Friday, December 23, 2016

Merry Christmas from Utility Planet!


Holiday VOA Radiogram for Christmas and New Year's Weekends

Hello friends,


This note provides details about VOA Radiogram for the holiday weekends of 24-25 December and 31 December-1 January.

Listeners in Europe: Try for possible gray line reception for the broadcast Saturdays at 0930-1000 UTC on 5865 kHz.  And if reception on 17580 and 15670 kHz is difficult, you might have your best luck in the middle of the night, Sundays at 0230-0300 UTC on 5745 kHz.

The program for 24-25 December (program 195) is a holiday "spectacular."  It will all be in MFSK32 and will include 11 images of holiday lights from around the United States.

The show on December 31-1 January will return to the normal format, with one news item in Olivia 64-2000, which might be helpful if reception is poor.  Olivia 64-2000 works best if Fldigi's squelch (SQL) is off.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 196, 31 December 2016-1 January 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

  1:45  Program preview
  2:50  Farming without soil*
  8:54  Dwarf planet Ceres flush with ice*
14:38  Olivia 64-2000: Planets developing around young star
22:02  MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements*

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz         (To the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz       (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  

DigiDX transmits DX news in MFSK32 and sometimes other modes:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Via WRMI Florida, to Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to North and South America)

Monday 2000-2030 UTC on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
Wednesday 2100-2130 UTC on 3975 kHz (via IBC)

See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/
 
Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thanks for your reports from last weekend.  I tried a new system in which I prepared a "QSL" card for each transmission, each consisting of four images decoded by listeners, and sent those soon after the broadcast.  They are not as comprehensive as the gallery of all decoded images, but the cards do let me respond to your emails on a more timely basis.

If you can take some time off from your holiday celebrations, I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.

Best wishes for the holidays and the new year 2017,

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

Christmas Eve SAQ Alexanderson Alternator Transmission Set

Hopefully the annual Christmas message from this rather extreme method of generating RF will take place this year.  From ARRL Letter:

The Alexander Association plans to have Alexanderson alternator transmitter SAQ on the air for its traditional Christmas Eve transmission. The 200 kW Alexanderson alternator will transmit on 17.2 kHz on the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, with tune-up at around 0730 UTC, and the message transmission following at 0800 UTC.

"Since the plant is old, there is always the risk that the transmission will be cancelled on short notice," the Association said in an announcement. Repairs following an early October fire in the long-wave antenna (attributed to arcing) had put this year's Christmas Eve transmission in jeopardy. Dating from the 1900s, the Alexanderson alternator -- essentially an ac generator run at extremely high speed -- can put out 200 kW but typically is operated at much lower power. Once providing reliable transatlantic communication, it is now a museum piece and only put on the air on special occasions. It was built in the 1920s.

Christmas Eve activity will also take place on Amateur Radio frequencies from SK6SAQ on or about 7.035 and 14.035 MHz (CW). Send reception reports of SAQ or SK6SAQ. -- Thanks to Lars Kalland, SM6NM

Friday, December 16, 2016

VOA Radiogram for 17-18 December 2016

Apologies for not including Kim's images. You can see them on the VOA Radiogram web site.  They were the result of last week's "interesting" propagation, including grey line paths and general solstice weirdness.

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

Near-winter-solstice propagation has made reception of VOA Radiogram more problematic, especially in the higher frequencies (15670 and 17580), while opening up opportunities for reception south of the Equator.

In  recent weeks, the Saturday 0930 UTC on 5865 kHz show has delivered a signal to Europe via the gray line, though usually not good enough for successful decoding. If you are in Europe, keep trying this transmission, at least into February. 

For European listeners, this time of year the best opportunity for reception might, ironically, be the Sunday 0230 UTC broadcast on 5745 kHz. It's nominally beamed to the Caribbean, and in the middle of the night in Europe. Audacity's timer record feature can be helpful here. Just leave your radio on all night -- and sleep well!

This weekend's VOA Radiogram has some interesting items, including a story about the future of US international broadcasting, including VOA. If reception is difficult -- a likely scenario -- one item is in Olivia 64-2000. It might decode successfully even if you can barely hear the signal through your speaker or see it on the waterfall.

For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn Fldigi's squelch (SQL) off. And to keep the center audio frequency from wandering, Configure > IDs > RsID > turn off Searches passband. Set your audio frequency to 1500 Hz, and it will wander no more than +/- 200 Hz.


Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 194, 17-18 December 2016, all in MFSK32 except
where noted:

  1:36  Program preview
 2:42  Reorganization of US international broadcasting*
11:53  Off-grid solar power in Africa*
18:00  Olivia 64-2000: Shortwave greetings for sailors
25:30  MFSK32: Closing announcements*

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz         (To the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz       (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  
DigiDX has a new transmission schedule, both via WRMI Florida:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Targeted at Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (For North and South America)

See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thanks for your reception reports -- and reports of attempted reception -- from last weekend.

The past few weeks I've been especially busy with my pesky audience research job at VOA. But, now, with some holiday time off, I hope to answer many of your recent emails.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

Friday, December 09, 2016

VOA Radiogram for December 10-11

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Club Diexistas de la Amistad 40th anniversary logo received by Mark in the UK, Saturday, 3 December, 1626 UTC, 17580 kHz, via North Carolina.

Hello friends,

This weekend, I am betting on adequate reception conditions, because all VOA Radiogram content will be in MFSK32 except for the transmission schedule in Olivia 64-2000 at the very end of the show. (For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn the Fldigi squelch [SQL] off.)


Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 193, 10-11 December 2016, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz, except where noted:

 1:49  Program preview
 2:59  Cassini probe beams back images of Saturn's atmosphere*
 7:28  Kremlin doctrine for "managing" Internet*
14:38  Australia's ABC to end shortwave broadcasts*
21:14  Closing announcements*
28:28  Olivia 64-2000: Transmission schedule

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz         (To the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz       (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  

DigiDX has a new transmission schedule, both via WRMI Florida:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Targeted at Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (For North and South America)

See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend.

I am compiling a gallery of decoded logos of the Club Diexistas de la Amistad and hope to begin sending them out this weekend.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

December 11 Special Event will Commemorate Transatlantic Reception Anniversary

ARRL:

An Amateur Radio special event on December 11 will commemorate the 95th anniversary of the first transatlantic shortwave reception between Greenwich, Connecticut, and Ardrossan, Scotland. ARRL, the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), and the Radio Club of America (RCA) are partnering in sponsoring the activity. The Greenwich Historical Society will also participate.

On December 11, 1921, a radio signal transmitted from the location of 1BCG in Connecticut, was heard in Scotland by Paul Godley, 2ZE, during the second ARRL transatlantic tests. The special event will use N1BCG, the call sign of Clark Burgard of Greenwich, a radio history buff who was instrumental in making arrangements for the event.

The N1BCG special event, which will be set up at a school near the original 1BCG site, will begin on Sunday, December 11, at 1200 and conclude at 0300 UTC on December 12. Operation will be on AM on 75 and 40 meters; CW and SSB on 40 meters, CW on 30 meters, and CW and SSB on 20 and 17 meters. Approximate frequencies are 3.880 (AM), 7.290 (AM), 7.235 (SSB), 7.040 (CW), 10.112 (CW), 14.280 (SSB), 14.040 (CW), 18.125 (SSB), and 18.088 MHz CW.

The event will include an attempt at a two-way contact between N1BCG and GB2ZE in Ardrossan.

Tuesday, December 06, 2016

Radio Australia gone end of January

Another one bites the dust.

This isn't utility, but if you grew up with RA's slushy music ruling the Pacific, it feels like it ought to be.  You know, like part of the infrastructure.

I'm glad I'm not a broadcast columnist.  We'll be down to Brother Stair soon.

ABC press release (via SWLing Post):


The ABC will end its shortwave transmission service in the Northern Territory and to international audiences from 31 January 2017.

The move is in line with the national broadcaster’s commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings including DAB+ digital radio, online and mobile services, together with FM services for international audiences.

The majority of ABC audiences in the Northern Territory currently access ABC services via AM and FM and all ABC radio and digital radio services are available on the VAST satellite service.

...

“In considering how best to serve our Pacific regional audiences into the future we will move away from the legacy of shortwave radio distribution,” Ms Marshall said. “An ever-growing number of people in the region now have access to mobile phones with FM receivers and the ABC will redirect funds towards an extended content offering and a robust FM distribution network to better serve audiences into the future.”

Yeah, right.  Let's see them hit every cell phone on every isolated island in the Pacific with "a robust FM distribution network" or satellite receivers.  Silly.

