Here are some pictures from the Blizzard of 2016 (Jan 22-24).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
YouTube videos of this weekend’s digital text via shortwave broadcast
See below for some YouTube videos of this weekend’s digital text via analog shortwave broadcast received at my QTH in Herndon, VA. Each includes audio, the Fldigi printout, and the Flex-3000 SDR spectrum display.
Entire VOA Radiogram, 31 March 2013, 1300-1330, 6095 kHz:
Entire VOA Radiogram, 31 March 2013, 0230-0300, 5745 kHz:
The Mighty KBC, 31 March 2013, 0133 UTC, 7375 kHz, MFSK128 test:
The Mighty KBC, 31 March 2013, 0133 UTC, 7375 kHz, MFSK 64 test:
PCJ Radio International, via WRMI Radio Miami International, 31 March 2013, 0227 UTC, 9955 Khz, digital text test using MFSK32:
Flex-3000 and DRM Radio
Using the Flex-3000 and the DRM decoding software I was able to listen to “The Disco Palace”. They broadcast for 1hr a day from 20:00 – 21:00 UTC on 17.875 MHz
Late snow in March!
Well, I guess we did get more snow than anticipated. We received ~3″ of snow on the grassy areas, with no major accumulation on the side streets or main highways. It sure does look pretty though.
VOA Radiogram Reception Report from Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Here is my first attempt at receiving the digital transmissons from VOA Radiogram. As you can see PSK125R was very reliable but as the speeds went up I really started to take a lot of hits.
Screenshot for PSK125R
Screenshot for PSK250R
I took a couple of hits on the flmsg but it was perfectly readable:
..and here is the image sent using MFSK32
The entire log file for the transmission:
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:35Z BPSK-31 @ 5745000+1500>>
VOA NEWS
Asteroid’s Spin Intrigues Astronomers
Suzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2012 DA14’s features and composition as it flies past Earth
at
about 7.8 kilometers per second – far faster than a speeding bullet…
t,i
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:37Z BPSK-31 @ 5745000+1500>>
u-
VOA NEWS
Asteroi/us Spin Intrigues Astrnnomers dlsrSuzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2012 DA14’s features and composition as it flies past Earth
at
about 7.8 kilometers per second – far faster than a speeding bullet. But that’s not all they…
uefeeea yiPok
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:38Z BPSK-63F @ 5745000+1480>>
#-exihboidh0 e-Upiezet}aeF1tn-Zr noed-iz7Dm to te DCF Lc – -; m oytoS-nZaT
tVet-r,4otn AadvDf enSfb- z%x-i(oGupiSi-e#t4Ltae’i-iD,
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:38Z MFSK-32 @ 5745000+1519>>
VOA NEWS
Asteroid’s Spin Intrigues Astronomers
Suzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2012 DA14’s features and composition as it flies past Earth
at
about 7.8 kilometers pet second – far faster than a speeding bullet. But that’s not all they hope to
discern
when the object comes within 28,000 kilometers of our planet on February 15.
Spin
Michael Busch is a planetary astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the southwestern
U.S.
state of New Mexico. He says the direction of…
oeio
an ui
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:40Z BPSK-63 @ 5745000+1497>>
LTTratTne
VOA NEWS
Asteroid’s Spin IntrigbdDl -umers
Suzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2012 DA14’s features and composition as it flies past Earth
at
about 7.8 kilomm)lzqptd – far faster than a se-no+-llet. But that’s not all they hope to discern
when the object comes within 28,000 kilometers of our planet on February 15.
Spin
Michael Busch is a planetary astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the southwestern
U.S.
state of New Mexico. He says the direction of DA14’s spin is important in predicting the way its orbit
will…
heSel Pl eCt-en-WPiame
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:42Z PSK-125R @ 5745000+1475>>
i 3tn ato (enue ce{
VOA NEWS
Asteroid’s Spin Intrigues Astronomers
Suzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2012 DA14’s features and composition as it flies past Earth
at
about 7.8 kilometers per second – far faster than a speeding bullet. But that’s not all they hope to
discern
when the object comes within 28,000 kilometers of our planet on February 15.
Spin
Mir T lvoo a planetary astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the southwestern U.S.
state of New Mexico. He says the direction of DA14’s spin is important in predicting the way its orbit
will
change over time.
“One of the interesting things about DA14 is we expect its spin state will change as it flies by the
Earth,”
said Busch. “The Earth’s gravity will pull slightly more on one side of the asteroid than on the other,
and
that will change its spin.”
Speckles
The U.S. space agency’s Goldstone antenna in the western state of California will beam radio waves toward
the
asteroid. Busch and his team will be about 1,000 kilometers away in New Mexico, where the National Radio
Astronomy Observatory operates a pair of antennas, about 400 kilometers apart. The two antennas will
receive
the waves reflected off the asteroid’s uneven surface. …
i-i-i-i-edfhee@ePPhe-eliAyI
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:43Z PSK-250R @ 5745000+1466>>
rtfnhvpTaTaTpTaTaTpTpTp
VOA NEWS
Asteroid’a at d6tihe-yt
Suzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Nhh- Qf D-Wedbo-ut Asteroid 2012 DA14’s features and composition as it flies past Earth at
about 7.8 kilometers per second – far faster ant*ijngea-diMi faP’s noe- cy~ hqenL the aIozr aolometers of
our planet on February 15.
Spin
Michael Busch is a planetary astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the southwestern
U.S.
H:oFiexhnLo-& c q5st rt-5soe-v-e tsf–tmbMuEeA ,kVxnh`etqTe-entLRnehe over time.
“One of the interesting things about DA1lFOp)4oe tiioer0PbMill change as it flies by the Earth,”
said Bu,ovEeryr lt– abm -ill pull slightly more on one side of the asteroid than on the other, and
that will cha;mu un–oCdoCtar RhtgCtAdenqs 1=agency’s Goldst v8teettepo-rlt:xCalif x X-kqeaj~ \-deard the
asteroid. Busch and his team will be about 1s: sdiometer ejhbBh-nc-t l nNational Radio
u tteSyya eikSyHs-rlates a pair of antennas, about 400 kilometers apart. The two antennas will receive
the waves reflected off the asteroid’s uneves tel Acusethiethix lte ~ et!t4 o ‘ will reflect tioh-ooeHCFl
n– astronomers to observe ekij tz c-o- t
i
“That pattern is random, but it movesewta?s’ tenos04- tyu Ey-xq? ihe IheTevnekwtvR1te– meyfereni\sodieglo
c-nai dtd- eenna, I can figure out how fast and in what direction the
asteroid is spinning,” he said.
Changes in Orbit
terWoickiet?O Senhoathe part of the asterouDmtt x- a q ri-#dcagt{-m uaie Geinleht PQl v-a gentle, jet-like
push that can speed up or slow down the asteroid. Over time, this can
significantly alter its orbit.
Astronomers with NASA, the U.S. space agencya-i d7l0 B-rioi sg :uEhaA-C {Fplanet will be
in 2046, and even then, it won’t strike the Earth.
Busch notes thaqt ebntJMahtlhe most part – precisejeti\ jiieKoht
Nthe next da[its-saoVt ill yield important insights into thel s-tu%oY
u7ke
“With the radar observations that we’ll get this weekend after the close approach and the optical infrared
data
that is also coming in, we will be able to much better predict where DA14 in particular is goi-O 4 run
-Mn0dZ-h further into the f-o n-f=eb lih re^2quo understand the …
eaTal (TalyhaTa-Tsq-i-i Pauen i
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:45Z PSK-500R @ 5745000+1457>>
pTppTpTpTpojLevc-tmhzO’tt NnEWS
Asteroid’s Spin Intrigues Astronomers
Suzanne Presto
February 14, 2013
Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2nO de eeike!atposition as it flies past Earth at about 7.8
kilometers per second nqtfa e e-a-h-iieh vh- at’s not all they hope to discern when the object comes
within 28,000 kilometers ofe ;
claFy-iaizyDC3n
Spin
evU0uWia yu uOre
stronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico. He
says the direction of -4’s spin is important in pred-ting the way its orbit will change over time.
