
Last weekend, it was the Sunday 0230-0300 UTC broadcast on 5745 kHz that provided the most difficulty for listeners. Reception in Europe was non-existent. And it was not as good as usual in most of the Americas. Ontario was an exception, as you can see in this video by Scotty in Toronto …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9_hRpxf7Ss
From the Saturday 1600-1630 UTC show, Youtube videos were produced by “BlackApple 62” in Italy …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yZ6F4mFZwo
And by Tim in Colorado, same time, same frequency …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWgurJkmEHA
You can watch their decoding, or do your own decoding using the audio from the videos.
This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will be all MFSK32, because I did not have enough time to squeeze in an MFSK16 item.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 212, 22-23 April 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz …
1:46 Program preview
2:56 Astronomers find another “earthy” planet*
11:15 Chinese party critic wanted after VOA interview*
18:28 Russian lawmaker says US media pressure Russia*
23:31 First iceberg of season off Newfoundland (photo)*
26:15 Closing announcements*
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

The Mighty KBC has a new broadcast to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1600 UTC on 9400 kHz, via Kostinbrod (near Sofia), Bulgaria. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 1530 UTC. This is in addition to the usual KBC broadcast to North America 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

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 211, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:51 Program preview
3:02 Loud shrimp named after rock band*
7:19 Major Azerbaijani Internet provider blocking RFE/RL*
14:43 China blocks South Korean TV*
21:08 MFSK16: Free App Allows Blind Hams to Work PSK31
24:26 MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

The Mighty KBC has a new broadcast to Europe Saturdays at 1500-1600 UTC on 9400 kHz, via Kostinbrod (near Sofia), Bulgaria. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 1530 UTC. This is in addition to the usual KBC broadcast to North America 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

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram has some interesting news items and six MFSK32 images. One item is in MFSK16 in case reception is difficult.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 210, 8-9 April 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:50 Program preview
3:05 New Horizons spacecraft halfway to next destination*
6:45 Graphene-oxide membranes for desalination*
13:19 Ebay founder pledges $100 million to fight fake news*
18:11 MFSK16: NOAA’s biggest ship ends 800-day voyage
21:56 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

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 listeners in Europe, the summer time change means that the VOA Radiogram broadcasts on Sunday, 26 March, will be one hour later by local time. The following weekend, 1-2 April, all of the broadcasts will be one hour later than during winter, because VOA Radiogram stays at the same UTC times throughout the year.
VOA Radiogram this weekend will be all MFSK32. It will also include eight MFSK32 images and less text than usual. The text will be used to introduce links to VOA News science-related videos.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 208, 25-26 March 2017, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz …
1:44 Program preview
3:05 Mars may have had rings, and may again*
8:18 Film looks at plastics in oceans*
11:31 Meteorite a catalyst to store renewable energy*
14:19 How to optimize school bus networks*
17:04 Old steam engine hauls tourists in India*
19:51 Clean coal technology for home use*
22:41 How one US school is going solar*
24:52 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

Now that most of North America has changed to Daylight Savings Time, most Americans and Canadians will hear VOA Radiogram one hour later by local time. This is because VOA Radiogram stays at the same UTC time year round. The same will happen for European listeners beginning 26 March.
Also that last weekend of March, many shortwave broadcast stations will change some of their frequencies to correspond with seasonal shifts in propagation. The only change for VOA Radiogram from North Carolina is that the Saturday 0930-1000 UTC broadcast will move from 5865 to 5745 kHz, effective 1 April.
Effective 26 March, IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) will drop its 3975 kHz frequency for the summer. IBC will no longer broadcast VOA Radiogram. There might be one more VOA Radiogram via IBC, Wednesday, 22 March, at 2100-2130 UTC, on 3975 kHz.
This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will be all MFSK32, except for one item in MFSK16, in case reception is difficult.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 207, 18-19 March 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:46 Program preview
2:56 Fog-clearing apparatus used at Oregon airport*
9:52 ‘Boaty McBoatface’ submarine to embark on first mission*
16:44 MFSK16: RFE/RL photo archive from 1950s USSR
21:50 MFSK32: Images* and closing announcements
* with image(s)
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 and IBC. 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.

Two weeks ago, we were impressed with the performance of the MFSK16 mode in difficult reception conditions. We will include MFSK16 again this weekend, but we will compare it to another 58-wpm mode, Olivia 8-1000. The same AP news story will be sent in each mode. Note that MFSK16 is 316 Hz wide, while Olivia 8-1000 is 1000 Hz wide. After the RSID for each mode will be a 15-second tuning signal, in case you need to manually set the mode and/or center audio frequency.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 206, 11-12 March 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:51 Program preview
3:09 China seeks international law for Internet control*
10:07 North Korea bans overseas citizens from mobile Internet*
18:18 MFSK16: Satellite maps lightning flashes
21:55 Olivia 8-1000: Satellite maps lightning flashes
25:18 MFSK32: VOA tweet on International Women’s Day*
27:15 Closing announcements
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (temporarily expanded) (listeners in most of North America note that transmissions Sunday at 1930 UTC and after will be one hour later by local time):

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc (at) gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .
DigiDX is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI and IBC. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/
Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit http://ibcradio.webs.com/

We’ll keep this weekend’s program simple, with MFSK32 as the only mode.
One addition of digital modes this weekend is from the Winter SWL Fest, near Philadelphia. On its agenda is the Shortwave Shindig, which will be broadcast live on WRMI, 6855 kHz, Saturday 0300-0600 UTC (Friday evening in North America). Host David Goren, of Shortwaveology, plans to include one or two MFSK32 images during the show.
Please also note that The Mighty KBC will transmit on 6040 kHz, in
addition to its usual 6145 kHz, Sunday 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm
EST). This is because of an interfering signal just above 6145 kHz. A
minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0130 UTC.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 205, 4-5 March 2017, all in MFSK32:
1:49 Program preview
2:54 Cambodia threatens media outlets*
12:31 Foreign TV blocked for North Koreans in China*
19:28 Few complain after ABC drops shortwave
23:26 Dubai amateur radio satellite*
27:24 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 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 and 6040 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/ .
DigiDX is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI and IBC. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/
Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit http://ibcradio.webs.com/

With reception conditions apparently improving, we will take a chance with MFSK64 (240 wpm) for one of our news stories this weekend.
But if reception conditions are poor, we will also transmit one story in MFSK16 (58 wpm). Tuning for MFSK16 needs to be precise, so if the RSID does not work, I precede it with a 10-second tuning signal.
So this will be a weekend to compare MFSK16, 32, and 64, including one image transmitted in both MFSK64 and 32, and another image transmitted in both MFSK16 and 32.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 204, 25-26 February 2017, all in MFSK with baud rates as noted:
1:59 MFSK32: Program preview
3:10 MFSK64: Astronomers discover “new earths”*
8:06 MFSK32: Image* and HAARP experiment*
16:28 MFSK16: Arctic seed vault*
22:44 MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements*
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (temporarily expanded):

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) 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/ .
DigiDX is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI and IBC. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/
Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit http://ibcradio.webs.com/
Winter SWL Fest. I am planning to attend the Winter SWL Fest, March 2-4, 2017, at Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Hope to see you there. Information at http://www.swlfest.com . (Single-day walk-ins are welcome.)

Last weekend, we marked World Radio Day with a malfunction of the radio transmitter on 17580 kHz, during the time that the World Radio Day logo should have been broadcast. Other than that, we had a good weekend of reception and decoding!
For a good example of Olivia 64-2000 performing well despite poor reception, try decoding from this audio that I recorded from an SDR in Australia: http://voaradiogram.net/post/157100458412/voa-radiogram-olivia-64-2000-received-in-nsw
This weekend, we will again transmit an excerpt of text in a non-Latin Alphabet. This time it will be Ukrainian. Use the UTF-8 character set, which, in Fldigi, you can adjust (if necessary) via Configure > Colors & Fonts.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 203, 18-19 February 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:50 Program preview
3:17 Trump Administration sued over bumble bee protection*
9:18 India rocket launches 104 satellites*
16:09 Olivia 64-2000: First white dwarf pulsar discovered
20:44 MFSK32: World Radio Day items from RFE/RL*
23:27 Ukrainian text**
25:59 Closing announcements*
* with image
** use UTF-8 character set
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.
VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (temporarily expanded):

he Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) 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/ .
DigiDX is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI and IBC. See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/
Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit http://ibcradio.webs.com/
Winter SWL Fest. I am planning to attend the Winter SWL Fest, March 2-4, 2017, at Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Hope to see you there. Information at http://www.swlfest.com . (Single-day walk-ins are welcome.)