Friday, December 02, 2016

VOA Radiogram for December 2-4

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Christian in France decoded this image at 1939 UTC, 27 November on 15670 kHz. By 1947 UTC, the signal from North Carolina had disappeared completely!

As Christian wrote, « Sans doute la propagation, dommage. »

Sans doute!






Hello friends,

Last week’s transmission Sunday at 1930-2000 UTC on 15670 kHz again did not reach most of Europe -- for at least part of the show.  See the image above.

The Saturday 0930-1000 broadcast on 5865 kHz also did not reach most of Europe. Please try again this weekend, because we never know when gray-line propagation will be favorable. This transmission should be audible throughout the Americas and might also be heard in the Asia-Pacific region.

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram includes one news item in Olivia 64-2000. This mode might provide a good decode even in conditions which result in an unsuccessful decode of our usual MFSK32 mode. Turn off Fldigi’s squelch (SQL) for best results in Olivia 64-2000.

And to keep the transmitter hum from mixing with the RSID, resulting in an incorrect center audio frequency, do this in Fldigi: Configure > IDs > ID > RsID > unselect (turn off) Searches passband.  Set the audio frequency at 1500 Hz. Any self-adjustment of the audio frequency by Fldigi will be no more than 200 Hz.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 192, 3-4 December 2016, all in the MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:48  Program preview
 2:59  U.S. Coast Guard looks to increased Asia-Pacific role*
 8:47  Thomas Edison National Historical Park*
15:55  Olivia 64-2000: UK radio amateur's ISS project
22:16  MFSK32: Club Diexistas de la Amistad 40th anniversary*
27:07  Closing announcements*

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz         (To the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz       (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  

DigiDX has a new transmission schedule, both via WRMI Florida:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Targeted at Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (For North and South America)

See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend.

I am compiling a gallery of Denali images and hope to start sending it out this weekend.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

PS: For information about the transmitters and antennas used for VOA Radiogram, see …

http://voaradiogram.net/post/47627164533/voa-radiogram-some-details-about-the-transmitters

Friday, November 25, 2016

Stormy VOA Radiogram for 26-27 November

The coronal holes just keep on coming.

Hope all our readers in the USA had a nice Thanksgiving.

---

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

Apologies to those of you who tried to listen to last weekend's Sunday 0230 UTC transmission on 5745 kHz, only to hear nothing. The transmitter normally used for VOA Radiogram was quickly needed to replace another transmitter. Regularly scheduled broadcasts from the North Carolina station have priority over VOA Radiogram, which is an experimental broadcast. 

If you are in Europe and tried to listen to the Sunday 1930 UTC broadcast on 15670 kHz, you probably also heard nothing. In this case, it was bad propagation, for the third week in a row. On the other hand, this transmission was heard in western North America and even in Australia (see the images and text decoded by Frank in Perth at the bottom of this email).

The Saturday 0930-1000 UTC broadcast on 5865 kHz is starting to be heard in Europe via the gray line. If you are not in Europe but want to see how this works, try the University of Twente receiver in the Netherlands:
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901. Reception will, of course, vary from week to week.

Because of the challenging propagation that we encounter this time of year, one of the news items in this weekend's broadcast will again be in Olivia 64-2000. This mode may provide a 100% decode even if MFSK32 struggles. For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn off the Fldigi squelch (SQL, bottom right). 

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 191, 26-27 November 2016, all in MFSk32 except where noted ...

 1:48  Program preview 
 2:59  GOES-R weather satellite launched*
 9:40  Olivia 64-2000: Chinese lunar-orbiting satellite
17:05  MFSK32: 56-year-old radio amateur joins ISS crew*
21:33  Trump promise to rename Mt. Denali Mt. McKinley*
27:14  Closing announcements

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17580 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 has an expanded schedule this weekend.  KBC's broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. KBC will also broadcast to Europe on Sunday at 1200-1300 UTC on 6095 kHz. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 1230 UTC. This won't be audible in North America, but you can listen via the University of Twente receiver in the Netherlands: http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  
 
DigiDX has a new transmission schedule, both via WRMI Florida:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Targeted at Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (For North and South America)
 
Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend (or reports of attempted reception).

