Expanded VOA Radiogram for September 25-27

That's right, Friday (today) too.  Oops, says Hugh.  We missed the extra broadcast.  It's already past 2230 UTC.  Sorry about that.

From Kim Andrew Elliott:



Hello friends,

VOA Radiogram program 130 will include a special broadcast for this week's European Researchers' Night. This will be Friday, 25 September  2015, at 1830-1900 UTC, on 17880 kHz, from our usual North Carolina transmitting site. The specific target is the Notte europea dei ricercatori in Frascati, Italy, where an amateur radio exhibit organized by Bruno, IZ0DIB, will receive and decode (conditions permitting!) VOA Radiogram. Of course, we also welcome reports from anyone, anywhere else in the world.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 130, 25-27 September 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
  

 1:32  Program preview
 2:36  Greetings to European Researchers' Night*
13:09  Humans are surrounded by bacteria*
18:32  Olivia 32-2000: USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015*
25:26  MFSK32: Closing announcements*

* with image

The program will include some items in Italian, so you will need the UTF-8 character set (Fldigi: Configure > Colors & Fonts) for the accented letters to display correctly. The RSID should automatically change Fldigi to Olivia 32-2000, but if it does not: Op Mode > Olivia > Custom > set Bandwidth to 2000 and Tones to 32.

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Fri  1830-1900 17880 kHz (25 Sept only)
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 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 0230 UTC
(Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 7375 kHz, via Germany. This is part of the
KBC broadcast to North America Sundays at 0000-0300 UTC. On Saturday,
26 September, 2300-2400 UTC, KBC will test a new frequency of  7395
kHz, also via Germany. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com

Thank for your reports to VOA Radiogram last weekend. I'll be sending out the galleries for program 123 today and tomorrow.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Successful VOA Radiogram for September 19-20

The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors thinks enough of VOA Radiogram to solicit quotations for a decoder program aimed at non-technical users.  Trust me, this is big.  It's also a good opportunity for a digital mode programmer to make a little extra money at it.
-------

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

The Broadcasting Board of Governors has issued a Request for Quotations for the development of software application to simply the process of decoding text and images from radio broadcasts. The deadline is 26 September. Details are here …

http://voaradiogram.net/post/129339122877/bbg-request-for-quotation-to-develop-decoding

This weekend on VOA Radiogram, our non-Latin alphabet of the week will be Persian. Persian is interesting because it is a “right-to-left” language. You will need the UTF-8 character set in Fldigi (Configure > Colors & Fonts). The Persian should also correctly display using the AndFlmsg Android app, version 1.2, available from http://www.w1hkj.com/vk2eta/ .

And if we are fortunate enough to experience poor reception this weekend, there will be about ten minutes of content in Olivia 32-2000.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 129, 19-20 September 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted …  

 1:36  Program preview

 3:06  First manned Orion flight in 2023*

 9:58  Saturn moon covered by water*

14:48  Sample of Persian text**

17:19  Olivia 32-2000: VOA Science World Blog***

27:04  MFSK32: Closing announcements

28:06  MFSK32: Logo image under the music

* with image

** requires UTF-8 character set

*** If RSID does not change mode to Olivia 32-2000, in Fldigi:

Op Mode > Olivia > Custom > set Bandwidth to 2000 and Tones to

32

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 17870 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 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 7375 kHz. Yes, the mode is changed from the usual MFSK64 to MFSK32 because of difficult reception in North America in recent weeks. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend. I saw many successful decodes of the Chinese text on both PCs and Android devices. I will compile come screenshots and post them to the website. Today, I will finish answering reports from program 122. The gallery for program 122 compares decoded images in MFSK16, 32, 64, and SSTV Scottie DX.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

Break out the cheapoid receivers for VOA Radiogram September 12-13

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

 Hello friends,

This weekend's VOA Radiogram will include nearly nine minutes of Olivia 32-2000. The Olivia 32-2000 mode is about 50 words per minute and is useful when reception is difficult. If reception is good this weekend, you can perhaps create difficult reception by using an inexpensive radio.

