The Greek government has decided to delay the decision to eliminate shortwave broadcasting from March 31 or May 31.  To help the Greek government in its decision, last week Shortwave Radiogram transmitted Greek text, as a demonstration of radio as a substitute for an increasingly censored and restricted internet. At the bottom of this email, you can see the Greek text received in Greece by our friend Merkouris.

Videos of last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram (program 249)  are provided by Scott in Ontario and Frigid RF in Virginia (both Friday 1300 UTC), Merkouris in Greece (Saturday 0230 UTC Greek excerpt),  and Mike R. somewhere in the USA (Sunday 2330 UTC excerpt).  (And see the April meeting of the Palomar Amateur Radio Club in California with a demonstration of Fldigi, using Shortwave Radiogram audio.)  The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 252, 14-19 March 2022, in MFSK modes as noted:

  1:34  MFSK32: Program preview
  2:41  MFSK32: Surprising temperature swings on Neptune*
  7:40  MFSK64: Fiber-optic cables through water pipes
12:07  MFSK64: 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

We’re on Twitter now: @SWRadiogram

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

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule

| UTC Day  | UTC Time      | Frequency        | Transmitter       |
|----------|---------------|------------------|-------------------|
| Thursday | 2330-2400 UTC | 9265 kHz         | WINB Pennsylvania |
| Friday   | 1300-1330 UTC | 15770 kHz        | WRMI Florida      |
| Friday   | 1500-1530 UTC | 15750 kHz DRM    | WINB Pennsylvania |
| Saturday | 0230-0300 UTC | 9265 kHz         | WINB Pennsylvania |
| Sunday   | 2330-2400 UTC | 7730 kHz         | WRMI Florida      | 
| Monday   | 0800-0830 UTC | 5850 7780 kHz    | WRMI Florida      |
| Tuesday  | 1430-1500 UTC | 9955 kHz         | WRMI Florida      |

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) 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” Most of the show is a music show, but the host transmits some MFSK-64 text and image near the end of the broadcast.  It’s transmitted on WRMI, Thursdays at 0200-0300 UTC on 5850 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas). Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com   www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/    @ThisIsAMusicSho   https://thisisamusicshow.com

Pop Shop Radio from British Columbia, Canada, includes “a whole variety of pop music, such as records from the 1960s and 1970s that were played on Top-40 radio stations not only in North America but also on offshore radio and stations like Radio Luxembourg.” The programs now include some MFSK32 text and an image. Website: popshopradio.ca. Twitter: @popshopradio1  Email: radiopopshop@gmail.com.

Merkouris in Greece received the Greek text and accompanying image, 9 April 2022, 0230-0300 UTC, 9265 kHz from WINB Pennsylvania. See also his video and decode of all the images. …

VOA Radiogram has transitioned to Shortwave Radiogram.

Please visit SWRadiogram.net

and Twitter: @SWRadiogram

or https://twitter.com/swradiogram

Please excuse a few stray Shortwave Radiogram posts below.

The image of the Cambodian bamboo railway looked something like an impressionist painting after being received on shortwave. Above, from left, 1) the original photo, 2) the MFSK32 image as received by Franco in Italy, 14 January at 2046 UTC, 7780 kHz from WRMI Florida, 3) the image as received by Lorne in New Zealand, 15 January at 0816 UTC, 7730 kHz from WRMI.

Thanks to Roger and other listeners, I have learned that it is not as difficult to process Thor images as I described in last week’s email. This weekend, Shortwave Radiogram will include another brief segment in Thor 22, with an image, so that we can try it again.  

Here is the procedure: When the Thor 22 image has been received, make any necessary adjustments for phase and slant, using the left and right arrows. Then click Save. This will create a png image that will be in your Fldigi \images\ folder.  (See also the Fldigi manual Thor page.)

You can do this later, after the broadcast. Set Fldigi for Op Mode Thor 22. Click View. Then select THOR Raw Image. Choose the .raw file that you want, make any needed adjustments, then Save as a png file. These .raw files are about 8 Mb each, so you might want to delete them to save disk space.

The Thor 22 segment will begin with the SWRG avatar. You can save that with a left click on the avatar.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 31, 20-21 January 2018, in MFSK32 except where noted:

  1:31 Program preview

  2:47 Iranian MPs want to prevent use of foreign apps*

  9:14 Uganda might launch its own social media platforms*

16:17  Russian moves towards creation of independent internet*

24:32  Thor 22: WSPR from Germany’s Antarctica research station*

26:51  MFSK32: 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

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:

News about international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

Get your official Shortwave Radiogram white laboratory coats ready for a busy week of experiments, 9-10 December 2017.

There was no consensus as to whether the MFSK16 or MFSK8 was more successful last weekend.  (You can listen to, and decode, the MFSK8 from 3 December as received – with difficulty – in Tasmania. This was during the 2330-2400 UTC broadcast on 11580 kHz from WRMI Florida.) The IFKP 1.0 did not decode for most listeners (including me), but there were some successes, including the image. This IFKP 1.0 image was decoded by Richard in New Brunswick … 

This weekend, we will keep you busy for one more intensive round of radio experiments, before settling down to some leisurely all-MFSK32 shows during the holiday period.  

