and a surprising and decent 28 Pacific, Australia and New Zealand stations did make it. Four from Australia was pretty good as we only got 5 last year. No Australian or Kiwi NDBs heard at either of the Grayland DXpeditions this year, and nothing approaching the distance reached here. Australian DX seemed to be favored more than usual this time over NZL on LW. All in all however, propagation was substantially down from previous years.

The decommissioning of Hawaii's LLD revealed a previously not heard French Polynesian signal, 353 NH, not reported from North America since 2008 and listed as inactive. Previous year's recordings revealed that it was buried deep by LLD's carrier, now clear. 12 of the 22 still active French Polynesian NDBs made it this year, only half, as we have heard all 24 of them from this location in the past. MW beacon TM 1630 Khz was not heard this time reflecting the poor upper MW band conditions.

Decommissioned in the past year: LLD 353, OX 360, AV 372 and probably ML 343. All regulars at the cliffs.


Rockwork NDBs from Aus-Nzl-Pacific





Neahkhanie Mountain site of Rockwork cliffs                                   Rockwork SDR Receiving Station
Neahkhanie Mountain sunset from Manzanita                                                                                         Rockwork Cliffside Receiving Station
     





Location:

Rockwork 4 Pullout on Neahkahnie Mountain just north of Manzanita, OR
Coordinates: N 45° 44' 36.5" W 123° 57' 28.9" Elevation 575 feet (175 meters)
GPS Coordinates: N 45 44.608 W 123 57.482
Maidenhead Grid Square CN85AR 58AK

Google Maps Satellite View
We set up on Rockwork 4, the preferred (and most scenic) Hwy 101 pulloff, for this DXpedition.

Drone view of the DX cliffs


Aug 2023 Participants (AKA: The Cliffhangers):

Gary DeBock (Aug 01-05) Home QTH: Puyallup, WA
Tom Rothlisberger (Aug 01-04) Home QTH: Brier, WA
Stan Weisbeck (Aug 01-02) Home QTH: Spokane, WA
Mark West (Aug 03-04) Home QTH: Portland, OR


My Equipment:

Perseus SDR
Dell "2 in 1" 11.6-inch netbook (Win 10) 2.0 TB internal SSD.
Wellbrook FLG-100LN broadband amplifier modules (Used throughout DXpedition)
60 feet (18.3 meters) of #18 multi stranded copper wire, jacketed (Deployed as a rear-fed flag)
16 and 20 foot segmented fiberglass "Wonderpoles" and weighted (with concrete) tip-resistant stands
4 X tarp clips that clip onto the poles as wire guides; waterproof
Thick plastic wrap and zip ties to mount, protect the active antenna module in rain; Needed and used in prior yeats.
50 feet RG8X coax with BNC connectors
35AH solar rechargeable battery box provides cliffside power for SDRs, active antennas
Backup equipment (not needed) included MSI Wind Netbook w/ 500 GB SSD, Wellbrook ALA100M modules
Drone: Yuneec Q500 Typhoon 4K (Available but not flown off the cliffs in 2023)


Links:

Gary's Rockwork 2022 video (Aug 04) YouTube

Rockwork 4 2022 DXpedition K7WV result
Rockwork 2 2021 DXpedition II K7WV results
Rockwork 4 2021 DXpedition K7WV results

Rockwork 4 2020 DXpedition K7WV results
Rockwork 4 2019 DXpedition K7WV results

Rockwork 4 2018 DXpedition K7WV results
Rockwork 4 2017 DXpedition K7WV results
Rockwork 4 2016 International DXpedition K7WV results
Rockwork 4 2015 II DXpedition K7WV results
Rockwork 4 2015 I DXpedition K7WV results

Grayland DXpedition October 2023 K7WV Results All Logs Complete
Grayland DXpedition June 2023 K7WV Results
All Logs Complete
Grayland DXpedition October 2022 K7WV Results

Grayland DXpedition Sep/Oct 2021 K7WV Results

Grayland DXpedition October 2020 K7WV Results 
IRCA Grayland DXpedition September 2019 K7WV Results
Grayland DXpedition October 2018 K7WV Results

Grayland DXpedition October 2016 K7WV Results

Grayland DXpedition October 2015 K7WV Results

RNA database Received in North America database, uodated by NDBlist user logs

IRCA Group (MW DX)
NDBlist Group (Beacon DXing, mostly LW)

KIWI SDRs for public use

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