DXing in the Pacific

[KR4BD]

First of a Series of Reports.

My wife and I recently returned from a two-week cruise in the Pacific (roundtrip from Los Angeles to Hawaii aboard the Golden Princess). I took along my Tecsun PL-606 and made some interesting loggings. No special antennas were used...just the PL-606 with its internal loop for AM and short whip for FM/SW. I found a spot, outside on the open deck (15th level) away from noise to make these loggings.

Daytime--Oct 11 Mid-Day (Noon-2 PM PDT) about 375-400 miles WSW of Los Angeles:

570 KLAC
600 KOGO
640 KFI
710 KSPN
760 KFMB
790 KABC
830 KLAA+
870 KRLA+
1020 KTNQ+
1070 KNX +
1090 XEPRS
1110 KDIS
1150 KTLK+
1170 KCBQ
1260 KMZT
1520 KVTA
1580 KBLA

There were many weaker signals which I did not identify. The above signals stood out. Those marked with “+” were particularly strong. Note: KFI's signal was not nearly as strong as I expected it to be.

More Posts to follow, including night reception farther off the West Coast and Mainland stations heard in the Hawaiian Islands...

 

[crainbebo]

Very good logs!

I would suppose KOMO made it at night, as well as maybe KIRO or KSPN on 710. I know KPNW 1120 also does good in Hawaii at night.

-crainbebo

 

[davideduardo]

830 KLAA+
870 KRLA+
1020 KTNQ+
1070 KNX +
1150 KTLK+

There were many weaker signals which I did not identify. The above signals stood out. Those marked with “+” were particularly strong. Note: KFI's signal was not nearly as strong as I expected it to be.

Those LA metro stations with the + are, with the exception of KNX, highly directional to the west... some with the equivalent of over 200 kw in that direction.

KNX is just a short distance from the ocean, while KFI is considerably farther inland. Both are 50 kw non-directional, so the proximity of KNX to the water makes the difference.

Anecdotally, back in the 90's a Miss Hawaii won one of the beauty pageants... Miss America, I think. My overnight guy on KTNQ thought that she was not the best of the candidates and said so. He immediately got dozens of calls from Hawaii from listeners who told him what they thought of his comment!

Of course, the host normally talked about aliens... but none of them ever called.

 

[radioman148]

Very good logs!

I would suppose KOMO made it at night, as well as maybe KIRO or KSPN on 710. I know KPNW 1120 also does good in Hawaii at night.

-crainbebo

KPNW & KIRO both make it into Hawaii well at night as I found out several years ago.

 

[Buckeyes2001]

I'm really curious to know what if anything you'll be able to hear on the 9 kHz frequencies out there.

 

[KR4BD]

I'm really curious to know what if anything you'll be able to hear on the 9 kHz frequencies out there.

I've been home for over a week now... I did hear several "hets" on 10 kHz splits around the islands but did not attempt to ID them. I only had so much time when you consider I had to keep Mrs. KR4BD happy and also be involved in all the social events involved when cruising....

I will soon post what I heard farther out in the Pacific at night plus stateside stations heard at Lahaina, Maui.

 

[KR4BD]

830 KLAA+
870 KRLA+
1020 KTNQ+
1070 KNX +
1150 KTLK+

There were many weaker signals which I did not identify. The above signals stood out. Those marked with “+” were particularly strong. Note: KFI's signal was not nearly as strong as I expected it to be.

Those LA metro stations with the + are, with the exception of KNX, highly directional to the west... some with the equivalent of over 200 kw in that direction.

KNX is just a short distance from the ocean, while KFI is considerably farther inland. Both are 50 kw non-directional, so the proximity of KNX to the water makes the difference.

Anecdotally, back in the 90's a Miss Hawaii won one of the beauty pageants... Miss America, I think. My overnight guy on KTNQ thought that she was not the best of the candidates and said so. He immediately got dozens of calls from Hawaii from listeners who told him what they thought of his comment!

Of course, the host normally talked about aliens... but none of them ever called.

Yes, I was aware of that, but KRLA is listed as having only 3000 watts at night and they were one of the strongest signals received. I guess it's possible they forgot to lower their power that evening. ??