***** Ozy Radio Returns ******

[VK3BVW]

The flea-powered Ozy Radio has begun testing on 5045 kHz in the 60-meter band. First noted here in Australia on August 28, the station has been missing for several years from its former 3210 kHz allocation. The location has been reported as Razorback, New South Wales, but I have not been able to confirm this yet. The transmitter power and the type of antenna are also unknown at this time. Observations by myself and other Australian listeners have noted the station operating between 0600 and past 1300 UTC.

The signal into Mount Evelyn, Victoria (at a guess, about 800 km from the reported transmitter site) is very strong – about 10 dB over S9! This is a much better signal than was ever heard on the old 3210 outlet. Whatever has been done at the station appears to be working very well! I believe there is a very good chance that Ozy Radio will be heard internationally!

The current programming consists of test transmission announcements, relays of the Australian Independent News service, and continuous antique pop music from the 50s and 60s. Cheekily, the station is also using the Radio Australia interval signal, while the RA kookaburra also fires off every now and again throughout the broadcasts. I’m not sure how the ABC feels about that!!

Here is a short video I prepared of the test announcement and email address given out at 1356 UTC.

https://youtu.be/L1nm7zzcFN0

UPDATE:
The current power output is 500w and the location is now confirmed as Razorback near Camden approx 45 km southwest of Sydney. Thanks to John Wright for the eQSL statement and information. John also reports that reception reports have been received from as far away as Germany.

Here's hoping that you guys in the US can catch this one!

73, Rob Wagner VK3BVW

[Looking-Glass]

Heard last night 29th August 2017 between 0850-1100z on 5.045MHz AM not overly strong with a 4X3 report at best, probably due to the fact that Razor Back is on the other side of the mountain ranges from here and also propagation not existent as within "local" distance factor.

At 02 and 32 minutes past the hour I heard the old Radio Australia style "Waltzing Matilda" jingle played too, ongoing music play list otherwise. Got snippets of male announcer mentioning something about a "test transmission" and also "gmail" heard.

VK3BVW...funny thing last weekend was listening to ABC Grandstand Radio with the AFL match of the day on Medium Wave and they announced at intervals "Across the ABC News Radio, local radio and Radio Australia network with live AFL."

No one has told them that Radio Australia no longer exists?

[skeezix]

No one has told them that Radio Australia no longer exists?

Maybe they'll pick up where Radio Australia left off.

[ChrisSmolinski]

I set up my SDR to record last night, and was rewarded with reception here in the USA!  From 0848-1147z, although the last half hour was just a weak carrier. Poor quality, but the Waltzing Matilda IS was quite obvious.

[VK3BVW]

VK3BVW...funny thing last weekend was listening to ABC Grandstand Radio with the AFL match of the day on Medium Wave and they announced at intervals "Across the ABC News Radio, local radio and Radio Australia network with live AFL."

No one has told them that Radio Australia no longer exists?

They are referring to Radio Australia's online streaming audio. It's just another outlet for ABC streaming over the web.

[VK3BVW]

I set up my SDR to record last night, and was rewarded with reception here in the USA!  From 0848-1147z, although the last half hour was just a weak carrier. Poor quality, but the Waltzing Matilda IS was quite obvious.

Very nice, Chris. The Waltzing Matilda IS certainly cuts through, even on weak signals.

[Looking-Glass]

Looks like they are near 24 hours operation now, coming in 5X9 plus 15dB over on 5.045MHz AM at 0430z.  Heard most of the morning (my time) up until 0059z.

Fellows in NA/SA might be able to log it on Grey Line verges.

[ChrisSmolinski]

A carrier again this morning but no usable audio. The geomagnetic storm likely was not helping things. But I will continue to check mornings for them, while trawling the lower bands for tropical SWBC, beacons and other interesting stations.