{"id":9026,"date":"2014-03-21T08:03:00","date_gmt":"2014-03-21T12:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=9026"},"modified":"2014-03-21T08:06:52","modified_gmt":"2014-03-21T12:06:52","slug":"dear-bbg-take-note-of-the-radiogram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/dear-bbg-take-note-of-the-radiogram\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear BBG: Take note of the Radiogram!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"VOARadiogramImages\"<\/a>Many thanks to my friends, Bennett Kobb (AK4AV) and Christopher Rumbaugh (K6FIB)\u00a0who wrote a letter to the BBG\u00a0regarding the relevancy of shortwave radio<\/a>. They make a strong point\u00a0as this article in Radio World puts it<\/a>: “Hey, don’t forget about Radiogram!<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

I also made a case for the VOA Radiogram<\/a> in my letter to the BBG, but I think Benn and Chris sum it up better. Click here to download their letter to the BBG as a PDF document<\/a>–I’ve also pasted it below:<\/p>\n

Response to BBG Shortwave Committee Request for Comment<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

March 14, 2014<\/p>\n

The BBG has spearheaded ‘Radiogram’ (voaradiogram.net<\/a>), an entirely novel form of international high-frequency broadcasting. Radiogram is soundly premised on modern digital techniques and mitigates longstanding impediments to HF transmission. Users around the world have documented reception of fifty VOA Radiogram programs in more than a thousand YouTube videos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BBG must not allow its own pioneering developments to wither, but should advance them toward operational status.<\/p>\n

Radiogram should not be confused with Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), which employs digital modulation for sound broadcasting. Radiogram broadcasts web content via robust, interference-resistant, error-detecting\/correcting AM tone modulation, using standardized formats widely practiced in the Amateur Radio Service.<\/p>\n

The user’s ordinary shortwave receiver, tuned to a Radiogram transmission, feeds its audio to a user device. These could include mobile phones, tablets, laptop and desktop computers and the new ARM-based miniature computers and embedded devices. The user device decodes the tones and displays text and imagery despite propagation impairments and intentional interference — and without Internet connection.<\/p>\n

Placing the radio near the phone or computer is normally sufficient. No hardwire connection is required. By adding a simple audio cable between receiver and user device, however, reception can be silent and covert. No specialized hardware is needed, and the software platform for decoding is long in the public domain.<\/p>\n

A more advanced, yet still inexpensive setup would use existing “dongle” technology that places a software-defined radio (SDR) inside a small USB enclosure. Such units are available today for a few tens of dollars and widely used by experimenters. The operating system and decoding software could also be incorporated into the device, which could boot the computer, eliminating the need to install any PC software.<\/p>\n

The user need not be present at the time of transmission to receive content. He essentially receives a web magazine updated at will and always ready for use. The user can redistribute it by printing, USB storage, SMS, E-mail etc.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Naturally, the audio tone transmission can be recorded for later playback. Even when buried well under music or noise, the nearly inaudible recorded broadcast can nevertheless deliver 100% copy upon decode.<\/p>\n

Radiogram’s transmission methods provide text at 120 WPM (near to the speed of spoken English) along with images. Additional languages have been proven, including non-Roman alphabets.<\/p>\n

Sent over regular broadcast transmitters (no modifications needed), this approach effectively extends the reach of the transmitter. In other words, the digital text mode will decode in locations where the audible speech over the same transmitter would be too low for aural intelligibility. The audio recorded or captured could be replayed over another transmitter to even further extend the reach of the broadcast.<\/p>\n

Recommendations<\/p>\n

BBG should:<\/p>\n

1. Capitalize on Radiogram as a circumvention tool, readily consumable by mobile devices. It should integrate Radiogram into its media strategy and networks.<\/p>\n

2. Retain, but reconfigure as necessary its HF facilities in view of the potentially lower costs and greater efficiency of Radiogram when compared to conventional sound broadcasting.<\/p>\n

3. Support the development and wide distribution of simple, usable, open-source Radiogram decoding applications for popular mobile devices and platforms (Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux), derived from the free Fldigi software used worldwide.<\/p>\n

About the Respondents<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bennett Z. Kobb, M.S., SMIEEE, is the communications director for an Arlington, Virginia trade association.<\/p>\n

Christopher Rumbaugh, MLS, is a library manager and web publisher in Salem, Oregon.<\/p>\n

