For days, the weather forecasters were warning us that two inches of snow would arrive here in the Washington DC area during the Thursday morning commute. Two inches may not seem like much if your are used to real snowfalls,… Leer más ›

You may have read about the snow in the Washington DC area. The heavy wet snow on January 3, with additional freezing after dark, left many vehicles stranded on Interstate 95, the main highway south of Washington, some for 24… Leer más ›

Merry Christmas, if you are celebrating. And no matter what you might be celebrating this weekend, try to tune in to an unusually festive edition of Shortwave Radiogram.There will be 18 images in MFSK. Each one will be the same… Leer más ›

The autumn leaves have almost all fallen here. The leaves have been raked to the street, where the county vacuum truck will pick them up eventually. That’s the event that indicates the winter has arrived in our neighborhood. At least… Leer más ›

Happy Thanksgiving to listeners in the United States. No Thanksgiving is complete without tuning in and decoding Shortwave Radiogram. You can do this Friday at 0030-0100 UTC (Thursday 1930 EST, 1830 CST, 1730 MST, 1630 PST) on 9265 kHz from… Leer más ›

The autumn (Northern Hemisphere) time changes are now complete. The WRMI schedule on the frequencies used for Shortwave Radiogram stays with UTC, so the local time will be one hour earlier. WINB’s schedule stays with Eastern Time, so local times… Leer más ›

If you are participating in Halloween festivities this weekend, have a good a safe time. This weekend, most of Europe will change clocks back one hour. This Sunday (31 October), transmissions via WRMI will be one hour earlier by European… Leer más ›

While searching for images to use on this weekend’s show, there were certainly plenty of photos of brilliant auroras that occurred on October 11. They were spurred by a solar storm that might have affected your radio reception during the… Leer más ›

The Vienna Wireless Society, the amateur radio club in Vienna, Virginia, near Washington DC, kindly invited me to speak to their meeting on September 24 about Shortwave Radiogram, including its history, goals and great audience. A video of that presentation… Leer más ›

As I type this, our part of northern Virginia is under a flash flood warning. And thunder is rumbling. I should finish this email quickly, because it does not take much around here to bring about a power failure. A… Leer más ›

I hope that everyone is OK after Hurricane Ida and its remnants. We hope electricity and other elements of normalcy are restored to Louisiana as soon as possible, although it may take days or weeks. Here in northern Virginia, we… Leer más ›

I had to cancel the OFDM-500F transmission planned for this weekend. The mode would not decode correctly from the recordings – both the mp3 and the original Audacity recording. This was a sign that the OFDM-500F would not decode successfully… Leer más ›

This reminder that you can see results, including decoded images, of Shortwave Radiogram listeners at the Twitter account @SWRadiogram. If you are not on Twitter, you can visit http://twitter.com/swradiogram and scroll down. A video of last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram (program 214, Friday… Leer más ›

Thanks to everyone who reported on last week’s test of gaps and no gaps before the image headers. No prominent pattern emerged during my first look at the results, but I need to do a more systematic analysis. My usual… Leer más ›

Shortwave Radiogram listeners have kindly offered suggestions for experiments with our digital modes. Tobias in Germany suggests that eliminating the brief silence (about 0.6 second). between the text introduction of an MFSK image and the image transmission, can reduce or… Leer más ›

We can claim success with last week’s transmission of Russian, especially because it was received successfully via SDRs in Russia. This was during two transmissions, including Sunday 2330. Videos of last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram (program 208) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday… Leer más ›

One change to our transmission schedule take effect this weekend: The Saturday (Friday in the Americas) broadcast at 0000-0030 UTC on 9955 kHz is no longer available. We hope we can return to 9955 in the future, because this frequency… Leer más ›

Reception in Europe was rather challenging last week, and during recent weeks, both on 15770 and 7780 kHz. Otherwise, results were good from most part of the world. Our Spanish-language news item decoded well in South Australia, Japan, Alaska and… Leer más ›

If you read this soon enough, you might be able to receive and decode SSTV (Robot36) transmissions on shortwave (HF) in the narrow FM mode from a site in Russia. These will take place May 7 at 0800-0900 and 1300-1400… Leer más ›

I hope you are not exhausted from last weekend’s celebration of the 200th program of the Shortwave Radiogram series. Thanks for tuning in and decoding our somewhat special program. A very interesting addition to program 200 is a special Ham-DRM… Leer más ›

Last week’s experiment with text in the Burmese languages went well. It seems the Burmese was decoded successfully just about everywhere – except Myanmar. But, then, we don’t have any transmitters with good reception in Southeast Asia. It was decoded in… Leer más ›

 This Sunday, 28 March, begins the change of clocks to summer time in most of Europe. Because our transmissions on Sunday remain at the same UTC time, most European listeners will hear them one hour later by local time. Shortwave… Leer más ›

This weekend begins the dreaded seasonal changing of the clocks. Most of North America will move clocks forward one hour at 2:00 am local time on Sunday. On the frequencies used by WRMI for Shortwave Radiogram on Sunday, the UTC… Leer más ›

Last weekend’s experiment with Khmer text was usually successful. There were examples in which the MFSK64 English decoded perfectly, but the Khmer followed it showed some errors. This is not too surprising given that printing the Khmer seems a rather… Leer más ›

February 13 is UNESCO’s World Radio Day. Please don’t get carried away in your celebrations! I’m pleased to see World Radio Day focusing more on radio this year. In recent years it devolved to something more like “world mobile phone… Leer más ›

The word “blustery” was created for days like we are having today in the Washington DC area. It’s below freezing with gusts that sahke the house. At least my wire antennas are still in the air. And I hope electricity… Leer más ›

Mid-winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) has created several opportunities for good shortwave reception – and some frequencies that are impossible to hear, depending on your location. You can see listeners’ results at Twitter @SWRadiogram, or if you don’t have a… Leer más ›

What better way to bring in the new year 2021 than decoding the modes on Shortwave Radiogram? Thank you for your friendship and support, and for tuning in and decoding, during 2020. May the new year bring less virus and… Leer más ›

Reception of Shortwave Radiogram was generally good last weekend. Thanks for all you reports. We in the US Atlantic seaboard had unusually good reception on 15770 kHz on 12 December after the usual difficult reception the day before. For listeners… Leer más ›

Hello friends, Because of  increased solar activity, and because of conditions generally during these months near the solstice, reception and decoding will be interesting in the next few weeks. For example, the 15770 kHz transmissions, directed to Europe, might be… Leer más ›

Hello friends, Is anyone using, or attempting to use, Fldigi with the MacOS Big Sur? John in Texas, who reports every week via email, writes: «just upgraded to Apple’s new OS Big Sur 11.0.1 and FLDigi seems to communicate with… Leer más ›

  With the winter time change now fully in effect, please note that broadcasts of Shortwave Radiogram from WRMI Florida stay with their UTC times, so they are one hour earlier by local time in most of North America and… Leer más ›

Last week’s experiment with Olivia 32-1000 at 2000 Hz produced several
examples from listeners of the Olivia 32-1000 succeeding when the MFSK32
and MFSK64 text mostly failed and my voice introduction was generally
inaudible

  Last week’s experiment with MFSK16 produced some successful decodes when the MFSK32 and MFSK64 text was less than 100%. I had a couple examples on 15770 kHz from WRMI Florida using SDRs in Russia and Ukraine. For some reason,… Leer más ›

  Last weekend’s excerpt of Hungarian text from the revived RFE/RL Hungarian Service was received and decoded successfully all over the world, including all the diacritics. Here is an example as transmitted from Florida and received in, appropriately, Hungary. Videos… Leer más ›

  This weekend (5-6 September), The Mighty KBC moves to its winter frequency of 5960 kHz (replacing 9925 kHz), for its transmission from Nauen, Germany to North America, Sunday 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT). A minute of MFSK64 is… Leer más ›

  Last weekend’s experiment with Belarusian text from RFE/RL was generally successful. It was also timely, given the interdiction of the internet in Belarus. This tweet showing distant reception of the Belarusian text using simple equipment generated much interest.  For… Leer más ›

  During last weekend’s Shortwave Radiogram, there were several examples of the MFSK16 text successfully decoding under difficult conditions. You can decode from this reception in Russia on 15770 kHz from WRMI Florida. See also my tweet about decoding the… Leer más ›

Typical summer weather here, but even more so. Many consecutive days of temperatures above 90F, or 32C. And several days above 95F, or 25C.These hot days are often capped in the late afternoon or early evening with a rollicking thunderstorm…. Leer más ›

In our part of the world, summer weather is here. We usually keep the air conditioning off as long as possible, but, finally, it was necessary today. Upstairs, where I produce Shortwave Radiogram, the effort of the AC is, at… Leer más ›

As a retired bureaucrat, I prefer to play radio. But occasionally I get involved in the debate about US international broadcasting, as in my recent opinion piece in The Hill. It’s a sequel to another piece in The Hill back… Leer más ›

