Friday, August 29, 2014

More on VOA Radiogram Tibetan Font

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

For this weekend’s transmission of Tibetan text on VOA Radiogram, you might be able to see the Tibetan characters in the receive pane. No copy and paste to a word processor will be required.  If all goes well.

Dave, W1HKJ, lead developer of Flidigi, suggests an adjustment to RX Font: Configure > Colors & Fonts: The Rx/Tx Character set should be UTF-8, then (if you have a Microsoft OS) change Rx font to Microsoft Himalaya. Because this font is very small, increase the point size to 20.

With Linux, the font is Tibetan Machine Uni.  I’m not sure which point size is best in this OS.

You can switch to the Himalaya font just before the Tibetan is transmitted 22:39 into the show.  Or you can use the Himalaya font for the entire show, because it prints out adequately in English.  (I don’t know if Tibetan Machine Uni does English.)

I look forward to seeing your results.  Please send reports to radiogram@voanews.com .

Kim


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Nines in HM01 Transmissions: A correction

The September Utility Planet, out today, contains the assertion that the number nine ("nueve" in Spanish) rarely appears in Cuban numbers transmissions.

While this was true until fairly recently, a lengthy HM01 project done by this editor shows that the number nine now appears as often as any other. 

A note to this effect was put into the October column, which will be out next month, along with a better explanation of how the 5-number groups that designate the digital file transfers often increment each day.

These files are completely binary, and no one in the hobby has successfully decrypted one.  There is no telling what's in them.


Himalayan VOA Radiogram for 30-31 August

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

VOA Radiogram during the weekend of 30-31 August will begin with the transmission of a straight vertical blue line. Some of us experience slant when we decode MFSK images, so this line will help us determine if we have a slant problem.  If your line is slanted, URLs for web pages that might help solve the problem will be provided.

Near the end of the program will be a brief sample of Tibetan language text. “Chicken tracks” like this will appear in the Fldigi receive pane…



Copy this line and paste it to a word processor, and the Tibetan text might display correctly.  Your PC will need the MS Himalayan font installed.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 74, 30-31 August 2014:

MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz

1:30  Program preview
 2:31  Vertical line for sound card calibration
4:18  Neuron loss and insomnia, with image
9:36  Producing rubber from dandelions, with image
14:47  North Korea inspecting TVs from China, with RFA logo
22:39  Some Tibetan text
24:05  Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.


The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64 Saturday, 30 August 2014, at 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday, 31 August, at 0130 UTC (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com .

I may still have a few reports still to answer from program 72 (weekend of 16-17 August), but will finish those soon and begin responding to your reports from program 73 (23-24 August).

I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Friday, August 22, 2014

VOA Radiogram and Mandarin for August 23-24

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,


VOA Radiogram for this weekend includes excerpts from an interesting Radio World article about the future of shortwave broadcasting. The article includes a mention of VOA Radiogram.


Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 73, 23-24 August 2014 (MFSK32):


 1:31  Program preview
 2:32  Congressional staffs urged to use Wikipedia
 6:38  Electric propulsion for spacecraft, with image
15:12  Biobattery tattoo produces energy, with image
20:54  Reconsidering shortwave broadcasting, with image
26:06  Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .



VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.



VOA Mandarin digital text ends Monday


The last VOA Mandarin text transmission will be Monday, 25 August, at 0027 UTC.


VOA Mandarin is transmitting 1 minute, thirty seconds of Olivia 32-2000 daily on this schedule: 


2257:45 UTC        6135  9845 kHz

0057:45 UTC        9880 15385 15565 17560 kHz


All via Asian relay transmitters


Chinese domestic radio will be co-channel and usually dominant on all these frequencies. The Olivia 32-2000 has often provided successful decodes, despite the interference, even outside the East Asian target region.


Please send reception reports for the VOA Mandarin digital text to radiogram@voanews.com .


The Mighty KBC will transmit its usual minute of MFSK64 Saturday at 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz and Sunday at 0130 UTC (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reception reports to themightykbc@gmail.com .


Thank you for your interesting reception reports on all the above transmissions. Because of a disruption to my usual routine on Friday and Saturday, I will be late answering reception reports with the eQSL, and won't meet the usual end-of-weekend deadline.


Kim


Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net


Saturday, August 09, 2014

VOA SWBC Committee Reports on HF Audience Research

Copied from VOA Radiogram on 5745 kHz at ~0250 UTC, 10 Aug 14:

To Be Where the Audience Is - Report of the Special Committee on
the Future of Shortwave Broadcasting

WASHINGTON (August 1, 2014) - The Broadcasting Board of Governors
today released "To Be Where the Audience Is," a report that found
shortwave radio to be essential to listeners in target countries,
but of marginal impact in most markets. The report's
recommendations came after a comprehensive review, grounded in
audience-based research, of the efficacy of shortwave as a
distribution platform for U.S. international media.

"Shortwave radio continues to be an important means for large
numbers of peoÆq6e [garble - Hugh] countries to receive news and
information," said Matt Armstrong, who chaired the BBG's Special
Committee on the Future of Shortwave Broadcasting, which issued
the report. "However, many of our networks' target audiences have
moved to newer platforms including TV, FM and digital media. This
report maps a way forward for U.S. international media to remain
accessible for all our audiences."

Research-based evidence of media trends suggests that the
increased availability and affordability of television, mobile
devices and Internet access has led to the declining use of
shortwave around the world. Still, the report finds that
substantial audiences embrace shortwave in Nigeria, Burma, North
Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Cuba and other target
markets for the BBG.

At the same time, the committee's recommendations make clear that
the BBG will need to continue to reduce or eliminate shortwave
broadcasts where there is either minimal audience or that
audience is not a U.S. foreign policy priority. It also ratifies
reductions that were made in redundant signals in 2013 and
further cuts in transmissions that were made in 2014.

Even with these recent reductions, the BBG makes programs in 35
of its 61 broadcast languages available on shortwave where there
is a strategic reason to do so.

The report notes there is no evidence that shortwave usage
increases during crises. At such times, audiences continue to use
their preferred platforms or seek out anti-censorship tools to
help them navigate to the news online, including firewall
circumvention tools or offline media including thumb drives and
DVDs.

The Shortwave Committee report will be discussed at the August 13
public meeting of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

http://www.bbg.gov/blog/2014/08/01/to-be-where-the-audience-is-re
port-of-the-special-committee-on-the-future-of-shortwave-broadcas
ting/

The full report can be found via this page:

http://www.bbg.gov/about-the-agency/research-reports/board/

Note from Kim: Documentation about VOA Radiogram was provided to
committee, and many VOA Radiogram listeners sent comments. VOA
Radiogram was, however, not mentioned in the report.

[accompanied by an image showing vultures perched on a short wave radio antenna.]


Thursday, August 07, 2014

VOA Radiogram for August 9-10, VOA Mandarin, and Mighty KBC

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

VOA Radiogram this weekend includes news items about international media, including the much anticipated  report of the Broadcasting Board of Governors shortwave committee.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 71, 9-10 August 2014 (MFSK32)…

1:32  Program preview
2:36  Siberian activism may bring Russian Internet controls
7:24  Chinese TV channel disrupted by "hacktivist," with image
14:29  SW Radio Africa ends broadcasts to Zimbabwe, with image
19:22  BBG shortwave committee issues report, with image
26:23  Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

VOA Mandarin continues its daily MFSK transmissions, now MFSK16 centered on 2000 Hz. Very precise tuning of the audio frequency is necessary for a successful decode of MFSK16.  

Daily (each transmission is 1 minute, 22 seconds):
2258 UTC        6135  9845 kHz
0058 UTC        9880  15385  15565  17560 kHz
Via Asian relay stations

Please send reception reports for the VOA Mandarin MFSK tests to radiogram@voanews.com.  Audio recordings would be appreciated, but no need to send audio if the MFSK is not heard well enough for at least a 50% decode.

The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday about 0130 UTC (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com .

The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors will meet Wednesday, 13 August, beginning at 1300 UTC. The meeting will include discussion of the BBG shortwave committee report. Live and on-demand video will be available here: http://www.bbg.gov/blog/2013/10/24/board-meeting-august-13-2014/

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend.  I will respond before this weekend is over.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Hurricane Iselle Advisory Number 30

WTPA33 PHFO 071442
TCPCP3

BULLETIN
HURRICANE ISELLE ADVISORY NUMBER  30
NWS CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER HONOLULU HI   EP092014
500 AM HST THU AUG 07 2014

...DANGEROUS ISELLE BEARING DOWN ON THE BIG ISLAND...


SUMMARY OF 500 AM HST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...18.5N 150.6W
ABOUT 305 MI...490 KM ESE OF HILO HAWAII
ABOUT 510 MI...825 KM ESE OF HONOLULU HAWAII
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...986 MB...29.12 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES IN WATCHES AND WARNINGS WITH THIS ADVISORY...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR KAUAI COUNTY.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* HAWAII COUNTY

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* MAUI COUNTY...INCLUDING THE ISLANDS OF MAUI...MOLOKAI...LANAI...
  AND KAHOOLAWE.
* OAHU
* KAUAI COUNTY INCLUDING THE ISLANDS OF KAUAI AND NIIHAU.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND
PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

