Friday, November 01, 2013

VOA Radiogram, November 2-3, 2013


 
Hello friends,
 
Last week we experimented with the new long-interleave versions of MFSK64 and MFSK128. For some of you, when the MFSK64L or MFSK128L modes began transmitting, your Fldigi software crashed or froze.
 
The cause for that has been identified, and newer versions of Fldigi should alleviate the problem. Use Fldigi 3.21.76AT or later. The current alpha version of Fldigi, used to produce this weekend's program, is 3.21.76AU. It can be downloaded from http://www.w1hkj.com/alpha/fldigi/v3.21/.
 
From last weekend, we have some occurrences of MFSK64L and MFSK128L providing a better decode than their "short" counterparts. But we need more examples.
 
This weekend's show (November 2-3, 2013) should be interesting, and it will keep you busy:
 
2:38  MFSK16: Program preview
6:27  MFSK64/Flmsg*: Rails-to-trails, with image
1:11  MFSK32: Introduction to MFSK64L and MFSK128L
1:38  MFSK64: Modular smartphones
2:03  MFSK64L: Modular smartphones
1:46  MFSK32: Image of modular smartphone
1:19  MFSK128: Aging minds
1:40  MFSK128L: Aging minds
:46  MFSK32: Intro to MFSK images
6:20  MFSK16/32/64/128: Same image in each mode
:36  MFSK32: Closing announcements
 
*USe Flmsg with Fldigi, both available from w1hkj.com. To make FLmsg work with Fldigi, in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS -- Under Reception of fldigi files, check both boxes, and under that indicate where your Flmsg.exe file is located.
 
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .
 
Screenshots are appreciated. So are audio samples, especially 1) examples of weak signals or difficult reception that nevertheless result in a successful decode of at least one mode and 2) audio of the MFSK64 and 64L comparison, or of the MFSK128 and 128L comparison. You can use software such as Audacity to record from your radio and to convert the audio to mp3. (Also try decoding from your Audacity recording, experimenting with its equalizer – under Effect -- to see if it improves performance.)
 
I will answer your reports from last weekend in the next few days.
 
And I look forward to hearing from you this weekend.
 
Kim
 
Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
 
VOA Radiogram
radiogram@voanews.com
Twitter: @voaradiogram
 
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
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.