Shortwave Radiogram schedule update

 

Shortwave Radiogram has been replaced by a religious program on Fridays at

1300-1330 UTC on 15770 kHz from WRMI.

Shortwave Radiogram thus moves to Wednesdays at 1330-1400 UTC on 15770 kHz.

This Wednesday broadcast will be the last show of Shortwave Radiogram's week.

The updated schedule is attached.

(Kim Elliott/SW Radiogram)

‘Radio Free Everywhere’ defeats the purpose of Voice of America

 

BY KIM ANDREW ELLIOTT, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR - 01/05/24 1:30 PM ET

On Dec. 16, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu “expressed grief” over the death of Voice of America’s Kabiru Usman Fagge, “an enduring name across the Hausa-speaking world.” 

The Voice of Nigeria, the country’s international broadcasting service, called Fagge “a household name” among Hausa-speakers.

Do a news search for Voice of America (VOA) and you will soon discover several stories in the African press citing its coverage of Africa. African journalism has made strides, but VOA is still a big deal on the continent.

Read the story at: 

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4389525-radio-free-everywhere-defeats-the-purpose-of-voice-of-america/

Shortwave Radiogram 339 schedule

 

Hello friends

Last week I mentioned my commentary "Why we need Shortwave 2.0" in the trade publication Radio World. This weekend's show will include most of that article in MFSK64 text.

Radio World also received a letter from Ruxandra Obreja, chairman of the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium, claiming "We Already Have 'Shortwave 2.0'"

The DRM Consortium seems to want it assumed that DRM is the future of shortwave. I have decoded hundreds of hours of DRM since about 2000, when I organized the first DRM reception demonstration in North America. DRM is great when it works, but I have witnessed too many failures of DRM decodes in typical shortwave conditions.

I would like to see a nightly transmission from Europe to North America, a half-hour each for DRM and for text-via-analog we use on Shortwave Radiogram. Let's find out which technology is more successful in trans-oceanic shortwave communication.

A video of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 338) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. The analysis is provided by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 339, 26-29 January 2024, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:41  MFSK32: Program preview

 2:48  MFSK32: Lightweight woven antenna for field satcom*

 8:33  MFSK64: Why we need Shortwave 2.0*

14:02  MFSK64: This week's images*

27:39  MFSK32: Closing announcements

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 Gateway Wiki: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

  

Other Shortwave broadcast programs that include digital text and images include The Mighty KBC, Pop Shop Radio, and Radio North Europe International (RNEI). Links to these fine broadcasts, with schedules, are posted here.

 

Thanks for your reception reports!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter

Shortwave Radiogram

Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

  

Why We Need '"Shortwave 2.0"

 

The author argues that radio is the ultimate internet circumvention tool

BY KIM ANDREW ELLIOTT 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 21, 2024

The debate about the future of shortwave broadcasting focuses on the correct observation that shortwave listening is no longer a mainstream activity in most of the world. 

The future of shortwave broadcasting — “Shortwave 2.0” — will not involve any revival of those large audiences. Instead, it will be an activity of communications enthusiasts and professionals. They would comprise a reserve corps able to relay information to larger populations in their countries when newer media are blocked or otherwise become unavailable.

Additional story at Radio World 

https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/why-we-need-shortwave-2-0?utm_term=A8208372-8B15-4B60-A12B-B5B02339D50A&lrh=5fe29bca13dc3e17fdcf1cf80df5f0574faf550d6593cce4d12e8d4836f3656a&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=4DBB4BE1-D9D0-42AA-99C9-C9A0F0F37E59&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/yman8b52

Shortwave Radiogram Schedules

 Hello friends,

The email system I use for this weekly email is AOL Mail, which now maintains verizon.net email addresses. Sometimes it behaves oddly. You might occasionally receive a duplicate of this weekly email. If you receive a duplicate every week, please let me know.

Thanks to everyone who participated in last weekend’s test of 8PSK-125F in AM versus SSB modes. For the most part, reception in SSB was better than AM. But even in SSB, there were more decoding errors than we usually experience in MFSK64 and 32. I think we have given 8PSK every opportunity. I am always open to suggestions for experiments with other modes and techniques.

