Teak Publishing Releases The Milcom Files: The Spectrum Monitor Volume 3 (2020)

  Recent world events continue to draw many radio listeners into their radio shacks to tune in on the action using their shortwave radios. software-defined radios, and programmable VHF/UHF scanners. In many cases monitoring the HF/VHF/UHF radio spectrum offers the radio hobbyist an opportunity to hear what is really going on behind the scenes without the filters imposed by news media outlets.

 Most radio listeners quickly learn that when the world has a crisis, disaster or tensions rise between countries, the military will usually be the first organization called upon to intervene. It pays to monitor military frequencies when international events heat up. Monitoring the military can offer some of the most productive and rewarding listening you will ever experience using your radio. The good news is you do not have to live close to a military installation to hear these communications. But you do need to learn where and when to tune in military communications.

 Mention the words "Monitor the Military" and most radio hobbyists will immediately think of military air shows, military aircraft flybys or a whole host of other activities that can be heard via radio frequencies. There is a big radio frequency spectrum out there to monitor if you know where to listen, you can eavesdrop on some of the most fascinating radio communications you will hear on a scanner or shortwave radio.

 Larry Van Horn N5FPW, has been a radio hobbyist for more than 56 years listening to world events and monitoring military radio communications. He has spent over 39 years documenting activity in the military radio spectrum in his monthly Satellite, Utility World, and Milcom (Military Communications) columns in the pages of Monitoring Times, Satellite Times, and now The Spectrum Monitor magazines. During this time, he has published a treasure trove of military communication monitoring information.

 In 2017 Larry joined the Spectrum Monitor writing staff as he continues to chronicle military monitoring in his new monthly TSM Milcom column. Now for the first time, he is publishing all his monthly TSM Milcom columns (2017-2020) at Amazon in the Kindle eBook format.

 Teak Publishing is pleased to announce the release of their latest Kindle e-book -- The Milcom Files – The Spectrum Monitor Volume 3 (2020) by this Amazon bestselling author.

 This e-book incorporates the fourth year of his TSM Milcom columns written from January 2020 to December 2020. This fourth book in the series has more than 39.100 plus words, and 206 pages of frequencies, call signs, military base profiles, foreign military HF/VHF/UHF frequencies, airshow, and flight demonstration teams’ frequencies, detailed aeronautical frequency scans, beginner tips, and monitoring hints and tricks plus a lot more.

 Some of the many topics covered in this edition include: What is an EAM? UK RAF Base frequencies; Australian/New Zealand/Papua New Guinea Military HF frequencies; HF aeronautical off route band plans, various U.S. military base profiles, a profile on the U.S. Navy P8 aircraft and frequencies; 380-400 MHz LMR subband frequencies; US Navy FACSFAC, monitor military in the longwave frequencies; and airshow frequencies.

 If you are interested in monitoring military comms. own a scanner, shortwave radio, or have an Internet connection for web software-defined radio (SDR) monitoring, then the Milcom Files (TSM 2020) is a must reference for the radio reference library.

 You can find this edition of The Milcom Archives, along with all our titles currently available for purchase, on the Teak Publishing Web site at www.teakpublishing.com.

 The Milcom Files: The Spectrum Monitor Volume 3 (2020) e-Book (electronic book only, no print edition available) is available worldwide from Amazon and their various international websites at https://www.amazon.com/Milcom-Files-Spectrum-Monitor-ebook/dp/B08VF5PMTD/

 The price for this latest edition is US$4.99. Since this book is being released internationally, Amazon customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France Spain, Italy, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia can order this e-Book from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. Customers in all other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website to purchase this e-Book.

 You can read any Kindle e-Book with Amazon’s ‘free’ reading apps on literally any electronic media platform. You do not have to own a Kindle reader from Amazon to read this e-book. There are Kindle apps available for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC platforms. You can find additional details on these apps by checking out this link to the Amazon website at https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp.

  

 

Update on the Status of RadFxSat-2 / Fox-1E

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 024.01

From AMSAT HQ WASHINGTON, DC
DATE January 24, 2021

RadFxSat-2 was launched Sunday, January 17, on Virgin Orbit LauncherOne launch vehicle.  Reports from the launch provider stated that telemetry confirmed that the deploy commands had been sent and that all of the doors opened successfully, resulting in payload orbits that were all within the ICD limits.

Nominally, we expected to see “First (digital) Veronica” from the RadFxSat-2 telemetry beacon commencing 54 minutes after our deployment from the launch vehicle.  That did not occur as expected.

For each of our launches, we follow a number of steps documented in the “In Orbit Checklist” (IOC) spreadsheet.  Confirmation of launch and deployment are the first steps and then, confirmation of beacon reception.  All other steps follow that but there are steps in case of anomaly, beginning with the detection of the beacon.

As always, from the moment we are deployed we look for signs of the beacon through the ears of amateur radio operators and other means, SatNOGS and webSDR to name a few.  The antenna deployment and full start of the IHU to bring up the beacon can occur anywhere around the globe.  AMSAT greatly appreciates the ongoing and reliable help we receive from you and it is by far the best satellite ground network even beyond that of many commercial players, for LEO orbits.

Command coverage is limited to the United States for various reasons including regulatory requirements, so the opportunity to exercise the steps of the IOC occurs a few times per day as the orbit passes over us.

With no sign of the beacon after a few orbits offering good footprints for reception, we proceeded with the contingency steps to verify the presence of or activate the beacon.  This past week our Engineering and Operations Team members have been at work literally 20 hours per day exercising all of the contingencies outlined in the IOC steps.  These steps have grown and matured with each launch of a Fox-1 program CubeSat and are tailored to the specific satellite.  RadFxSat-2, while she may seem to be much the same as the others with the exception of the transponder vs. FM radio, does present a number of variations to be included in the IOC.  As the results of those steps were exhausted with no beacon detected, we added meetings and increased emails including all of our engineers to discuss possible causes by any of the systems and to develop further steps.

From those we drew new steps of command sequences that might overcome whatever anomaly existed and make the beacon heard.  As the week drew on, we continued brainstorming and steps to activate other functions that would provide proof of life.  We continue to do so today and for whatever time until we exhaust all possibilities that we are able to draw from the expertise and satellite experience of our Engineering Team and Operations Team drawing from the design of RadFxSat-2 and lessons learned in the Fox-1 program as well as any from missions prior to AMSAT’s first CubeSats.

AMSAT still needs your help as always, to help detect any sign of activity from RadFxSat-2.  This includes ability to listen for local oscillators or transponder driver output in the case of a failed PA.

