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Friday, March 10, 2017

VOA Radiogram schedule, March 11-12

Hello friends,

Apologies for the mix-up in the images transmitted last weekend. I was in too much of a hurry while preparing the VOA Radiogram demonstration at the Winter SWL Fest. It was good to meet some of you there!

Two weeks ago, we were impressed with the performance of the MFSK16 mode in difficult reception conditions.  We will include MFSK16 again this weekend, but we will compare it to another 58-wpm mode, Olivia 8-1000. The same AP news story will be sent in each mode. Note that MFSK16 is 316 Hz wide, while Olivia 8-1000 is 1000 Hz wide. After the RSID for each mode will be a 15-second tuning signal, in case you need to manually set the mode and/or center audio frequency.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 206, 11-12 March 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:


 1:51  Program preview (now)
 3:09  China seeks international law for Internet control*
10:07  North Korea bans overseas citizens from mobile Internet*
18:18  MFSK16: Satellite maps lightning flashes
21:55  Olivia 8-1000: Satellite maps lightning flashes
25:18  MFSK32: VOA tweet on International Women's Day*
27:15  Closing announcements

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.


VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (temporarily expanded) (listeners in most of North America note that transmissions Sunday at 1930 UTC and after will be one hour later by local time):

UTC Day
UTC Time
kHz
Transmitter
Target
Also try in …
Saturday
0930-1000
5865
North Carolina
Americas
Asia-Pacific, Europe
Saturday
1600-1630
17580
North Carolina
Europe
Americas, Asia-Pacific
Sunday
0230-0300
5745
North Carolina
Americas
Europe
Sunday
1930-2000
15670
North Carolina
Europe
Americas, Asia-Pacific
Sunday
2030-2100
11580
WRMI Florida
Europe
Americas
Sunday
2330-2400
11580
WRMI Florida
Americas

Monday
2000-2030
3975
IBC Italy
Europe

Wednesday
2100-2130
3975
IBC Italy
Europe


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 is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI and 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/

Winter SWL Fest.  I am planning to attend the Winter SWL Fest, March 2-4, 2017, at Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Hope to see you there. Information at  http://www.swlfest.com .  (Single-day walk-ins are welcome.)

Thanks for your reception reports from last weekend, especially because I was not able tune in to most of the broadcasts while attending  the Winter SWL Fest (and because of terrible shortwave reception in my hotel room).

I'll try to get back on track this weekend responding to your reports.


I hope you can tune in (especially because I may not be able to) and write in this weekend.

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

  • For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn Fldigi's squelch (SQL) off.
  • The RSID at 1500 Hz sometimes mixes with the transmitter hum, most noticeable at 360 Hz, to move your receive audio frequency down to 1140 Hz, resulting in no decode. To prevent this, in Fldigi: Configure > IDs  > RsID > unselect Searches passband.  Your center audio frequency will wander no more than +/- 200 Hz.
  • Fldigi automatically saves your decoded MFSK images as png files in the folder \fldigi.files\images\ (in Windows; folder names might be different with other operating systems). You can attach those png files with your reception report.
  • The VOA Radiogram Twitter account @VOARadiogram is especially active before, during, and after the broadcasts. You don't need a Twitter account: just go to https://twitter.com/voaradiogram and refresh it occasionally.