This weekend we will press our luck with a news item in MFSK128 (480 wpm), including an MFSK128 image. Most of the show will be in our usual MFSK 64 and 32 modes. There will be a total of eight MFSK images.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 59, 3-6 August 2018, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:34  MFSK32: Program preview

 2:47  NASA marks its 60th year*

 7:45  MFSK128: Used cars exported to Africa*

11:46  MFSK64: Milky Way sibling devoured by Andromeda*

16:32  Passing of Oldrich Cip, shortwave frequency planner*

19:46  Images of the week*

28:29  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

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Program 59 (27-30 July 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 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)  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.

Thanks for your reception reports! 

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter

Shortwave Radiogram

Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

Shortwave Radiogram schedules

Hello friends,
I have returned from Elkhart, Indiana, where I attended the annual meeting of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters. The demonstration of reception on a SonSet radio (inside a steel factory building), with decoding on nearby PCs and Android devices, was largely successful until the MFSK64 began. (Access to videos of program 48 is here.)
At the NASB meeting, I was surprised and honored to receive a nice framed certificate from NASB for "many years of contributions to the shortwave broadcasting and listening communities in the United States and around the world."
This weekend's Shortwave Radiogram will be simpler, with content in MFSK32 and MFSK64 only, including five MFSK images.
Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 49, 25-28 May 2018, in MFSK modes as noted:
 1:37  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:55  Famous Thai bay to close for four months*
 8:16  MFSK64: Planet-warming gases make food less nutritious*
12:42  Car dealers discourage purchase of electric cars*
17:40  Image of challenge coin for canceled Trump-Kim summit*
20:07  MFSK32: Chinese amateur radio satellites will include HF*
25:43  Closing announcements
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304
 
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

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 new 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)  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.

Thanks for your reception reports! 
Kim

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

Shortwave Radiogram weekend schedules

Hello friends,
Shortwave Radiogram last weekend was scheduled for 2.5 transmitter hours: four half-hour broadcasts, with the fourth on two frequencies, for 2.5 hours. Only 1.5 of those transmitter hours were actually transmitted, for a transmission fulfillment rate of 60%. The first broadcast, Saturday at 1600-1630 UTC on 9400 kHz, was not on the air because of a power failure in Bulgaria. The show Monday at 0800-0830 UTC was broadcast on 5850 kHz but not on scheduled 7730 kHz because of an error in the WRMI automation system. Klaus in Germany reported that the signal there on 7730 kHz was S9 when it abruptly went off the air at 0800 UTC. The signal on 5850 kHz was not so good in Germany.

Let’s hope for better luck for the first broadcast of 2018.

 Thank you for the reports and images from the New Year’s show. Some are posted in this email. Others can be found at https://twitter.com/swradiogram.net . (Speaking of Twitter, my @kaedotcom is active again, mostly retweeting news about international broadcasting. Even if you don’t have a Twitter account, you can read it at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom .)

Scott in Ontario provides this video of his reception last Sunday at 0800-0830 UTC on 5850 kHz from WRMI Florida. You can decode from his audio.

This weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram is mostly in MFSK32. With Iran in the news, the first news item will be about smartphones in Iran. This will be followed by some text in Persian. You will need the UTF-8 character set (default in Fldigi, I think, and the only character set in TIVAR) for the Persian to display correctly. To check your character set in Fldigi: Configure > UI > Colors & Fonts > Rx/Tx.

Part of the show will be in Thor Micro, an exotic and very slow mode. It might work if reception is difficult. Thor Micro does not have an RSID. I will provide thirty seconds for you to change the mode manually: Op Mode > THOR > THOR Micro. Sorry, TIVAR and AndFlmsg do not yet have this mode, but the Thor Micro segment occupies only about five minutes of the program.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 29, 6-7 January 2018, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:33  Program preview

 2:47  Iran protests facilitated by smartphones*
10:55  Example of Persian text**
12:05  Trump's proposed moon mission will take time*
19:55  Thor Micro: Example of the slow mode Thor Micro
25:14  MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements

* with image

** use UTF-8 character set

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 Program 28 (6-7 January 2018)
29	Saturday	1600-1630 UTC	9400 kHz	MFSK32	Space Line, Bulgaria
29	Sunday	2030-2100 UTC	11580 kHz	MFSK32	WRMI Florida
29	Sunday	2330-2400 UTC	11580 kHz	MFSK32	WRMI Florida
29	Monday	0800-0830 UTC NEW TIME	7730 kHz 5850 kHz	MFSK32	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 7-9 pm EST) on new 6150 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:

To Europe
Wednesday	2025-2030 UTC	1584 kHz (MW)	http://myradiostream.com/radiostudiox
Thursday	0325-0330 UTC	1584 kHz	http://myradiostream.com/radiostudiox
Saturday	2125-2130 UTC	1584 kHz	http://myradiostream.com/radiostudiox
Sunday	1155-1200 UTC	6070 kHz
To the Americas
Tuesday	0125-0130 UTC	11580 kHz
Friday	0225-0230 UTC	9955 kHz	http://wrmi.listen.creek.fm/stream
Saturday	0155-0200 UTC	11580 kHz
Sunday	0055-0100 UTC	7730 kHz

Thanks for your reception reports! 

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram

Programming schedule from Shortwave Radiogram

Hello friends,
Apologies, especially to North Americans who were awake at an inconvenient hour, for the missing Shortwave Radiogram last Sunday at 0600 UTC on 7730 kHz. The legal difficulties of Brother Stair, a major WRMI client, caused a sudden reduction in the WRMI transmission schedule.

Jeff White at WRMI has kindly offered us Monday at 0800-0830 UTC on 7730 kHz and (for this weekend at least) 5850 kHz. This Monday is a holiday, but when Monday reverts to being a work day, North Americans might want to consider using Audacity’s timer record. Or just leave Fldigi running all night, then read the text and look at the images in the morning.

Please also note that The Mighty KBC is changing frequency this weekend to 6150 kHz for its North America broadcast, UTC Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC. The new frequency replaces 5960 kHz.

 Last weekend’s holiday lights special produced some very nice decoded MFSK32 images from all parts of the world. See the examples above and at the bottom of this email. Additional images have been posted to @SWRadiogram, or https://twitter.com/swradiogram . If you missed the broadcast, Scott in Ontario provided this video, suitable for your own decoding.

 This weekend we will transmit images of Happy New Year in the fourteen languages of the Shortwave Radiogram listeners who are currently sending reception reports or reporting decodes to @SWRadiogram. Sorry if I missed anyone’s language. There will be four additional MFSK32 images, for a total of 18!

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 28, 30-31 December 2017, all in MFSK32:

 1:32  Program preview

 2:34  New shortwave broadcast station in Australia*
 7:23  Radio Caroline returns to the airwaves*
12:28  Images of "Happy New Year" in 14 languages*
22:17  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 Program 28 (30-31 December 2017)
28	Saturday	1600-1630 UTC	9400 kHz	MFSK32	Space Line, Bulgaria
28	Sunday	2030-2100 UTC	11580 kHz	MFSK32	WRMI Florida
28	Sunday	2330-2400 UTC	11580 kHz	MFSK32	WRMI Florida
28	Monday	0800-0830 UTC NEW TIME	7730 kHz 5850 kHz	MFSK32	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 7-9 pm EST) on new 6150 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:

To Europe
Wednesday	2025-2030 UTC	1584 kHz (MW)	http://myradiostream.com/radiostudiox
Thursday	0325-0330 UTC	1584 kHz	http://myradiostream.com/radiostudiox
Saturday	2125-2130 UTC	1584 kHz	http://myradiostream.com/radiostudiox
Sunday	1155-1200 UTC	6070 kHz
To the Americas
Tuesday	0125-0130 UTC	11580 kHz
Friday	0225-0230 UTC	9955 kHz	http://wrmi.listen.creek.fm/stream
Saturday	0155-0200 UTC	11580 kHz
Sunday	0055-0100 UTC	7730 kHz

 Thanks for your reception reports! 

Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram