Unusual reception early morning

[majoco]

Good signals S3/4 at 0640z/0740NZDST of San Franscisco controller in Hawaii on 8867kHz working with VH-HGX, a Bombadier BD700 private pocket rocket. Well past dawn here so both in daylight. Often hear SFO in the late afternoon when it's already dark his end on 8867 and 5643, but never before at this time. It's them sunspots!

[carmelof]

Hi Martin San Fransisco usually booms in the afternoon in australia on 13261,17904 S7 at night on 5547,5574,5628,5643,8867 S20..

Regards Lino..

[ridgescan]

Great DX Marty-I am not sure exactly where SFO's transmitters are. I'd read they are actually in Hawaii, in which case, assuming they serve the Pacific routes east of there, their signals are beaming away from you generally, good catch then. I also heard they have transmitters in Livermore, Ca. kinda inland from me here by 40 miles-but read conflicting stuff saying their controllers are there but transmitters are in Hawaii. So I say, either way, good going

[brandon]

Here are the San Francisco transmitters dated from 2010 --- assumed to still be accurate.

[majoco]

Yes, those frequencies that SFO uses are for the South West Pacific MWARA and the station is on Hawaii. Usually SFO hands over to Nadi, Fiji and then either Brisbane or Auckland - but usually you don't hear SFO during the day as most of the stations are on 8867 or 13261which doesn't go that far. As soon as propagation 'improves' when SFO Hawaii goes into dusk, he drops down to 5643. The Auckland receiving station is in a salt marsh near the airport and he hears a lot more than I do! Interesting that SFO uses TenTec RX330's - I toyed with the idea of buying one as it appears to be just a remoted RX340 at about one-third the price!