[If our recurring magnetic storms continue, creating poor reception should not be a problem. -Hugh]

The Fldigi RxID should be on (green) and will probably detect the Olivia 32-2000 mode from the RSID. If it does not: Op Mode > Olivia > Custom > Bandwidth=2000, Tones=32.

The non-Latin alphabet of the week is Chinese. If you use Fldigi, make sure that Configure > Colors & Fonts > Rx/TX Character set is set to UTF-8. The Chinese should also display correctly with the AndFlmsg Android app version 1.2, which now has UTF-8 support.

Any photos of decoding using an inexpensive radio next to an Android phone or tablet (or next to a Windows/iOS laptop) would be helpful.

If it is convenient, I would also appreciate mp3 recordings of the Olivia 32-2000 in difficult reception conditions.

After the closing announcements will be two images, one immediately following the other. Fldigi automatically saves decoded MFSK images as png files in the folder \fldigi.files\images\.  (Other operating systems may have different folder names.) You can attach those png files to your reception report. In Android, the MFSK images are stored in the folder NBEMS.files/NBEMS-Images.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 128, 12-13 September 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:36  Program preview
 2:50  Most distant galaxy seen from earth (orbit)*
 7:41  Boeing opens spaceship plant in Florida*
14:55  Olivia 32-2000: China to far side of moon
18:27  Olivia 32-2000: Chinese text from VOA Chinese
23:41  MFSK32: Closing announcements*
28:21  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 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 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 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 7375 kHz, via Germany. This is part of the KBC transmission to North America Sundays at  0000-0300 UTC on 7375 kHz. Reports for this KBC transmission to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com

Thank you for your reception reports and recordings from last weekend's VOA Radiogram. I'm now putting together a gallery of the MFSK 16, 32, 63, and SSTV images from program 122, so I still have some catching up to do.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Multilingual VOA Radiogram for September 5-6

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

An updated version (1.2) of the AndFlmsg Android app is now available at http://www.w1hkj.com/vk2eta/

This new version has support for the UTF-8 character set.  To give the AndFlmsg update a workout, this weekend’s VOA Radiogram will include news items in Russian and Spanish.  The Spanish involves only a few letters with accents. Russian is more complicated, with its Cyrillic alphabet. 

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 127,  5-6 September 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:34  Program preview

 2:44  New Russian Internet data law*

 9:46  Same subject, in Russian*

13:45  Chinese Navy ships in Bering Sea*

21:59  Cuba mobile video, in Spanish*

26:21  Closing announcements*

28:03  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 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 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 Sunday at about 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:32 pm EDT) on its new frequency of 7375 kHz, via Germany. Reports for this KBC reception to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com.

Thanks for your reports from last weekend. I did not see much difference between the images at 1500 and 2000 Hz, but I’m still looking at the sample. I will prepare a gallery comparing all the 1500/2000 Hz images. And I will begin responding to reports from program 121, starting today.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

VOA Radiogram for August 29-30

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will include an experiment suggested by Mark Hirst in the UK.  Mark notices that interference to MFSK images comes from RF noise that is concentrated in the lower audio frequencies. He wants to know if images might be clearer if they are transmitted at a higher audio frequency.

Because of a few extra minutes in this weekend’s program, the third image will be transmitted a second time, at a center frequency of 2000 Hz.   

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 126, 29-30 August 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:30  Program preview

2:45  Strife reduces pollution in parts of Middle East*

9:03  Diminished marine biodiversity*

16:10  Plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean*

24:18  MFSK32 at 2000 Hz: Same image*

26:37  MFSK32 at 1500 Hz: Closing announcements*

28:23  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 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 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 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. Reports for the KBC transmission to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thanks for the many reception reports for last weekend’s program.  I’m now about five weeks behind in responding, but I will respond!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

VOA Radiogram for August 22-23

 From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,
I just discovered this very good YouTube video explaining the VOA Radiogram concept ...

http://voaradiogram.net/post/126838190562/video-from-finland-explains-the-voa-radiogram

This is in addition to the YouTube videos of VOA Radiogram produced each week by Tim, K0RUS ...
https://www.youtube.com/user/K0RUSHam

Shortwave propagation was difficult during the weekend of 15-16 August, but it was a good workout for the text modes.

This weekend will be another all-MFSK32 show (except for the closing Olivia), emphasizing media news.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 125, 22-23 August 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:32  Program preview
 2:49  Islamic State bans television*
11:16  Iraqi Internet 'Strange' Outages*
15:47  Chinese rights website blocked*
21:05  Sunflower festival in Japan*
21:41  Closing announcements*
27:40  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 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 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 -- with a very vertical image -- Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. It's part of the KBC broadcast to North America Sundays 0000-0300 UTC. Reports for this KBC transmission to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com.

Because of a major paper deadline last weekend, followed by a busy week of audience research, I fell even further behind answering your emails.  I will get back to the emails today. If you would like to see the gallery of MFSK32 images from program 119, 11-12 July 2015, it can be downloaded from here ...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xj98h9uf4ilt9xf/VOAR119_gallery.pdf?dl=0 

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

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

USCG COMMSTAs Go Lights-Out in September

USCG:

2. Background. COMMCOM will be established on 09 Sep 2015 under the operational

and administrative control of COMLANTAREA.

3. Impact. The following units will be disestablished as a result

of this project:

A. CAMSLANT

B. CAMSPAC

C. COMMSTA BOSTON

D. COMMSTA MIAMI

E. COMMSTA NEW ORLEANS

F. COMMSTA HONOLULU

G. COMMSTA KODIAK

4. With the exception of Kodiak, these units will be unmanned and

their radio systems operated remotely by the COMMCOM.

 Much more in the October column.

VOA Radiogram for 15-16 August

Hello friends,

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will be all-MFSK32 (except for the Olivia 64-2000 bonus mode) and will include some interesting science news.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 124, 15-16 August 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:   

 1:31  Program preview (now)

 2:39  Genome of octopus species*

 9:50  New sunspot index shows no climate link*

19:23  Economic growth threatens Asian biodiversity*

26:05  Closing announcements*

28:20  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 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 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 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. Please send reports about this KBC reception to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thanks for your reports for last weekend’s show. Reception seems to have been very good. I’ll continue working my way up the inbox, responding to your emails and including a gallery of decoded MFSK images. 

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

VOA Radiogram for 8-9 August

Hello friends,

Last weekend’s comparison of images in MFSK16, MFSK32, MFSK64, and SSTV Scottie DX, was interesting. In general, I think, it supports our use of MFSK32 both for text and images.   

Here’s one example comparing the four modes: http://voaradiogram.net/post/126092155122/comparing-images-in-four-modes

This weekend on VOA Radiogram, we return to our usual MFSK32 mode, except for one news item in Olivia 32-2000, which might succeed even in poor reception conditions.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 123, 8-9 August 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:31  Program preview

 2:48  Facial expressions of horses*

 8:21  Use of drones to transport blood samples*

14:48  Hijacking radio signals from computer accessories*

20:32  Olivia 32-2000: Poll indicates Russians favor Internet censorship*

27:07  MFSK32: Closing announcements

28:08  Olivia 64-2000: VOA Radiogram transmission schedule

* 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 17870 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 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. Reports for this KBC reception should go to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

I have returned from my week off, with a large pile of audience research work on my desk. Because of this, I am now four weeks behind in answering your emails. But I will answer them, with galleries of images decoded by VOA Radiogram listeners all over the world.

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

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

COTHEN Hits in SoCal, Summer 2015

All USB ALE. Most IDs are from Mark Cleary's list.

005                  USCG HC-130J #2005

03X                 COTHEN Remote Directional Transmitter, NE (?)

09X                 COTHEN Remote Directional Transmitter, NE (?)

15X                 COTHEN Remote Directional Transmitter, NE (?)

21X                 COTHEN Remote Directional Transmitter, NE (?)

27X                 COTHEN Remote Directional Transmitter, NE (?)

33X                 COTHEN Remote Directional Transmitter, NE (?)

6SF                  Unknown

704                  USCG HC-130H #1704

707                  USCG HC-130H #1707

714                  USCG HC-130H #1714

715                  USCG HC-130H #1715

716                  USCG HC-130H #1716

85B                 USCG Response Boat-Medium 45685

A0M                Valid, unknown

A72                 CBP UH-60M tail # 08-27172

ATL                COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Warm Springs, GA

BES                 Unknown

CBE                USCGC Tahoma (WMEC 908)

CDI                 COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Cedar Island, NC

CDR                COTHEN Remote Communications Transmitter, Marion, IA

CG9                 USCG, possibly an RCC

D07                 CBP Bombardier Q400 #N807MR

D08                 CBP Bombardier Q400 #N808MR

D23                 CBP P-3B “Slick” #N423SK, Jacksonville, FL, "Omaha 23SK"

D41                 CBP P-3B "Slick" #N741SK, Jacksonville, FL, "Omaha 41SK"

D48                 CBP P-3 AEW&C #N148CS, Corpus Christi, TX

DEN                COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Agate, CO

DIS                  USCGC Matinicus (WPB 1315)

FTM                COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Sarasota, FL

I01                   CBP CESSNA 550 #N37201, voice "OMAHA 201"

IIW                  USCGC Willow (WLB 202)

J07                  USCG MH-60T #6007 CGAS Clearwater

J13                  USCG MH-60T #6013 CGAS Astoria

J19                  USCG MH-60T #6019 CGAS Clearwater

J22                  USCG MH-60T #6022 CGAS San Diego

J27                  USCG MH-60T #6027 CGAS Clearwater

J31                  USCG MH-60T #6031 CGAS E-City

J36                  USCG MH-60T #6036 CGAS San Diego

JPJ                   USCGC Reliance (WMEC 615)

K10                 USCG MH-65D #6510 CGAS Miami

K11                 USCG MH-65D #6511 CGAS Miami

K4A                Unknown, possible garbage

K63                 USCG MH-65D #6510 CGAS Los Angeles

L33                  Unknown, possible garbage

LNT                USCG CAMSLANT

MEM              COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Senatobia, MS

N02                 USCG HC-144A #2302, CGAS Miami

N03                 USCG HC-144A #2303, CGAS Cape Cod

N05                 USCG HC-144A #2305, CGAS Miami

N08                 USCG HC-144A #2308, CGAS Corpus Christi

N10                 USCG HC-144A #2310, CGAS Miami

N11                 USCG HC-144A #2311, ATC Mobile

N12                 USCG HC-144A #2312, ATC Mobile

N14                 USCG HC-144A #2314, CGAS Corpus Christi

N15                 USCG HC-144A #2315, CGAS Miami

N16                 USCG HC-144A #2316, ATC Mobile

N18                 USCG HC-144A #2318, ATC Mobile

OFR                USCGC Cushing (WPB 1321)

PAC                USCG CAMSPAC

PR1                 COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Islote, PR

R08797           Air Natl. Guard CH-47F #09-08797, Davenport, IA

R08817           Air Natl. Guard CH-47F #09-08817, Davenport, IA

R23970           Air Natl. Guard UH-60A #84-23970

R26055           Air Natl. Guard UH-60A #88-26055

R26061           Air Natl. Guard UH-60A #88-26061

R26668           Air Natl. Guard UH-60L #96-26668

REDHWK       Unknown Army Natl. Guard

SAOPS            Unknown op center

SAR                COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Limestone, FL

SEA                 COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Clinton, NC

SSRPAC         Unknown

T61                  CBP Beech 300 #N561A

T74                  CBP Beech A200 #N7074G

VES                 USCGC Venturous (WMEC 625)

VGS                COTHEN Remote Transmitter, Logandale, NV

ZT3                 Unknown