VOA Radiogram

Shortwave Radiogram, 14-19 April 2022: Digital modes that are probably not responsible for the temperature swings on Neptune

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:21:55 -0400

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 is now Shortwave Radiogram

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 06:51:44 -0400

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.

Shortwave Radiogram, 20-21 January 2018: Fear not the .raw file

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 17:29:30 -0500

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

The Olivia 64-2000 segment of Shortwave Radiogram, 10 December...

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:35:52 -0500

The Olivia 64-2000 segment of Shortwave Radiogram, 10 December 2017, 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz from WRMI Florida, as received in New Zealand.

Shortwave Radiogram, 9-10 December 2017: Fun with Flamp

Fri, 08 Dec 2017 05:36:28 -0500

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/.

The audio for the MFSK32 image on The Mighty KBC, 2-3 September...

Sat, 02 Sep 2017 11:45:08 -0400

The audio for the MFSK32 image on The Mighty KBC, 2-3 September 2017, was flawed. The corrected audio (with RSID) is posted here.

Shortwave Radiogram, 2-3 September 2017: MFSK32 turns water pink (well, actually, algae does)

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 14:54:01 -0400

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.

This weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram returns to the usual mix of news and images. It will be all MFSK32.

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/.

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

Shortwave Radiogram, 1-2 July 2017: Bulgaria Calling

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:22:35 -0400

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/.

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...

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 14:37:51 -0400

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.

VOA Radiogram, 17-18 June 2017: One more show before I leave the building

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:53:31 -0400

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 …

Email address:

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

Website:

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

Twitter:

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

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!

Shortwave Radiogram begins 24-25 June 2017

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 08:54:24 -0400

The Shortwave Radiogram transmission schedule:

Sunday 0600-0630 UTC 7730 kHz

Sunday 2030-2100 UTC 11580 kHz

Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 11580 kHz

All via WRMI in Florida

VOA Radiogram, 10-11 June 2017: Penultimate is better than ultimate.

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 15:16:20 -0400

Amharic text decoded by Juha in Finland, 4 June 2017, 1930-2000 UTC, 15670 kHz.

Shortwave Radiogram will be the name of the show that will replace VOA Radiogram, starting 24 June. “Shortwave Radiogram” is not as creative as most of the names suggested by VOA Radiogram listeners. Thanks for those ideas!

The new website will be http://www.swradiogram.net (maybe active this weekend), the new email radiogram (at) verizon.net , and the new Twitter account @SWRadiogram .

Last weekend’s new transmission via WRMI Florida, Sunday 0600-0630 on 7730 kHz, was, to my surprise, audible in Europe, at least via http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901 in the Netherlands. Reception was marginal at my house in Virginia (and I was only marginally awake at 2:00 am local time). I received a great signal using an SDR in Hawaii and a good signal via Australia.

This weekend is the penultimate (always wanted to use that word in a sentence) VOA Radiogram, so please tune in if you can. The entire program will be in MFSK32. It will include some Arabic text, that prints from right to left. You will need the UTF-8 character set for the Arabic text to display correctly. There will also be two images of the North Carolina transmitting site.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 219, 10-11 June 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz:

1:47 Program preview

2:53 Bus-train hybrid drives on painted tracks*

6:27 India launches heavy satellite*

12:57 Arabic text from Alhurra * **

16:33 Three photos*

24:49 Closing announcements*

* with image

** Use UTF-8 character set

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. On 9400 kHz, 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

VOA Radiogram, 3-4 June 2017: Hypersonic digital modes

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 17:19:41 -0400

Images received by Tarmo in Estonia, 27 May 2017, 1600-1630 UTC, 17580 kHz.

This weekend, VOA Radiogram will add a new transmission this weekend, Sunday, 0600-0630 UTC, 7730 kHz via WRMI Florida. See the schedule below. In that schedule, the three WRMI broadcasts will be the schedule for the successor to VOA Radiogram starting the weekend of June 24-25.

I have yet to decide on a name for the successor to VOA Radiogram. Your ideas and suggestions are welcome!

See the voaradiogram.net website for this news about Roger in Germany decoding text from the fourth(!) audio harmonic.

