Over the consecutive holidays of January 9-10, Radio Siesta-san, Shinzo-san, Hanabusa-san (These are their nicknames.), and I conducted a medium wave DXpedition at a villa with a large garden facing the Pacific Ocean in the Boso Peninsula, Chiba Prefecture. The day was blessed with good conditions and we received many Australian MW stations. This time, We set up a 20-meter-long delta loop antenna array which I deployed in November last year. The antenna was directed to South. We enjoyed MW DX reception from late Sunday night on Jan.9 to early Monday morning on Jan.10.
We met at Kawasaki station and headed for the site by a car driven by Hanabusa-san. On the way, we stopped for lunch at Kamome Shokudo (Kamome Restaurant) in Kisarazu City, where we had conger eel tempura(Fried conger eel) rice bowls. Needless to say, the portion was huge. So it was hard to reach for the meals at the supermarket where we stopped to buy our midnight snacks because we were full after eating the conger eel tempura rice bowl.
穴子天丼:Fried Anago(Conger eel) rice bowl(Click to enlarge)
Upon arrival, we immediately started setting up the antenna. The antenna we set up in the south direction was the aforementioned 20-meter-long delta loop antenna array. This antenna is made by placing two loop antennas in a straight line, changing the phase of the signal between both feed points by 180 degrees, and then adjusting the phase of the loop antenna in the direction where we want a null pattern. For the phase adjustment, I used about 15 meters of 50 ohm coaxial cable. A transimpedance amplifier using LMH6702 is mounted in both feed section to convert the current induced in the loop antenna into voltage. By using this amplifier, a flat antenna gain characteristic in the band is realized.
System diagram of the delta loop antenna array (Click to enlarge)
Antenna Pattern (Vertical Pol. @1MHz)
Installation of the delta loop antenna array(Click to enlarge)
DC distribution box, 50ohm power combiner, delay line and CMC (Click to enlarge)
The cottage we used this time has a solar power system on the roof, and the control panel of the power combiner showed that it was working during the daytime. Unfortunately, during the daytime, the noise from the power combiner of the solar power generator was so strong that we could hear a noise like a cry of Chinese muntjac all over MW band. I wanted to turn off the power combiner, but I couldn't contact with the owner of this rental villa at that time. However, as soon as the sun went down, the noise completely disappeared, and after that, we could only hear a light electric static noise, almost free from artificial electric noise. This was an ideal situation for MW DX. I've been DXing in many different places, but it's hard to experience such a quiet noise environment.
Now, I would like to share you my reception logs. Since I am not familiar with Chinese or Southeast Asian languages at all, I specialized in logging English stations. I was able to hear 79 English stations, excluding AFN in Japan. It is truly an extraordinary situation to hear so many English stations like this and I think it is the best part of MW DX. The log can be downloaded fromhere(click)
Now, I would like you to listen to several actual reception sounds. Some of you may not be familiar with MW DX, so please put on your headphones and experience what we were receiving. I hope you can feel the extraordinary nature of MW radio waves propagating from thousands of kilometers away. I chose audio clips that is relatively easy to listen to. Enjoy!
(1)ABC 4QD 1548kHz, 50kW Emerald, QLD, Australia at 16:00UTC on Jan.10
This is a familiar regular station in Queensland of Australia that can be received in MW DXpedition. It is possible to receive this station inland, but it is rarely heard this well. If you have an antenna with a large gain, a low noise environment, and a receiver with excellent dynamic range you can receive this station as if it were a local station.
(2)ABC 8GO 990kHz, 0.5kW Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia at 16:00UTC on Jan.10
この局は、私は初受信でした。オーストラリア、ノーザン・テリトリーのヌランベイにあるABCのラジオ局です。同地区ダーウィン向けの放送を行っています。出力は0.5kWと小さく、珍しい局の部類に入るのではないかと思っています。IDは、”ABC radio Darwin"と出ています。0.5kWという低出力にも関わらず良好に受信できたことに驚いています。
This was the first time for me to receive this station. It is an ABC radio station in Northern Territory, Australia. I guess this station is rare to be received due to 0.5kW of low output power. The ID is "ABC radio Darwin". The ID is "ABC radio Darwin". I was surprised that I could get good reception in spite of 0.5kW of low output power.
(3) 5CS 1044kHz, 2kW Huddleston, SA, Australia at 17:58UTC on Jan.10
This was also my first time to receive this station. It is a commercial radio station in Huddleston in South Australia, Australia. The ID is "Classic Hits 5CS".
(4) 4BH 1116kHz, 17kW Brisbane, QLD, Australia at 18:00UTC on Jan.10
The ID is "Brisbane, 4BH" with music. This is a commercial radio station in Brisbane in Queensland state. The signal is not strong, but it is clearly audible because there is little external noise. Please try to feel how little external noise there is. I'm sure it's not like this at your home. The noise that comes right after the ID, is the noise of lightning over the Pacific Ocean.
