Based on reports, reception was generally good last weekend. That’s somewhat unfortunate, because we included a news item in Olivia 32-2000, a mode that can be successfully decoded even in very bad reception conditions. I tested this twice: First was during the Saturday 1600-1630 UTC broadcast on 17870 kHz. I usually don’t listen to this transmission because, in northern Virginia, I’m in the skip zone. Last weekend, the MFSK32 had many errors, but in Olivia 32-2000, 1111 of the 1115 characters decoded correctly. I had similar results Sunday 0230-0300 UTC on 5745 kHz using a receiver in Slovakia.

This weekend will be another all-MFSK32 show, except for MFSK16 as the bonus mode, first at 16 dB under the closing music, and later at full level.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 116, 20-21 June 2105, all in MFSK32 except where noted:  

  1:32  Program preview
  2:51  Amateur Radio Field Day at former VOA transmitting site*
  9:38  630M medium wave transmissions on Field Day
12:52  Watermills in Pakistan generate electricity*
20:26  Myanmar intensifies media restrictions*
26:42  Closing announcements
27:43  MFSK16: Bonus mode 16 dB under closing music
28:40  MFSK16: At full level

* 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 17870 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 a minute of MFSK64 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. This is part of the KBC transmission to North America Sunday at 0000-0300 UTC (Saturday 8-11 pm EDT). If you decode this, quickly retune to 5745 kHz for VOA Radiogram. Reports for KBC to Eric: themightykbc (at) gmail.com .