Shortwave Radiogram weekend schedule

MFSK32 images decoded by Andrew in the UK, Sunday, 27 August, 1600-1630 UTC, 9400 kHz, via Bulgaria. Also the Pan Am boxcar via The Mighty KBC, 1530 UTC, same date and frequency.

Hello friends,
Shortwave Radiogram has several listeners in Texas. We hope you Texans are all safe after Hurricane Harvey.

Thanks to Al Holt @grovekid2 for moderating the Shortwave Radiogram Twitter account @SWRadiogram while my wife, son, and I were on the road, August 14-26. (Al also maintains the Shortwave Radiogram Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304)

Our destination was Boulder, Colorado, where son Ian is beginning graduate school. (our route is at the bottom of this email.) Along the way, we visited relatives in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. We were in St. Joseph, Missouri, for the full eclipse, but it was too cloudy to see the corona. We did experience the sudden and dramatic shift to and from complete darkness. My wife and I left the car, a little Chevy Sonic, in Colorado with Ian and flew back to Washington.

 Thanks also to Neil Howard for providing the photos for program 9.

This weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram returns to the usual mix of news and images. It will be all MFSK32.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 11, 2-3 September 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz …

 1:22  Program preview

 2:28  VOA and RFA FM affiliates in Cambodia off the air*
10:19  New MW transmitter in Lithuania relays RFE/RL*
15:30  Pink lake on an Australian island*
20:15  Hurricane maps*
24:33  Closing announcements*

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
Saturday	1600-1630 UTC	9400 kHz	Space Line, Bulgaria
Sunday	0600-0630 UTC	7730 kHz	WRMI Florida
Sunday	2030-2100 UTC	11580 kHz	WRMI Florida
Sunday	2330-2400 UTC	11580 kHz	WRMI Florida

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 9925 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)  For the complete IBC transmission schedule visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/  Five minutes of MFSK32 is at the end of the 30-minute English-language “Shortwave Panorama,” per the schedule below:

WEDNESDAY  18.55 UTC  6070 KHZ TO EUROPE

                       19.55 UTC  1584 KHZ TO EUROPE
THURSDAY   02.55 UTC  1584 KHZ TO EUROPE
FRIDAY         01.25 UTC  9955 KHZ TO CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA
SATURDAY   01.55 UTC 11580 KHZ TO NORTH AMERICA
                       20.25 UTC  1584 KHZ TO SOUTH EUROPE
SUNDAY      00.55 UTC  7730 KHZ TO NORTH AMERICA
                       10.55 UTC  6070 KHZ TO EUROPE

Thanks for your reports.  I will be reading your emails to the extent possible.
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram

VOA Radiogram Weekend Schedule

Hello friends,
The mystery MFSK32 transmission which has been heard occasionally before and after the VOA Radiogram broadcast Saturdays at 1600-1630 UTC on 17580 kHz was not heard last weekend by any listeners in Europe. It was heard by Mike in Washington state, at about 1542 UTC. The fact that the transmission was heard only on the US west coast introduces some interesting propagational questions about the station’s location. The mystery station also now seems to be transmitting before the North Carolina transmitter signs on at about 1545 UTC with an open carrier. Let me know if you hear and/or decode the transmission this weekend.

Many of us have noticed more hum on the 50+ year old transmitter in North Carolina. The strongest manifestation of the hum within the passband is at 360 Hz. This mixes with the VOA Radiogram MFSK32 signal which, centered on 1500 Hz, extends from about 1250 to 1750 Hz. The “ghosts” above and below the main MFSK32 trace is caused by mixing products: 1250 minus 360 = 890 Hz; 1750 plus 360 = 2110 Hz; and all frequencies between.  Roger in Germany provided this illustration:

For the most part the ghosts do not adversely affect the decoding of the MFSK32. However, the Fldigi RxID is sometimes spoofed by the lower ghost, resulting in Fldigi thinking that the digital mode is centered on 1140 Hz. This prevents a successful decode unless you set Fldigi manually to a center frequency of ~1500 Hz.

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will be all MFSK32. Let’s hope the adverse effects of the geomagnetic storm that started on 25 October will have subsided by Saturday and Sunday.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 187, 29-30 October 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz …

1:53  Program preview

3:02  US and China discuss space exploration*

8:19  Planet orbiting Proxima Centauri might be habitable*

15:07  Broadcasters and jammers in the ham bands*

21:11  Photo of Alderney, Channel Islands, by VOA Radiogram listener*

25:23  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  (will change to 5865 kHz starting 6 November)
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 to North America Sunday 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0130 UTC. KBC will also transmit to Europe Sunday, 30 October, at 1200-1300 UTC, on 6095 kHz. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 1230 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes:

Saturday 2030-2100, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany

Sunday 0530-0600, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany

Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida

Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida

For schedule updates, visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/  or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz and new 3975 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC.  The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2000-2030 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2025-2030. IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0155-0200 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0130-0200 broadcast.  See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information.

Thank you for your reception reports. I made some progress this past week sending out the galleries from program 181. More emails will be sent this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @VOARadiogram (especially active during and after broadcasts)

VOA Radiogram weekend programming news

Hello friends,
Last week, some listeners heard and decoded MFSK32 transmissions just before and just after VOA Radiogram Saturday at 1600-1630 UTC on 17580 kHz. The source of these transmissions is unknown. This Saturday, please listen (and, if possible, record) on 17580 in the minutes before 1600 UTC and after 1630 UTC to see if the mystery MFSK32 returns.

Last Saturday at 0930 UTC, on 5745 kHz, using the University of Twente receiver in the Netherlands, I saw a faint carrier from the North Carolina transmitter. It’s probably too early in the season to decode from such a signal, but, if you are in Europe (especially northern Europe), check this broadcast as winter approaches. 

This weekend’s broadcast will be all MFSK32 except for one news item in Olivia 16-1000. If your reception condition results in errors with the MFSK32, the Olivia 16-1000 might have fewer errors.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 183, 1-2 October 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted …

1:48  Program preview

 3:04  Lyman-alpha blobs in distant space*

7:05  Email service delivers updates on asteroids*

9:32  Geysers on Jupiter's moon Europa*

17:27  Olivia 16-1000: US states object to Internet move

23:03  VOA to Ethiopia jammed

24:35  Elliott Electronic Computer*

26:22  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 to North America Sunday 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes:

Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida

Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida

Monday 2000-2130 UTC, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany

For schedule updates, visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/  or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC.  The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2000-2030 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2025-2030. IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0155-0200 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0130-0200 broadcast.  See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information

Thank you for your reception reports for last weekend’s broadcast. I am now compiling the MFSK image gallery from program 181, and hope to begin sending it out later today.

I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.
Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram

IBC slated for Friday broadcast

After more than 30 years Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), the most famous free short wave radio from Italy, that was heard in most continents, has returned to airwaves at the beginning of 2016. 

Here is a message for the next broadcast;

"Dear listeners, we will broadcast again on Friday 29 January on the frequency of 6970 kHz from 12.00 UTC, and then probably on 3905 kHz. Please spread the news and report to ibc@europe.com .

Thank you from the Italian Broadcasting Corporation crew!

https://www.facebook.com/IBC-Italian-Broadcasting-Corporation-42794031466

(Antonello Napolitano/playdx)