Galleries from program 187 (29-30 October) have finally been sent out.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
Twitter: @VOARadiogram

Friday, November 18, 2016

Very experimental VOA Radiogram for 19-20 November

This one ought to be interesting.

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Happy to report that our listeners Chris and Lorne in New Zealand are OK after Monday's earthquake. Here is Chris's decode of the oil made from sludge, transmitted Saturday, 12 November (before the quake), 0930-1000 UTC, 5865 kHz.

Hello friends,

I forgot to mention last week that for listeners in most of North America, VOA Radiogram is now on one hour earlier by local time, now that Daylight time has reverted to Standard time. The UTC times are the same.

Last week’s broadcast Sunday at 1930-2000 UTC on 15670 kHz was again inaudible in Europe. But, again, it provided good text and images to the western USA.

Possible solutions to the poor 15670 kHz would be a change to a 13 or maybe 11 MHz frequency at the same 1930 UTC time.

Or a change of broadcast time to dawn in Europe, around 0500 or 0600 UTC, probably on a frequency near 6 MHz.

I am also considering a change the Sunday 0230-0300 UTC frequency to dusk in North Carolina, around 2300 UTC, for maximum night-time propagation to the east.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts about changing VOA Radiogram times and frequencies.

This weekend, we will try an experiment suggested by Roger in Germany.

As you know, the transmitter hum, most pronounced at 360 Hz, has mixed with the RSID, resulting in the Fldigi RxID flipping the audio frequency to ~1140 Hz rather than the correct ~1500 Hz.

Roger suggested transmitting “nonsense data” at 360 Hz, in addition to the primary data at 1500 Hz, to see if it prevents the intermodulation that causes the incorrect audio frequency. Or maybe it will make it worse. In any case, this should be fun.

Please follow this procedure for this weekend’s VOA Radiogram:

1.     Configure > IDs > ID > RsID > select Searches passband
2.     At 1:45 into the show, observe if RxID changes center frequency to 1140 Hz rather than the correct 1500 Hz. Change it back to 1500 Hz if necessary
3.     At 2:30, during the program preview, BPSK63F (PSK63F) at 360 Hz, reduced by 15 dB, no RSID, with the VOA Radiogram transmission schedule, will begin.
4.     At 2:56, the mode changes to Olivia 64-2000, with RSID. Observe if the audio frequency stays at the correct 1500 Hz or changes to 1140 Hz.  Change the frequency back to 1500 Hz if necessary.
5.     At 10:03, the mode changes back to MFSK32, with RSID.  Observe if the audio frequency stays at the correct 1500 Hz or changes to 1140 Hz. Change the frequency back to 1500 Hz if necessary.
6.     At 13:02, the BPSK63F at 360 Hz will end.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 190, 19-20 November 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:45  Program preview
 2:56  Olivia 64-2000: FUNcube enters amateur service
10:03  MFSK32: China increases Internet control*
17:29  Freedom House global Internet freedom report*
26:34  Closing announcements*

* With image

Please send reception reports to

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

Radio Pushka (Радио Пушка) will broadcast via Channel 292, Germany, 6070 kHz, Sunday, 20 November, at 2000-2100 UTC. MFSK32 will start at 2052 UTC, followed by one experiment with Feld Hell, then SSTV Scottie 1 mode (2 pictures). See http://radiopushka.blogspot.ru/2016/11/the-hell-digi-schedule-20112016.html .

The Mighty KBC will broadcast to North America Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  

DigiDX has a new transmission schedule, both via WRMI Florida:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Targeted at Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (For North and South America)

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thank you for your reception reports (or reports of attempted reception) from last weekend. 

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
Twitter: @voaradiogram  (especially active before, during, and after broadcasts)

Thursday, November 10, 2016

VOA Radiogram bravely surfs the solar wind, 12-13 November

Hello friends,

The most interesting phenomenon during last weekend was the almost complete failure of the Sunday 1930 UTC broadcast on 15670 kHz to reach listeners in Europe. Propagation was worthless over the north Atlantic. At the same time, that broadcast was received well in western North America. Willy in Denmark was the only European listener to decode an image on 15670 (left). Compare it to the same image, same time, same frequency, decoded by Mike in Washington state … 





During some VOA Radiogram transmissions, the transmitter hum at 360 Hz mixes with the RSID, spoofing Fldigi to set the center audio frequency around 1140 Hz instead of the correct ~1500 Hz. One way to prevent that is: Configure > IDs > ID > RsID > unselect Searches passband.  With this unselected, Fldigi will adjust itself no more than 200 Hz than the audio frequency it is set to (1500 Hz in our case).

If we have bad conditions this weekend, one of the VOA New items will be in Olivia 64-2000.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 189, 12-13 November 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:31  Program preview
 2:44  Turning human waste into oil*
 7:21  Color images from electron microscopes*
12:33  Olivia 64-2000: Worry about good health
20:07  MFSK32: 2011-15 hottest period on record
22:43  "Supermoons" in November and December*
27:18  Closing announcements


* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

The Mighty KBC will broadcast to North America Sunday, 13 November, 0000-0200 UTC (7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 (repeated from the previous weekend because of the poor propagation) will be at about 0130 UTC. Reception reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes :

Sunday 0630-0700, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany
Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Schedule subject to changes: visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/  or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz and new 3975 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC. 

The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2100-2130 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2125-2030.

IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0055-0100 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0030-0100 broadcast.

See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information.

Also, here is the latest information from Saverio at Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) about their digital mode transmissions …

EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955* KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730* KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070* KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500

As usual our email is ibc@europe.com and site www.ibcradio.webs.com

* via WRMI, Florida


Friday, November 04, 2016

Note changed frequency for VOA Radiogram 5-6 November

From Kim Andrew Elliott:



Last weekend's photo of Alderney, Channel Islands, by VOA Radiogram listener Neil Howard, received and decoded on Alderney by Neil Howard.




Hello friends,

The B16 HF broadcasting season began on 30 October. Many shortwave broadcast frequencies were changed on that date. The only change for VOA Radiogram is the Saturday 0930-1000 UTC broadcast which will be on new 5865 kHz as of Saturday, 5 November. This transmission is usually heard in Australia and New Zealand and sometimes in parts of Asia. And listeners in Europe should be on the lookout for this 5865 kHz as the hours of darkness increase in the northern hemisphere. All other VOA Radiogram frequencies are the same: see the transmission schedule below.

Reception of VOA Radiogram last weekend was affected by the geomagnetic storm that started 27 October. For the Saturday 1600 UTC broadcast on 17580 kHz, there was a definite line in Europe south of which reception was good, and north of which reception was bad-to-nonexistent. There were even marked differences in reception between the south and north of England.

Shortwave propagation should have recovered by this weekend, but just in case, one VOA News story will be in the Olivia 32-2000 mode. The RSID should automatically change your mode, but if not, Olivia 32-2000 requires a custom setting, i.e.: Op Mode > Olivia > Custom > Bandwidth: 2000, Tones: 32. A quick way to do this is to use one the Fldigi macro buttons below the transmit pane, with this code: <MODEM:OLIVIA:2000:32>.  I will provide 15 seconds after the Olivia 32-2000 RSID in case a manual change is required. Also, for successful decode of the Olivia 32-2000, turn the Fldigi squelch (SQL) off.

No one heard the “mystery transmission” last weekend before and after the 1600-1630 broadcast last weekend. You might try again this weekend, even as early at 1540 UTC, before the North Carolina transmitter turns on its carrier on 17580 kHz.   

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 188, 5-6 November 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:48  Program preview
 2:58  Canary Islands may be site of new telescope*
 9:13  Olivia 32-2000: New instrument for Mars**
16:33  Assortment of media news*
27:21  Closing announcements

* with image

** Op Mode > Olivia > Custom > Bandwidth: 2000, Tones: 32

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz  (new frequency)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz (with switch to standard time, one hour earlier by local time in most of North America)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC will broadcast to North America Sunday, 6 November, 0000-0100 UTC only (8-9 pm EDT) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 (repeated from the previous weekend because of the poor propagation) will be at about 0030 UTC. Reception reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes:
Saturday 2030-2100, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany
Sunday 0530-0600, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany
Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida
For schedule updates, visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/  or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz and new 3975 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC.  The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2000-2030 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2025-2030. IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0155-0200 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0130-0200 broadcast.  See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information.

Thanks for your reception reports from last weekend, even if only to let me know that you heard no signal due to the poor propagation. I’m now compiling a gallery of the Alderney images and hope to begin sending them out this weekend.

