As people and radio shows get older, they tend to draw less attention to their birthdays.  Last weekend was program 208 of VOA Radiogram: 208 divided by 52 equals  4, so it seems that VOA Radiogram has passed its fourth anniversary.

Please note that for the broadcast this Saturday at 0930-1000 UTC, 5745 kHz replaces 5865 kHz.

This weekend’s show includes an interesting item about the radio-free zone near the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. Another item, about the 1957 Sputnik satellite, will be in MFSK16, in case reception is difficult.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 209, 1-2 April 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:45  Program preview

2:53  Sensitivity to certain sounds is a real thing*

8:50  No wi-fi in town near West Virginia telescope*

17:43  MFSK16: Remember the 1957 Sputnik launch?

23:19  MFSK32: Images* and closing announcements

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.  (KBC will move to 9925 kHz on 7 May.)

DigiDX is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC)  For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including changes after 27 March, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/  The new English version of IBC’s “Shortwave Panorama” begins  31 March, via WRMI Florida, Friday 01.00-01.30 UTC on 9955 kHz, Saturday 01.30-02.00 UTC 11580 kHz, and Sunday 00.30-01.00 UTC on 7730 kHz. The last five minutes of these shows will be in MFSK32.

“IBC DIGITAL” - 5 MINUTES IN MFSK32:

WEDNESDAY   18.55 UTC  6070 / 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 EUROPE

SUNDAY          00.55 UTC  7730 KHZ TO NORTH AMERICA

                       10.55 UTC  6070 KHZ TO EUROPE

PS: A few operating notes:

• For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn Fldigi’s squelch (SQL) off.
• The RSID at 1500 Hz sometimes mixes with the transmitter hum, most noticeable at 360 Hz, to move your receive audio frequency down to 1140 Hz, resulting in no decode. To prevent this, in Fldigi: Configure > IDs  > RsID > unselect Searches passband.  Your center audio frequency will wander no more than +/- 200 Hz.
• Fldigi automatically saves your decoded MFSK images as png files in the folder \fldigi.files\images\ (in Windows; folder names might be different with other operating systems). You can attach those png files with your reception report.
• The VOA Radiogram Twitter account @VOARadiogram is especially active before, during, and after the broadcasts. You don’t need a Twitter account: just go to https://twitter.com/voaradiogram and refresh it occasionally.