Last weekend, there were a few examples of the Olivia modes, especially 64-2000, surviving conditions where MFSK32 showed errors. You can listen to and decode from one example posted here – WINB as received in South Australia. Videos of last… Leer más ›

For some of the Shortwave Radiogram transmissions last weekend,propagation was difficult. On other transmissions, reception was great. We can declare success if 90% of the MFSK32 text decodes correctly. That will often happen even under very difficult reception conditions. Videos… Leer más ›

I hope this finds you well and avoiding the COVID-19 and any other viruses that might be lurking. With most of us spending most of our time at home, radio and the various radio-associated hobbies and pastimes are a good… Leer más ›

Last weekend, it was, as usual, difficult to find a Shortwave Radiogram signal bad enough to provide a good test for our slow modes: Olivia 64-2000 and MFSK16. There were, however, a few instances of Olivia 64-2000 succeeding where the… Leer más ›

In this time of transition from winter to summer (or vice versa in the Southern Hemisphere), reception of Shortwave Radiograms good at some times on some frequencies, and marginal at other times and on other frequencies.  Because many of us… Leer más ›

Here in North America, now that the transition to Daylight Savings (summer) Time is complete, there are some additional changes to the Shortwave Radiogram schedule. The schedule for WINB on 9265 kHz stays with Eastern local time, so Shortwave Radiogram… Leer más ›

If you will be attending the Winter SWL Fest this weekend near Philadelphia, I look forward to seeing you there. Also a reminder about this very useful reference for new and experienced Shortwave Radiogram decoders: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway Videos of last weekend’s… Leer más ›

Today (February 13) is UNESCO’s World Radio Day. The day is not so much for radio enthusiasts, but to promote the social goals of UNESCO by way of radio. Nevertheless, it’s good to have a day that acknowledges radio. So… Leer más ›

During the past week, WRMI was reported in 11580 kHz, replacing 15770 kHz. I was ready to change the Shortwave Radiogram transmission schedule (below), when listeners informed me that WRMI was back on 15770. In response to my email, WRMI… Leer más ›

I was afraid that eventually I would lose track of Shortwave Radio program numbers. Well, It happened in last weekend’s email. I wrote that the weekend’s show number was 133, but it was, of course, 134. And this weekend it… Leer más ›

The holidays have come and gone. Rather quickly, it seems. In any case, I hope you enjoyed the festive season. Thanks for your support and friendship in 2019, and best wishes for 2020. Listeners have alerted me to a new… Leer más ›

By way of a holiday card, above is last weekend’s painting of the fir tree, received by Michael in the UK, 15 December 2019, 2330-2400 UTC, 7780 kHz from WRMI Florida. Thanks to all who sent  reports last weekend, with… Leer más ›

Seasonal propagation – nearing the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere – has resulted in interesting reception in many parts of the world. The Sunday 0800-0830 broadcast is now almost routinely received in Europe, more likely on 5850 kHz which… Leer más ›

Thanks to those you who participated in last weekend’s test of the low-but-robust modes Olivia 32-2000 and MFSk16. There were some examples (see this example) of those two modes providing good decodes when the faster MFSK32 and MFSK64 showed errors…. Leer más ›

In the Northern Hemisphere, the shift back to winter time is complete. On our WRMI frequencies, Shortwave Radiogram stays at the same UTC times, so most of you will be tuning in those broadcasts one hour earlier by local time. On WINB’s… Leer más ›

Most of Europe moves its clocks forward this Sunday, 27 October. The WRMI transmissions will remain at their present UTC times, so they will be an hour earlier by local time in Europe. WINB usually keeps its analog 9265 kHz… Leer más ›

Thanks to Al in Florida, WD4AH, @WD4AK_Al , for moderating the @SWRadiogram Twitter account and helping with transmission tasks, 26 September-6 October, while my wife and I were in eastern Canada and Maine for a vacation. A video of program… Leer más ›

Last weekend’s “hidden message” in BPSK63F at 70 Hz was fairly successful. Several listeners reported successful decodes. It looks like 70 Hz will be our standard frequency for text that is mostly inaudible but usually decodable. There will be no hidden message… Leer más ›

We are happy to know that WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida, was spared a direct hit by Hurricane Dorian. The Shortwave Radiogram schedule should, therefore, proceed as normal. WRMI was not entirely unscathed, having experienced some internet disruptions. Good luck to… Leer más ›

Our “hidden message” last week in the PSK125R mode was not as successful as the BPSK63F two weeks previously. Because the PSK125R is a wider mode, I had to put it as low as possible to prevent it from being… Leer más ›