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram is, as usual, mostly in MFSK32, with some MFSK16. There is also some text in Amharic, the main language of Ethiopia. You will need the UTF-8 character set for the Amharic to display correctly. In Fldigi, UTF-8 is the default character set, but you can check to make sure via Configure > Colors & Fonts. In TIVAR, UTF-8 is the only available character set.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 218, 3-4 June 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:49 Program preview

3:03 Hypersonic space plane*

7:30 India opens longest bridge in its northeast*

14:37 Ethiopia cuts off internet during exams * **

20:24 MFSK16: WSPR from Canadian C3 voyage

24:40 MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements

* with image

** use UTF-8 character set for Amharic

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

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

Ridiculous fun: Decoding text from the fourth audio harmonic

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 06:56:14 -0400

Merkouris in Greece experimented with the decoding of an image from the second audio harmonic of a VOA Radiogram transmission.

Roger in Germany followed up by decoding from the third audio harmonic of The Mighty KBC’s transmission on 9400 kHz (via Bulgaria.)

At that point, I wrote, “And I think that is a far as we will be able to go with harmonic image decoding!”

I was wrong.

Roger, taking advantage of a strong KBC signal on 9400 kHz, was able to decode MFSK16 text from the fourth audio harmonic …

http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2017-05-27.htm#decoding_4th_harmonic

But perhaps now we have reached our limit. Roger wrote, “I also tried the 5th harmonic, but the result was not usable.”

YouTube videos of VOA Radiogram, 27-28 May 2017

Wed, 31 May 2017 10:48:11 -0400

https://twitter.com/VOARadiogram/status/86992230571936563

https://youtu.be/TQMNHNfRrGo

https://youtu.be/RHnfU5MdEXY

https://youtu.be/_oZmEcWK8yo

VOA Radiogram, 27-28 May 2017: Cutting our budget and other news

Fri, 26 May 2017 12:45:09 -0400

Russian text received in Ukraine, 21 May 2017, 0230-0300 UTC, 5745 kHz (via dipole directed to the Caribbean)

See the schedule information below for a special transmission of The Mighty KBC on 28 May. The KBC digital modes will be a combination of text in MFSK64, 32, and 16.

Only four more editions of VOA Radiogram remain, with the last show during the weekend of June 17-18. I retire from VOA on June 23. A radio program similar to VOA Radiogram will begin June 24 on WRMI. Details will be announced as that date approaches.

The voaradiogram.net website and @VOARadiogram Twitter account will remain “live” for at least a few months after VOA Radiogram ends, so check those sources for links to the new website and Twitter account.

VOA Radiogram listeners have been conducting some interesting experiments. Recent examples are by Merkouris in Greece, who decoded an MFSK32 image from the second audio harmonic of a VOA Radiogram broadcast …

http://voaradiogram.net/post/160838081557/decoding-mfsk-images-from-audio-harmonics-just

Then Roger in Germany decoded from the third audio harmonic of a KBC transmission …

http://voaradiogram.net/post/161092313997/fooling-mother-nature-decoding-mfsk32-images-from

And I think that is a far as we will be able to go with harmonic image decoding!

VOA Radiogram this weekend will include some Spanish, so please use the UTF-8 character set again to make sure all the accent marks display correctly.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 217, 27-28 May 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:49 Program preview

3:03 Britain irritated by US intel leaks*

6:57 Trump budget includes cut for broadcasting*

13:49 Russia accuses RFE/RL, VOA of election interference*

19:54 MFSK16: Same subject in Spanish **

24:09 MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements

* with image

** use UTF-8 character set

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

The Mighty KBC digital modes this weekend will include have no image, but will include text in MFSK64, MFSK32, and MFSK16. Make sure your RxID is on. KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1530 UTC on 9400 kHz (via Bulgaria), with the minute of MFSK at about 1530 UTC. 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. And there will be a special transmission on 28 May at 0800-1500 UTC on 6095 kHz via Germany. The minute of MFSK is at about 1440 UTC. On 9400 and 6095 kHz, if you are outside of Europe, listen via websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

DigiDX has not resumed, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

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

VOA Radiogram, 27-28 May 2017: Cutting our budget and other news

Fri, 26 May 2017 12:40:53 -0400

Russian text received in Ukraine, 21 May 2017, 0230-0300 UTC, 5745 kHz (via dipole directed to the Caribbean)

See the schedule information below for a special transmission of The Mighty KBC on 28 May. The KBC digital modes will be a combination of text in MFSK64, 32, and 16.

http://voaradiogram.net/post/160838081557/decoding-mfsk-images-from-audio-harmonics-just

Then Roger in Germany decoded from the third audio harmonic of a KBC transmission …

http://voaradiogram.net/post/161092313997/fooling-mother-nature-decoding-mfsk32-images-from

And I think that is a far as we will be able to go with harmonic image decoding!

