During the VOA Radiogram broadcast Saturdays at 0930-1000 UTC on 5745 kHz, listeners in western North America and in Japan have often encountered the noise of other-the-horizon (OTH) radar.

Mike in Washington state recorded an example on 25 June. You can listen to it here. And you can decode it yourself, noting that both the MFSK32 and Olivia 16-1000 had no problems with the OTH radar. (The show begins at :55 into the recording, and the MFSK starts at 2:24. At 17:22, you might have to switch manually to Olivia 16-1000 centered on 2000 Hz.)

Mike certainly had no trouble decoding the text and images, and seen in the screenshots he sent. You can see the OTH radar noise bands in the waterfall …

Last weekend, VOA Radiogram received its first reception report from Morocco. It was via Twitter. It was from البزخ المزﯕـيطي ,  @K7al_L3afta , who tuned in 26 June 2016, 0230-0300, on 5745 kHz. This is one of the transmissions via the dipole antenna in North Carolina directed to the Caribbean.

He used the MultiPSK decoding software …

We have not heard from Poland for several months, but Marek in Warsaw reported reception of VOA Radiogram on 26 June 2016, 1930-2000, on 15670 kHz.

Even more unusual is his use of the DM780 decoding software, which is bundled with the Ham Radio Deluxe rig control software. Most VOA Radiogram listeners use Fldigi.

And speaking of rigs, Marek tuned in using his well-equipped amateur radio station: a 3 element Yagi at 15 meters above ground into a FlexRadio 6300 SDR transceiver.

As you can see, DM780 did a good job with both MFSK32 (including the images)  and Olivia 16-1000 …

VOA Radiogram was received and decoded by Pavel in Russia, near the Ukrainian border. This was during the broadcast 26 June 2016, 0230-0300 UTC, on 5745 kHz. This transmission is actually directed to the Caribbean via a dipole antenna at the North Carolina transmitting site, but it’s often heard in Europe.

Pavel provided these Fldigi screenshots of his decoding …

Unfortunately, VOA Radiogram this past weekend did not include any Russian text. There was Russian during the programs 4-5 June and 11-12.  One weekend there was no report from Russia. The other weekend, there was a report from Russia, but the signal gave out before the Russian text began.

Frank in Perth, Western Australia, sends a reception report almost every week. Usually it is for the VOA Radiogram transmission Saturday at 0930-1000 on 5745 kHz. This antipodal reception is via a dipole at the North Carolina transmitting station directed to the Caribbean.

On 25 June, Frank reported about 80% decode of the MFSK32 text, and 100% of the Olivia 16-1000. The images, as you can see, were fuzzy but usable …

VOA Radiogram has been the subject of many YouTube videos. To find these videos, go to youtube.com and search on VOA Radiogram. If you want the most recent videos, use a filter such as “this week” or “this month.”

The most prolific contributor of YouTube videos of VOA Radiogram reception and decoding is Tim, K0RUS, in Colorado. Almost every week, Tim receives and records the VOA Radiogram transmission on Saturdays, 1600-1630 UTC, currently on 17580 kHz. His most recent video from June 25 showed less than 100% decoding of the text because of local noise and deep fades. Most weeks, however, the performance of the modes is satisfactory. Tim’s channel, K0RUSham, is a good place to go to see how VOA Radiogram works, and to provide audio for your own decoding. Don’t miss Tim’s comments typed in the Fldigi transmit pane.

Jakob Flierl in Germany also produced a YouTube video of the same VOA Radiogram broadcast, June 25, 1600-1630 UTC, 17580 kHz. Although the audio level was somewhat “hot,” you can see that Jakob’s decode was more successful than Tim’s. Germany is, after all, in the target zone for 17580 kHz, whereas Colorado is in the opposite direction. 

Another video during the past weekend was prepared by CLK3 in Annapolis, Maryland. This was from the broadcast Sunday (Saturday evening in the USA), 0230-0300 UTC, on 5745 kHz. This video is audio only, but it’s useful for decoding by anyone who was not able to get adequate reception of VOA Radiogram. The video description contains advice on how to decode the modes.

Finally, a video of very exotic reception was supplied by DFS2010 in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. It shows his reception of the VOA Radiogram broadcast Saturday at 1600-1630 UTC on 17580 kHz. Despite his location far from the North Carolina transmitter and far beyond the European target area, DFS2010 was able to decode some text and a fuzzy MFSK32 image of Pluto.

VOA Radiogram this weekend will include the Olivia 16-1000 mode with a center frequency of 2000 Hz. If you happen to experience co-channel interference consisting of voice and/or music, the robustness of the Olivia 16-1000 mode in combination with the higher audio frequency might allow a successful decode. At 40 words per minute, Olivia 16-1000 is faster than Olivia 64-2000.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 169, 25-26 June 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:35  Program preview

 2:45  Pluto may have liquid ocean*

10:17  Fiery re-entry for junk from ISS*

16:33  Olivia 16-1000 (2000 Hz): Zuckerberg PC security*

22:06  MFSK32: Image, mobile app transmitted by shortwave*

26:04  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.