“One of the interesting things about DA1f lit=aa-cy#te{to
change as it flies by the Earth,” said Busch. “The Earth’s gravi
lie’e-easg one side of the asteroid than on the other, and that will change ,co– n-nfoavse
The U.S. space agency’s Goldstone antenna in the western state of California will beam radio waves toward
the asteroid. Busch and his team will be about 1,000 kilometers away in New Mexico, where the National
Radio As jedake>au l9y tteYsTLei t m-s – seli-Xgs apa – -nnx- WcrA 4,e the waves reflected off the
asteroid’s uneven surfOgDa,eeh aZT tdwr’ts s1ot-UP`v dsignal differe-fe ho ti l. h2 RiDa? ilbserve
so-caWej tzc-ojooo t-mh e pattern is random, but it movesEias)e-l4m usi2-4spins, so by tracking the
time difference in when a different speckle arrives at a given antenna, I can figure out how fast and in
what direction the asteroid is spinning,” he said.
Changes in Orbit
Busch al-Elth th@eat=n -o-est tcw d nP,totu- iPea>ea hot spot that radiates heat. This exerts a gentle,
jet-like push that can speed up or slow down the a ee.t-ctit@nidh-Wgnificantly alter its orbit.-b bite-t-tt
ho tfhe . space agency, say 2012 DA14’s next notable close approach to our planet will be in 2046, a;i-
cam-eloewnts2t et-Varth.
j-an thzciy tttTOtbdv fDean – forFxu-ksjhetmuct DA14’s orbit for the next century, this space rock will
yield important insights into the behavior oa- n-c cery8t%,n ow ttoooYs0 that we’ll get -:pdel l e–f fu
L wd Eq IJmoeF alf tlJ- d vteeDwefyu’ Fri!wter predict where DA14 in particular is going and run that
orbit out much further into the future,” said -t-ho-qerxobegin to understand the properties of the
near-Earth asteroids-o y vr -i-ek 3S. space agency says, on average, an asteroid the size of 2012 DA14
gets close every 40 years and hits every 1,f en ieBs eF-dz giwdb itl –ez he4f-9nEi(2t-t/1604098.html
oze5d,- -aKaqeS, 20+7 ttieezl -ound the most recent black hoe na seobwyhey think it could have been born in
a rare explosion caused by a dying star.
Ne=ih afey xr<a-dya X-Ray Observatory, a t?–o I, edPfrom an orbit 139,000 kilometers above the Earth,
suggest Enhe9 d-I-eldoddly-shaped clouds of glowing gas may contain a young black hole.
The remnant, called W49B, is lteo hkKtzftyn -s equivalent to a blink of an eye in a universe believed to
be nearly 14 billion years old.
The SmithsoTs kh2te-uy in Massachusetts operates the Chandra telescope. It says, if confirmed, W49B
wou^oeiRnt=oxoZe z uthe Milky Way galaxy.
Supernova explosions occur when massive stars run o icv-e-eDt-o /Une ( h – *Fel–P l = > &2 She
explosions tend to be symmetrical, but supernova remnant W49B is asymmetrical, elongated and elliptical.
Scientists say the distorted shape and the brilliant, colorful X-ray images of the remnant indicate a6t
aitItuDt-7oe -oP Astronomers looked for a dense, spinning core, but they saw no evidence of one. They say
this means a black hole may have formed.
Laura Lopez, who led the study at UbOebyvXtisTechnology, said W49B is the first of its kind to bo L
tSaeue2v a statement on NASA’auiebsite, Lopez said, “It appears its parent star ended its life in a way
that most others don’t.”
NASA launched the Chandra X-ray Observatory in 1999. The findings about W49B will be published in an
upcoming issue of the Astrophysical Journal.
http://www.E ttliytc eln-)SPs2-ku=y-ways-youngestnu ttack-hole/1603279.html
This is VOA Radiogram fromnuoix a icL0fyi5 website is http://voaradtetc-sH–a-elyc‘o
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
ie ]eeseetyP-etIfc e aPTe-eu8eP Iv- i–i-fR-*sl*be-nRnaTazqP Sttt
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:47Z PSK-1000R @ 5745000+1386>>
TnaTaoT
VOA NEWS
NASA Captures First Images of ISON Comet
VOA News
February 07, 2013
NASA has captured the first images of a distant comet, which may give us a spectacular light show later
this
fall.
The images of comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), were taken by NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft from January 17 and 18
when
the comet was 493 million miles away, according to a NASA release.
“This is the fourth comet on which we have performed science observations and the farthest point from Earth
from which we’ve tried to transmit data on a comet,” said Tim Larson, project manager for the Deep Impact
spacecraft at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. “The distance limits our bandwidth, so
it’s a little like communicating through a modem after being used to DSL. But we’re going to coordinate our
science collection and playback so we maximize our return on this potentially spectacular comet.”
As comets approach, the sun’s energy warms them, releasing gas and dust which form a comet’s luminous tail.
While ISON is still distant, NASA says it is already active, with a tail extending more than 40,000 miles
form the comet’s nucleus. ISON is expected to come as close as 40 million miles to Earth on December 26 of
this year.
ISON is known as a long-period comet. These can have orbits lasting hundred, thousands or even millions of
years. NASA believes this is ISON’s first orbit, which means it is likely “laden with volatile material
just spoiling for some of the sun’s energy to heat it up and help it escape.” That could mean quite a show,
but NASA cautions the comet could break up as well.
Would-be comets are thought to dwell in the solar system’s Oort cloud, something NASA calls a “giant
spherical cloud of icy bodies surrounding our solar system so far away its outer edge.” When these bodies
are disturbed by the gravitational effects of passing or nearby stars, they can be “nudged” from the cloud
and begin their long orbits around the Sun.
ISON was discovered on Sept. 21, 2012, by two Russian astronomers using the International Scientific
Optical Network’s 16-inch (40-centimeter) telescope near Kislovodsk.
1599119.html
VOA Radiogram
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|V|O|A| |R|A|D|I|O|G|R|A|M|
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
heaiIe i sy- m5 edy
l
titvlz
nhg-tfooet z-eaeB%iIe,et,mrXvweoMcL-1a–
Before RSID: <<2013-03-24T02:52Z PSK-125R @ 5745000+1428>>
hTppTe aTaTnaTpT… start
[WRAP:beg][WRAP:lf][WRAP:fn VOAR1_PSKR250Flmsg.b2s]<flmsg>
:hdr_fm:19
VOA 20131403161237
:hdr_ed:19
VOA 20131403161237
<blankform>
:mg:3165 <h1 style=”color:#0000FF;font-
<h2 style=”color:#FF0000″>Science & Technology</h2>
<h1>NASA Satellite System To Get Upgrade</h1>
<h3 style=”color:#606060″>Suzanne Presto<br>January 29, 2013</h3>
<p>If you’ve ever marveled at the Hubble Space Telescope’s colorful images of the cosmos or watched video
of astronauts in near-real time as they float through their lab on the ISS, you have a fleet of satellites
to thank.
<p><b>Space Network</b>
<p>The satellites comprise NASA’s so-called ‘Space Network,’ formally known as the <a href=”https://www.spa
cecomm.nasa.gov/spacecomm//
TDRS.
<p>Badri Younes, NASA’s deputy associate administrator of Space Communications and Navigation, or SCaN,
says science as we know it – and NASA as we know it – would not exist without such satellites. <p>"All
of the beautiful images, whether you are looking deep into space trying to discover the origin of the
universe, looking at the galaxies or looking at Earth trying to see the trend in the weather and the
changes that are taking place," come from voice, video and data that people receive through SCaN,
Younes told reporters at a pre-launch briefing.
<p>The Space Network is an aging fleet that orbiiQ Sllwy6et’s about to get an upgrade with its first new
spacecraft since 2002.