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

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
Twitter: @VOARadiogram (especially active during and after broadcasts)

VOA Radiogram logo decoded by Michael in England, last Sunday 1930-2000 UTC, 15670 kHz, showing effects of the difficult propagation:

Friday, October 14, 2016

VOA Radiogram for October 15-16

From Kim Andrew Elliott:




Last weekend's Hawaii lava as received by Anatoly in Russia, Saturday 1600-1630 UTC, 17580 kHz.






Hello friends,


The "unadvertised" MFSK32 signal made another appearance last weekend. Chris in England  heard and decoded MFSK32 from the unknown station at 1555 UTC. Reception was difficult partly because the VOA carrier from North Carolina starts at about 1545 UTC, and it was strong into Europe last weekend. Please listen for, decode, and record if possible any strange MFSK32 signals just before or after the VOA Radiogram broadcast Saturday at 1600-1630 on 17580 kHz.


This weekend's VOA Radiogram will be all MFSK32. An image after the closing announcement shows the effects of flooding in North Carolina, near the transmitter site, following Hurricane Matthew. That will be followed by ASCII art (use monospace font such as Courier or Consolas). A small logo image and the waterfall ID will be seen after the closing music (I had an extra minute to fill). 


Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 185, 15-16 October 2016, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz:

   1:51  Program preview
 3:02  Will electric cars dominate in wealthy cities by 2030?*
 8:26  Turkey questions historical treaty defining borders*
15:54  ARRL comments on FCC amateur radio digital mode rules*  
23:34  Closing announcements*

* with image

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 17580 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 to North America Sunday 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes:
Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Monday 2000-2130 UTC, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany
For schedule updates, visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/  or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC.  The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2000-2030 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2025-2030. IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0155-0200 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0130-0200 broadcast.  See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information

VOA shortwave to Haiti. The VOA Creole (Kreyòl) Service for Haiti is (as I write this) transmitting on shortwave in support of Hurricane Matthew relief efforts.  The schedule is daily 2000-2030 UTC on 11720 and 15220 kHz, via the North Carolina transmitting station.


Thanks for your reports from last weekend, during which reception conditions were unusually good.  I'm still responding to program 181 reception reports.


I hope you can tune and write in this weekend.


Kim


Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
Twitter: @VOARadiogram (especially active during and after broadcasts)



Friday, October 07, 2016

VOA Radiogram for 8-9 October

Hello friends,


Hurricane Matthew will probably not affect our North Carolina transmitting site, so VOA Radiogram should be on the air as scheduled.  Most models show the storm turning east into the Atlantic, then maybe south and back west into Florida again. We hope that our listeners in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina stay safe and experience minimal disruptions.


This weekend, VOA Radiogram will include a new story in Olivia 64-2000. Let's hope for poor reception 😊 to provide a good test for this mode. For a correct decode of the Olivia 64-2000, the squelch (SQL) in the bottom right of the Fldigi interface  should be turned off. 



Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 184, 8-9 October 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:51  Program preview
 3:01  Another Saturn moon may have subsurface ocean*
 7:28  Video captures detail of Hawaii volcano lava*
14:34  Olivia 64-2000: Pacific garbage patch
23:25  MFSK32: Hurricane Matthew*
26:04  Closing announcements*

* with image


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 17580 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 to North America Sunday 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes:
Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida
Monday 2000-2130 UTC, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany
For schedule updates, visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/ 
or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC.  The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2000-2030 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2025-2030. IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0155-0200 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0130-0200 broadcast.  See http://ibcradio.webs.com/
for the complete schedule and contact information

VOA to Ethiopia. During last week's VOA Radiogram, I included the transmission schedule for VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia, which are now jammed in Ethiopia, at least on some frequencies. Two of the frequencies have been changed: 12040 and 12080 kHz have been replaced by 11720 and 15785 kHz. The new schedule is ...

Afan Oromo              
1730-1800 UTC* 11720 12110 12140 13860 15630 15700 15785

Amharic                 
1600-1630 UTC*  1431
1630-1700 UTC*  6040 15580
1800-1900 UTC  11720 12110 12140 13860 15630 15700 15785

Tigrigna                
1900-1930 UTC* 11720  12110 13860 15630 15700 15785


* Monday through Friday


Thank you for your reports. I'm still sending out galleries from program 181, and hope to respond to more reports for more recent broadcasts during the weekend.


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


Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
 
Twitter: @VOARadiogram