The views expressed herein are the authors’ own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Again, many thanks to Benn and Chris for submitting such an articulate letter to the BBG and for sharing with SWLing Post readers.<\/p>\n

If you would like to decode a VOA Radiogram yourself, simply visit VOAradiogram.net<\/a> for details on broadcasts targeting your part of the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to my friends, Bennett Kobb (AK4AV) and Christopher Rumbaugh (K6FIB)\u00a0who wrote a letter to the BBG\u00a0regarding the relevancy of shortwave radio. They make a strong point\u00a0as this article in Radio World puts it: “Hey, don’t forget about Radiogram!” I also made a case for the VOA Radiogram in my letter to the BBG, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,1114,960,3,43,1167],"tags":[406,2675,936,2676,1664,1856,10,1718,182],"class_list":["post-9026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-digital-modes","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-whats-on-shortwave","tag-bbg","tag-benn-kobb","tag-broadcasting-board-of-governors","tag-chris-rumbaugh","tag-kim-elliott","tag-radiogram","tag-voa","tag-voa-radiogram","tag-voice-of-america"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-2lA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7452,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/how-will-us-international-broadcasting-be-affected-by-the-government-shutdown\/","url_meta":{"origin":9026,"position":0},"title":"US international broadcasting: affected by the government shutdown?","author":"Thomas","date":"October 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"At least for now, it would appear, \"programming of the U.S. international media networks will continue for overseas audiences\" according to the BBG website and CNN. I expect many VOA listener entertainment programs (those focused on music, arts and culture) will play archived material during the furlough. News programs should\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"View of the Capitol Building from the roof of VOA","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/K3VOA12-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":26042,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/voa-radiogram-to-end-viva-la-radiogram\/","url_meta":{"origin":9026,"position":1},"title":"VOA Radiogram to end (Viva La Radiogram!)","author":"Thomas","date":"May 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: VOA Radiogram\/Kim Elliott) VOA Radiogram, 20-21 May 2017: Special doomed edition 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.\u00a0 I approached various BBG and VOA\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Digital Modes"","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Digital-Image-VOA-Radiogram.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10569,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/radio-world-international-broadcasters-reconsider-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":9026,"position":2},"title":"Radio World: International Broadcasters Reconsider Shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"August 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Check out this article from Radio World which addresses\u00a0the state\u00a0of shortwave radio broadcasting. Jeff White of WRMI and Kim Elliott of the VOA are both interviewed. Elliott even speaks about the virtues of the VOA Radiogram experiments which have had success circumventing shortwave radio jamming (broadcasts which were completely omitted\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sackville-radio-towers-li","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Sackville-radio-towers-li.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Sackville-radio-towers-li.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Sackville-radio-towers-li.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14862,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/09\/want-to-develop-a-voa-radiogram-application\/","url_meta":{"origin":9026,"position":3},"title":"Want to develop a VOA Radiogram application?","author":"Thomas","date":"September 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you an application developer? The VOA Radiogram\u00a0is seeking a developer to create\u00a0software for PCs and mobile devices \"to simplify the decoding of text and images transmitted by VOA and other radio stations.\" The\u00a0RFQ and Statement of Work\u00a0from the Broadcasting Board of Governors can be dowloaded by clicking here. Note\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOARadioGram","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/VOARadioGram.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10412,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/bbg-publishes-report-on-the-efficacy-and-future-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":9026,"position":4},"title":"BBG publishes report on the efficacy and future of shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"August 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bennett Kobb, who shares this downloadable Report of the Special Committee on the Future of Shortwave Broadcasting. If you recall, this\u00a0report was produced by a Broadcasting Board of Governors committee\u00a0and chaired\u00a0by\u00a0Matt Armstrong. Both Bennett and I believe it's unfortunate that the committee failed to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9121,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/voa-radiogram-battle-of-the-100-wpm-modes-this-weekend\/","url_meta":{"origin":9026,"position":5},"title":"VOA Radiogram: Battle of the 100 wpm modes, this weekend!","author":"Thomas","date":"March 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"If you like the\u00a0VOA Radiogram, don't miss this weekend (March 29-30)--a one year mile marker for the VOA Radiogram service on shortwave radio. I've copied details of the broadcast below, but please bookmark or subscribe to the\u00a0VOA Radiogram\u00a0website to see the results of the 100 wpm battle and details of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOARadioGram","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/VOARadioGram.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9026\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}