<p><b>Upgrade</b>
<p>The U.S. space al e Gn-zota-to launch the first of a new generation of communications satellites to link
cciU?l-g here on Earth with NASA spacecraft, including the International Space Station. The satellite,
called TDRS-K, is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida Wednesday
night.
<p>It will join seven surviving satellites in the TDRS set. Two have been retired, boosted about 400
kilometers higher into so-called "disposal orbit." One is in storage in orbit. Two more will
follow TDRS-K.
<p>The new satellite was designed for a lifespan of 15 years, but it could last much longer.
<p><b>Legacies and the Future</b>
<p>NASA says the first of these satellites, launched 30 years ago, was used to support the first telemedici
ne surgery at the South Pole. That was when doctors in the northeastern U.S. state of Massachusetts were
able to assist a physician in repairing the knee of a meteorologist in Antarctica back in 2002.
<p>"Launch is just the beginning of this satellite’s journey and the addition of TDRS-K to the overall
constellation will continue the successful legacy of the project and strengthen NASA’s communication system
that is so vital for the International Space Station and many other satellites that are in orbit today and
will be in orbit in the future," said Vernon Thorp, who handles NASA missions at rocket-supplier
United Launch Alliance.
<p>Thorp added that the TDRS constellation even helps scientists improve upon the very rockets that launch
these satellites into orbit.
<p><a href=”http://www.voanews.com/
om/content/nasa-satellite-
[WRAP:chksum 73B6][WRAP:end]
… end
Could this be the last snow for the year? Don’t count on it.
The Capital Weather Gang are continuing to track a storm that may produce some late season snow on Sunday night into Monday morning.
Official launch of VOA Radiogram: teaching old shortwave transmitters new tricks.
VOA Radiogram for March 23/24 will be similar to the past weekend’s “soft launch” in that it features the PSK modes. Much of Kim’s script will be the same. In this weekend’s broadcast, however, only one mode at a time will be transmitted. This should improve the signal-to-noise ratio and ability to decode each mode.
Each will be centered on 1500 Hz:
- BPSK31 (1:00)
- PSK63F (1:00)
- BPSK63 (1:00)
- PSKR125 (1:00)
- PSKR250 (1:00)
- PSKR500 (1:00)
- PSKR1000 (1:00)
- PSKR125 (3:45) Plain text
- PSKR250 (2:40) Flmsg* formatted (with html)
- MFSK32 (0:55) Image
*Install Flmsg. Then, in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS > under Reception of flmsg files click Open with flmsg and Open in browser, and below that state where your Flmsg file is located.
If decoding performance is still not satisfactory, VOA Radiogram in future weekends will feature more robust modes, such as MFSK, MT63, and Olivia.
See VOA Radiogram: how to decode the modes.
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.
Please send reception reports, audio samples, screenshots, etc., to radiogram@voanews.com
Latest NWS Snow Fall Predictions
Here are the latest snow fall predictions for the Northern VA region, as you can see we have quite the storm coming.
Hurricane Isaac
Ways to monitor amateur radio stations during Hurricane Isaac:
HF Phone
Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz USB see www.hwn.org
NBEMS
Primary: 14.065 MHz(1000 Hz center) USB
Backups: 7.065 MHz USB and 3.565 MHz USB
D-STAR
www.dstarinfo.com/repeater-maps.aspx choose USA Southeast region.
If you are unsure how to program your D-STAR radio to connect visit www.dstarinfo.com/dstar-web-calculator.aspx
EchoLink
*WX_TALK* ONLY USE THIS NODE IF YOU ARE IN THE IMPACTED AREAS, need to preserve bandwidth for emergency traffic only.
*VKEMCOMM* If you are outside of the impacted areas or want to just monitor
For additional VOIP nodes visit http://www.voipwx.net/
Reston Bike Club Century Ride
Although I had registered for the Reston Bike Club (RCB) Century ride this year I’ve decided to volunteer my time to helping out with the amateur radio communications. This year I will be in SAG vehicle #4 so follow me around the course.