I personally ask that those of you who are and have been interested in the entire process of bringing a new amateur radio satellite to orbit and through end of life to continue to contribute your curiosity and enthusiasm in exploring from your own station, to pursue the possibilities of a successful RadFxSat-2 mission along with us.  I have received reports and queries from some of you, and I greatly appreciate your contributions.  You are in fact volunteers in the AMSAT Engineering Team through your contribution.

If you are interested, I ask that you do due diligence in your procedure if you think you have identified a signal by re-creating (if possible) and verifying to yourself that what you have is credible, as we do, before contacting us.  That “standard” procedure is what adds value by making the information actionable rather than placing the onus of determining if it is even real upon us, because we are of course quite busy with that already.  Please email your findings to foxtelem@amsat.us and allow us a day or two to acknowledge and/or reply.

While we tend to talk about our involvement with RadFxSat-2 above all, a real effect reaches outside our mutual desire for amateur radio satellite fun.  RadFxSat-2 is sponsored by Vanderbilt University as part of our long partnership going back to Fox-1A.  RadFxSat-2’s mission belongs to Vanderbilt University as part of their RadFX series of missions seeking to verify and explore radiation effects on COTS components.  Their mission coincides well with AMSAT’s desire to fly lower cost satellite missions using COTS components, in the unfriendly radiation environment of Earth orbit and beyond.  Vanderbilt also sponsored the CSLI for RadFxSat (one) in our Fox-1B spacecraft back in 2012.  Their proposal was selected by NASA, flown on the ELaNa XIV mission in November of 2017.

RadFxSat’s mission was very successful in the information provided through the combined telemetry-gathering of all of those who pursue our missions through FoxTelem.  Vanderbilt University published their results giving praise to AMSAT and our Fox-1 CubeSats. The experiments we host are built by students and Vanderbilt shares the experiences with the educational community in their area.  That is a success for AMSAT as well in our goal to provide STEM and other educational contributions.

While the RadFxSat-2 mission is problematic at this time, we will pursue every possibility to make her work for the amateur community and for our partner.  I certainly hope to continue our partnership with Vanderbilt, the mutual benefit is a wonderful and fun undertaking that adds to the value of our satellites.

[ANS thanks Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT Vice President – Engineering, for the above information]

10 Dec 2020 was a MW LA Night in Btown

 Have been reviewing an SDR IQ run I made on 10 Dec 2020 on the medium wave band and it appears thank to a weak geo storm, managed to log some nice Latins around 0000 UTC.

Here are just some of the stations heard:

539.8 18:55 19:06 YNOW Radio Corporación Managua, NCG (new Btown country)

600.0 18:55 19:06 CMBA Radio Rebelde San German, Urano Noris HO CUB

610.0 18:55 19:06 CMBA Radio Rebelde Guane, Guane PR CUB

620.0 18:55 19:06 CMBA Radio Rebelde Colon MA CUB

640.0 18:55 19:06 CMBC Radio Progreso Guanabacoa CH CUB

670.0 18:55 19:06 CMBA Radio Rebelde Arroyo Arenas CH CUB

690.0 18:55 19:06 CMBC Radio Progreso Progreso, Santa Clara VC CUB

710.0 18:55 19:06 CMBA Radio Rebelde Marti MA CUB

720.0 18:55 19:00 WRZN The Shepherd         Hernando FL

760.0 18:55 19:06 CMBC Radio Progreso Guane, Guane PR CUB

1180.0 18:57 18:58 WJNT Newstalk 1180 Pearl MS

580.0 18:59 19:00 WGAC                              Augusta GA

780.3 18:59 19:01 HJZG La Vox de Dios Cali, CLM

680.0 19:03 19:06 CFTR Global Radio Radio Toronto/Grimsby ON CAN

There is more in their IQ recording and I will add additional logs to this post. Should note there were more Cubans but these were the ones I added to the log others such as CMBQ Radio Enciclopedia Guanabaccao CH CUB and CMBA Radio Rebelde Guantanamo GU CUB both on 530 kHz were quite audible.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021 !!

 

                    HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TEAK PUBLISHING

Merry Christmas 2020

 

             MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TEAK PUBLISHING

15th Edition of the Global Radio Guide (Winter 2020-21) Now Available

Rise and set. Day and night.  For many, that is the most observation that is required of the sun.

For radio hobbyists, however, our celestial neighbor holds a larger influence on our daily lives, requiring much closer examination.  The role it plays in our hobby can be that of a great awakener or a great destroyer.

Now, as we stand on the first steps of Solar Cycle 25, which is already positioning itself to be one of the most talked about solar cycles among radio hobbyists in decades, there is a renewed energy in the hobby for all things HF.  Many are venturing out, some for the first time, into the vastness of radio bands that once again crackle with life.

For this journey, you will need an experienced and knowledgeable guide.  Gayle Van Horn, as she has for the past 30 years, has stepped up to answer that call.

Teak Publishing is proud to announce the 15^th Edition of the Amazon bestselling e-book, the Global Radio Guide (Winter 2020-21), by Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH.

“This publication will have wide appeal to amateur radio operators, shortwave radio hobbyists, news agencies, news buffs, educators, foreign language students, expatriates, or anyone interested in listening to a global view of world news and major events as they happen,” says Larry Van Horn, co-founder of Teak Publishing and editor of the Global Radio Guide (GRG)

With the help of the GRG, you can tune in shortwave broadcast stations from hotspots such as China, Cuba, India, Iran, North/South Korea, Taiwan, and many other counties. If you have a shortwave radio receiver, SDR or Internet connection, pair it with this unique radio resource to know when and where to listen to the world.

 This newest edition of the GRG carries on the tradition of those before it with an in-depth, 24-hour station/frequency guide with schedules for selected AM band, longwave, and shortwave radio stations. This unique resource is the only radio publication that lists by-hour schedules that include all language services, frequencies, and world target areas for over 500 stations worldwide.

The GRG includes listings of DX radio programs and Internet website addresses for many of the stations in the book. There are also entries for time and frequency stations as well as some of the more “intriguing” transmissions one can find on the shortwave radio bands.

 Gayle has also updated her now famous SDR Buyer’s Guide, a must-have compendium that helps you navigate through revolutionary world of software-defined radios (SDRs), the digital frontier of the radio hobby.

 New in this 15^th edition of the GRG, Gayle dives into how and where to hear exotic shortwave stations transmitting in the world’s tropical radio bands. Located in the lower portion of the HF spectrum, these stations serve as a window into the culture and daily lives of countries not served by large international broadcast stations.  Even in an increasingly connected and digital world, for many of the citizens in these countries, these radio stations serve as the only source of news and information they have at their disposal.

 Spectrum Monitor magazine editor, Ken Reitz checks in with a primer on where you can hear global radio and television media broadcasters via satellite.

 Fred Waterer, also of Spectrum Monitor, checks in with a feature on listening to music from around the globe on shortwave. There is a nostalgic look back at radio in 1922 by our friends at AWR Wavescan. Teak Publishing's Larry Van Horn will give the reader an exclusive tour of frequencies and radio services below 530 kHz in Radio's Basement Bands.

 Whether you monitor shortwave radio broadcasts, amateur radio operators, or aeronautical, maritime, government, or military communications in the HF radio spectrum, this book has the frequencies to help you to hear it all. Teak Publishing’s Global Radio Guide "brings the world to you."

 You can find this edition of the Global Radio Guide, along with all of our titles currently available for purchase, on the Teak Publishing Web site at www.teakpublishing.com  

 The 15^th edition of the Global Radio Guide e-Book (electronic book only, no print edition available) is available worldwide from Amazon and their various international websites at

https://www.amazon.com//dp/B08PHX81Z1/

 

The price for this latest edition is US$8.99. Since this book is being released internationally, Amazon customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France Spain, Italy, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia can order this e-Book from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. Customers in all other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website to purchase this e-Book.

 

You can read any Kindle e-Book with Amazon’s ‘free’ reading apps on literally any electronic media platform. You do not have to own a Kindle reader from Amazon to read this e-book. There are Kindle apps available for iOS, Android, Mac and PC platforms. You can find additional details on these apps by checking out this link to the Amazon website at https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp.

 

 

 

 

 

Btown MW Logs 11/18-11/25/2020

(LVH-NC) Larry Van Horn (N5FPW), Brasstown, NC

SDRPlay RSPdx, W6LVP Mag Amp Loop (WSW-ENE), Airspy HF+Discovery, YouLoop with an Airspy Hi-Z amp prototype. Some more adventures from my 11/18 IQ recording and a few more. Brasstown station counts now 1079. 

660 WQXN AL, Fairhope - 11/24 1755 Local ad block, ID then back to Mike Savage Show, Looks like they did the power switch at 1758 (gone). (LVH-NC)

800 WHOS AL, Decatur - 11/18 1759 In the mess of stations that is now 800 TOH ID for WBHP Huntsville, WHOS Decatur, and at least one more stn sig in mud, "an iHeart station" then f/out to mess. New stn (LVH-NC)

820 WCPT IL, Willow Springs - 11/18 1758 End of Joan Esposito Prog talk show, prog promo Mind Over Matter Sunday @ 10 am on WCPT 820. New stn (LVH-NC)

890 WHNC NC, Henderson - 11/23 1704 GOS mx then YL w/callsign and local resident talking abt her favorite preacher, then more GOS mx. Last logged in 1996, (LVH-NC)

920 WDMC FL, Melbourne - 11/18 1756 EWTN radio programming then TOH ID. New stn (LVH-

NC)

WLIV TN, Livingston - 11/18 1756 C&W mx no TOH NBC news radio w/Brian Sharp then 

back to C&W mx agn finally at 1806 AM/FM WLIV ID with Hometown Radio slogan (LVH-NC)

930 WTAD IL, Quincy - 11/18 1759 TOH ID then FoxNews. Last hrd in 1997. (LVH-NC)

940 WCPC MS, Houston - 11/18 1756 Rel pgm - What Seith the Scriptures Bible Study preacher no program name then WCPC TOH ID AM/FM translator then into Radio Bible Study program w/David Thompson. An old fav and last logged in Memphis in 1977. (LVH-NC)

960 KGWA OK, Enid - 11/18 1802 Sean Hannity, FoxNews then a local news block. Had news Item about fire and father saving children's life, mentioned News 9 Oklahoma TV footage. New stn (LVH-NC)

1030 KCWJ MO, Blue Springs - 11/18 1756 End of Patsy Cline song then OM anncr "1030 KCWJ" more classic country. After the song local State Farm agent gave the TOH ID then the next song and signal drop (power change to 500 watts) New stn (LVH-NC)

1050 CHUM ON, Toronto -- 11/18 1800 During WROS quiet spot clearly heard and recorded CHUM-AM ID by OM anncr. I have always wanted to log this stn and been after this station since I was a young DXer in San Antonio. Finally. New Stn (LVH-NC)

WROS FL. Jacksonville - 11/18 1757 End of "Grace to You" rel pgm, Pastor George Cook of New Jerusalem House of Prayer in West Chicago, on various Christian beliefs, YL talking about powering stn down at sunset. Got quiet then CHUM-AM ID during that time then start the Radio Bible Study program.

1080 WWNL PA, Pittsburgh - 11/23 1630 F/up out of the noise to BOH WWNL-AM 1080 Pittsburg ID, just over WKJK. New stn (LVH-NC)

1070 WCSZ SC, Sans Souci - 11/25 1235 o/u WFLI w/SS programming //online stream. Weak here and is a new stn log. (LVH-NC)

1090 WBAL MD, Baltimore - 11/23/2020 1644 Local ad, YL with WBAL callsign ID and abruptly gone, unid stn w/C&W now on top. Last log 1993. (LVH-NC)

1110 KFAB NE, Omaha - 11/18 1756 OM w/weather, TC 4:57 on Nebraska's News, Weather and Traffic station - NewsRadio Eleven Ten KFAB, Fox News update Next, Local Ad Block many mentions of Omaha inc stn contest promo, stn promo KFAB time savers traffic, PSA for Radon, another traffic promo then TOH and gone (pattern change to nx protect WBT). This one is not common here due to WBT, last heard in 1993. (LVH-NC)

WSLV TN, Ardmore - 11/18 1800 Now atop 1110 after KFAB pattern change, C&W mx, Outlaw 105.1 slogan ID then said stn plays 27 great country songs in a row. f/out at 1801 to several mixing then up agn to Waylon Jennings song, several fades to end of IQ at 1807. Last hrd in 1997 (LVH-NC)

1130 KWKH LA, Shreveport - 11/18 1756 Natl ad-block including car parts stores, PSA, weather forecast, TOH ID, SportTalk on 1130 the Tiger, Again another 1993 relog. (LVH-NC)

1140 WURB FL, Orlando - 11/18 1759 WBXR TOH ID then WURB Radio then Spanish. (LVH-NC)

1160 WCVX KY, Florence - 11/18 1759 TOH ID then faded back into the mess. (LVH-NC)

1170 KFAQ OK, Tulsa - 11/18 1756 Ben Shapiro Show then TOH ID including slogan. (LVH-NC)

1200 WRTO IL, Chicago - 11/18 1758 SS talk program then TOH ID callsign English rest in Spanish. New stn (LVH-NC)

1210 WJML MI, Kingsley - 11/18 1758 Talk show then ad block that included a concealed weapon permit ad, Scallywags Restaraunt ad on State St in Traverse City, TOH ID. New stn (LVH-NC)

