RSID: <<2018-12-21T20:31Z MFSK-32 @ 7780000+1500>>

Welcome to program 79 of Shortwave Radiogram.

I'm Kim Andrew Elliott in Arlington, Virginia USA.

Here is the lineup for today's program, in MFSK modes as noted:

  1:44 MFSK32: Program preview (now)
  2:54 MFSK64: First voice from space, 60 years ago*
  7:34 This week's images (municipal Christmas decorations)*
22:02 Message from Tecsun Radios Australia (first of six images)*
26:42 MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with images(s)


Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram


Shortwave Radiogram now changes to MFSK64 ...


 

RSID: <<2018-12-21T20:33Z MFSK-64 @ 7780000+1500>>

This is Shortwave Radiogram in MFSK64 ...


From New Atlas:

The first voice beamed from space – President Eisenhower's
Christmas message turns 60

Anthony Wood
18 December 2018

December 19 marked the 60th anniversary of the first-ever voice
transmission relayed from space. The Christmas address was given
by then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower, via a top-secret
satellite launched atop a converted Atlas intercontinental
missile.

In the modern age, satellite technology and global communications
are taken for granted, but up until the 1950s the only way to
send a long-distance message was via radio or transatlantic
cable. Eisenhower's Christmas message represented a great step
forward for humanity, heralding the dawn of a new age of
communication that would see the peoples of the world more
connected than ever before.

Despite its great significance, very few people knew anything
about the launch of the world's first communications satellite –
the 150-lb (68-kg) Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay
(SCORE), until the day of Eisenhower's address. As far as the
public, media, and most military and government officials were
concerned, the launch was simply another test of the failure
prone Atlas B class of intercontinental missile.

SCORE had two objectives – to insert an Atlas ICBM into low-Earth
orbit (LEO) for the first time, and to test the world's first
communications satellite, which had been developed under strict
secrecy by the US Signal Research and Development Laboratory in
Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

The first communications satellite was very different from its
modern-day brethren. For one, it was built directly into the
fairing of the Atlas B rocket. After launch, the entire structure
would be lofted up and remain in LEO until its orbit degraded.

Four ground stations located in Arizona, California, Georgia and
Texas would attempt to communicate with the satellite, each
having the ability to play a stored message or record a new one,
or even relay live messages between stations.

If the mission succeeded it would be a national triumph, standing
as testament to America's technological prowess, and placing the
country on a comparable footing with the heavy launchers used by
the Russians to launch their Sputnik satellites.

If it proved to be a failure, the entire project could have
remained hidden from the world. According to NASA, only 88 people
knew of the project during its construction. Of these, 53 were
told that the mission had been cancelled, leaving only 35 who
knew the true importance of the launch.

On December 17, 1958, the Atlas B rocket lifted off, and soon
after appeared to veer off course, prompting range personnel to
issue a command to terminate the ICBM. However, the officer in
charge was one of the few left in the loop, and so ignored the
call, and allowed the Atlas B to roar farther into the sky above
Cape Canaveral.

The orbital insertion was a success, but when a ground station
commanded the primary communications system to broadcast
President Eisenhower's address, which had been sent and
successfully stored in the satellite's memory, nothing happened.

But finally, on the probe's 13th orbit, a ground station sent the
command to the backup system, and probe responded with the first
voice beamed from space to Earth.

Here, 60 years later, is a transcript of President Eisenhower's
historic address –

"This is the President of the United States speaking.
Through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is
coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. My
message is a simple one. Through this unique means, I convey
to you and to all mankind, America's wish for peace on earth
and good will towards men everywhere."

The message could have been heard by anyone with a shortwave
radio, and was later re-broadcast to the masses. A total of 78
messages, both live and recorded, were sent between the ground
stations by SCORE over the course of its mission.

A mere 12 days after its launch, with its batteries drained, the
satellite fell silent. Finally, on January 21, 1959, it
re-entered the atmosphere, burning up in the process.

President Eisenhower's recorded address is available for
listening on the Library of Congress.

Source: Library of Congress

https://newatlas.com/first-voice-beamed-from-space-eisenhower-christmas-message/57723/

See also:
https://www.loc.gov/programs/static/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/EisenhowerSpaceMessage.pdf

Audio:
http://stream-media.loc.gov/recordedsound/RMconversions/ike_1_from%20_space.mp3
 

This is Shortwave Radiogram in MFSK64

Please send your reception report to radiogram@verizon.net

 

This week's images feature municipal Christmas decorations in the
United States, most mounted on light poles, many of which are
humble efforts by small towns to brighten the holidays ...




From bit.ly/2QLNrfb ...

Sending Pic:215x113C;







From bit.ly/2BA42rU ...

Sending Pic:140x210C;

From bit.ly/2T4hpHV ...

Sending Pic:208x144C;








From bit.ly/2LsG2vb ...

Sending Pic:210x160C;







From unknown, but it is Cross Plains, Wisconsin ...

Sending Pic:179x206C;








From bit.ly/2BuiyBi ...

Sending Pic:215x146C;

From bit.ly/2Aib6cT ...

Sending Pic:207x147C;






From bit.ly/2CqklZM ...

Sending Pic:162x206C;





 

This is Shortwave Radiogram in MFSK64

Please send your reception report to radiogram@verizon.net


Next is a message from Tecsun Radios Australia, with the first of
six images in their image-decoding competition. You will hear the
voice of Jeff White, followed by more details in MFSK64 text,
followed by the image ...
 

RSID: <<2018-12-21T20:53Z MFSK-64 @ 7780000+1500>>

Tecsun Radios Australia's PL880 is described as a "high
sensitivity world band radio" but that is almost damning it with
faint praise – it's so much more than that and would suit every
user from the occasional eavesdropper to the dedicated shortwave
listener. Because it offers digital signal processing (DSP) on
SSB as well as the more usual FM, and because it offers 10Hz
steps on USB/LSB it is perfect for resolving HF amateur radio
transmissions, which almost invariably these days are SSB. It's
been a while since Tecsun Radio Australia added a new model to
their range but the new PL880 looks like the wait has been worth
it!

This review comes from Silicon Chip Magazine, Australia's leading
electronics magazine.

The Tecsun PL880 Radio is the culmination of years of research
and technology development. All the desirable features of
shortwave listening have been combined in a single package. The
receiver covers the entire shortwave range (100-29999KHz),
Longwave, FM and AM broadcast bands. Receiver sensitivity on HF
in the SSB mode is typically less than 1uV. Upper Side Band and
Lower Side Band are individually selectable, and there are
multiple user-selectable bandwidth settings available for each
band.

Particular attention has been paid to the audio output of this
receiver to enhance the listening experience. The speaker is
driven by a Class AB power amplifier capable of 3 watts output.
There are also many user adjustable "secret" parameters, to allow
users to customise their receiver preferences.

Find out more and order your PL880 now at www.tecsunradios.com.au

And remember, over the next 6 weeks Tecsun Radios Australia are
running a fantastic competition to win a Tecsun PL880 Radio prize
pack worth over $250 Australian Dollars.

Decode and share all 6 Tecsun Radios images on Twitter
@TecsunRadios and send them an email hello@tecsunradios.com.au.
The winner will be judged by Garry on 1 February 2019. They'll
even ship the prize pack anywhere in the world!


Sending Pic:225x150C;






TECSUN RADIOS AUSTRALIA

www.tecsunradios.com.au




Shortwave Radiogram now returns to MFSK32 ...



 

RSID: <<2018-12-21T20:56Z MFSK-32 @ 7780000+1500>>

This is Shortwave Radiogram in MFSK32 ...


Transmission of Shortwave Radiogram is provided by:

WRMI, Radio Miami International, http://wrmi.net

and

Space Line, Bulgaria, http://spaceline.bg


Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram

I'm Kim Elliott. Please join us for the next Shortwave
Radiogram.