Category Archives: Schedules

Call me anachronistic, but I listen to digital tech shows on shortwave

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BBC_ClickWhile I’m passionate about shortwave radio–a technology that has, of course, been around for many decades–I also love to hear about emerging digital technologies, especially those that make our world a better place.

These days, I listen to several shows about technology, many of which are only available as a live stream or podcast (like TWIT, for example).

There are two shows, however, that I like to listen to on shortwave radio when my schedule allows.

One such show is the BBC World Service technology show, Click (formerly Digital Planet). I’ve listened to Click for years, and have even been interviewed on the show by its marvelous host Gareth Mitchell (click here to listen). I especially love the show’s focus on technologies that have a positive impact in developing countries (hence my interview, about my non-profit, ETOW). Mitchell, I’m delighted to add, is quite the fan of shortwave radio as well, and is not afraid of reporting on technologies that are not exclusively tied to smart phones and the like.

DownloadThisShow-RadioAustraliaAnother show I’ve been listening to for a few months is Download This Show on Radio Australia. It’s a fun and informative technology program and always has a great panel discussion on technology news. What I really love about this show is its take on Australian technology in particular, and how this compares with technology in the rest of the world.

Since Download This Show is broadcast via Radio Australia’s Shepparton transmitting site, the signal is quite strong here in North America and easily received on portable shortwave radios.

Click here to download over two hours of Radio Australia, including Download this Show, or listen via the embedded player below. This broadcast was recorded on August 2, 2013, on 9,580 kHz, starting around 13:00 UTC.

You’ll find Download This Show in the second hour of the recording, following the news headlines at 1:05.

VOA Radiogram includes EasyPal comparison this weekend

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VOARadioGram(Source: VOA Radiogram)

During the weekend of 29-30 June 2013, VOA Radiogram will continue experiments with the EasyPal digital image software. EasyPal will be transmitted in both its 4-QAM and 16-QAM settings to see if the former can be decoded in conditions where the latter cannot. Download EasyPal from  vk4aes.com.

VOA Radiogram for 29-30 June 2013:

2:31  MFSK16: Program preview

4:19  MFSK32: VOA News: “super-earths”

2:05  MFSK32: Accompanying image

:23  MFSK32: Introduction to MFSK64

2:15  MFSK64: VOA News: China space mission

2:53  MFSK32: Accompanying image

:33  MFSK32: Introduction to EasyPal

7:00  EasyPal 4-QAM: “super moon” in Greece

2:40  EasyPal 16-QAM “super moon” in Singapore

1:08  MFSK16: Closing announcements

:24  Surprise mode of the week

 VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (all days and times UTC):

  • Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
  • Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
  • Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
  • Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz

WRTH 2013 Summer (A) season available for download

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WRTH2013I just received the following message from Sean Gilbert with WRTH:

The WRTH editorial team are pleased to announce that the Summer (A) Season broadcast schedules file is now available to download for free from http://www.wrth.com/ just follow the link on the front page (updates).

Included in this file are: Broadcast schedules for international and clandestine/target broadcasters, international broadcasts in DRM, International frequency listing, and selected language broadcasts. Also included is a decode table for site and target area codes.

The 80 page file is just over 2MB in size and in PDF format (with bookmarks to assist in navigating between sections) and unique section page numbering to assist with printing. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat reader in order to open this file. The Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/

We hope you find this file a useful accompaniment to the printed WRTH.

VOA, Mighty KBC and PCJ: Radiograms this weekend

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The Mighty KBC, the VOA and PCJ radio will broadcast radiograms (digital text) over shortwave radio this weekend.

Reception conditions could be challenging depending on the impact of the incoming CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) which is expected to disrupt the high frequency bands today. All the more reason to attempt to decode these messages as Dr. Kim Elliott is studying each digital mode and its ability to effectively overcome adverse conditions. Email your reports and audio files to: [email protected]

Here are details from each broadcaster:

KBCradioThe Mighty KBC

Broadcasting 14 April 2013 from 00:00-02:00 UTC on 7,375 kHz.

At about 0133 UTC, two slow (less than 60 WPM) but robust modes will be transmitted: Olivia 8-1000 centered on 1000 Hertz, and MFSK16 on 2000 Hertz.

At just before 0200 UTC, Olivia 8-2000, with Flmsg format, will be centered on 1500 Hertz.

VOARadioGramThe Voice of America

VOA Radiogram for the weekend of 13/14 April 2013 will feature the Olivia modes, with MFSK modes also transmitted for comparison.

The modes will be transmitted in groups of three, and all will be centered on an audio frequency of 1500 Hertz, except where indicated:

Olivia 8-1000, 58 WPM, 1:32 (program menu)
MFSK 16,  58 WPM, 1:52
Olivia 8-1000, 58 WPM, 1:44

Olivia 32-2000, 50 WPM, 2:09
MFSK 22, 80 WPM, 1:50
Olivia 16-2000, 80 WPM, 1:51

MFSK 32, 120WPM, 2:04
Olivia 8-2000, 120WPM, 2:04
Olivia 4-2000, 160WPM, 1:40

Olivia 16-1000 (centered on 2000 Hz) versus music, 2:03

MFSK 32 closing text and image,  :51

Reception reports with (if possible) sample audio and screenshots would be appreciated. Audio files from outside the United States are especially helpful.

[email protected]

Twitter: @VOARadiogram

Here is the VOA Radiogram broadcast schedule:
(all days and times UTC)
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

pcjPCJ Radio

PCJ Radio will transmit text on 14 April 2013 at 02:27 UTC via WRMI, Radio Miami International on 9,955 kHz. The mode will be Olivia 8-1000.

The Mighty KBC testing Monday & Tuesday morning

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MightyKBCTruckThe Mighty KBC will be testing Monday and Tuesday mornings (March 11th & 12th) from 09.00 -11.00 UTC.

They will be on the following frequencies (simultaneously):

  • 5,955 kHz from Nauen with The Giant Jukebox
  • 6,095 kHz from Wertachtal with Transport Radio

The Mighty KBC asks that you kindly email your listener reports for both shows.

The Mighty KBC is moving the Giant Jukebox to 7.375 MHz, March 3rd

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Nauen Transmitter Station (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Nauen Transmitter Station (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The Mighty KBC is moving their regular Sunday (00:00 to 02:00 UTC) Giant Jukebox broadcast from 9,450 to 7,375 kHz on Sunday, March 3rd, 2013.

The new broadcast will come from Nauen, Germany, packing 125 kW. The KBC noted that they may move back to the 31 meter band for the summer period.

We will post updates when available.

WRTH : B12 updates are now available for download

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WRTH2013(Source: WRTH Editorial Team)

A few hours later than planned, the B12 broadcast schedules update file is now available from the WRTH Website: http://www.wrth.com (and follow the links) the file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat 6 or greater to open it. The file contains updates to the International and Clandestine/Target broadcast schedules published in WRTH2013. We hope you find this a useful accompaniment to the printed book.

Best wishes / 73 from WRTH Editorial team.