(Also substituting for DigiDX Sunday and Monday.  See schedule below.)

The Mighty KBC will transmit to North America Sunday at 0000-0100 UTC (8-9 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0030 UTC. KBC will also broadcast to Europe Sunday at 0900-1000 UTC on 6095 kHz. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0930 UTC. Reports for KBC reception and decode to Eric: themightykbc (at) gmail.com .

DigiDX will provide DX and media news in MFSK32 and a mixture of 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

Daily 1830-1900 and 0530-0600 UTC, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany

Look for any additions or changes to the DigiDX schedule at http://www.digidx.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz, Wednesdays, 2000-2200 UTC, with MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 at 2030-2100 UTC. See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information.

Download apps via shortwave? A recent transmission of a mobile app from shortwave station KTWR in Guam, to a DRM receiver in Thailand, has caused much discussion. See coverage at drmna.info and The SWLing Post. While DRM offers more bandwidth and faster download speeds than the VOA Radiogram method of digital modes via analog radio, VOA Radiogram data can be received on any radio.

Software to decode VOA Radiogram includes Fldigi from w1hkj.com  and, for Android devices, TIVAR

A challenge last weekend was strong interference, perhaps an over-the-horizon (OTH) radar, during the Saturday 0930-1000 UTC transmission on 5745 kHz. It was especially loud in Alaska, per this video made by Paul in Alaska. (I was not able to decode the MFSK32 from the video, but maybe you will have better luck.) The interference was also heard by Mike in Washington state. If the noise returns this weekend, we’ll be prepared: the show includes a story in the robust Olivia 64-2000 mode.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 168, 18-19 June 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:33  Program preview

2:38  Birds’ brains more complex than imagined*

8:35  Large planet orbits binary stars*

17:40  Olivia 64-2000: North Dakotans overturn farm law*

24:19  MFSK32: Image and 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 have an extra transmission this weekend. There will be the usual North America transmission Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, with a minute of MFSK32 at about 0130 UTC. And there will be a transmission to Europe Sunday at 0800-1000 UTC on 6095 kHz, with a minute of MFSK32 at about 0930 UTC. Both 6095 and 9925 kHz are via Nauen, Germany. Reports for KBC reception and decodes to Eric: themightykbc (at) gmail.com .

DigiDX will provide DX and media news in MFSK32 and a mixture of other modes:

Sunday 2130-2000 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

Look for any additions or changes to the DigiDX schedule at

http://www.digidx.uk/

or

https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation)

has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz, Wednesdays, 2000-2200 UTC, with MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 at 2030-2100 UTC. See

http://ibcradio.webs.com/

for the complete schedule and contact information.

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will again be all MFSK32, and again it will include some Russian – the North Carolina transmitter has been putting a signal into Russia lately.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 167, 11-12 June 2016, all in MFSK32:

 1:32  Program preview

 2:55  Four new chemical elements named*

 7:21  New Russian medium-haul airliner*

11:13  In Russian: NASA astronaut selection process* **

18:40  Astronauts enter inflatable module on ISS*

24:20  Five days with no visible sunspots*

26:34  Closing announcements*

* with image

** Russian text requires UTF-8 character set. In Fldigi:

Configure > Colors & Fonts > set Rx/Tx Character set to UTF-8.

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 broadcast to North America is back to two hours this weekend: Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8 to 10 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Please send reports for this reception to Eric: themightykbc (at) gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit DX news in MFSK32 and other modes on its usual schedule: Sunday 2130-2200 on 15770 kHz, and 2330-2400 UTC on 11580 kHz, both via WRMI in Florida. And Monday at 2000-2030 UTC on 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 in Germany. Also listen for DigiDX on 6070kHz (Channel 292) every day at 1830-1900 UTC (co-channel with Vatican Radio) and 0530-0600. Consult http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/ for any schedule changes.

The Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) had a good first broadcast of digital on Wednesday. This will be transmitted Wednesdays at 2030-2100 on 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 in Germany, part of the IBC broadcast Wednesdays at 2000-2200 UTC. On 8 June, the modes were MFSK32 at 1500 Hz at 2030-2045, and Olivia 16-500 at 2200 Hz at 2045-2100. I don’t know if those will be the modes on 15 June, so be ready to adjust Op Mode if necessary.  

An illustration of the wide footprint of our North Carolina shortwave transmitter are these image decodes 4 June 2016 at 1626 UTC on 17580 kHz. From top: Merkouris in Greece (in the target area), Mike in Washington state (opposite of the target area), Chris in New Zealand (well beyond the target area), and me in Virginia (the skip zone for 17580 at that hour). …