Friday, September 14, 2018

Shortwave Radiogram, 14-17 September


Hello friends,


Sorry about the missing Shortwave Radiogram last Friday at 2030-2100 UTC (Brother Stair was heard on WRMI, instead). That was due to an uploading error on my part.

Videos of last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram (program 64) have been provided by DFS in Japan and Ralf in Germany (both Saturday 1600 UTC) and by Scott in Ontario (Sunday 2330 UTC). Excerpts of the Saturday 1600 UTC show are presented in videos by DFS in Japan (outdoor reception) and SWLDXBulgaria. Mark in the UK maintains an audio archive. Roger in Germany produced his analysis.

Last weekend, I noticed "positive slope" in many of the decoded images from Space Line in Bulgaria. On the other hand, "negative slope" is often observed with images from WRMI. This may have to do with the sound cards used to play out the Shortwave Radiogram mp3 file at each of these broadcast facilities. 

During the transmission of the first two images of this weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram, observe the vertical lines for slant.  If there is slant, in Fldigi: Configure > Sound Card > Settings > Corrections -- adjust the Rx ppm.

If the lines are slanting to the right as they move downward (negative slope), enter 100 in the space, then make smaller adjustments until the lines become completely vertical.  (It’s faster to type in 100 than to use the up-down arrows.)

If the lines are slanting to the left as they move downward (positive slope), enter -100 in the space, and adjust from there to achieve a completely vertical lines.

Slant with a negative slope looks like this. Use a positive value of ppm Rx correction to make it straight:
   --------
  | \      |
  |  \     |
  |   \    |
  |    \   |
   --------

Slant with a positive slope looks like this. Use a negative value of ppm Rx correction to make it straight:
   --------
  |      / |
  |     /  |
  |    /   |
  |   /    |
   --------

When you have made your adjustment, click Close but not Save, because you might need another adjustment for future broadcasts.

The image of the lines will be transmitted twice.

For more about slant in MFSK images, see this page from the archive of the VOA Radiogram website.

This weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram will be in our usual combination of MFSK32, MFSK128, and MFSK64.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 65, in MFSK modes as noted:

  1:43  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:51  MFSK image slant exercise*
 8:25  MFSK128: NASA foldable heat shield*
12:05  MFSK64: China bars Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People"*
15:26  Images of the week*
27:24  MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net


Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit especially during the weekend)



Shortwave Radiogram Program 65
(14-17 September 2018)

Friday
2030-2100 UTC
7780 kHz
5950 kHz
MFSK32
MFSK128
MFSK64
WRMI Florida
Saturday
1600-1630 UTC
9400 kHz
Space Line, Bulgaria
Sunday
2330-2400 UTC
7780 kHz
WRMI Florida
Monday
0800-0830 UTC

7730 kHz
5850 kHz
WRMI Florida

Slow Scan Radio transmits SSTV images and text modes Wednesdays at 1830-1900 UTC on 6070 kHz via Channel 292 in Germany. The website is http://www.slowscanradio.com. Reception reports to  x@xdv.me.

The Mighty KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1600 UTC on 9400 kHz (via Bulgaria), with the minute of MFSK at about 1530 UTC (if you are outside of Europe, listen via websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ ).  And to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on the new winter frequency of 5960 kHz, via Germany. The minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC.  Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC)  Five minutes of MFSK32 is at the end of the 30-minute English-language “Shortwave Panorama. For the complete IBC transmission schedule visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/  

Broad Spectrum Radio is transmitted by WRMI Florida Mondays at 0700-0800 UTC on 5850 and 7730 kHz. MFSK32 is broadcast during the second half hour of the show. Reports to broadspectrumradio@gmail.com.

To any listeners in the vicinity of Hurricane Florence, may the adverse effects be minimal. After Florence moves inland, it will swing back and bring rain to the northeast USA and maritime Canada Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thanks for your reception reports! 

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom