Hello and welcome to DigiDX 36 a weekly review of the latest shortwave radio and DX news.

This episode contains digital mode broadcast schedules, radio related news and some thoughts on DRM radios.

DigiDX weekly schedule:

Sunday 0630-0700 on  6070 kHz via Channel 292 (10 kW, Rohrbach Wall, DE)
Sunday 2130-2200 on 15770 kHz via WRMI (100 kW, Okeechobee, FL, USA)
Sunday 2330-0000 on 11580 kHz via WRMI (100 kW, Okeechobee, FL, USA)
Monday 2000-2030 on  6070 kHz via Channel 292 (10 kW, Rohrbach Wall, DE) (irr. at the moment)

Any other extra broadcasts will be listed on http://www.digidx.uk

If you enjoy DigiDX and find the service useful please consider donating via Paypal to reports@digidx.uk. Any money donated will go towards paying for airtime to keep DigiDX on the air to Europe and North America.



--- DIGITAL MODE BROADCASTS ---
   All days and times in UTC


VOA RADIOGRAM

Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz (new frequency)
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.
http://voaradiogram.net/


IBC DIGITAL

WED 2030-2100 UTC    3975 kHz in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (Italy, 1 kW)
FRI 0225-0230 UTC on 9955 kHz in MFSK32 (Okeechobee, FL, 100 kW)
SAT 2125-2130     on 1584 kHz in MFSK32 (Momigno, Italy, 1 kW AM Stereo)
SUN 0055-0100 UTC on 7730 kHz in MFSK32 (Okeechobee, FL, 100 kW) (new frequency)
SUN 1130-1200 UTC on 6070 kHz in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 via Radio BCLNEWS (Rohrbach, Germany, 10 kW)

For schedule updates, visit IBC at http://ibcradio.webs.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ITALIANBROADCASTINGCORPORATION/



RADIO PUSHKA

On October 23rd a new music show named "Radio Pushka" ("Радио Пушка" in Russian) was broadcast via the Channel 292 transmitter in Rohrbach, Germany.

Apart from music, it included text in MFSK32 and an SSTV image in Scottie 1 mode.

The following text is from their first broadcast:

  "We are a radio station recording our emissions in Sintra,
   Portugal. Our goal is to show to the world the best Russian
   Alternative Music being produced nowadays.
   Radio Pushka is an independent project. Your support is very
   important for us.
   For now our emission will take place once a month, and we
   will try to do it always on a Sunday night. Depending on the
   feedback we get from you, we may think about something more
   frequent.
   We love music but we also love DX communications, specially
   digital modes so, during our emissions, we will be sending
   text and images, exploring and testing different modes.
   Please send your RX reports to our email:
   radiopushka at gmail dot com"

Next broadcast is on the 20th of November at 2000 UTC, on 6070 kHz via Channel 292.

http://radiopushka.blogspot.pt/
https://www.facebook.com/radiopushka/


 
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--- LATEST NEWS ---

- 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ITU RADIO REGULATIONS (1906-2016) *
- NEW RUSSIAN ARCTIC OVER-THE-HORIZON RADARS SET FOR 2017 STARTUP *
- RTL-SDR RECEIVER THUMBNET N3 IS NOW SHIPPING *
- SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM HFCC QUESTIONNAIRE ON PRESENT AND/OR FUTURE DRM USAGE

* with image



110TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ITU RADIO REGULATIONS (1906-2016)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.

ITU manages the radio spectrum and satellite orbits resources, develop the technical standards that ensure networks

and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.
The growing complexity of our information society, where ubiquitous wireless systems make our life easier and more

sophisticated is reliant on the process to update the Radio Regulations, which is based on consensus building within our membership.
The ITU is celebrating this year the 110th anniversary of the Radio Regulations, a success story of international cooperation

among Members States with the inestimable support of telecommunication industry partners.
ITU's history is closely linked to the development of radiocommunications. The crucial role wireless systems are playing in the

efficient and timely deployment of communications infrastructure is key in the efforts being undertaken by the global community to bridge
the digital divide and in helping the world communicate.
In 1906 the first International Radiotelegraph Conference gathered 29 states in Berlin to sign the ´International Radiotelegraph Convention´

establishing the principle of compulsory intercommunication between vessels at sea and the land.
The annex to this Convention contained the first regulations governing wireless telegraphy. These regulations, which have since been expanded

and revised by numerous radio conferences, are now known as the Radio Regulations.

