Monday, September 29, 2014

R. Martí to Test MFSK16

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

Starting tonight, Radio Martí will transmit a minute of MFSK16 centered on 2500 Hz, daily, according to the following schedule:
0558:40 UTC               1180  6030  7405 kHz 
0758:40 UTC               1180  5980  6030 kHz 
0858:40 UTC               1180  5980  6030 kHz 
Each transmission is 57 seconds. 


The 1180 kHz is medium wave, from the Florida Keys. The shortwave frequencies (5980, 6030, and 7405 kHz) are all via North Carolina.

You will probably hear noise on the frequency.

Recordings of your reception would be appreciated.

The email address for reception reports is included in the text transmission, but if you are not able to decode it, just send the report to radiogram@voanews.com.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Friday, September 19, 2014

Autumnal VOA Radiogram for September 20-21

Read past the schedule for word of the latest incomprehensible IBB/USIA/VOA decision to shoot itself in its collective foot.  One wonders whether this is the whole story, or if the decision was a result of diplomatic pressure regarding the anti-jam tests.

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

VOA Radiogram this weekend will include a detailed VOA news item about U.S. public diplomacy.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 77, during the weekend of 20-21 September 2014. All content is in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz except for two surprise modes at the end:

  1:34  Program preview
.2:35  Device produces water from fog, with image.
 7:34  NASA contract for manned spacecraft, with image
11:33  NASA's asteroid detection effort, with image
18:15  US information "battle" with Russia, IS
26:41  Closing announcements

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 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Radio Free Asia transmissions of digital text via shortwave have ended and will not resume. I am surprised by this decision, because the RFA tests showed that in even in the face of deliberate Chinese co-channel interference, digital text provided a very successful decode.

Here is an example: RFA Cantonese as received in Hong Kong, 14 September 2014, 2257 UTC, on 15390 kHz. The female voice is China National Radio. The male voice in the background in RFA Cantonese. The mix of CNR and RFA creates a generally inaudible mess. The Olivia 32-2000 mode penetrates the cacophony, resulting in successfully decoded text (try decoding it yourself)...

https://soundcloud.com/voaradiogram/rfa-cant-140914-2257-15390-hk

I initiated experiments with digital text via analog shortwave broadcast about two years ago to find a way to work around the blockage and censorship of Internet content. The VOA Radiogram experiments show that text and images can successfully be transmitted via shortwave: a useful capability when the Internet is blocked.

However, we can assume that if a country blocks Internet traffic, it will probably also jam shortwave transmissions. Text via shortwave must also have anti-jamming capabilities. Tests of digital text modes amid actual jamming are -- were -- essential to the VOA Radiogram concept. Now that VOA and RFA have both discontinued tests of text to China, experiments with Chinese jamming are no longer possible within the realm of US-government-funded international broadcasting.

The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT) on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com.

Thanks for your interesting reports from last weekend's VOA Radiogram. I will begin answering those reports now.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Low-VHF F2 Skip is Back!

After hearing a solid signal from the 29620 kHz FM repeater in New York State, I checked higher up. Indeed the first VHF skip of the season was coming into California from the New York City area, with the usual NYC taxi dispatchers.  These were also good signals.

Since this time, Bz has moved south, and the Kp index is around the storm threshold at 4. Radio conditions are deteriorating somewhat.  Still, the season is coming......

Log:

kHz      UTC  Tone   Traffic
30620.0  1902 210.7  LOUD carriers, SS dispatcher
30660.0  1814  77.0  Huge carrier

30720.0  1822  ?     Weak carrier, longer xmsns than rest         

30740.0  1901 107.2  Taxi, probably NYC, usual fast SS  

30800.0  1919  88.5  Taxi, probably NYC, usual fast SS

30820.0  1902 151.4  Carriers, OM and YL dispatchers

31360.0  1910   CSQ  Weak EE/OM, "right next door to your right"

Sunday, September 14, 2014

HFDL System Table Updates to #49

ARINC recently updated its System Table of frequencies used by High-Freqency Data Link ground stations.  The current table is number 49 (decimal).  If you're using PC-HFDL, it should have switched to index numbers instead of the frequencies in kHz.

To get the kHz back, the user must either:

1. Listen to some squitters to make sure you have a good copy on the ground station.  Wait for an aircraft to report that it is using version 48, which triggers an auto-update from the ground.  As it receives the uplink data to the aircraft, clever PC-HFDL will write a new pchfdl.dat file over the existing one.  I must be slipping - I didn't do this on September 4 when it changed, and now it's a little late for a ground station to be sending it.