WMPS TN, Bartlett - 11/18 1800 Playing adult standards (Music of your life) songs. Chick-fil-a Commerical then Sunny Radio slogan callsign ID. New stn (LVH-NC)

1220 WKRS IL, Waukegan - 11/18 1800 Full TOH ID including TUDN sister stations in Spanish. New stn (LVH-NC)

WSLM IN, Salem - 11/18 1802 WSLM call sign ID then "My Country" wx forecast followed by a local ad then ABC news. New stn (LVH-NC)

1250 WLCK KY, Scottsville - 11/18 1756 SMN network w/SRN news, then local news by soft-voiced YL. Mentioned new website for Allen County, New KY "Never underestimate you" associate degree campaign, Sunset at 4:55 CST so may have been on daytime power. last logged in 1994  (LVH-NC)

1340 WKRM TM, Columbia - 11/18 Full ID at TOH for WKRM-AM/WKOM-FM 101.7 then FoxNews. New stn (LVH-NC)

1380 WHEW TN, Franklin - 11/18 1756 Tejano music then OM anncr w/Bonita 1380 slogan ID. New stn (LVH-NC)

1390 KLCN ia, Clinton - 11/18 1800 YL with full TOH ID f/out. New stn (LVH-NC)

1400 WWTM AL, Decatur - 11/18 1800 Full TOH ID by OM anncr mentioned AM/Cable/FM outlets then into ESPN sports net programming. New stn (LVH-NC)

WFTG KY, London - 11/18 1757 Kentucky news network then into local ad-block. Hrd London mentions then f/out. New stn (LVH-NC)

1440 WHDM TN, McKenzie - 11/18 1759 Oldie song. TOH ID by OM anncr, "Proudly serving the McKenzie area" WHDM" gave AM/FM freq. New stn (LVH-NC)

1460 WRVK KY, Mount Vernon - 11/18 1800 Popped up out of the noise floor with full TOH ID. New Stn (LVH-NC)

1470 WQXL SC, Columbia - 11/18 1800 Afternoon drive talk show, local ad-block, then TOH ID by OM anncr, ABC Natl news. New stn (LVH-NC)

1480 KLMS NE, Lincoln - 11/18 1758 YL with Local newscast gave call sign, news item abt body found in Kimball County NE, 1759 was loud then gone, may have switched to night pattern/power, slight f/up to YL doing news again, mentioned Kimball County but much weaker and mixing w/FoxNews broadcast. No sign of any ESPN programming per the NRCLog on this intercept. New stn (LVH-MC)

1490 WJJM TN, Lewisburg - 11/18 1759 TOH ID then Fox sports jingle and FoxSports net programming. New stn (LVH-NC)

1550 WKBA VA, Vinton - 11/18 1759 u/WIGN w/occ fade up. Preacher talking abt making each of us a disciple of Jesus // Online feed. New stn (LVH-NC)

1560 WBYS IL, Canton - 11/18 1758 Classic rock mx then ID including website address: 1560wbys.com (verified online). New stn (LVH-NC)

Coast Guard Proposes to Discontinue HF Voice Watchkeeping

 The US Coast Guard has invited comments by January 21, 2021, on a proposal to discontinue HF voice watchkeeping. The proposal appeared on November 20 in the Federal Register. The USCG proposes to cease monitoring 4125, 6215, 8291, and 12,290 kHz, in the contiguous US and Hawaii, due to a lack of activity.

“We believe this change would have a low impact on the maritime public, as commercial satellite radios and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) marine-SSB HF radios have become more prevalent onboard vessels,” the Coast Guard said. “However, we would like your comments on how you would be affected if we terminated monitoring HF voice-only distress frequencies within the contiguous US and Hawaii, particularly if you use HF, but do not currently have a commercial satellite radio or an HF DSC-capable radio aboard your vessel.”

The Coast Guard said it would continue to monitor HF DSC distress alerting for all existing regions and voice distress and hailing from Kodiak, Alaska, and Guam. The Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) on 14.300 MHz remains available to less-equipped mariners who need assistance in emergencies.

SOURCE:ARRL

Unid 1050 kHz and Religious Program Station List

1050 kHz 11/18 at 1756 EST: End of "Grace to You" 1/2 hour religious prgm, then Pastor George Cook of New Jerusalem House of Prayer in West Chicago, on various Christian beliefs. This was followed by a low modulation YL talking about powering stn down at sunset. During a very brief quiet period heard a CHUM-AM ID (finally got them after all these years) then heard the start of the Radio Bible Study program. My best guess is WROS-AM The Rose out of Jacksonville, but I can't completely eliminate KJBN-AM Little Rock. 

While chasing the ID of this religious station on 1050 kHz logged at 1756-1759 EST on 11/18. I found a list of stations carrying the "Grace to You" 1/2 program. I post the 2020 station list pdf to my Google Drive account, and if interested you can view and save it via this link: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vus1zWPNFp0DaB4BY_Ff9B8H2qzptSDb/view?fbclid=IwAR3hXRk8Dz7idR5sxAImUpvxPHX1SQEQYiP8Adys5BbmH79LiHW_Ve9C8x4

Btown AM Logs 11/18/2020

I turned the W6LVP to the WSW-ENE and had a great run of new catches on a Top of the Hour (TOH) IQ run. Twelve new stations for my Brasstown logs and various relogs including 4 oldie but goodies. Also running the Airspy HF+Discovery and snagged some logs using a new prototype Airspy Hi-Z amp for the YouLoop. Doing some testing of it for the SDR buyers guide in the new Teak Publishing Global Radio Guide coming out next month.

540 KMLB LA, Monroe - 11/18 1801 Full TOH ID including slogan News Talk 105.7 & 540 KMLB then ABC network news. First time I have heard this station since 11/20/1994 when it was KNOE. (LVH-NC)

560 KWTO MO, Springfield -  11/18 1758 In what appeared to be a local ad block with a YL anncr giving callsign only IDs between local ads then at TOH ID for 93.3 and AM 560 KWTO then f/out to the news (?). First time I have heard this station since our days when we were stationed at NAS Dallas back in early 1980s. (LVH-NC)

570 WIDS KY, Russell Springs - 11/18 1800 Hrd an ID for WIOK-FM then WIDS TOH ID for Russell Springs and Jamestown by OM anncr. Not bad for 500 watts. New #1048 (LVH-NC)

580 WILL IL, Urbana - 11/18 1756 NPR All Things Considered, guest talking about ancestor sharecroppers, then sponsors list, f/fown and mixing with WIBW for dualing TOH IDs. Then back to All Things Considered. New #1049 (LVH-NC)

580 WIBW KS, Topeka - 11/18 1759 Mixing with WILL for dualing TOH IDs. Made audio recording of Will/WIBW. New #1050 (LVH-NC)

590 CJCL ON, Toronto - 11/18 1756 Local ad block for Toronto biz. McDonald's ad mentioned Canadian eggs for their Egg McMuffin, TOH Full ID including slogan, big surprise, never hrd B4. New # 1051 (LVH-NC)

590 WCAB NC, Rutherfordton - 11/18 1800 Could hear WCAB u/CJCL during quiet period w/call sign only ID at 228 watts. (LVH-NC)

600 WREC TN, Memphis - 11/18 Ben Ferguson talk show gave local studio #535-9732 (tie up on Goggle search w/WREC) WREC ID at TOH. Last time heard here in Btown 10/14/1994. (LVH-NC)

640 WOI IA, Ames - 11/18 1800 Station ID right after WBIN Atlanta ID then NPR's All Things Considered. WCRV/WBIN/WOI battling on the frequency. Another station not heard since 1990s in New Orleans. New #1052. (LVH-NC)

690 KGGF KS, Coffeyville - 11/18 1756 Local ad then program promo by host of Openline 0830-1100 on the Mighty 690 KGGF ID, Sean Hannity Show FoxNew promo. Relog from 1/2020. (LVH-NC)

770 KAAM TX, Garland - 11/18 1756 What sounded like a religious program then instrumental music to OM w/K Double A M call sign ID. New #1054. (LVH-NC)

800 WHOS AL, Decatur - 11/18 1759 In the 800 mess TOH ID for WBHP Huntsville, WHOS Decatur, and at least one more stn sig in mud, "an iHeart station" then fade out to mess. New #1055. (LVH-NC)

1500 WLQV MI, Detroit - 11/18 1801 Promo for advertising on the station then full TOH ID for AM/FM stations - Faith Talk Detroit 92.7 & 1500. New #1043 (LVH-NC)

1520 WPAY OH, Rossford - 11/18 1802 CCR music then nice TOH Full ID for AM/FM 92.1 (not 93.1 per NRC Log). I heard that the K-Love classics network closed down on 11/2/2020 but it doesn't appear so based on their online presence. New #1044 (LVH-NC)

1610 CHHA ON, Toronto - 11/18 1801 SS music, slogan ID // Online feed, o/u CHRN. (LVH-NC)

1620 WTAW TX, College Station - 11/18 1758 Ad for a local jeweler then TOH ID // Online feed u/WNRP. First time heard since 2006. (LVH-NC)

1640 WSJP WI, Sussex - 11/18 1759 Religious program, TOH ID (full) including Relevant Radio slogan ID. New #1046 (LVH-NC)

1660 KWOD KS, Kansas City - 11/18 Local ad block including one for Preferred Asphalt and Concrete in Grandview, f/down to other ads callsign only heard then gone. New #1046 (LVH-NC)

1700 KKLF TX, Richardson - 11/18 1802 Mex Tejano music slogan ID just under dominate KBGG. New #1047 (LVH-NC)

Equipment: SDRPlay RSPdx, W6LVP Mag Amp Loop (WSW-ENE), Airspy HF+Discovery, YouLoop with an Airspy Hi-Z amp prototype.  (LVH-NC) Larry Van Horn (N5FPW), Brasstown, NC

Btown Longwave Logs - 24 and 25 October 2020

I have been doing some longwave monitoring and here is what I put in the logbook using various SDRs and my local gear.

Airspy HF+Discovery – YouLoop and SDRPlay RSPdx – W6LVP Mag Amp Loop. LVH-Logs

 