(source: http://www.itu.int)


The documents of the 1906 Convention, including the Regulations annex, are available in French at:
http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/01/S02010000104003PDFF.pdf


 
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NEW RUSSIAN ARCTIC OVER-THE-HORIZON RADARS SET FOR 2017 STARTUP

According to media accounts, more long-range, new over-the-horizon (OTH) radars that can identify aerial and

sea targets hundreds of miles away are scheduled to begin operation next year in the Russian Arctic.

It’s doubtful, however, that the news heralds the return of interference on the level of that generated by

the so-called “Russian Woodpecker” OTH radar, which plagued Amateur Radio HF bands in the 1970s and 1980s.

Over the past couple of years, OTH radars, sans woodpecker, have become increasingly commonplace intruders

on Amateur Radio bands, according to the International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (IARU R1) Monitoring

System (IARUMS), which has noted OTH radars in Russia, China, Cyprus, Iran, and Turkey. The frequency-hopping

nature of the technology accounts for the annoying interference that covers wide swaths of spectrum.

The Russian systems-intelligence “Konteyner RLS” OTH radar, transmitting from in the Nizhny Novgorod region, is frequently spotted

on 20 meters. While no woodpecker, it transmits a broad, frequency-modulated CW signal at 50 sweeps per second

with a bandwidth of 80 kHz or greater, accompanied by signal splatter, IARUMS Coordinator Wolfgang Hadel, DK2OM, reported recently.

Sputnik, a Russian government-controlled radio service, cited a Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper report that six OTH radar installations

will operate in the region. Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Buklgakov, who visited the construction site, said a runway capable of
handling all types of combat aircraft was simultaneously being reconstructed nearby, the report continued. Other reports have

indicated that similar systems will be deployed in the Far East in 2018. Russia has sold its OTH radar technology to China.

OTH radars employ widely separated (250 kilometers) transmitting and receiving sites and can “see” beyond the horizon,

the typical limit for ordinary radar. The transmitting array is 440 meters wide, and it incorporates 36 elements of varying

configuration. The three-section receiving array is 1300 meters wide and 35 meters tall. — Thanks for news tip to Frank Smith, WS1MH

(source: http://www.arrl.org)

A 2014 photo of Duga, the Soviet era OTH near Chernobyl in Ukraine which was nicknamed by shortwave listeners the Russian Woodpecker (source: Wikipedia)...


 
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RTL-SDR RECEIVER THUMBNET N3 IS NOW SHIPPING

The latest RTL-SDR receiver, the Thumbnet N3 is now shipping out. The following information on the new receiver is available on Thumbnet's website.


Introducing the ThumbNet N3 SDR Receiver.

The next Generation, ThumbNet N3 is designed from the ground up to be as simple to use as older generation dongles,

but with powerful hardware features for advanced hobbyists and experimenters.
We removed all of the excess components that were sources of noise or interference in other dongles, and optimized

the circuit for simplicity, sensitivity and selectability. Then we added a port to use a cable with the extremely

common mini-USB connection so that the N3 is less prone to noise from the host computer than a traditional dongle.

Finally, the use of standard Surface Mount 0603 or larger components makes it simple for testing or modification.
We built them for our own use, then decided to offer them to everyone.


A quick list of the features of the N3:

- Full backward compatibility with existing RTL-SDR dongles and software
- High stability TCXO (+/-0.5ppm) (ensuring rock-solid stability from start-up and over a wide range of temperatures)
- Standard R820T2 + RTL2832U (plus 24C02 EEPROM) chipset
- Improved/enhanced decoupling. (Common-mode choke on USB port)
- Low-noise, linear only power regulation (separate 1.2v and 3.3v regulators)
- External DC (+5v, 450mA) supply connector
- Mini-USB connection (allows easy separation of the RF unit from the noisy PC)
- F type RF connector (very common and compatible with existing ThumbNet tracking stations)
- Large (6x4cm) contiguous ground-plane (for better thermal dissipation)
- Static drain-away resistor on the RF input (1K to ground)
- All unnecessary parts (IR receiver, high-current LED etc.) eliminated to reduce parts count and noise
- Circuit board can be mounted into a common 1455 case


Ideal for experimentation:

- Can be connected to an external power supply for very clean power
- All of the important tracks are visible on the top side of the board for easy access
- All of the RF parts are on the top of the board (only regulators and decouplers on the back)
- Logical, simple layout using 0603 (or larger) SMT parts
- IF port break in connector (between front end and IF/USB chip) provided


Utilizing Clean Power

While not required for operation, the N3 receiver is designed to be able to utilize a clean source of power from an external 5v power supply, instead of using the noisy power line coming from the computer's USB port. This gives a tremendous advantage to the purist or
experimenter who wants to utilize power from the N3 to power any external experiments. (When the external power supply is active, no power is drawn from the USB port to power the N3.)


