I intend to visit New Zealand in person one day, but this weekend I visited the island nation via shortwave radio.
Fortunately, Radio New Zealand has a nice variety of times and frequencies to try:
| UTC | kHz | Time (EDT) | Days | Received (UTC) | SIO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000 – 0458 | 17675 | 2000 – 0058 | Daily | 0330 | 444 |
| 0459 – 0858 | 13690 | 0059 – 0458 | Daily | ||
| 0859 – 1058 | 9700 | 0459 – 0658 | Mon – Fri | ||
| 0859 – 1258 | 9700 | 0459 – 0658 | Sat Sun | 1100 | 534 |
| 1059 – 1258 | 9700 | 0459 – 0658 | Mon – Fri | ||
| 1259 – 1650 | 7440 | 0859 – 1250 | Daily | ||
| 1651 – 1758 | 9700 | 1251 – 1358 | Sun – Fri | ||
| 1651 – 1858 | 9700 | 1251 – 1358 | Sat | ||
| 1759 – 1858 | 9700 | 1351 – 1358 | Sun – Fri | ||
| 1859 – 1958 | 11725 | 1459 – 1559 | Sun – Fri | ||
| 1859 – 1958 | 11725 | 1459 – 1559 | Sat | ||
| 1959 – 2258 | 15720 | 1559 – 1859 | Sat | ||
| 1959 – 2058 | 15720 | 1559 – 1859 | Sun – Fri | ||
| 2059-2258 | 15720 | 1659 – 1858 | Sun – Fri | ||
| 2259-0000 | 17675 | 1859 – 2000 | Sun – Fri | 2328 | 232 |
The simple strategy is to try to find a low frequency when it’s dark and a high frequency when the sun is up. Solar radiation changes the reflectivity of atmospheric layers that direct radio signals back downward towards the Earth.
Success in the Afternoon
The first time out, around 23:20 UTC on a Friday, just after sunset local time, I tried 17675 kHz on a couple of radios, my Tecsun PL-990 and the always portable Qodosen DX-286. This was outdoors with my 20-foot Wire Up a Tree (WUT) antenna. At this time of day there is a daylight path between me and New Zealand. Both radios picked up the station weakly. About all I could tell was that there was a male and female announcer speaking in English.
Success in the Morning
I went out the next morning half an hour before sunrise when there was a dark path between me and New Zealand. I was met with much greater success on 9700 kHz, with a strong signal on the DX-286 with just the telescopic antenna. The issue was rapid fading that made the sound, particularly the music less enjoyable. Fading was a bit less of an issue when I hooked up the WUT antenna. News at 11:00 UTC opened with a story of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in the US being reopened to provide power for a Microsoft AI project. Here’s what the light path looked like about 10 minutes later:
I’m located under that tiny house icon on the east coast of the US and New Zealand is that green thing just west of the International Date Line. The distance is 8,530 miles as the very tired crow files (13,728 km for the New Zealander).
Midnight Madness
I took the PL-990 out half an hour before midnight. WUT Antenna, 17675 kHz. I wasn’t expecting much on such a high frequency so late at night. Wow was I wrong. Strong signal. Male voice reading some literature.
Conclusion
I was able to visit New Zealand via shortwave radio and I didn’t even need a tourist visa.
In 2010, I did a bike ride across the South Island of New Zealand.
I think this photo captures the essence of the place: https://photos.app.goo.gl/x8RnEYTy7tAnMDHk8