00263.0  DYQ: NDB MHW Dulvaney / Greeneville TN USA MCW (24Oct20 1522) (LVH)

00311.0  LMA: NDB MHW Lima/Bruggen (Kamp Lintfort) GER MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 1235)(LVH)

00319.0  VAR: NDB MHW Varhaug NOR MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2035) (LVH)

00321.0  ABY: NDB MHW Albert Bray FRA MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2037) (LVH)

00327.0  LNZ: NDB HW  Linz AUT MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2041) (LVH)

00327.0  MVC: NDB HW  Merville/Calonne FRA MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2045) (LVH)

00332.0  LL:  NDB     Lille FRA MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2057) (LVH)

00337.0  MY:  NDB HHW Myggenaes FRO MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2059) (LVH)

00338.0  OA:  NDB     Jonkoping-Husqvarna SWE MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2101) (LVH)

00341.0     CQN: NDB HW  Daisy / Chattanooga TN MCW (24Oct20 1428) (LVH)

00355.0  ONW: NDB HHW Antwerpen Deurne BEL MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2107) (LVH)

00360.5  MAK: NDB MHW Mackel / Brussel BEL MCW via Twente SDR (24Oct20 2114) (LVH)

00370.0  HYW: NDB MHW Horry / Conway SC USA MCW (24Oct20 1021) (LVH)

00371.0  MYN: NDB MHW Muenster/Osnabruck GER MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 1233) (LVH)

00372.0  UQN: NDB MHW Onyun / Vidalia GA USA MCW (24Oct20 1012) (LVH)

00375.0  DS:  NDB MHW/LOM Cercy / Searcy AR USA MCW (24Oct20 1008) (LVH)

00378.0  RJ:  NDB M   Roberval QC CAN MCW (24Oct20 1001) (LVH)

00379.0  BRA: NDB HW  Broad River NC USA MCW (24Oct20 1003) (LVH)

00380.0  UMB: NDB MHW Culvr / Milledgeville (Valdwin Co Regional) GA USA MCW (24Oct20 0950) (LVH)

00388.0  CDX: NDB MHW Cumberland River / Somerset (Pulaski Co) KY USA MCW (24Oct20 0945) (LVH)

00388.0  RNW: NDB MHW Chocowinity NC MCW (24Oct20 0937) (LVH)

00391.0  FIQ: NDB MHW Fiddlers / Morganton NC USA (24Oct20 0927) (LVH)

00397.0  CIR: NDB MHW Cairo IL USA MCW (24Oct20 0923) (LVH)

00406.5  BOT: NDB MHW Bottrop GER MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 1225) (LVH)

00407.0  BZ:  NDB MHW Bullo / Statesboro GA USA MCW (24Oct20 0912) (LVH)

00410.0     JU:  NDB MHW Ashee / Jefferson NC USA MCW (24Oct20 1529) (LVH)

00415.0  DJD: NDB MHW Canton GA USA MCW (24Oct20 0857) (LVH)

00417.0  LI:  NDB MHW Dusseldorf GER MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 1230) (LVH)

00421.0  MF:  NDB     Halmstad SWE MCM via Twente SDR (22Oct209 2101) (LVH)

00424.0  PHG: NDB MHW Phalsbourg FRA MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2040) (LVH)

00424.0  PIS: NDB MHW Pisarovina HRV MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2100) (LVH)

00425.0  DNC: NDB HW  Mostar BIH MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2043) (LVH)

00426.0  GBG: NDB MHW Gleichenberg AUT MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2038) (LVH)

00426.0  UV:  NDB MHW/LOM Tunng / Oxford MS USA MCW (24Oct20 0900)(LVH

00430.0  SN:  NDB MHW Saint Yan FRA MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2022) (LVH)

00433.0  CRE: NDB MHW Cres HRV MCM via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2013) (LVH)

00434.0  MV:  NDB MHW Melun Villaroche FRA MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2018) (LVH)

00438.0  KO:  NDB MHW Kozala HRV MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2006) (LVH)

00438.0  PE:  NDB     Poprad East SVK MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2006) (LVH)

00444.0  NRD: NDB     Inowroclaw POL MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 2003) (LVH)

00452.0  ANS: NDB MHW Ansbach GER MCW via Twente SDR (23Oct20 1945) (LVH)

00490.0     I:   NAVTEX IGS Plombino ITA SITOR-B broadcast in "English" via Bacelona SPA SDR (24Oct20 1810) (LVH)

00518.0     E:   NAVTEX NME USCG Charleston SC USA SITOR-B broadcast in English via Beaufort SC SDR (25Oct20 1240) (LVH)

00518.0     F:   NAVTEX NMF USCG Boston MA USA SITOR-B broadcast in English via MA SDR (25Oct20 1250) (LVH)

00518.0     U:   NAVTEX VAR-9 Chebohue CG NB CAN SITOR-B broadcast in English via ME SDR (25Oct20 1620) (LVH)

00518.0     W:   NAVTEX EJK Valentia Coast Guard IRL SITOR-B broadcast in English via Raufarhofn ICE SDR (24Oct20 1940) (LVH)

00521.0     GM:  NDB MHW Greenville SC USA MCW (24Oct20 0846)(LVH)

 

73 de Larry

Blog Logs

Example of monitoring via Airspy HF Discovery

Monitoring 10-18 August, 2020

All times UTC/ SDR units as indicated

Chile

Radio Cooperative, 760 kHz from 1715 tune-in. News-talk format in Spanish with national news items and brief references to station. Confirmed via parallel audio at station’s website http://www.cooperativa.cl . Station operates on 24-hour schedule. Chile’s Radio Nacional Santiago on 1140 kHz from 1725-1740. News topics and announcer’s friendly conversations about Santiago. Station ID, frequency and local Santiago time check to station jingles. (Chile SDR)

Clandestine

Denge Welat via Moldova relay on 11530 kHz. Tune-in 1305-1335. Kurdish news, references to station and lengthy commentary. Slight fades, but overall good signal. (Poland SDR).

Eswatini (ex Swaziland)

TWR Africa, 6130 kHz (100 kW) Religious text cadence from 1835, listed as Umbunbu ethnic language (Mon-Fri) in GRG Summer 2020 edition. Format continued to 1842. Noted on-frequency digital signal interference, likely ANDVT every 24-25 second intervals. Religious chorus, sermon’s text as signal intermittently fades. (SIO 322.Vocal segments to 1903. (S Africa SDR)

Ethiopia

Amhara Radio 6090 kHz. Tune-in 1905 to news script format in presumed Amharic. Ethiopian music with announcer’s voice-overs. Fair signal SIO 322. (Qatar SDR)

Germany

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Lampertheim relay; 11850 kHz. Tune-in 1400 (SIO 323) // 15450 (SIO 222) Announcer’s Tajik service schedule to 1600. Udon, Thailand relay with excellent signal on 15255 from 1420 with Turkmen text. Kuwait relay audible from 1425 ID on 11790. Uzbek service via Woofferton, UK relay from 1428 on 11790 // 15310 kHz. NLD & Qatar SDR)

Iran

VOIRI/Pars Today 6060 kHz. Arabic service covering items about Iran into program intros. Islamic feature with commentary. SIO 433. Opening instrumentals on 7235 kHz at 1920. Station ID, station frequency quote into French service. (Qatar SDR)

Kuwait

Radio Kuwait Classical Arabic Music Channel, 1269 kHz (100 kW). Arabic vocals to classical music and intermittent Arabic text over music segments. Schedule listed to 0000 UTC. Enjoyable Arabic music. Kuwait’s Quran Prgm in Arabic noted on 630 kHz (24 hour schedule) with SIO 434. (Qatar SDR)

Malaysia

RTM Sarawak WAI FM 9835 kHz at 1225 tune-in. Lady’s Malay item to Asian rap vocals and jingle format. Station ID at 1230 Additional Asian pops, and PSA’s about Covid. Mentions of Malaysia to additional pop tunes. Parallel frequency 11665 not heard. (Philippine SDR)

ORTM Mali signal on 9635 kHz

Mali 

ORTM Mali, 9635 kHz. Tune-in 1755 to mbira music, followed by ethnic vocals to 1759. Time tips signal tones to drum instrumental segment, closing on 9635. Shifted to 5995 kHz from 1800. Very weak (SIO 222) ethnic vocals to announcer’s French items at 1815. (Sevilla, Spain SDR)

Philippines

FEBC Philippines, 9275 // 9400. Good signals from 1243 tune-in. Chinese religious text format. This schedule to 1600 and 2230-0000 UTC. Khmer service on 13870;  1100-1300 UTC.  Occasional ID breaks and station info. (Philippine SDR)

Poland

Polskie Radio 1, 225 kHz LW. Tune-in 1253 with Polish announcements. PSA formats and several “Polski” references. Station ID to time ticks at 1300 UTC. Additional ID into national news format. At 1301. (NLD SDR)

United States

USAGM-Radio Farda in Persian from 1445 tune-in on 12005 (300 kW) via Woofferton, UK relay. (NLD SDR)

USAGM-Radio Martí 11930 kHz via Greenville, NC // 11860 // 13605 from 1420-1445. Persistent jamming from Cuba on three frequencies. (Airspy HF Discovery/W6LVP, Brasstown, NC)