VOA Radiogram this weekend will include some Spanish, so please use the UTF-8 character set again to make sure all the accent marks display correctly.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 217, 27-28 May 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:49 Program preview

3:03 Britain irritated by US intel leaks*

6:57 Trump budget includes cut for broadcasting*

13:49 Russia accuses RFE/RL, VOA of election interference*

19:54 MFSK16: Same subject in Spanish **

24:09 MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements

* with image

** use UTF-8 character set

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

DigiDX has not resumed, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

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

Fooling Mother Nature: Decoding MFSK32 images from the third audio harmonic

Fri, 26 May 2017 08:59:49 -0400

In a previous post, Merkouris in Greece showed us how he decoded an MFSK32 image from the second audio harmonic …

http://voaradiogram.net/post/160838081557/decoding-mfsk-images-from-audio-harmonics-just

Now Roger in Germany has fooled Mother Nature to an even greater extent by decoding from the third audio harmonic of The Mighty KBC’s signal on 9400 kHz (via Bulgaria)…

http://www.rhci-online.net/radiogram/VoA_Radiogram_2017-05-20.htm#KBC

VOA Radiogram, 20-21 May 2017: Special doomed edition

Fri, 19 May 2017 10:22:28 -0400

Zděnek in the Czech Republic received these images Sunday, May 14, 1930-2000 UTC, 15670 kHz

I will retire from the Voice of America on June 23, after 32 years as audience research analyst and broadcaster.

I was hoping to continue to produce VOA Radiogram as a contractor. I approached various BBG and VOA offices. They all declined.

And, therefore, the last VOA Radiogram will be the weekend on June 17-18

Money is not the issue. I am willing to work cheap. My main interest is to be authorized to continue the show and maintain a VOA email address, so that I can keep in contact with the audience.

The irony is that, after retirement, I will finally have time to answer your emails – but I will no longer have access to the VOA email system to do that.

But, the show must go on. In addition to the four weekly transmissions via the BBG North Carolina transmitting site, VOA Radiogram is also broadcast on WRMI in Florida twice on Sundays. I can hardly allow those half-hour slots to be filled by light recorded music. So, beginning the weekend of June 24-25, a program similar to VOA Radiogram, but with a new name and email address, will be broadcast by WRMI.

More about the demise of VOA Radiogram, and the emergence of its replacement, in the weeks to come.

VOA Radiogram this weekend includes some text in Russian. You will need to use the UTF-8 character set. IF you use Fldigi, it probably is already set for UTF-8, but you might want to check under the Colors & Fonts menu. All of the show is in MFSK32 except for one item in MFSK16, in case reception is challenging.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 216, May 20-21, 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:46 Program preview

3:00 Distance supernova can doom earth has doubled*

10:16 Plan to clean plastic patch in the Pacific*

15:55 Plastic-eating moths (Russian) * **

22:01 MFSK16: Ukraine blocks Russian websites

26:10 MFSK32: Closing announcements*

* with image

** Mostly Cyrillic text: use UTF-8 character set

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

The Mighty KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1530 UTC on 9400 kHz (via Bulgaria), with a minute of MFSK32 at about 1530 UTC. And to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 is at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

DigiDX has not resumed, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

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

Decoding MFSK images from audio harmonics (just for the fun of it)

Fri, 19 May 2017 09:39:13 -0400

VOA Radiogram listeners often see something like this on their Fldigi software display ….

The actual MFSK32 audio is the trace above and below 1500 Hz. The trace to the right, which actually extends to 3500 Hz, is the second audio harmonic.

I think these harmonics also exist with voice and music programming, but because the audio is so diffused, they are usually not noticed. With MFSK32 and other digital modes, however, the audio is so precisely defined that the harmonic is more noticeable.

VOA Radiogram listener Merkouris in Greece tried an experiment with the second audio harmonic. He wrote:

Last weekend I tuned on the VOA radiogram frequency in AM mode, although I usually set my receiver in SSB mode. As the 2nd harmonic was clearly visible on the fldigi waterfall, I decided to give it a try to decode it.

Using Audacity, I changed the pitch of the recorded audio to -50%, then I cropped the audio frequencies below 1200 Hz. The results of the decode were about 50% copy of the text in MFSK32 and 99% copy of the text in MFSK16. Regarding the images, only two out of the transmitted five were decoded with quite interesting outputs.

Here follow the pictures, compared to the images that were decoded from the 1st harmonic.

The picture is of Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, broadcast on VOA Radiogram the weekend of 13-14 May 2017.