Skegness Log: 20-01-15 (FM)

Band 2 Meteor Scatter:
 88.2 0338 POL RMF FM, Kielce/Swiety Krzyz (SK) 3F44. AFs point to this tx  1436km **
 96.1 0452 DNK R.Nord, Frederikshavn/Brønderslevvej 61/Cloosetårnet (njy) 9F60 ____RD__  797km **
 95.3 0547 POL RMF FM, Olsztyn/Pieczewo (WM) 3F44  1334km **
 96.0 0547 POL PR 3, Bialystok or Lubaczów OM, as 99.1 **
 99.1 0547 POL PR 3, Olsztyn/Pieczewo (WM) 3233 _P______  1334km **
103.2 0623 POL PR Radio Olsztyn, Olsztyn/Pieczewo (WM) 3031 Czer__ny  1334km **
103.1 0734 LTU Lietus, Taurage-Norkaiciai (Tau) C265 ______S_ ______is  1440km **
104.8 0734 LTU Žiniu Radijas, Taurage-Norkaiciai (Tau) C158   1440km **
102.4 0750 POL PR 1, Warszawa/Raszyn (MW) 3211 JEDYNK__  1388km **
105.4 0822 DNK R.Aura, Storvorde-Sejlflod/Kirkebakken 14 (njy) 9CFF   753km **
105.1 0823  S  NRJ, Stockholm/Nacka-Forum Köpcenter (st) E220  1292km **
104.6 0824  S  Mix Megapol, Gnosjö/Gamlebo Europolitan (jo) E243 __GAPO__  971km **
106.2 2228  S  Radio Bohuslän 106,2, Uddevalla/Dalaberg vattentorn (vg) E5C7 JU______  928km **

** Personal 'First'

This was a really eye-opening meteor session and one of my best to date. Some nice low power DX got through from countries I did not expect. The plan was to beam north-north-east with the 9.2 vertical in the hope of catching some low power DX from Scotland. Yes, I know, Scotland is north-west of me, but I am unable to beam that way at the moment because of the neighbour's damn conifer tree which is blocking that direction while the mast is lowered. I will get around to cutting that soon. Remembering how poor the south-west was for MS, i.e. recent sessions produced nothing at all, I did not want to veer too far off-beam of the majority of MS activity, which mostly occurs when I beam anywhere in the north-east to south-east direction. The antenna beam is not too critical during meteor scatter

Sure enough I heard several bursts of UK stations, but the RDS was never present. I was hoping for an AF list so I could nail down the precise sites. Even with the 9.2 beaing NNE I heard a few Italian stations. The real surprises were the low power outlets from Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania. When I first saw the PI code of Lietus on 103.1, I discovered there were two possible transmitters: 2.5 kW Vilnius and 500 watt Taurage-Norkaiciai. I just assumed this was going to be Vilnius, but how wrong I was. The AF list pointed to Taurage-Norkaiciai, and the next catch, Žiniu Radijas on 104.8, confirmed this.

Needless to say I am going to try this direction again tomorrow.

As always, videos of the pick of the bunch can be found on my YouTube page, be I must again point out that video recording is still providing me with many challenges. I may not continue to record my DX for much longer. CamStudio and Bandicam are providing much agony in the rear department. It took me an hour and a half to record the Radio Nord video alone this afternoon. Why are these things never simple?

Good DX!

John Faulkner
Skegness, Lincolnshire (JO03dd) <3m ASL.
Blog: http://skegnessdx.blogspot.co.uk
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/g1vvp
Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/skegnessdx

Receiver:
Elad FDM-S2

Aerials:
Körner 9.2 @ 5.5 metres agl. QTH is 3 metres asl.
Triax FM3, one metre above the ground as a phasing antenna.
Fringe Electronics 20dB & Labgear 30dB band 2 pre-amps.
HS Publications Antenna Phaser.

Software: Elad FDM-SW2, SDR Console & RDS Spy via VAC.

Rotator:
Yaesu G-5500 azimuth & elevation rotator, allowing antenna to be vertical, horizontal, etc.