Uruguay

Radio Clasica/Rdif Nacional, 650 kHz (25 kW) from 1510-1520. Spanish announcers occasional “canned” ID to classical music programs Radio el Espectador on 810 kHz from 1520. Station’s slogan and items on Uruguay, ads with phone numbers and ID breaks. (50 kW). Radio Monte Carlo 930 kHz (50 kW) from 1525 tune-in. Spanish pop vocals and easy-listening tunes. ID, station promo and singing slogans. Audio parallel with station’s online streaming at http://www.radiomontecarlo.com.uy. Radio Oriental on 770 (50 kW) with promos, and slogans from 1530 tune-in. Program for morning greetings to listener’s, promo for the news and ID. Audio parallel with station’s online streaming at http://www.oriental770.com/ (Montevideo, UR SDR)

(Gayle Van Horn, Teak Publishing, Brasstown, NC)

Blog Logs

Monitoring 28 July - August 5, 2020

All times UTC / frequencies in kilohertz (kHz) SDR units as indicated

Algeria
Radio Algerienne Chaine 1, 558 kHz in Arabic, from 1835 tune-in. Parallel Quran noted on 693, 873, 1026, 1071 kHz. (Qatar SDR) Chaine 3, (Tipaza, Algeria-1500 kW) French on 252 LW from 1510. Male/female phone-conversations to 1524. Instrumental Algerian music to 1527. Additional brief phone-in to 1530. Station ID over Arabic music to extended Arabic vocals. SIO 434. Jil FM (F'Kirina and Sidi Hamadouche, Algeria-600 kW) Noted on 531 // 549 with fair signal SIO 333; Multichaine-Radio UFC, Ouled Fayet, Algeria-50 kW) Tune-in 1422 amid Arabic vocals to intro to a Quran program. All Algerian station's via Sardinia SDR. http://www.radioalgerie.dz

Cuba
Radio Habana Cuba, 1830 sign-on for Creole service on 15140 (Bauta-100 kW). Opening station melody to announcer's  Creole station ID. Musical intro to items about Cuba.Target to western North America 444 SIO. (Airspy SDR) Interval signal 1857 to Spanish ID, info and web address. English service program preview into national news. SIO 434. French service heard 2000-2030 on 15140 per schedule; Portuguese service, fair signal  to Europe 2005 tune-in on 15370 kHz (Bauta) No show for Spanish 2100 check on 15370; Spanish 2100 on 9640 (Bejucal) with fair (SIO 333) All over the place on 11760 in Spanish from 2305 check. Muddled audio and drifting. No sign of the following listed on the latest schedule: 11800 from 2300, 13740, 11670 kHz; 7390 in English 2300-2330; 15730 2300-2330. Audible 2300-0000 on 9640 (Bejucal) in Spanish to the Antilles, with Cuban music program with over mod. (Airspy HF Discovery, Brasstown, NC)

Estonia
Radio Eli from Tartu on 1035 kHz (100 kW). Russian religious text format from 1820 tune-in. Just barely audible, but religious vocals heard from 1829. Published schedule as 0300-0700 and 1500-2200 UTC. (Karuse, Estonia SDR).

Radio Fana via Qatar SDR

Ethiopia
FBC Radio Fana, 6110 kHz (!00 kW). Good signal for several days monitoring, in listed as Afar/Amharic. Tune in's from 1725-1830. Ethnic African music, text for news format, announcer's talk and special presentations. SIO 434. (Qatar SDR) http://www.fanabc.com Tentative on Ethiopia's OBN/Radio Oromia on 6030 kHz 1804-1820. African ethnics for announcer's text but very poor signal throughout. (Qatar SDR)

Hong Kong
MBC Metro Plus, 1044 kHz. English service from 1835 tune-in. U.S. and world news headlines, into Asian pops and "Metro Plus" jingles. SIO 444. Additional Hong Kong station's audible; RTHK Radio 3, English on 567 kHz (20 kWW and // 1584 (1 kW) very poor from 1845. Rod Stewart classic pops, followed with jingles and additional pops. RTHK Radio 5 on 783 at 1851-1855. Cantonese/Mandarin service to U.S. pops and 'voice'over' slogans. RTHK Radio 6 at 1855. Cantonese/Mandarin jingles and easy-listening vocals. All of the HK station's checked basically have a similar program format. (Honk Kong SDR)

Kosovo
RTK Radio Kosovo 1, 549 kHz. Weak signal from 1837-1845. (SIO 232) Presumed Albanian text including a mention of Pristina. Subsequent check from 1445. Pope music, including Euro and U.S. pops from lady announcer to 1500 routine as signal deteriorates. Nice catch once again. (Romanian and Slovenian SDSR)

Kuwait
Radio Kuwait-Main Prgrm, 540 kHz (600 kW). Tune-in from 1805 during program of male/female Arabic newscript to fanfare music between segments. Items on Saudi Arabia and heard mentions of Hajj. Audible on // 963 and 1134 kHz, though both latter freqs very poor. Good signal for 540 kHz. Radio Kuwait's Quran Prgrm loud and clear on 630 kHz, for 24 hour schedule. (Qatar SDR)

Kyrgzstan
KTRK Birinchi Radio-Prgm 1, 4010 kHz. Tune-in 1502 as female/male trade news topics in Kyrgyz. Signal tips at 1506 to announcer's clear station identification. Continued text and announcer chat to 1523. Fanfare instrumental to "Birinchi" ID. Two males conversing to 1529. Additional fanfare and extended station information and frequency quote. Local interference from SDR location from 1532. Slight signal fades, SIO 333. Monitored on subsequent day from 1535-1545, with similar format. http://www.ktrk.kg (Kyrgzstan SDR)

Romania
Radio Timisoara, 630 kHz. Tune-in 1847 to Romanian folk music to 1850. Brief station mention, back to music. Noted interference from'presumed Italian station on frequency. Station website: http://www.radiotimisoara.ro/ Romania's longwave station Radio Antena Satelor on 153 kHz always has interesting programs and Romanian music. Numerous ID's and specials about Romania. Enjoy this station's music, and have it programmed on my Logitech Squeezebox Radio. http://www.antenasatelor.ro (NLD SDR)

Radio Romania Actualitati, 1152 kHz. Romanian programming from 1910 including news topics.  Noted parallels on 756, 1179 kHz  (poor) and 1458 (poor). No sign of // 855 kHz. Lady's newscript to the sports update. http://www.radioromania.ro Radio Romania International also audible in Romanian for afternoon programming on 9500 kHz to Europe and // 11975 (very poor). Programs of station ID,  chats, and music. Time ticks 1859 to full ID at 1900. http://www.rri.ro (NLD SDR)

Saudi Arabia
SBA Quran 11820, 2015 tune-in to Arabic text on Quran, followed by recitations at 2020. (SIO 444); audible on // 11915 to Asia. Schedule to 0000 UTC. 'lSBA Saudi Radio International in Turkish on 9675 kHz. Monitored from 2025. Turkish service is 1800-2057 UTC. Turkish instrumentals introduced special programming at 2028 to 2100*. (AirSpy HF Discovery/Brasstown, NC)

SRTC Sudan Radio signal on 7205 kHz

Sudan
SRTC Sudan Radio, 7205 kHz. Announcer reading script in ethnic language for presumed newscast, from 1802 tune-in. Very poor, weak signal for martial style music. Recheck next day 1710 to lady's Arabic text, followed by extended Arabic conversations, past 1730. Did manage a few "Amerikas" during chats. Qatar SDR vastly improves reception.