2. Get a file called pchfdl.dat from someone who has done the update.  Exit PC-HFDL.  Go to your PC-HFDL directory*, change to the sub-folder called "configs," and copy in the new one from wherever.  The old one is useless, so there's no tragedy if it gets lost.  Even so, I tend to rename it and move it somewhere else first.  Restart PC-HFDL, and if the numbers have switched to frequencies, you're there.

The pchfdl.dat file on this column's web site has been replaced.  It works here.  That doesn't always guarantee anything, but it's there.  Again, the operative number is #49.

As always, the new frequencies aren't all that different from the old ones.  The only visible change is the addition of three new frequencies for Johannesburg, South Africa.  These, listed in ARINC's usual descending mode, are 17922, 11321, and 5529.

Good hunting!


*Most Windows 7-8 users make a radio directory outside of C:\Program Files, because otherwise older programs don't work right.  Mine is C:\Radio\PC-HFDL.  Even then, I had to mess around with it a bit to get the new pchfdl.dat to work.  Most people, though, seem to have it work right the first time.


Saturday, September 13, 2014

High Bands Working as Magnetic Storm Abates

Bz remained strongly northward through the night (U.S. time), and the estimated Kp index stayed well below storm levels for the entire period.  HF has recovered nicely, with good signals, especially at the high end.  The 10 meter amateur beacon band (28200-28300 CW) is alive with Morse code signals for the first time in a while here.

Photos of spectacular aurora in the far northern US are all over the internet.  Vermont and New Hampshire were treated to an amazing display of green, yellow,  and purplish-red "northern lights."

It's worth watching the dreaded Bz, as it is very slowly moving southward at present.  It will do what it wants to do, and this is not a prediction of the future.  But a storm watch remains in effect.


Friday, September 12, 2014

Kp Index Reaches 7, then Storm Calms Somewhat

As predicted, the 0000 UTC estimated Kp index reached 7. There was a period of high-latitude G3 geomagnetic storming, which is currently over.  At 0300, estimated Kp was 4, right at the storm threshold.

Aurora watchers should still check the sky, because substorms are always possible.  Additional G3 storming is not out of the question, though the continued strong northward orientation of Bz makes it less likely than it would be if the interplanetary magnetic field were to turn south again.

In general, HF band conditions seem improved over this afternoon (U.S. time).


K Index of 7 Predicted as Storm Continues

While the highest Kp index encountered so  far in this event has been 6, the Space Weather Prediction Center is expecting it to go to 7 tonight (U.S. time).  This would be a G3 level event.  If it happens, aurora should be visible in the extreme northern U.S., and power grid fluctuations are possible in higher latitudes.  Auroral radio propagation is likely.

Some predictions have the Kp as high as 8, which is getting up there, but these assume a negative Bz magnetic polarity.  Right now, following a negative swing, it has gone strongly positive again. This possibly explains the drop to 5 in the last Kp index.

(Keep in mind that K is a quasi-logarithmic range index of magnetic fluctuation, always expressed in whole integers between 0 and 9.  A condition measuring at K=9, as high as it can go, makes for interesting, if unpredictable, conditions on the radio bands.  Here, it's usually first noted as severe auroral flutter on WWV, with Doppler shift, even though this is a relatively low-latitude path. )


From SWPC:

:Product: 3-Day Forecast
:Issued: 2014 Sep 12 1230 UTC
# Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
 Space Weather Prediction Center
#
A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast

The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24
 hours was 5 (NOAA Scale G1).

The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Sep 12-Sep 14
 2014 is 7 (NOAA Scale G3).

NOAA Kp index breakdown Sep 12-Sep 14 2014

            Sep 12     Sep 13     Sep 14
00-03UT        5 (G1)     6 (G2)     4     
03-06UT        5 (G1)     7 (G3)     5 (G1)
06-09UT        2          6 (G2)     5 (G1)
09-12UT        3          5 (G1)     4     
12-15UT        3          5 (G1)     3     
15-18UT        3          4          3     
18-21UT        3          5 (G1)     3     
21-00UT        6 (G2)     5 (G1)     4     

Rationale: G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storms are
expected by late on day one (12 Sep) due to continued
effects from the 09 Sep CME along with the arrival
of the 10 Sep CME. G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storms are
expected on day two (13 Sep) with continued CME effects.
Unsettled to G1 (Minor) storm levels are expected for
day three (14 Sep) as CME influence begins to subside.

Source Link: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/three_day_forecast.txt

Moderate Geomagnetic Storm in Progress

Coronal mass ejection from Wednesday's bright and long-duration X1.6 flare hit the Earth's magnetic field at 1555 UTC this morning (Western Hemisphere). The K index jumped from 2 to 6, indicating moderate storm conditions.

The most visible effect will be increased aurora, moving south perhaps to the northern U.S..

On the radio, polar absorption has greatly increased. Lower latitudes should encounter unstable and/or disturbed propagation today into tomorrow.

Interestingly, the Bz component of the magnetic field is oscillating wildly in some places, and at other locations it has moved well to the north. Generally, a southward Bz corresponds with the heaviest storm conditions.

VOA Radiogram/ RFA Cantonese/ Mighty KBC for Sep. 13-15

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

As we approach autumn in the northern hemisphere, shortwave propagation is changing. The 17860 and 15670 kHz transmissions may become more difficult to hear in Europe. On the other hand, last weekend, Chris in New Zealand received the 15670 kHz transmission with a 100% decode (including the Russian).

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 76, 13-14 September 2014, all MFSK32 except for surprise modes at the end of the show:


.1:35  Program preview
 2:33  "Internet slowdown" campaign, with image
10:19  Ozone layer may be recovering, with image
17:26  New VOA Russian TV program, with image
26:09  Closing announcements

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 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Radio Free Asia Cantonese Service continues its transmissions of Olivia 32-2000 this weekend and Monday, as follows:


​UTC Dates
​1458-1500 UTC
​2258-2300 UTC
​Saturday, 13 Sept
​13635 kHz
​15380 kHz
​Sunday, 14 Sept
​13700 ​15390
​Monday, 15 Sept
​13585 ​15260

The Olivia 32-2000 is centered on 1500 Hz. Each transmission is about a minute and a half. All frequencies are via Tinian. Send reports for these transmissions to qsl@rfa.org -- include your postal address, because they send paper QSLs.

The Mighty KBC will transmit its usual minute of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT) on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com.

Thanks for your reports to VOA Radiogram last weekend, to which I will respond this weekend.

I hope you can tune in this weekend.

Kim


Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

RFA Extends Cantonese Digital Broadcasts

Frequencies have been corrected per subsequent e-mail announcement sent 1811 UTC. This table reflects the corrected ones.

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,


The Radio Free Asia Cantonese Service will resume its digital text transmissions, Olivia 32-2000 centered on 1500 Hz, at the following times, on the following frequencies, all via Tinian. Expect co-channel Chinese domestic radio on all of these frequencies:


​UTC Dates ​1458-1500 UTC ​2258-2300 UTC
​Tuesday, 9 Sept ​13595 kHz ​15270 kHz
​Wednesday, 10 Sept ​13585 ​15280
​Thursday, 11 Sept ​13595 ​15290
​Friday, 12 Sept ​13585 ​15300
​Saturday, 13 Sept ​13635 ​15380
​Sunday, 14 Sept ​13700 ​15390
​Monday, 15 Sept ​13585 ​15260


These frequencies [were] not confirmed [possibly may be now]. If you do not hear RFA, tune within the same band for two stations in Chinese dialects on the same frequency.



Reports to qsl@rfa.org .


cc: to radiogram@voanews.com


Kim

Thursday, September 04, 2014

RFA Cantonese September 5, VOA Radiogram 6-7, and Mighty KBC

From Kim Andrew Elliott:

Hello friends,

Radio Free Asia will try digital text in its Cantonese Service on Friday, 5 September:

1458 UTC    13585 kHz
2258 UTC    15120 kHz  (Saturday early morning in East Asia)

Both frequencies are via Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. The mode is Olivia 32-2000 centered on 1500 Hz. Expect co-channel Chinese domestic radio. Reception reports to qsl@rfa.org .

VOA Radiogram this weekend will include interesting (and longer than usual) stories, one about an Internet conference in Turkey, the other about a major Russian news agency reverting to the name TASS. There will also be a brief item in Russian, so set Configure > Colors & Fonts to the UTF-8 character set.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 75, 6-7 September 2014, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz except for two surprise modes at the end of the show:

 1:31  Program preview (now)
 2:26  Internet Governance Forum in Turkey, with image
11:02  Russia's renamed TASS news agency, with image
21:31  VOA Russian: paper microscope, with image
25:57  Closing announcements

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 17860 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 repeat last weekend's one-minute test of the vertical blue line in MFSK64. This will be Saturday at about 1130 UTC on 6095 kHz and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday evening 9:30 pm EDT) on new 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via  Germany. Reports to themightykbc@gmail.com.

Thank you for your reports to VOA Radiogram during the weekend of 30-31 August. I saw many successful displays of the Tibetan text. I will try to answer all your emails by the end of this weekend.

Kim