(5) 3MP 1377kHz, 5kW Melbourne, VIC, Australia at 16:59UTC on Jan.10
ビクトリア州メルボルンの民放ラジオ局です。IDはチャイム音の後に"3MP, proud to be Ace Radio Network" と出ています。
This is a commercial radio station in Melbourne, New South Wales, and its ID is "3MP, proud to be Ace Radio Network" after the chime.
(6) Radio TAB 1539kHz, 10kW Adelaide, SA, Australia at 17:00UTC on Jan.10
This station in Adelaide, South Australia, is run by the Totalisator Agency Board and broadcasts horse and greyhound racing (so-called dog racing). On this day, This station was confirmed on 1242 kHz too . There is no ID in the audio clip, but at 18:00UTC, I could hear an ID "Radio TAB" in the weak signal. The announcer spoke something about Crystal Water in this clip, which seems to be the name of a horse. Please listen to the background female voice on the top, which is small but so clear too.
(7) 2QN 1521kHz, 10kW Deniliquin, NSW, Australia at 18:19UTC on Jan.10
オーストラリア、ニューサースウェールズ州、デニリクインの民放局です。IDは、"This is the Australia ... on 15-21 2QN"と出ています。少し信号は弱いのでヘッドフォンで聴いてみてください。
This is a commercial television station in Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia. The ID is "This is the Australia ... on 15-21 2QN". The signal is a little bit weak, so try listening with your headphones.
(8) 2MM 1656kHz, 0.4kW Darwin, NT, Australia at 17:35UTC on Jan.10
This is a narrowcasting station in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The transmitting power of this station is 0.4kW. The language spoken in this program seems to be Greek, not English. The ID is "2MM (Two double M)" with music.
(9) 3SH 1332kHz, 2kW Swan Hill, VIC, Australia at 18:00UTC on Jan.10
This is a commercial TV station in Swan Hill, New South Wales, Australia. The ID is "13-32 3SH". During this time, the lightning noise over the Pacific ocean was terrible. But the signal was still coming through.
(10) Hot Country 1629kHz, 0.4kW Darby, QLD, Australia at 16:59UTC on Jan.10
オーストラリア、クイーンズランド州のダルビーにあるナローキャストを実施している放送局です。出力は0.4KWです。IDは陽気な声で”Saturday morning talk show 9a.m..., Hot Country”と出ています。
This is a narrowcasting station in Dalby, Queensland, Australia. The ID is "Saturday morning talk show 9a.m., Hot Country" in a cheerful voice. The ID is "Saturday morning talk show 9a.m. ... ,Hot Country" in a cheerful voice.
The official frequency of this station is 1629 kHz, but there was clearly an offset, meaning the frequency was out of 1629kHz a little bit. I think the frequency offset was about minus 50 Hz.
Cross Country Wireless(CCW)のループアンテナ用プリアンプLAA++はちょっと気になりました。性能について記載されていますが、出力でのインターセプトポイントの値が記載されており、これをどう読むかはピンときませんでした。入力でのインターセプトポイントの値も知りたかった(換算できるのでしょうか?)。また14MHzでの利得が25dB、そして雑音指数が0.79dBとありましたが、本当にこんなに小さい雑音指数が達成できているのか?とちょっと疑いの眼で見ているところです。
また、さらには、海外の視聴者モニター達とのやり取りも、 アップルのニュートンというメッセージパッドとモデムを使ってコンピューター通信でできるようにし、1991年にソ連が崩壊した後には、VOAはRadio Free Europe とRadio Liberty ののネットワークと中継局、前ソ連に在住していた多くの聴取者モニターを受け継ぎ、このモニター達にサンクトペテルブルグの会合でこのニュートンによる新システムの紹介をしたっていうんですから、このウィトカー氏を始めとするVOAの実行力・機動力は恐るべしですね。
11月20日のAEindex速報値は次のグラフの通りです。日本時間16時はUniversatl Time (UT)で7時となります。2018年の時よりも若干線が太いですが、暴れている様子はありません。北極圏のオーロラ帯は静穏だった様子が伺えます。(※AEindexは強いオーロラが出ると盛大にグラフが暴れます。北米東海岸中波局が日本で受信された時間帯のAEindexは、私が調べた限りでは全てグラフはほぼ直線に近い状況(静穏)であったことがわかっています。)
まずは16時の正時に聞けたWBZのIDが出る様子はこちらの動画になります。IDは”WBZ Boston WXKS FM - HD2, Medford and Iheart radio station. Now, more than ever, it matters where you get the news, (WBZ News Radio)". と出ています。カッコ内は、フェーディングで弱くなってしまい微かに空耳レベルで聞こえている部分です。
混信が強いものの、良く聞くと開始35秒で”WBZ Boston News Radio"とアナウンスが出ていることがわかります。また開始1分30秒でもWBZ..と聞こえています。この言葉が取れてただけでも、WBZの受信であると断言してもいいと思いますが、ただいかんせん信号が弱いこと、さらには混信が激しいことから、男性トークが弱くなっているところは本当にWBZなのか?という疑問もわくかもしれません。これについては、検証結果を後ほど紹介します。
こちらの受信音でも、開始35秒で”WBZ Boston News Radio"とアナウンスが出ていることがわかります。また開始1分30秒でもWBZ..と聞こえています。岩手三陸沿岸での受信音と比較して、こちらはかなりクリアな受信音です。同周波数1030kHzには、通常はワイオミング州のKTWOがおり、フェージングにより、そちらと途中入れ替わることも想定しなければならないのですが、この男性トーク及び、途中入るローカルコマーシャルを聞く限りは、この時間帯はWBZが連続して聞こえていたと判断しても良いと思います(ローカルコマーシャルについては別途聞き取りをおこなってみます)。また、受信ロケーションの差もあったのかもしれませんが、この受信状況の差は、受信アンテナによるものが支配的だったに違いないと私は考えています。
ローカルコマーシャルを精聴すれば、同コマーシャルがWBZからのものであるかの判別に役立ちます。なんだか、家のカーペットについて話をしているようです。このコマーシャル中、(978)263-2302(twenty-three-O-two)の番号が聞き取れました。早速インターネットで検索です。すると、このサイトがヒットしました。予想通りこの番号は、マサチューセッツ州内のもので、カーペットを販売している会社のもののようです。またオーナーはJoe Paolini氏となっています。確かに、コマーシャル冒頭でMy name is Joe Paolini..と言っていますね。さらにこのサイトからたどると、Post Road Carpet One という会社のホームページにたどりつきました。コマーシャル中、頻繁にこの言葉は出てきます。
耳に痛いノイズが頻繁に入るし、私な英語ネイティブではないので、全部はとても私には聞き取れないのですが、推定含めて聞き取りをおこなってみました。以下がその結果です。聞き取れなかった部分は、ニューヨーク在住のアメリカ人の友人に追記・修正をお願いしました。Demitiri-san Thank you very much!
My name is Joe Paolini. My family has owned Post Road Carpet One in Acton for over 44 years.
When you walk in our 18,000 square foot show room.
We will help you find the right flooring to make your home of reflective of your personal style.
Hard wood, ( )carpeting , aria rug, luxury vinyl tile, Hunter Douglas blinds, and much much more.
Mention you heard this ad on WBZ and you'll be receiving additional 10% off material.
We have it all. Come and visit us at postroadcarpetoneofacton.com.
Or give us a call at (978)263-2302(twenty-three-O-two).
Post Road Carpet ( )you made a right decision.
Post Road Carpet made truly in Acton. More than just a great ( ) carpeting,
It's the great design center.
Post Road Carpet is COVID confinement (or compliant).
2021年3月24日に国立研究開発法人情報通信研究機構(NICT)が、任意の2地点間の電波伝搬経路をリアルタイム宇宙天気情報に基づき提供することを可能とする短波帯電波伝搬シミュレーター(HF-START HF Simulation Targeting for All user's Regional Telecommunication)をスタートさせました。そのサイトはこちら
FCC AM Query を見ると、新しい送信点から送信出力2.5kW(日中及び夜)で送信する申請がされており、FCCは特別な一時的権限を持って許可したようである
昨年停波するまでKUAMは、Pasific Telestationsによる、”Isla63”というブランドで放送されていたが、新しい免許申請者はGood News Broadcasting Incとなっている。この会社は、キリスト教系放送をしているが、KUAMがAdventist World Radioとどのような関係になるのかは明らかになっていない
とのことです。
American DXer Glenn Hauser reports that the Guam medium wave station KUAM (630 kHz), which was shut down last year, will be revived with a new output power of 2.5 kW instead of 10 kW.
The following is a summary based on the information he posted on "Medium Wave Circle", a medium wave DX circle in the UK.
KUAM has been transferred to a company called Good News Broadcasting Corp, which has applied to the FCC to convert KUAM to a non-commercial station.
KUAM has been broadcasting from Agana, Guam, at a constant transmit power of 10kW, but in order to allow for the continued operation of KUAM, Good News Broadcasting Corp. has decided to use a temporary location on the grounds of shortwave station KSDA. This site is about 17 km away from Agana.
As for the transmitting antenna, it is proposed to be an antenna tower for KSDA with an umbrella-type spoke wire, and to be operated under 5kW. (*Author's note: Is this because of the temporary installation?)
The FCC AM Query shows that an application has been filed to transmit at 2.5kW (daytime and nighttime) from the new transmission point, and the FCC seems to have granted it with special temporary authority.
KUAM was branded "Isla63" by Pasific Telestations until it was shut down last year, but the new license applicant is Good News Broadcasting Inc. The new license applicant is Good News Broadcasting Inc, a Christian broadcasting company, but it is not clear what relationship KUAM will have with Adventist World Radio.