Fldigi Test Confirms 3.21.76AH Works

A test was conducted here, in which a recording of last week's MFSK64 and MFSK128 images was decoded using the current release version of Fldigi (3.21.76) and the "Alpha" build used to produce VOA Radiogram.

The release version did not decode the MFSK64 and MFSK128 images correctly on this computer. They were not slanted, but the phase was off.  The Alpha version 3.21.76AH decoded them perfectly.

I could not see any deal-killing issues with the Alpha, despite Norton's dire warnings that no one had used it yet and so they couldn't pass it without at least protesting a bit.  It does not install over previous versions (Fldigi never does), and it does maintain your settings.

If you had this problem last week, the Alpha is available at the link given by Kim Elliott in the previous blog post.

Diamond Studded VOA Radiogram Sep. 28-29

Hello friends,

Thank you for your reception reports for VOA Radiogram 27, broadcast last weekend, 21-22 September. I think I have responded to everyone by now.

The broadcast included Fldigi's new capability to transmit images in MFSK64 and MFSK128, with correct colors displayed. Some results can be seen in the QSL for VOA Radiogram 27. The Duck Commander image was MFSK64, and the CNBC logo MFSK128...

voaradiogram.net/post/62327976737/the-qsl-for-voa-radiogram-27-the-weekend-of-21-22

This weekend we will transmit an image of a $60m diamond using MFSK16, 32, 64, and 128. For correct display of the MFSK64 and 128 images, please install one of the "alpha" versions of Fldigi from...

www.w1hkj.com/alpha/fldigi/v3.21/

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram 28 during the weekend of 28-29 September 2013 (produced using Fldigi 3.21.76AG):

3:33  MFSK16: Program preview
5:38  MFSK 16/32/64/128 images: Large diamond
3:45  MFSK32: BBC World Service archive
4:04  MFSK64: Deutsche Welle, Radio/TV Martí, with image
1:32  MFSK128: Willis Conover Facebook page, with image
 :44  MFSK32: Email address
2:02  MFSK64: ISON comet, with image
2:29  MFSK64/Flmsg: Ultra-compact galaxy
 :37  MFSK32: Closing announcements
  
Please send reception reports and, if possible, screenshots and audio samples to radiogram@voanews.com .

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

This weekend on The Mighty KBC, via Germany, I will have a minute of Olivia 64-2000 under a familiar musical tune. This will be Saturday at about 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday at about 0130 UTC on 7375 kHz (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT). Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thanks for tuning in and decoding. I look forward to your emails.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
http://voaradiogram.net

Go Faster with VOARadiogram for September 21-22

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

This weekend's VOA Radiogram (number 27, 21-22 September 2013) is produced using Fldigi 3.21.76AB. For best results, use this version, available from www.w1hkj.com/alpha/fldigi/v3.21/

One improvement in 3.21.76AB is that it can send images in MFSK64 and MFSK128. Previously, MFSK32 was the fastest MFSK mode for sending images without the pictures appearing skewed (off center). Images do not transmit more quickly in MFSK64 and MFSK128, but they do have higher resolution.

If your decoded MFSK64 and MFSK128 images are still slanted or skewed, calibration of the receive codec might be helpful. One such method for doing this is described here:  www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/DigiWWV.html.

Our non-Latin alphabet of the week is Greek. You will need the UTF-8 character set for the Greek and for some of the punctuation in the English items. I forgot to change some of the typographic apostrophes ’ to typewriter apostrophes ' , so they will not display correctly if you do not have the UTF-8 character set. In Fldigi, that adjustment is made in Configure > Colors & Fonts.

This weekend's program includes an English VOA News item in Flmsg format. When all the text is received, the story will render, or pop up, as a new web page on your browser, suitable for saving or forwarding. To make Flmsg work with Fldigi (both can be downloaded from w1hkj.com), in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS -- Under Reception of flmsg files, check both boxes, and under that indicate where your Flmsg.exe file is located. 

Much of the show this weekend is in the MFSK64 mode, which might be a bit optimistic if reception conditions are less than ideal.

Here is the lineup of modes for VOA Radiogram, 21-22 September 2013:

2:53  MFSK16: Program preview

2:40  MFSK32: Sample of Greek text

 :49  MFSK32 image: VOA Greek Service logo

3:01  MFSK32: "Need to Protect the Internet"

1:45  MFSK64: Radio Free Sarawak/Discovery Channel

2:23  MFSK64 image: "Duck Commander"

 :27  MFSK128: CNBC Saracens deal

 :48  MFSK128 image: CNBC logo

 :45  MFSK32: E-mail address

4:40  MFSK64: BBC Worldwide, Giglio TV, Voice of Greece, All India Radio

2:55  MFSK64/Flmsg: VOA News re Voyager Golden Record

2:17  MFSK32 image: Voyager Golden Record

 :33  MFSK32: Closing announcements

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC)
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

Screenshots and audio samples are appreciated, especially audio of difficult reception that nevertheless results in a successful decode of the text modes.

Reception on inexpensive shortwave portable radios is helpful, but so is reception on more sophisticated communications receivers, amateur transceivers, and SDR receivers.

I am now studying your reports from the weekend of 14-15 September and will be responding in the next couple of days.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

radiogram@voanews.com

http://voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @voaradiogram

NYC NOAA Weather Radio Remains Out of Service

KWO35, the 162.55 MHz NOAA weather transmitter for New York City has been out of service for much of the summer, and it remains that way as of September 14. The reason given is that it was causing interference to USCG VHF Channel 16, the calling/ distress/ guard channel that all vessels are supposed to monitor while at sea.

------------

000
NOUS41 KOKX 061510
PNSOKX
CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-132100-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1110 AM EDT FRI SEP 06 2013

...NOAA WEATHER RADIO NEW YORK CITY REMAINS OUT OF SERVICE...
THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER THAT SERVES THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA HAS BEEN CAUSING RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE ON THE U.S. COAST GUARD CHANNEL 16 TRANSMITTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DISTRESS...SAFETY AND CALLING SINCE LATE JULY.

THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSMITTER BROADCASTS ON A FREQUENCY OF 162.550 MHZ AND THE U.S.COAST GUARD TRANSMITTER BROADCASTS ON A FREQUENCY OF 156.800 MHZ. OTHER TRANSMITTERS...IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE NYC TRANSMITTER BROADCAST ON A FREQUENCY OF 168.3 MHZ.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS WORKING WITH SEVERAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ISOLATE AND RESOLVE THIS TECHNICAL PROBLEM. WE HAVE INSTALLED A FILTER ON THE NYC TRANSMITTER...WHICH REDUCED...BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. WE WORKED WITH ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY AND OVERSAW THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTHER FILTER...ON A TRANSMITTER BROADCASTING OVER 168.3 MHZ...WHICH DID NOT FURTHER REDUCE THE RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE U.S. COAST GUARD TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION OF OUR ROUTINE WEATHER BROADCASTS.

 ...NOAA WEATHER RADIO WILL BE PLACED IN OPERATION TO BROADCAST SHORT FUSE LIFE THREATENING WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS...

NOTE THAT THE NYC TRANSMITTER WILL BE PLACED IN OPERATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SHORT FUSE LIFE THREATENING WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS...SUCH AS TORNADO...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND FLASH FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS...TO ENSURE DISSEMINATION THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM...WHICH IS CARRIED BY THE BROADCAST MEDIA.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
WE WILL PERIODICALLY PROVIDE YOU WITH UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF THE NEW YORK CITY NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER VIA THESE PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS.

$$

GC

NATO Exercise Combined Endeavor 2013 is Underway

From US European Command:

September 13, 2013
By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kenya Shiloh

Combined Endeavor 2013 Public Affairs

U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- More than 2,500 communicators from 40 NATO, Partnership for Peace and coalition partner nations gathered at U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr, Germany, for the opening ceremony of  Combined Endeavor 2013, Sept. 12, 2013.

"Coalition Network for Tomorrow's Fight" is this year's theme for Combined Endeavor 2013 which takes place Sept. 13-26.

Combined Endeavor, sponsored by United States European Command, is the world's largest command, control, communications and computer systems exercise designed to build and enhance communications and network interoperability between 40 nations and international organizations.

10 Meters Is Back!

Despite unbelievably low solar fluxes for this point in a cycle, 10 meters is coming back right on schedule. In the past few days, these CW beacons have been logged here in Southern California:

28183.14    XE1RCS, Long dah, then "VVV XE1RCS/B EK09"  2152
28210.75    K5ARC, very droopy DE K5ARC/B EM0...  2330
28212.31    KJ4QYB,long dah, VVV DE KJ4QYB/B... EM63WW AL AL QSA?  2346
28213.99    N4PAL, VVV N4PAL N4PAL BCN QSL  2246
28222.42    N4QDK, VVV DE N4QDK/B EM98  2237
28231.92    KE4ZRT,"VVV DE KE4ZRT/B = EM81 = 25W" "DOUGLAS, GA"  2203
28237.92    KB2SEO,VVV DE KB2SEO/B EM74PT ETON, GA AR  0102
28244.98    PU2KXC/B, VVV PU2KXC/B GG76AQ (Brazil, nice sig)  2346
28253.41    W4CJB, droopy DE W4CJB/B... EM60...  2252
28254.42    K4JEE, VVV VVV DE K4JEE/B... LOUISVILLE, KY EM78  0053
28255.48    WF4HAM, VVV DE WF4HAM... BCN CEN FL... PSE QSL    2232
28273.03    Unknown, weak     2157
28275.25    Unknown, weak    2211
28277.94    KJ4VYI, DE... KJ4VYI/B EM60JL 50 W...  2220
28281.47    W4HEW?, VVV DE W... H, fading  2224
28298.00    K5TLL, K5TLL/B EM51GG  2359

Also, today:
29520.00    Unid SS/OM in FM, sounded like simplex  0010

VOA Radiogram Goes "Other Way" September 14-15

This weekend's VOA Radiogram includes text in Persian, which goes from right to left. Yes, fldigi will do this in UTF-8 mode.

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

Thanks for the reception reports for VOA Radiogram 25, broadcast during the past weekend. For most listeners, the RSIDs successfully changed the modes on Fldigi, and the Spanish accents displayed correctly. MFSK128 was problematic, as expected, but some listeners were able to decode this very fast mode.

VOA Radiogram for the weekend of 14-15 September 2013 has been produced using Fldigi 3.21.75, so use that version, from w1hkj.com, for best results. Please also install Flmsg 1.1.32, if you do not already have it. We will not use Flamp this weekend.

The non-Latin alphabet of the week is Persian. Because Persian is read right to left, it will be interesting to watch it print out in the receive pane. Use the UTF-8 character set as noted below.

As for the English content, this weekend it will come from my website www.kimandrewelliott.com, which aggregates news about international broadcasting. The website has been inactive for a few months because of the time required to produce VOA Radiogram. However, because of requests that I resume kimandrewelliott.com, I will incorporate news from the website into VOA Radiogram in an attempt to keep both projects going.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, 14-15 September 2013:

2:55  MFSK16: Program preview
1:45  MFSK32: Persian text sample*
4:06  MFSK32: Jamming of Al Jazeera
4:24  MFSK32/Flmsg: New head of France 24**
1:55  MFSK64: BBC in Japan and Daventry sculpture
2:59  MFSK32 image: Rendition of Daventry sculpture
 :42  MFSK128: CNN in former Yugoslavia
 :49  MFSK32: Intro to second MFSK64 transmission
2:25  MFSK64/Flmsg: Psyop in the news**
2:35  MFSK32 image: Gaoxin-7 aircraft
1:15  MFSK16: Closing announcements
 :30  Surprise mode of the week

 * Use UTF-8 character set. In Fldigi, this adjustment is made via Configure > Colors & Fonts.

** Use Flmsg with Fldigi. To make Flmsg work with Fldigi, in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS -- Under Reception of flmsg files, check both boxes, and under that indicate where your Flmsg.exe file is located.

As always, please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com . Screenshots and audio samples are helpful, especially audio of poor reception that nevertheless results in a successful decode of the digital text modes.


VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC)
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

I will soon be responding to your emails.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

It's Been a Long Time, but We Have TEAL Hurricane Recon

000
NOUS42 KNHC 111534
REPRPD
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1130 AM EDT WED 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
         VALID 12/1100Z TO 13/1100Z SEPTEMBER 2013
         TCPOD NUMBER.....13-102

I.  ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
    1. SUSPECT AREA (BAY OF CAMPECHE)
       FLIGHT ONE --TEAL 70--         
       A. 12/1800Z
       B. AFXXX 01FFA INVEST
       C. 12/1515Z
       D. 19.5N 93.0W
       E. 12/1745Z TO 12/2100Z
       F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO --TEAL 71--
       A. 13/1200ZA. 13/1200Z
       B. AFXXX 0210A CYCLONE
       C. 13/0900Z
       D. 19.5N 94.0W
       E. 13/1130Z TO 13/1530
       F. SFC TO 10,000 FT


2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: CONTINUE 12-HRLY
   FIXES AS LONG AS SYSTEM REMAINS A THREAT.     

3. REMARKS: POSSIBLE GLOBAL HAWK MISSION FOR
   13/1100Z INTO HURRICANE HUMBERTO OR BAY
   OF CAMPECHE SYSTEM.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
    1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
    2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

$$
JWP

VOA Radiogram for 7-8 September 2013

Hello friends,

On last weekend’s VOA Radiogram, the experiments with improvements in the RSID generally went well for those of you who had Fldigi 3.21.74AB or newer installed.

This weekend (program 25), we will test the RSIDs again. I have produced the program using Fldigi 3.21.75, so please use that version (or 3.21.74AE, which is the same) for best results. Download from w1hkj.com.

When you have 3.21.75 installed, go to Configure > ID > RsID, and adjust Errors to 0 (zero). This will prevent Fldigi from flipping to another mode when it thinks it hears the RSID for that mode amid the MFSK tones. For more information about this, see http://www.w1hkj.com/FldigiHelp-3.21/ConfigID.html

[This works here.  In fact the help at the link recommends a value of 0 on HF. -Hugh]

Please also download the latest versions of Flmsg [1.1.32] and Flamp (2.1.00) from w1hkj.com.

This weekend's VOA Radiogram will include another transmission in MFSK128. This will be done mainly to see if the RSID works. However, to improve the chances for a successful decode of the MFSK128, it will be in Flamp format. A paragraph will be divided into seven blocks of 64 characters each. And it will be transmitted three times, with the second and third passes filling in any blocks with incorrect checksums. Make sure Flamp is running before the MFSK128 transmission begins; it does not turn on automatically like Flmsg.

The foreign language for the weekend will be Spanish, with brief VOA news items in both plain text and Flmsg formatted. Please turn off and restart Fldigi before each of this weekend's VOA Radiogram broadcasts so that the accented Spanish letters display correctly. For the accented Spanish characters to display correctly, use the UTF-8 character set. The adjustment can be found via Configure > Colors & Fonts.

In the Flmsg-formatted Spanish news story, you will see several html codes such as í for the accented characters. They might look like decoding errors, but the story should look OK when the web page renders.

To make Flmsg work with Fldigi, in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS -- Under Reception of flmsg files, check both boxes, and under that indicate where your Flmsg.exe file is located.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, 7-8 September 2013:

3:55  MFSK16: Program preview

2:09  MFSK32: VOA Spanish news re old iPhones

3:41  MFSK32/Flmsg: VOA Spanish news re new iPhone model

2:29  MFSK64: VOA News re Al Jazeera in Egypt

2:48  MFSK32: YouTube screen capture of Al Jazeera

 :50  MFSK32: Introduction to MFSK128 item

1:30  MFSK128/Flamp: Brief description of VOA

 :45  MFSK32: Introduction to MFSK64

2:55  MFSK64: VOA News re LADEE moon mission

2:56  MFSK32: Artist's rendition of LADEE spacecraft

1:11  MFSK16: Closing announcements

 :41  MFSK32: VOA Radiogram logo  

  :20  Surprise mode of the week

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule

(all days and times UTC)

Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz

Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz

Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz

Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz

All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

I hope you can tune in this weekend. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

http://voaradiogram.net

PS: There will also be a minute of MFSK32 on The Mighty KBC, via Germany, Saturday at approximately 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday at approximately 0130 UTC on 7375 kHz (Saturday evening 9:30 pm EDT).  Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com .