Supporting a Great Cause

100% of the profits from the sale of the N3 are used to support ThumbNet, the non-profit organization that is helping students around the world learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as well as Space, Radio and Meteorology. All at the same time!



About Thumbnet

ThumbNet was born to encourage students around the world to look up at the stars and to give them a chance to feel that they are part of something larger. The hardware to track and monitor radio signals from satellites in orbit is donated to the schools by ThumbNet,
and with over 200 volunteer groups in more than 72 countries, we're having an immediate and positive effect on the lives of hundreds of students around the globe! ThumbNet averages three new volunteer groups a week, so when you buy an N3 receiver for your workshop,
you'll know that you're making a difference by supporting a global effort to educate and inspire students.
We've designed the N3 receiver to be the right tool for the job for our ThumbNet volunteers, and at only $25.75 each, we think you'll agree that it's the right tool for you too!

(source http://www.thumbsat.com/thumbnet-radios)



Reviews of Thumbnet N3 prototypes, with quite positive results, have been published at the following blogs:
http://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-com-quick-review-of-the-thumbnet-n3-prototype/
http://rtlsdr4everyone.blogspot.com/p/thumbnet-n3.html

Image of Thumbnet N3...

 
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SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM HFCC QUESTIONNAIRE ON PRESENT AND/OR FUTURE DRM USAGE

- 21 organisations sent back questionnaires to the Secretariat;

- The 21 organisations described themselves as:
  Commercial broadcaster      2
  Private Broadcaster         3
  Public Service broadcaster  7
  Service provider            7
  Other                       3
  (One organisation selected two descriptions)

- 10 out of 20 organisations operate DRM capable facilities;

- 5 out of 21 organisations have daily DRM broadcasts in the HF bands for a total of 55 hours 15 minutes;

- International         5 organisations for 26 h 15 min per day,
                        of which:  4 h 30 min to Africa,
                                   8 h 45 min to Europe,
                                  12 h to Asia and
                                   1 h to Oceania.
  National              3 organisations for 5 h per day;
  Local (e.g. 26 MHz)   1 organisation for 24 h per day.

- The availability of receivers at retailers would make 5 organisations, out of the 16 who don’t have regular DRM broadcasts start DRM broadcasts.

  Where these broadcasts would be targeted and the number of hours per day was not specified. However, 4 organisations
  would not start DRM broadcasts and 8 organisations don’t know if they would start DRM broadcasts if more receivers were available at retailers.
  None of the 16 organisations were going to start any DRM broadcasts without the availability of receivers at the retailers.

- The availability of mass produced receivers would make 14 organisations out of 21 reconsider their DRM strategy.

- The recommended price for receivers depends on the target area for the DRM broadcasts:
  Africa, Asia and Oceania, less than $ 25;
  America and Europe, $ 25 - $ 40;
  It was thought that Europe could afford prices higher than $40

(source http://www.hfcc.org/)



While the results of the HFCC questionnaire do not look too promising for the future of DRM, two new receivers have been announced recently:

the PantronX Titus2, at the HFCC B16 Conference in Miami, and the Gospell GR-216, at IBC 2016 in Amsterdam. Both are expected to hit the market in Q1 2017.
The performance on shortwave of almost all previously produced DRM radios ranged from poor to moderate at best and they also had a high price tag.

The currently available made-in-India Avion AV-DR-1410 is not an exception to the rule.
In order to receive DRM broadcasts with a conventional shortwave radio, a downmixer unit from 455 kHz or 10.7 MHz (typical intermediate frequencies)

to 12 kHz (input of a PC-soundcard) is needed. Then, the signal received by the soundcard can be decoded with the excellent free software Dream

which runs on Windows, Linux or Mac.
More than 10 years ago, the Chinese company Kchibo came out with a good idea but with a bad product. The low-budget Kchibo KK-DRM 01 was designed

with a 12 kHz IF output, but a pre-production prototype had problems with DRM reception above 9 MHz. As a result, it never reached the production line.
It will be very interesting to see Tecsun implementing this idea into one of their excellent portable radios of the 600 or 800 series. The increase of the cost of the final product would be probably less than $5.
In any case, from a DXer's point of view, listening to DRM is not the same as trying to pull out of the noise that distant low-powered station!
Thank you for listening, please send reports, comments and shortwave related news or articles to reports@digidx.uk.
 

 

 

This is DigiDX Signing off...