VOA Radiogram for January 30-31

Hello friends,

We will test slow modes again this weekend, so let’s hope for some bad reception. In addition to the Olivia 64-2000 that we have tried the past few weeks, we will transmit  the same news item in MFSK8, which is slightly faster, about 30 words per minute. MFSK8 does require very precise tuning, so a 15-second tuning signal will be transmitted before the news content begins. The 15-second signal will also be transmitted before the Olivia 64-2000.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 148, 30-31 January 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted …

 1:35  Program preview (now)

 2:56  Very wide solar system found*

 7:25  ISIS radio in Afghanistan*

13:56  Olivia 64-2000: New satellite tracks sea level**

19:40  MFSK8: Same news item**

24:44  MFSK32: Image, closing announcements, image*

* with image

** preceded by 15-second tuning signal

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 will transmit a minute of MFSK32 Sunday at  about 0223 UTC (Saturday 9:23 pm EST) on 6040 kHz, via Germany. Reports for KBC reception to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Shoveling snow and other recovery from last weekend’s big snow in the eastern USA has put me another week behind in answering your emails, but I will work on them this weekend.  Your reception reports are very much appreciated, even if I’m not able to answer them promptly.

I hope you can tune in this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @voaradiogram  

Planetary VOA Radiogram for January 23-24

Hello friends,


Last weekend's long transmission of Olivia 64-2000 was very interesting. It did result in some successful decodes under difficult conditions. You can see some examples here ...


http://voaradiogram.net/post/137804494562/olivia-64-2000-noise-prevails-over-local-noise


http://voaradiogram.net/post/137594112122/olivia-64-2000-from-north-carolina-decodes-in


One thing I discovered is that, when receiving and decoding Olivia 64-2000, it is important that the receiver bandwidth be wide enough to include all of the data, which extends to 2500 Hz above and below the carrier frequency. Otherwise, you cannot take advantage of all the redundancy built in to the Olivia 64-2000 mode.
Those of you who can record the audio using an SDR receiver can experiment with various bandwidths, shape factors, AM versus SSB, etc.


Anyway, last weekend's Olivia 64-2000 was so much fun that we'll include one news item in that mode this weekend, in addition to our usual MFSK32.


Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 147, 23-24 January 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:


 1:32  Program preview
 2:49  Evidence of "Planet Nine."*
 8:15  Plastic in oceans*
12:51  Olivia 64-2000: Papal Fiat to be auctioned
23:02  MFSK32: Image, closing announcements, and snow*

* 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 will transmit a minute of MFSK32 Sunday at 0220 UTC (Saturday 9:20 pm EST) on 6040 kHz, via Germany. Please send reports for KBC reception to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .


I will use this weekend of snow in Washington to catch up on your reception reports. I'm now alternating between the oldest and newest reports, gradually working my way to the middle. If you haven't seen the gallery of MFSK32 images I send in response to reports, a recent example is posted here ...



http://voaradiogram.net/post/137590152087/pictures-in-color-no-less-via-shortwave


If you have an Android device, try TIVAR to decode the modes on VOA Radiogram. For computers, Fldigi.



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


Kim


Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
twitter.com/voaradiogram (see examples of decoded MFSK images here)

Slow VOA Radiogram for January 16-17

From Kim Andrew Elliott:


Hello friends,


A reminder that this weekend's VOA Radiogram will be mostly Olivia 64-2000. If reception conditions are poor (as they were in Europe on 15670 kHz last weekend), this could be interesting, because the Olivia 64-2000 might be able to overcome the difficult reception. If reception is good, it could be boring, because Olivia 64-2000 is very slow: about 25 words per minute.


Program 146, 16-17 January 2016 (modes as noted)

  1:34  MFSK32: Program preview
  2:51  Olivia 64-2000: Blog post from Antarctica
23:36  MFSK32: Image from Antarctica
26:32  Closing announcements


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 will transmit a minute of MFSK32 Sunday at 0220 UTC (Saturday 9:20 pm EST) on 6040 kHz. This is part of the KBC broadcast to North America at its new time of 0000 to 0300 UTC Sunday, on the new frequency of 6040 kHz. Reports for KBC reception to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .



I've returned from my Asian travels and will resume answering reception reports during the weekend.


Kim


Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net