INTERESTS IN THE NORTHWEST HAWAIIAN ISLANDS SHOULD MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF ISELLE.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
HONOLULU HAWAII.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 500 AM HST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISELLE WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.5 NORTH...LONGITUDE 150.6 WEST. ISELLE IS
MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 17 MPH...28 KM/H...AND THIS
MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH SOME SLOWING
IN FORWARD SPEED ON FRIDAY NIGHT. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE
CENTER OF ISELLE IS EXPECTED TO PASS OVER THE BIG ISLAND
TONIGHT...AND PASS JUST SOUTH OF THE SMALLER ISLANDS FRIDAY. 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  SOME WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS...BUT
ISELLE IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH AS IT MAKES
LANDFALL ON THE BIG ISLAND TONIGHT.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM...FROM
THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140
MILES...220 KM.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 986 MB...29.12 INCHES.


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND...THE ONSET OF TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS IS EXPECTED ON THE
BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII THIS AFTERNOON...WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS
EXPECTED TONIGHT. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER MAUI
COUNTY TONIGHT...OVER OAHU ON FRIDAY...AND OVER KAUAI COUNTY ON
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

SURF...VERY LARGE AND DAMAGING SURF IS EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY BUILD
ALONG EAST AND SOUTH FACING SHORES TODAY AND TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ON
THE BIG ISLAND.

RAINFALL...RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM
AMOUNTS TO 12 INCHES...ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE TRACK OF ISELLE.
THESE RAINS COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AS WELL AS
ROCK AND MUD SLIDES.

STORM SURGE...THE COMBINATION OF A DANGEROUS STORM SURGE AND THE
TIDE WILL CAUSE NORMALLY DRY AREAS NEAR THE COAST TO BE FLOODED BY
RISING WATERS. THE WATER COULD REACH THE FOLLOWING HEIGHTS ABOVE
GROUND IF THE PEAK SURGE OCCURS AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE...

BIG ISLAND WINDWARD AND KAU...1 TO 3 FT

THE HIGHEST WATER WILL OCCUR ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST IN AREAS OF
ONSHORE FLOW. THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DAMAGING
WAVES. SURGE RELATED FLOODING DEPENDS ON THE RELATIVE TIMING OF THE
SURGE AND THE TIDAL CYCLE...AND CAN VARY GREATLY OVER SHORT
DISTANCES.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
NEXT INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY...800 AM HST.
NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1100 AM HST.

$$

FORECASTER BIRCHARD

Pacific Air Recon for Iselle/ Julio

000
NOUS42 KNHC 061230
REPRPD
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
0830 AM EDT WED 06 AUGUST 2014
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
         VALID 07/1100Z TO 08/1100Z AUGUST 2014
         TCPOD NUMBER.....14-067

I.  ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
   1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
   2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
   1. HURRICANE ISELLE
      FLIGHT ONE -- TEAL 71      FLIGHT TWO -- TEAL 72
      A. 07/1730, 2330Z          A. 08/0530, 1130Z
      B. AFXXX 0609C ISELLE      B. AFXXX 0709C ISELLE
      C. 07/1545Z                C. 08/0415Z
      D. 18.9N 152.0W            D. 19.4N 154.6W
      E. 07/1715Z TO 07/2330Z    E. 08/0515Z TO 08/1130Z
      F. SFC TO 10,000 FT        F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

   2. HURRICANE JULIO
      FLIGHT ONE -- NOAA 49
      A. 08/0000Z
      B. NOAA9 0110C JULIO
      C. 07/1730Z
      D. NA
      E. NA
      F. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT

   3. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK:
      A. ANOTHER 6-HRLY FIX MISSION ON ISELLE.
      B. BEGIN 6-HRLY FIXES ON JULIO AT 09/0530Z.
      C. A POSSIBLE G-IV MISSION DEPARTING PHNL AT 08/1730Z
         FOR HURRICANE JULIO.


$$
JWP

Friday, August 01, 2014

Another Night With HM01

5855.0    Unid    AM    HM01    0500    S9+10-20, started early, great signal, 83123 07715 57253 34033 55528 14423

10345.0    Unid    AM    HM01    0600,    S9+10, great signal, 83123 07715 57253 34033 55528 14423

9330.0    Unid    AM    HM01    0700    S9+10-20, great signal, 83123 07715 57253 34033 55528 14423

9065.0    Unid    AM    HM01    0800    S9+10, great signal, 83123 07715 57253 34033 55528 14423

9240.0    Unid    AM    HM01    0900    S9+10-20, good signal, 83123 07715 57253 34033 55528 14423

(1000 5855 n/h)

11435.0    Unid    AM    HM01    1600    S6, very low audio, new callup 83124 07716 57254 34034 55529 14423

---
All intercepts by the editor in Southern California