Friday, January 27, 2017

VOA Radiogram, January 28-29


Hello friends,

Last weekend, I had problems with our Outlook contact lists, resulting in some of you receiving two emails, and some VOA Radiogram listeners receiving no email. I’ve reconstructed the mailing lists. If you have previously unsubscribed and are receiving this email again, let me know, and I will delete you again.

DigiDX is taking a few weeks off. VOA Radiogram will be heard during the DigiDX broadcast times on WRMI Florida and IBC Italy. See the expanded schedule below.

The expanded schedule is a good way to celebrate the 200th program of VOA Radiogram this weekend.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 200, 28-29 January 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:52  Program preview
 3:02  Strange insect gets new scientific order*
8:54  China will crack down on VPNs*
14:02  Olivia 64-2000: Naval Academy HF Cubesat
21:30  MFSK32: 200th edition of VOA Radiogram*
25:09  Closing announcements*

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (expanded):

UTC Day
UTC Time
kHz
Transmitter
Target*
Saturday
0930-1000
5865
North Carolina
Americas
Saturday
1600-1630
17580
North Carolina
Europe
Sunday
0230-0300
5745
North Carolina
Americas
Sunday
1930-2000
15670
North Carolina
Europe
Sunday
2030-2100
11580
WRMI Florida
Europe
Sunday
2330-2400
11580
WRMI Florida
Americas
Monday
2000-2030
3975
IBC Italy
Europe
Wednesday
2100-2130
3975
IBC Italy
Europe

* But often heard outside the nominal target area

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.  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 .

Thanks for your reports from last weekend. I am still compiling the gallery from program 198 (14-15 January). I hope to have it finished this weekend and send it to everyone who provided reports.

I hope you can tune in and write this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

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.