Next Two VOA Radiogram Shows (May 21-22, 28-29)

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

I have prepared the next two editions of VOA Radiogram in advance, so they will not include any up-to-date news items. They will, however, be interesting shows …

Program 164, 21-22 May 2016 will begin with an MFSK32 introduction, then transmit the same VOA Science World item about boiling water on Mars in Olivia 64-2000, Olivia 32-1000, and Olivia 16-800.  This will be a chance to compare the performance of these three modes, which all have speeds in the 20-30 wpm range. The program will conclude in MFSK32 with an image and closing announcements.  

Program 165, 28-29 May 2016 will consist of six science images from the VOA Science World Blog. All of these will be in MFSK32, although the sixth, showing a Falcon 9 rocket launch, will be transmitted in both MFSK32 and MFSK64. Images in MFSK32 and MFSK64 require the same amount of time to transmit; the MFSK64 image has more resolution but is more susceptible to interference. After the MFSK64 image, VOA Radiogram will return to MFSK32 for 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 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 schedule has been changing in recent weeks. Try Sunday at 0000 UTC (Saturday 8 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz (via Germany), with the broadcast continuing until 0200 or 0300. The minute of MFSK32 may be at about 0130 or 0220 UTC. Consult http://kbcradio.eu or http://facebook.com/themightykbc for updates on the schedule. Reports for KBC reception and decodes to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com   

DigiDX will transmit DX news in MFSK32 and perhaps other modes on its usual schedule:

Sunday 2130-2200 UTC - 15770kHz via WRMI Florida

Sunday 2330-2400 UTC - 11580kHz via WRMI Florida

Monday 2000-2030 UTC - 6070kHz via Channel 292 Germany

Consult https://www.facebook.com/digidx/ for any additions or changes to this schedule.

Thank you for your reports from the weekend of 14-15 May. Reception conditions were generally good, and I saw some excellent decoded images. You can see some examples at https://twitter.com/voaradiogram .

Please tune in and write in during the next two weekends.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @VOARadiogram

It's not you, the AFD does seem a bit quiet.....

Apparently a lot of schedules aren't happening.  I gave up in disgust an hour ago, though someone has since heard a brief 170-shift RTTY transmission on one of the 40 meter frequencies.

Expanded Armed Forces Day Communication Test begins tomorrow (May 14)

As has been the case for a number of years now, the military-amateur crossband comm tests and observances are done the week before Armed Forces Day. This is to avoid conflict with the Dayton Hamvention. This year it starts tomorrow morning, US time, and some parts of it run until around 0400 Zulu on the 5th.

The AFD comm test is divided into several different activities. These are:

1. Military-Amateur Crossband Communications

In this activity, MARS and military units using their authorized frequencies outside amateur bands work amateurs who remain in-band.  This used to be tricky with some ham gear, which didn't receive far enough out of band.  Today, it's a lot easier.

Also, some of the frequencies used in the 60 meter band are authorized to amateurs, so comms will be simplex on-frequency.

The number of participating stations, times (all Zulu), and frequencies has grown too big to put in a blog entry. It's best just to link to the schedule published by Army MARS.

Again this year, amateurs will be able to link via ALE. The full implementation of this mode, with scanning, is tricky with ham gear. Rapid band switching requires very good autotuning.

In the past, not all stations have been on-air for the entire time intervals shown in the schedule.
 

2. Secy. of Defense Message Test, using digital modes

This one sounds pretty interesting for utility types. A message from the Secretary of Defense is sent in a number of modes used by the military, and also several modes used by hams.

The "military serial PSK" referred to is usually known as "110A" in utility logs. It's the same stuff. As they say, it's not the easiest mode for good copy with amateur-grade equipment and Windows computers, though I've had very good luck with Windows 7 and the stronger signals. Here's a better link to the MS-DMT software mentioned in the schedule. MultiPSK works too.

The scary sounding "wide FSK" is just standard military RATT, 75/850, low mark.  It's always fun to hear this mode unencrypted and actually be able to print something.

Here's the schedule:

To practice receiving signals in this mode [110A], tune to the following dial frequencies at 1201Z, 1801Z or 0001Z daily.

11,105.0 kHz USB

11,454.0 kHz USB

12,147.0 kHz USB

13,512.5 kHz USB

14,935.0 kHz USB

15,870.0 kHz USB

14 MAY/1400Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY 
14 MAY/1410Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/1420Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/1420Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY 
14 MAY/1430Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/1430Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/1440Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1440Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/1450Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1450Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      WAR 

14 MAY/1500Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1510Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AAZ 
14 MAY/1510Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1530Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AAZ 

14 MAY/1800Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY 
14 MAY/1810Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/1820Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/1820Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY 
14 MAY/1830Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/1830Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/1840Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1840Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/1850Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1850Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      WAR 

14 MAY/1900Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1910Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AAZ 
14 MAY/1910Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/1930Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AAZ 
14 MAY/1930Z            RTTY                                                    7,457.0 kHz USB      AGA4AR
14 MAY/1930Z            RTTY                                                    7,540.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/1930Z            RTTY                                                    7,545.0 kHz USB      AGA5SC
14 MAY/1930Z            RTTY                                                    7,915.0 kHz USB      AGA9TR

14 MAY/2030Z            MT63                                                     7,457.0 kHz USB      AGA4AR
14 MAY/2030Z            MT63                                                     7,540.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2030Z            MT63                                                     7,545.0 kHz USB      AGA5SC
14 MAY/2030Z            MT63                                                     7,915.0 kHz USB      AGA9TR

14 MAY/2100Z            MFSK                                                    7,457.0 kHz USB      AGA4AR
14 MAY/2100Z            MFSK                                                    7,540.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2100Z            MFSK                                                    7,545.0 kHz USB      AGA5SC
14 MAY/2100Z            MFSK                                                    7,915.0 kHz USB      AGA9TR
14 MAY/2130Z            RTTY                                                  13,993.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2130Z            RTTY                                                  14,392.5 kHz USB      AGA5SC
14 MAY/2130Z            RTTY                                                  14,411.0 kHz USB      AGA9TR
14 MAY/2130Z            RTTY                                                  15,632.0 kHz USB      AGA4AR

14 MAY/2200Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY 
14 MAY/2200Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        14,487.0 kHz USB      ADB 
14 MAY/2210Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2210Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        20,994.0 kHz USB      ADB 
14 MAY/2220Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/2220Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY 
14 MAY/2230Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/2230Z            MT63                                                   13,993.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2230Z            MT63                                                   14,392.5 kHz USB      AGA5SC
14 MAY/2230Z            MT63                                                   14,411.0 kHz USB      AGA9TR
14 MAY/2230Z            MT63                                                   15,632.0 kHz USB      AGA4AR
14 MAY/2230Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2240Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       13,506.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/2240Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      WAR 
14 MAY/2250Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/2250Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      WAR 

14 MAY/2300Z            MFSK                                                  13,993.0 kHz USB      AGA2SY
14 MAY/2300Z            MFSK                                                  14,392.5 kHz USB      AGA5SC
14 MAY/2300Z            MFSK                                                  14,411.0 kHz USB      AGA9TR
14 MAY/2300Z            MFSK                                                  15,632.0 kHz USB      AGA4AR
14 MAY/2300Z            MIL STD 188-110 FSK                       17,443.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/2310Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        13,506.0 kHz USB      AAZ 
14 MAY/2310Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AAC
14 MAY/2330Z            MIL STD 188-110 SERIAL PSK        17,443.0 kHz USB      AAZ 

15 MAY/0240Z            RTTY                                                  13,506.0 kHz USB      NWKJ
15 MAY/0240Z            RTTY                                                  17,443.0 kHz USB      NWKJ

15 MAY/0300Z            CW-25WPM                                         4,007.0 kHz USB      NWVC
15 MAY/0300Z            CW-25WPM                                         6,913.0 kHz USB      NWVC
15 MAY/0310Z            AMTOR FEC                                      13,506.0 kHz USB      NWKJ
15 MAY/0310Z            AMTOR FEC                                      17,443.0 kHz USB      NWKJ
15 MAY/0340Z            MT63                                                   13,506.0 kHz USB      NWKJ
15 MAY/0340Z            MT63                                                   17,443.0 kHz USB      NWKJ
 
QSL information is at the MARS link given earlier. 


3. Automatic Link Establishment

ALE is 2G, in USB.  MARS uses a variant of PC-ALE, though that program works just fine.  Any other ALE software should work for receiving. AAZ is at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. WAR is in DC.  2SYAGA is AGA2SY in New York state.

Here's the info:

Channel	Amateur Frequency	Military Frequency
X75US	3,996.0 USB	4,000.0 USB
X60INT	5,371.5 USB	5,371.5 USB
X40US	7,296.0 USB	7,357.0 USB
X20INT	14,346.0 USB	14,846.0 USB
X17INT	18,117.5 USB	18,272.5 USB
X15INT	21,432.5 USB	20,940.0 USB
X12INT	24,932.0 USB	24,858.5 USB

 

VOA Radiogram for May 14-15

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

You might remember that last year, the BBG, parent agency of VOA, issued a Request for Proposals for the development of a decoder app for VOA Radiogram. There were no proposals, but that might be because of the short deadline. It's possible that the RFQ will be issued again, but only if there is potential interest by developers. So let me know if you are an interested developer.

The specifications in the RFQ would be the same as in the 2015 RFQ, which you can see here ...

http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2015/09/RFQ-BBG50-Q-15-0915MD-Software-Development.pdf

VOA Radiogram this weekend will be all MFSK32, except for the transmission schedule in Olivia 64-2000 under the closing music. The show will include six MFSK images.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 163, 14-15 May 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:34  Program preview

 2:46  Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile*
 8:42  UK government review of the BBC*
14:29  RFE/RL Crimea website blocked*
18:35  Radio/TV Martí now receiving letters direct from Cuba*
23:11  Image from South Pole Journal*
26:36  Closing announcements*
28:15  Olivia 64-2000: Transmission schedule under music

*  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 has a different transmission schedule this weekend: To North America Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC on 9925 kHz, via Germany, with a minute of MFSK32 at about 0130 UTC. And to Europe Sunday at 0800-1000 UTC on 6095 kHz, also via Germany, with the minute of MFSK32 at about 0830 UTC. Reports for KBC reception and decoding to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit DX news in MFSK32 and perhaps other modes on its usual schedule:
Sunday 2130-2200 UTC - 15770kHz via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC - 11580kHz via WRMI Florida
Monday 2000-2030 UTC - 6070kHz via Channel 292 Germany
Consult https://www.facebook.com/digidx/ for any additions or changes to this schedule.

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend. Reception was especially difficult on Sunday due to a solar event. I am now compiling the gallery of MFSK images from program 137, and will try to send that out this weekend.

Early next week I will send information about programs 164 and 165, to be broadcast during the last two weekends of May.

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

Kim

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

DVA Update

New ALE calls and frequencies are still being discovered for the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) emergency radio system.  Several lists are being circulated, and there seems to be a certain variation between regions of the country.

At this QTH in Southern California, the following frequencies have been heard active:

2025.6   2726.0   3355.1   3393.6   5038.5   6335.6*   6981.1   7480.0   10389.6   14441.6   15628.6   17492.6   20200.1   22738.0*   22921.6

The * means the frequency is used by Rockwell Collins in its new ARINC UrgentLink system.  DVA IDs are rare on these, but too many people have heard them for it to be bad data.


 The following ALE identifiers have been copied here:

1536   1616   2002   3031   3033   5090   5190   5286   5287   5290   5311   5312   5313   5400   5420   5520   5810   5826   5895   5897   5898   5899   5950   6030   6051   6052   6053   6191   6203   6260   6400   6491   6541   6542   6543   6581   6591   6601   6602   6603   6620   6630   6640   6714   6741   6743   6780   6790   7570   8356   13536  598001

Note the emergence of several consecutive number sequences. The meaning of these, if there even is any, is not known.  The absence of any IDs beginning with the number "4" is due to sheer chance.  These have been copied in other places.

VOA Radiogram for May 7-8

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,


Lately we have been trying to determine why some listeners have less success with Olivia 64-2000 than with MFSK32, even though, in theory, Olivia 64-2000 should be more robust. I suggested that the problem might be related to the bandwidth of the receiver, given that Olivia 64-2000 is 2000 Hz wide.


Christopher, K6FIB, a key adviser to VOA Radiogram, thinks the performance of Olivia is related to the processing power of the PC or the mobile device. Paul in Europe provided evidence of this in his TIVAR Android shoot-out. Other listeners wonder if it could be other components, such as the microphones on Android devices, which would be important if acoustic coupling from the radio to the device is used.


VOA Radiogram this weekend will include an eight-minute story in Olivia 64-2000. This will allow further experimentation. If we enjoy poor reception conditions, the experiments will be even more interesting.


Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 162, 7-8 May 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:34  Program preview
 2:41  Rubbish-burning experiment in Norway*
 7:55  Olivia 64-2000: UAE may make mountain to change climate*
18:34  MFSK32: FCC considers change to amateur data regulations*
23:37  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 a minute of MFSK32 Sunday at about 0220 UTC (Saturday 10:20 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. This is part of the KBC broadcast to North America at 0000-0300 UTC on 9925 kHz. Please send reception reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .


DigiDX will transmit DX news in MFSK32 and perhaps other modes on its usual schedule:
Sunday 2130 UTC - 15770kHz via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330 UTC - 11580kHz via WRMI Florida
Monday 2000 UTC - 6070kHz via Channel 292 Germany
Consult https://www.facebook.com/digidx/ for any additions or changes to this schedule.

Thank you for your reports to VOA Radiogram last weekend.  Now that the gallery for program 159 has finally been sent, I will compile a gallery for program 137 (November 15-16, 2015) and maybe send it out this weekend.


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


Kim


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