Thank you for another great response to the VOA Radiogram for the weekend of 8 and 9 June. Your audio samples were especially helpful.During the past weekend, we experimented with mixing music with MFSK text modes. Reducing the MFSK modes by 9 dB was not a problem if the signal level was good, but the MFSK text did break up for some listeners if reception conditions were marginal.For many listeners, a new web page popped up after the VOA News story in Flmsg format was transmitted. As for the EasyPal image, there was more success in Europe than in North America.This weekend, 15 and 16 June, we will mix some actual noise taken from shortwave with MFSK text. After the noise begins, a VOA News story in MFSK16 will first be transmitted at full level, then reduced to -6 dB, then reduced to -12 dB. I will probably lose many of you when the level is reduced to -12 dB, but please stay tuned: the audio level will soon be restored.Please note that noise that is mixed with MFSK text as part of the VOA Radiogram production is not an ideal simulation of co-channel interference. This is because real co-channel interference involves two (or more) transmitters at different locations and with different propagational characteristics.Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, 15 and 16 June 2013:2:10 MFSK16: Program preview1:58 MFSK16: Introduction to noise experiment10:09 MFSK16: At -0 -6 -12 dB versus noise:59 MFSK16: Image of VOA logo:47 MFSK16: Introduction to MFSK32:51 MFSK32: Image of VOA logo3:19 MFSK32: VOA News re Curiosity Rover on MarsMFSK32: VOA Radiogram logo2:40 EasyPal Image of the week1:10 MFSK16: Closing announcements:20 Surprise mode of the weekAs usual, your audio samples of bad reception that nevertheless results in a successful decode of at least MFSK16 would be appreciated. This email address -- radiogram@voanews.com -- seems tolerant of attachments up to 20 MB or so.Also, if you are able to use portable shortwave radios to receive VOA Radiogram, this would be helpful. This will help us determine if typical listeners will be able to decode the digital text modes.Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.comKimKim Andrew ElliottProducer and PresenterVOA RadiogramVOA Radiogram transmission schedule(all days and times UTC)Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHzSun 0230-0300 5745 kHzSun 1300-1330 6095 kHzSun 1930-2000 15670 kHzAll via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.VOA Radiogramradiogram@voanews.comTwitter: @voaradiogram
Utility Planet is the official blog for the column of the same name in The Spectrum Monitor. It replaces Utility World in the discontinued Monitoring Times magazine. Utilities are all VLF/LF/MF/HF (and sometimes low-band VHF) radio communications except broadcasting, CB, and non-emergency amateur. If you understood the last sentence, you know enough to read this blog.