VOA Radiogram, program 163

Hello friends,

You might remember that last year, the BBG, parent agency of VOA, issued a Request for Proposals for the development of a decoder app for VOA Radiogram. There were no proposals, but that might be because of the short deadline. It's possible that the RFQ will be issued again, but only if there is potential interest by developers. So let me know if you are an interested developer.

The specifications in the RFQ would be the same as in the 2015 RFQ, which you can see here ...

http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2015/09/RFQ-BBG50-Q-15-0915MD-Software-Development.pdf

VOA Radiogram this weekend will be all MFSK32, except for the transmission schedule in Olivia 64-2000 under the closing music. The show will include six MFSK images.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 163, 14-15 May 2016, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:34 Program preview

2:46 Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile*
8:42 UK government review of the BBC*
14:29 RFE/RL Crimea website blocked*
18:35 Radio/TV Martí now receiving letters direct from Cuba*
23:11 Image from South Pole Journal*
26:36 Closing announcements*
28:15 Olivia 64-2000: Transmission schedule under music

* with image

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 17580 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 has a different transmission schedule this weekend: To North America Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC on 9925 kHz, via Germany, with a minute of MFSK32 at about 0130 UTC. And to Europe Sunday at 0800-1000 UTC on 6095 kHz, also via Germany, with the minute of MFSK32 at about 0830 UTC. Reports for KBC reception and decoding to Eric:themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit DX news in MFSK32 and perhaps other modes on its usual schedule:
Sunday 2130-2200 UTC - 15770kHz via WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC - 11580kHz via WRMI Florida
Monday 2000-2030 UTC - 6070kHz via Channel 292 Germany
Consult https://www.facebook.com/digidx/ for any additions or changes to this schedule.

Thank you for your reception reports from last weekend. Reception was especially difficult on Sunday due to a solar event. I am now compiling the gallery of MFSK images from program 137, and will try to send that out this weekend.

Early next week I will send information about programs 164 and 165, to be broadcast during the last two weekends of May.

I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter