Hello friends,
Seasonal propagation – nearing the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere – has resulted in interesting reception in many parts of the world. The Sunday 0800-0830 broadcast is now almost routinely received in Europe, more likely on 5850 kHz which is beamed in that direction from WRMI Florida, rather than 7730 kHz which is directed more towards western North America and the Pacific. Reception of this broadcast is also now possible in Japan, with both 5850 and 7730 worth trying.
Even if the images are fuzzy or can’t be decoded at all, the text might be largely successful, especially the slower MFSK mode. It is helpful if you estimate what percentage of the text characters decoded correctly, in your reports via email and to the Twitter account @SWRadiogram .
Speaking of reports, during the past week, I received the first reception report to Shortwave Radiogram from a cruise ship. It was from Jake aboard Holland America’s MS Rotterdam, off the Pacific Coast of Central America. A few years ago I received and decoded VOA Radiogram on another Holland America ship, in the Caribbean, out on our stateroom’s balcony, in heavy seas, with occasional saltwater spray.
Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 128) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Sunday 0800 UTC on 5850 kHz), Jeff in Oklahoma and HFZone (location unknown) (both Sunday 2330 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.
This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with nine images.
Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 129, 5-9 December 2019, in MFSK modes as noted:
1:44 MFSK32: Program preview
2:55 Canadian Coast Guard completes 2019 Arctic operations*
9:04 MFSK64: Satellite accidentally captures comet outburst*
13:18 Businesses need to rethink where they put cell towers*
17:49 This week's images
28:10 MFSK32: Closing announcements
* with image(s)
Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304
Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
UTC Day UTC Time Frequency Transmitter
Friday 0030-0100 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Friday 1300-1330 UTC 15770 kHz WRMI Florida
Friday 1500-1530 UTC 13690 kHz DRM WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 0330-0400 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC 5850 kHz 7730 kHz WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida
The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 EST) on 5960 kHz, via Germany. A 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/.
“This is a Music Show” is the newest addition to digital modes via analog shortwave. Most of the show is a music show, but the host transmits some MFSK text and image near the end of the broadcast. It’s transmitted on WRMI, Thursdays at 0100-0200 UTC on 5850 kHz and 0130-0230 UTC on 9395 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas). Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com . www.instagram.com/thisisamusicshow/ www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/ @ThisIsAMusicSho
New York and Pennsylvania NBEMS nets. Most weekends, as KD9XB, I check in to the New York NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software) net Saturday at 1300 UTC on 3584 kHz USB, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at 1300 UTC on 3583 kHz USB (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1230 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32. Messages generally use the Flmsg add-on to Fldigi. If you are a radio amateur in eastern North America, feel free to check in. Outside the region, use an SDR in the eastern USA to tune in and decode. You do not need Flmsg to check in, and most of the messages can be read without Flmsg. If you can decode the net, send me an email to radiogram@verizon.net , or tweet to @SWRadiogram , and I will let them know you are tuned in. USEast NBEMS Net: Please also note the USEast NBEMS Net, Thursdays at 0000 UTC (Wednesdays 7 pm EST) on 3536 kHz USB.
Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom