From Kim Andrew Elliott:
Hello friends,
Flmsg returns this weekend on The Mighty KBC. See details below.
This week on VOA Radiogram, the "surprise mode of the
week" becomes the "bonus mode of the week." Because many of you have
problems with the RSID, I will divulge the bonus mode so that you can
make manual adjustment if necessary.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 87, 29-30 November 2014, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz except where indicated:
1:37 Program preview
2:39 Dimming lights to see the night sky*
11:27 Cambodian rice wins "world's best" title*
19:53 Color photos of 1963 Soviet Union*
26:29 Closing announcements
27:20 Bonus mode of the week: MT63-2000L
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 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 at about 1230 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday at about 0130 UTC
(Saturday 8:30 pm EST) on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany.
Reports to Eric at themightykbc@gmail.com.
This weekend, the MFSK64 transmissions on The Mighty KBC will be in
Flmsg format. If you do not have the Flmsg software, download it from
the same source as Fldigi: http://w1hkj.com/download.html.
To make Flmsg work with Fldigi, in Fldigi: Fldigi: Configure > Misc
> NBEMS > Under "Reception of flmsg files" check both "Open with
flmsg" and "Open in browser." Under that indicate where your Flmsg
program is located, for example C:Program Files
(x86)\flmsg-2.0.5\flmsg.exe.
If all goes well, the text from The Mighty KBC will pop up on your web browser.
Thanks for your reception reports for program 86. I hope to have all them answered by the end of the weekend.
If you are in the USA, Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Friday, November 28, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
VOA Radiogram for November 15-16
From Kim Andrew Elliott:
Hello friends,Before discussing last weekend’s and next weekend’s program, a reminder that an archive of past VOA Radiogram broadcasts recorded by Mark Hirst in the UK is kindly maintained by Mark at the URL below. You can decode the modes from these recordings …Last weekend’s 8PSK: As expected, the 640-word-per-minute 8PSK-250 in last weekend’s program usually resulted in more errors than the 320-wpm 8PSK-125. There were a few instances of 95-100% decode of the 8PSK-250, including the 360 km from the North Carolina transmitter to my house in northern Virginia, Saturday 0230 UTC on 5745 kHz. It seems that the 8PSK-250 would be most useful in short-hop shortwave propagation, beyond the range of VHF.[That's what I had here in California, The Land That Short Wave Forgot. I got a good decode on the 8PSK-125, though it errored out once in a fade. The 8PSK-250 could not handle the fading conditions at all, producing a few readable lines and a lot of gibberish. -Hugh]This weekend we return to our workhorse MFSK32 mode for the entire program, except for an MFSK64 image and the surprise mode at the end of the show.Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 85, 15-16 November 2014 (all MFSK32 except where indicated):1:45 Program preview2:52 Solar eclipse and European power grids*7:53 Human settlements and animal extinction*11:45 Interfacing human brains via Internet*16:05 Sesame Street TV show marks 45 years*19:45 Russian media news*26:37 Closing announcements with MFSK64 logo28:05 Surprise mode of the week*with imagePlease send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz (new frequency as of 1 November)
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 at about 1230 UTC on 6095 kHz and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 8:30 pm EST) on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reports for the KBC transmissions to themightykbc@gmail.com .Thanks for your reception reports. I’ll try to respond before the end of the weekend.Please tune in and write this weekend.KimKim Andrew ElliottProducer and PresenterVOA Radiogram
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
G4ILO Propagation Box Replaced by N0NBH
One of the mailing lists had a link to propagation widgets at a site operated by Paul Herrman, N0NBH. One of these looked compact and comprehensive, and so it will be used here. It adds some new information, such as 304A, a solar measurement on a wavelength (304 Angstroms) which creates a good part of the F region ionization.
Clicking on the box takes you to the site.
Clicking on the box takes you to the site.
Monday, November 10, 2014
G4ILO, SK
Mark Clark, N3IRJ, has e-mailed this blog with the following sad information:
For now, in respect of the dead, his little box will be left up. Also, it is preserved in hope that someone else might fix it someday.
We, too, offer condolences to Julian's family.
I am sorry to report that Julian Moss, G4ILO became a Silent Key on October 24, 2014. Please see his blog http://onefootingrave.blogspot.com/ for the original post.
His wonderful HF Propagation has since encountered difficulties, and unless someone takes over maintenance, shall remain uncorrected.
All condolences to his family for their loss.
For now, in respect of the dead, his little box will be left up. Also, it is preserved in hope that someone else might fix it someday.
We, too, offer condolences to Julian's family.
Saturday, November 08, 2014
NMC Pacific Surface Analysis Showing Nov. 2014 Superstorm
This huge storm is what happened to a super-typhoon when it got farther north and picked up energy from the jet stream and another cyclonic storm. It's one of the biggest storms ever seen. It's way bigger than Sandy, though fortunately the affected area is far less populated. As of this post, damage has been limited to some islands, and there are no known fatalities.
I'm especially fond of the single deep fade (fuzzy vertical line) which appeared almost exactly as the storm center was being transmitted. It's almost as if the storm is saying, "Don't mess with me; I'm so bad I can even zap your picture."
Below, we see the chart in a smaller version. Clicking through to it, then doing "View Image" (or whatever your browser calls it) will bring up the whole original. It is huge.
Note the densely packed isobars and the large hurricane-force wind field. The central pressure is not concentrated in an "eye" the way a hurricane would do, but it is still among the lowest recorded in this region. The 944 showing on this chart is close to where Andrew measured.
The pressure later dropped to an ear-popping 924 or thereabouts. No one hung around, and there were no instruments to make a definitive reading. Still, the estimated pressure makes the storm a contender for strongest ever recorded in the Bering Sea.
Also note the extremely wide geographic area under influence of the storm, plus the very long cold front stretching all the way through the temperate latitudes. This goes stationary only a few degrees north of the tropics. This front may influence California weather sometime next week, as it moves up and over the Pacific High to the lower right. The storm's effect on polar latitudes is forecast to bring an early winter to much of the US.
I'm especially fond of the single deep fade (fuzzy vertical line) which appeared almost exactly as the storm center was being transmitted. It's almost as if the storm is saying, "Don't mess with me; I'm so bad I can even zap your picture."
Below, we see the chart in a smaller version. Clicking through to it, then doing "View Image" (or whatever your browser calls it) will bring up the whole original. It is huge.
Note the densely packed isobars and the large hurricane-force wind field. The central pressure is not concentrated in an "eye" the way a hurricane would do, but it is still among the lowest recorded in this region. The 944 showing on this chart is close to where Andrew measured.
The pressure later dropped to an ear-popping 924 or thereabouts. No one hung around, and there were no instruments to make a definitive reading. Still, the estimated pressure makes the storm a contender for strongest ever recorded in the Bering Sea.
Also note the extremely wide geographic area under influence of the storm, plus the very long cold front stretching all the way through the temperate latitudes. This goes stationary only a few degrees north of the tropics. This front may influence California weather sometime next week, as it moves up and over the Pacific High to the lower right. The storm's effect on polar latitudes is forecast to bring an early winter to much of the US.
Friday, November 07, 2014
Malfunctioning Propagation Widget On This Page
We are quite aware that the little "HF Propagation" box at the top right of our main page isn't working. It hasn't for several weeks now. It is displaying HTML/XML code in fields that should be data.
Examination of G4ILO's web site shows that all of these widgets have the same problem.
Since some of the data is still there, one hopes the problem is transitory.
Meanwhile, just click the little "Solar Data from WWV" at the bottom. This loads the latest NOAA/WWV "Geoalert" message with similar information. The first part gives the solar flux, planetary A index, and planetary K index.
Like this.
Examination of G4ILO's web site shows that all of these widgets have the same problem.
Since some of the data is still there, one hopes the problem is transitory.
Meanwhile, just click the little "Solar Data from WWV" at the bottom. This loads the latest NOAA/WWV "Geoalert" message with similar information. The first part gives the solar flux, planetary A index, and planetary K index.
Like this.
Really Interesting VOA Radiogram for 8-9 November
Editor's notes:
1. Note the new frequency of 5910 kHz for the Saturday 0930 UTC transmission. This apparently came as a surprise to everyone.
2. The latest version of fldigi, 3.22.01, is required to successfully decode 8PSK-125.
3. Remember that local times have changed as a result of the various world time changes. In the US, all broadcasts are one hour earlier in local time.
---
From Kim Andrew Elliott:
1. Note the new frequency of 5910 kHz for the Saturday 0930 UTC transmission. This apparently came as a surprise to everyone.
2. The latest version of fldigi, 3.22.01, is required to successfully decode 8PSK-125.
3. Remember that local times have changed as a result of the various world time changes. In the US, all broadcasts are one hour earlier in local time.
---
From Kim Andrew Elliott:
Hello friends,
Last weekend, the frequency of the Saturday 0930-1000 UTC broadcast of VOA Radiogram was changed to 5910 kHz. I never received a memo about this frequency change, so I was not able to inform you. I apologize for the inconvenience, especially to North American listeners who were awake very early in the morning, only to hear no signal on the advertised 5745 kHz frequency.
Here is the revised and up-to-date VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz (new frequency)
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.
With the time change in North America, the 0930 UTC broadcast is now at 4:30 am Eastern Standard Time, and even earlier in the more westerly time zones. If you prefer not to be awake at such an hour, the Audacity timer record feature (in the Transport menu) is handy.
8PSK tests
Most of you reported some errors from last weekend's test of the 8PSK-125 mode (about 315 words per minute). There were, however, several 100% decodes of the 8PSK-125 mode in Europe and North America. (Here's a recording from Greece of one such 100% decode. Try decoding it yourself.) According to VOA Radiogram listeners, it helps to have the Fldigi squelch off or at a low level for this mode, so that characters are decoded even during fades. A low audio level into Fldigi is also useful.
With realistic expectations about the chances for successful decodes, we will experiment with 8PSK modes again this weekend. Towards the end of the show, a VOA news items will be transmitted in 8PSK-125, then the same story will be transmitted again in the even faster 8PSK-250 mode (640 words per minute). You will need Fldigi 3.22.01 to decode these modes.
VOA Radiogram, program 84, 8-9 November 2014
Here is the lineup (all MFSK32 except where indicated):
1:40 Program preview
2:51 Agriculture with salty water*
8:36 New street lighting lower carbon emissions*
14:43 Glowing orbs mark former Berlin Wall*
21:19 Experiments with 8PSK-125 and 8PSK-250
26:29 Closing announcements
27:07 MFSK64 image: Veterans Day in the USA
28:46 Surprise mode of the week.
* with image.
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.
The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1230 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 8:30 pm EST) on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Please send reception reports to Eric at themightykbc@gmail.com.
Thanks to everyone who sent receptions reports to VOA Radiogram last weekend. I'll begin work on the QSL and respond by the end of this weekend.
I hope you can tune in and write in.
Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Detail from NMC Wind/Wave Chart Nov. 7, 2014
This is as close to actual size as I can get Blogger to show it. Note the fair readability of the lettering around the NOAA logo, which is usually just a smudge. Were this to be sent at Kyodo News' 60/576, it would be even crisper, but it would take practically a half hour to send.
We see here that the HF FAX mode is actually capable of a lot more image quality than what is seen in the average degraded transmission. It also shows that NMC's lower powered transmitters can still get out.
We see here that the HF FAX mode is actually capable of a lot more image quality than what is seen in the average degraded transmission. It also shows that NMC's lower powered transmitters can still get out.
Spectacular HF FAX Reception on 12784.1 in SoCal
12784.1 is the dial frequency for NMC, USCG fax from NMC Pt. Reyes, carrier frequency 12786.0.
For the second day, the charts being received in L.A. are among the most perfect I've ever seen. Today there is a little more multipath visible, but not much. Yesterday, there was none at all. The little writing around the NOAA seal is often legible.
Examples coming soon.........
For the second day, the charts being received in L.A. are among the most perfect I've ever seen. Today there is a little more multipath visible, but not much. Yesterday, there was none at all. The little writing around the NOAA seal is often legible.
Examples coming soon.........
X1.6 Flare 17 Nov at 1726
No, it wasn't your radio. New active region 2205 produced a major solar flare this morning (US time), peaking X1.6 at 1726 UTC. This caused a brief R2-level radio blackout, and a CME of unknown geo-effectivness.
2205 and another new region still rotating into view promise more of this sort of activity in the week or so ahead. As they track across the sun, things may get interesting regarding CMEs and magnetic disturbances.
2205 and another new region still rotating into view promise more of this sort of activity in the week or so ahead. As they track across the sun, things may get interesting regarding CMEs and magnetic disturbances.