Voice of Turkey via Airspy HF Discovery

Turkey
Voice of Turkey 9830 kHz, Sign-on at 2200. English service with world news. Station ID's and Turkish pop tunes to Letterbox program 2230-2240 closing with postal address, email and the website URL. Noted closing ID's, info, frequency schedules into Turkish music loop. to 2258 sign-off. (Airspy HF Discovery, Brasstown, NC)

United States
WRMI-Overcomer Ministry 9455 kHz from 1905 tune-in. Usual banter on the end times with breaks for phone-in calls. "Canned" ID, address and website reference. (SIO 434). Also heard from 1930 on 7490 kHz via WBCQ with usual programming. WJHR-Milton, Florida from 1910 on 15555 kHz USB. Just barely there, but what sounded like biblical text from tune-in. Scheduled to 2200 UTC. WINB from 1920 tune-in on 9265 kHz. Bible verses to text about Apostle Paul. (SIO 444). World's Last Chance Radio via WBCQ on 9330 kHz for 1925 German tune-in. Plenty of ID's and station info. Schedule listed to 2157 UTC. (Airspy HF Discovery, Brasstown, NC)
(Gayle Van Horn W4GVH)

Icom to release the ID-52A/E Amateur Handheld Transceiver

 

Icom Incorporated (Headquarters: Hirano, Osaka, Japan/President: Masataka Harima) releases the ID-52A/E*, VHF/UHF dual-band digital transceiver that supports D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio).
* ID-52A is the USA version, ID-52E is the European version

The ID-52A/E is equipped with a color display. The display size is increased to 2.3 inches (1.7 inches for the ID-51A/E), and a transflective display is used to achieve excellent visibility, even in bright sunlight. The transceiver also supports Bluetooth^® communication as standard. Wirelessly connect to Android™ devices with ST-4001A/ST-4001I Picture Utility Software and RS-MS1A Remote Control Software installed, the optional VS-3 Bluetooth^® headset is also available, for hands-free operation.

And the following features are enhanced from the previous ID-51A/E models. Simultaneous reception in V/V, U/U, V/U as well as DV/DV. Airband reception is expanded from VHF to UHF (225 to 374.995 MHz). The new model can be charged via a micro USB connector. Audio output is significantly increased from 400 mW to 750 mW. The latest function of D-STAR enables you to send, receive, and view saved photos on an installed microSD card using only the ID-52A/E.

In addition to the above, the ID-52A/E has a variety of attractive features such as the DR function with easy set-up, built-in GPS receiver, micro SD card slot, IPX7* waterproof construction, and Terminal/Access Point modes. The ID-52A/E is a product that leads the amateur radio digital communications with enriched features that satisfy any users, from beginners to even heavy users who want to fully enjoy D-STAR.
* 1m depth of water for 30 minutes.

MAIN FEATURES

• 2.3" large transflective color display that is easy to see outdoors
• Bluetooth^® communication as standard
• Simultaneous reception in V/V, U/U, V/U and DV/DV
• Enriched D-STAR^® features including the terminal mode/access point mode
• UHF(225～374.995MHz) airband reception
• Significantly increased audio output power to 750 mW (400 mW for ID-51 series)
• Accessories for the ID-51A/E such as battery packs and microphones can be used 

Newer Solar Cycle 25 Forecast Runs Counter to Consensus

From the July 9, 2020, ARRL Newsletter

Scientists associated with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the University of Maryland, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and other institutions are offering a "bold prediction" on how Solar Cycle 25 will play out. In a paper, "Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude," they assert that the next sunspot cycle will be of major proportions. The forecast stands in stark contrast to the consensus of forecasters who predict that the magnitude of the nascent Cycle 25 may not be much different from the current unremarkable solar cycle, which appears to have reach its low point.

"From the dawn of modern observational astronomy, sunspots have presented a challenge to understanding -- their quasi-periodic variation in number, first noted 160 years ago, stimulates community-wide interest to this day," the abstract points out. "A large number of techniques are able to explain the temporal landmarks, (geometric) shape, and amplitude of sunspot 'cycles,' however, forecasting these features accurately in advance remains elusive."

Monthly sunspot numbers since 1749. The data values are represented by dots, and the 12-month running average values are illustrated as a red shaded area. Vertical blue dashed lines signify the magnetic activity cycle termination times that trigger the rapid growth of sunspot activity.

The paper notes that recent studies have illustrated a relationship between the sun's 22-year Hale magnetic cycle and the production of sunspot cycle landmarks and patterns, but not the amplitude of the cycle.

"Using discrete Hilbert transforms on 270 years of monthly sunspot numbers to robustly identify the so-called 'termination' events -- landmarks marking the start and end of sunspot and magnetic activity cycles -- we extract a relationship between the temporal spacing of terminators and the magnitude of sunspot cycles," the abstract explains. "Given this relationship and our prediction of a terminator event in 2020, we deduce that Sunspot Cycle 25 will have a magnitude that rivals the top few since records began. This outcome would be in stark contrast to the community consensus estimate of Sunspot Cycle 25 magnitude."

NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory captured this image of a sunspot, with a core larger than Earth.

According to the paper, low-amplitude solar cycles appear to correspond with widely separated terminators, while larger-amplitude cycles correspond to more narrowly separated terminators.

"[O]ur best estimate for the [sunspot number] amplitude of Solar Cycle 25 is 233 spots, with a 68% confidence that the amplitude will fall between 204 and 254 spots," the paper posits. "We predict with 95% confidence that the Cycle 25 amplitude will fall between 153 and 305 spots."

The researchers concede that their forecast is outside of the scientific consensus, based on different paradigms. "Over the coming months, as [Solar Cycle] 25 matures, it will become evident which of these paradigms is most relevant," the paper says. "Very early indications of the spot pattern are appearing at higher-than-average latitudes (∼40°). Historically, high-latitude spot emergence has been associated with the development of large amplitude sunspot cycles -- only time will tell."

ARRL Field 2020 N5FPW Style

Welcome to the shack of N5FPW - Larry at the controls. This is my 2020 ARRL Field Day Operation running North Carolina 1D. All digital ops running FT4/FT8. See you on the bands from Clay County NC