LATIN AMERICAN SPECTACULAR I am currently on holidays at the moment (although I have been into the office at work on three occasions this week!, I decided it was time for a trip to the bush with radio and wire. Last Wednesday (July 2 2003) was the chosen day and I paid a visit to the water catchments area of Kinglake West, north of Melbourne. This as a great spot, with no power lines around for several kilometres. The end of the road is in a pine plantation. I got there about 4.15 pm, just before sunset, and quickly set up a long wire antenna 45 meters long, and only about 1 to 1.5 meters high. I set up the gear in the car, and listened on the FRG100 through an antenna tuning unit. No manmade noise could be observed, although thunderstorms elsewhere in our wide brown land could be heard bashing and crashing around on 60 meters. This was a bit disappointing, and unusual for this time of year. I was hoping to catch some long path Africans on 60, 49 or 41 metres. But nothing was noted, except for the usual Mauritania on 4845 with its powerful signal in Arabic. Also checked for the Africans on 7125 and 7210 without success. BUT! There were plenty of Latin stations noted during the evening. Quite a few of these were not previously heard this winter season from Melbourne, and there were a few that I had NEVER heard before. All observations occurred after 0630 (4.30 pm local) and finished at 1145 (9.45pm). I am only listing those stations that have not already been reported in either this EDXP Community Board or the previous old phpBB system used over the last few months. I have also included several other stations outside Latin America where warranted and for interest's sake. So, here's the list: 3210 USA - WWCR, 0745 - Big signal at this time, so obviously fades in earlier than this, in English 3220 ECUADOR - HCJB, 0850 - Fair level in Quechua under R Morobe, Lae Runs // with 6080 also heard when signing on at 0830 3255 BRAZIL - R, Educadora Seis de Agosto, Xapuri, 1050 - Talks in Portuguese with occasional short bursts of music, ID noted at 1057 Fair level to fading about 20 min later I have not previously heard this one 3279.6 ECUADOR - La Voz del Napo, Tena, 0850 - Previously noted in this forum, but not at 0850! Talks in a local language A full ID and frequency annct in Spanish at 0900 then lively Andean music Wonderful signal on this band at this time, and was a powerhouse signal right up until 1145 3310 BOLIVIA - Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 1100 - Another surprise catch that I have never heard before Caught the ID at 1100 Many adverts at 1102 Very respectable signal! 3330 CANADA - CHU Time Signal Station, Ottawa, 0740 - ID's every minute, very strong signal at this time and improved later PWBR lists this as in USB but no resolution required!! 4765 BRAZIL - Radio Rural, Santarem, Para, 0910 - I have not previously heard this one Fair level from 0910 to past 1030 when fading 4775 PERU - Radio Tarma, Junin, - First heard at 0945 but got stronger during the evening Many anncts and commercials at 1110, with the occasional ' en de Los Andes!! 4785 PERU - Radio Caiari, Porto Velho, 0910 - Portuguese songs, not particularly strong 4826.2 PERU - Radio Sicuani, Cusco, 0910 - Fair level, noted from 0910 to past 1015 4845 UNID - 1015 - Malaysia and several Latin sounding stations noted here A real mess with nothing particularly strong, just a jumble 4865 BOLIVIA - Radio Centenario, Santa Cruz, 1120 - Good level with IDs as 'Radio Nueva' and 'La Nueva' 4886.6 PERU - Radio Virgen del Carmen, Huancavelica, 1130 - Not strong but noted at 1130 in het with Brazil, although it was much stronger than Brazil which was fading at this time Best heard in USB First time I have heard this station 4890 PERU - Radio Macedonia, Arequipa, 0700 - Spanish programming at equal level to NBC Port Moresby Talks and Andean music, ID at 0723 as 'Aqui Macedonia ' PNG started to dominate at 0735 But later, this station was again noted at 1015 under PNG 4939.6 VENEZUELA - Radio Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho, 0920 - Presumed this station at this time At first I thought it was the Peruvian (Radio San Antonio), but it faded earlier than expected and was gone by 1100, hence Venezuela Reasonably strong when first noted with lively programming, but no ID 5006 UNID At 0934 - Weak signal noted at this time Any ideas? 5009.6 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Radio Cristal, 1030 - Big signal at sign on 1030 with the national anthem, full ID and frequency annct Then very fast music to wake up the inhabitants! Mike Stevenson and I had been chasing this for a week from home Lovely to hear it so clearly in the bush 6010 MEXICO - Radio Mil, Mexico City, 0820 - Clear IDs after each song, time check at 0831 Squashed by HCJB in German at 0930 but still audible underneath to past 1000 6060 BRAZIL - Radio Tupi, Curitiba, 0815 - Fair level in Portuguese 6135 BRAZIL - Radio Aparecida, 0930 - Noted to past 1015 and mixed with Radio Santa Cruz co-channel By the time I had finished listening, it was absolutely pitch black in the pine forest. It was an icy cold but very clear night, with a great view of the southern night sky. I turned on the car headlights and shone them into the bush so that I could retrieve my antenna wire without killing myself in the dark. Packed it all up and got ready for the 1.5 hr trip home. For the five and a half hours I was camped there at the end of that road, I had not seen a living soul. However, I had been travelling about two minutes up this dirt track when, all of a sudden, car headlights appeared before me. I got the feeling that the occupants must have been as surprised to see me, as I was to stumble upon them. We past each other in the night without a word or a glance. I wondered if it was another DXer on their way to MY special listening location. I was glad to be heading in the opposite direction. Rob Wagner (VK3BVW) Receivers: Kenwood TS-2000,Yaesu FRG100, Sangean 909 Antennas: 14 mHz dipole, 5 mHz T2FD