Three Olivia modes on the 2330 UTC broadcast. Let’s hope that propagation cooperates by providing poor reception during the Sunday 2330-2400 broadcast on 11580 kHz. During this half hour, we will transmit Olivia 64-2000, Olivia 32-1000, and Olivia 16-500, all centered on 1500 Hz. These are all slow modes, between 20 and 30 wpm, so the entire broadcast will consist of less than one AP news story. Be sure to turn the Fldigi squelch (SQL) off.

UTC

23:30:00  Music/voice introduction

23:31:03  Olivia 64-2000

23:40:22  Olivia 32-1000

23:48:48  Olivia 16-500

Fun with Flamp. Meanwhile, the other three broadcasts this weekend will be in the usual MFSK32. There will, however, be one item in 8PSK-1000F, the very fast mode (3386 wpm) we tried a few weeks ago. This time, the 8PSK-1000F will be used in conjunction with Flamp, one of the Fldigi suite of programs. Please download Flamp from https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/files/flamp/ .

Flamp will divide the news story into ten blocks of 480 bytes each. Then it will transmit the story four times. Any blocks that do not have the correct number of characters, due to fading or interference, can be received during the second, third, or fourth passes. The news story that requires seven minutes to transmit in MFSK32 will be transmitted four times in 8PSK-1000F in about one minute.
Please activate Flamp before the switch to 8PSK-1000F at about 19:30 into the show. Flamp will not turn on automatically (unless you have configured Fldigi’s Autostart). Go to Flamp’s Receive window. Flamp will show you which blocks were received correctly during the first through fourth passes.  

If the file is received 100%, click Save, then go to File > Folders > rx > [date of reception] – then open the file SWRG25_Russia_media.txt.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 25, 9-10 December 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:34 Program preview

2:56 French engineer creates biodegradable plastic*

10:18  Russia Declares RFE/RL, VOA ‘Foreign Agents’*

19:30  8PSK-1000F with Flamp: same as preceding story **

20:40  MFSK32: Christmas markets in Germany*

26:36  Closing announcements * with image

** Use with Flamp (see above)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram

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

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 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)  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:

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.

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

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

Images received by Rawad in Saudi Arabia, 25 June, 2030-2100 UTC, 11580 kHz …

I am pleased to announce the addition of a fourth transmission of Shortwave Radiogram. It is Saturday at 1600-1630 UTC on 9400 kHz. If the day and time seem familiar, they are the same as the the most popular broadcast of VOA Radiogram. The, frequency, however is different. And if the frequency seems familiar, it is the same 9400 kHz via Space Line in Kostinbrod, Bulgaria, used by The Mighty KBC for its Giant Jukebox show, Saturday 1500-1600 UTC.

This new broadcast probably won’t be heard in the Americas this time of year. During the winter, possibly. If you are outside Europe, you can tune in and decode from http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901 in the Netherlands, or from another SDR in Europe.

Thanks for the many reception reports for Shortwave Radiogram program 1!

SWRG2 includes the image of a vertical line. This might help detect and correct slant in  MFSK images. On the program, I forgot to mention that it helps to record the program. Then you can save one or more segments devoted to images. Play those images repeatedly until the proper Rx adjustment of Fldigi, or of the speed of your recording, results in no slant. The free Audacity software can be helpful for recording, editing, and converting audio, and (using Audacity’s timer record feature), recording while asleep, at work, or otherwise away from the radio.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 2, 1-2 July 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz:

1:52  Program preview
3:05  Our new broadcast for Europe*
7:30  A test and remedies for slanted images*
11:00  Russia considers blocking foreign broadcasts*
14:03  Trump moves to withdraw US water protection*
21:15  Italian Broadcasting Corporation anniversary*
23:46  Closing announcements*

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

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

Information about the first Shortwave Radiogram, 25 June 2017, is here …

http://swradiogram.net/post/162168963047/shortwave-radiogram-25-june-2017-first-show

This website will remain accessible but with no new posts. Please visit http://swradiogram.net and the @SWRadiogram Twitter account for updates.

The last VOA Radiogram is this weekend. The successor to VOA Radiogram is Shortwave Radiogram, which will be broadcast for the first time on 25 June on the WRMI times and frequencies in the schedule below. 

To help us keep in touch after the migration from the old Radiogram to the new Radiogram, please note the following changes …

• Old: radiogram@voanews.com
• New: radiogram@verizon.net

• Old: http://voaradiogram.net
• New: http://swradiogram.net

• Old: @voaradiogram
• New: @swradiogram

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will be all MFSK32 and will include seven images, including one optical illusion.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 222, 17-18 June 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz …

 1:54  Program preview

 2:59  Transition to Shortwave Radiogram*

 7:48  Digitizing old reel-to-reel tapes*

10:57  Thanks to W1HKJ and the Murrow station*

20:48  Thanks to listeners*

23:10  Closing announcements*

 * with image(s)

 Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

 See and submit results on Twitter: @VOARadiogram

The Mighty KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1530 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

 Thank you for your support during the four-plus years of VOA Radiogram!