Hello friends,
Many of you have had problems with the Fldigi RxID. It correctly identifies the MFSK32 mode, but sets the audio frequency to somewhere between 1100 and 1200 Hz rather than the actual 1500 Hz center frequency.
I've noticed this phenomenon for over a year, but it might be more prevalent in newer versions of Fldigi.
If you are receiving a strong signal from the North Carolina transmitter, there is often a "halo" above and below the 500-Hz-wide trace of the MFSK32 signal. You can see this in a screenshot sent by Jonathan in Ontario ...
I think the Fldigi RxID latches on to the first thing it encounters that looks like an RSID, which would be the halo to the left (lower in frequency) of the actual MFSK32 signal. That halo is enough to activate the RxID, but not enough to receive actual text.
One solution might be to use an attenuator. Another solution is, in Fldigi: Configure > ID > turn off "Searches passband," then manually set the center frequency to 1500 Hz.
On this weekend's VOA Radiogram, after my voice introduction, I will transmit the MFSK32 RSID. That will be followed by a 30-second tuning signal. If the RxID set Fldigi to the wrong audio frequency, this will give you time to retune to the correct frequency.
After the first MFSK32 RSID, I will transmit no further RSID's until the RSID for the bonus mode of the week: MT63-2000L.
Olivia 16-2000: Last weekend's Olivia 16-2000 did not perform as well as the slower Olivia 32-2000 of the weekend before. In fact, the Olivia 16-2000 may not have been an improvement over MFSK32. This still needs more analysis: I will look through your text files when I respond to your reception reports.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 95, 24-25 January 2015 -- all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:39 Thirty-second tuning signal at 1500 Hz.
2:07 Program preview
3:10 Early release of State of the Union text*
9:29 Russian reaction to State of the Union comments*
18:22 US-Philippine alliance in the South China Sea*
25:38 Closing announcements*
28:16 MT63-2000L: Bonus mode of the week
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz (might no longer be audible in Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz (audible in Europe, if you are awake)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz (reception should be improving in Europe)
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. Reception reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .
Thank you for your VOA Radiogram reception reports from the weekend of 17-18 January. I will respond to them during the weekend.
Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net