Amateur Ham Radio Shortwave (LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF) Communications + Space Weather

Join us for an informal live stream chat session about current space weather -- the Sun/Earth connection -- including sunspot activity, solar x-ray flares, and geomagnetic activity. We also discuss current radio signal propagation conditions on the shortwave (high-frequency, or HF) radio spectrum. We may discuss amateur (ham) radio, shortwave radio, and other related topics such as HF antennas (dipoles, doublets, Yagi antennas, and so on). You can ask questions, and we will discuss some of them now, and some of them in upcoming videos. Click Subscribe (and Join!), then set the Alert Bell to "All." Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. Don't forget to click on the notification bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. About me: https://nw7us.us Direct Support: 1. Donate - https://sunspotwatch.com/support.html 2. Become a Patreon Member - https://www.patreon.com/NW7US Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in The Spectrum Monitor - http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

In the classic educational film titled "Electronics at Work," produced by Westinghouse in 1943, viewers are introduced to the fascinating world of vacuum tubes. This film highlights the crucial role these devices played in both military and commercial sectors, including radio telecommunications, radar, and various industrial applications. The narrative suggests that vacuum tubes provided the United States with a significant advantage during World War II, particularly in enhancing communication and technology. The Continuing Relevance of Vacuum Tubes Despite advances in technology, vacuum tubes remain in use today for several applications, including: - Transmitting radios - Medical devices - Audio amplification systems - High-frequency applications Understanding Vacuum Tubes The film outlines the six basic functions of electronic tubes and illustrates how each type is employed in different industrial and military contexts. Structure of a Vacuum Tube A vacuum tube typically consists of two or more electrodes housed within a vacuum inside an airtight enclosure. Key features include: - Electrode Types: Most vacuum tubes have glass envelopes, although some utilize ceramic or metal casings with insulating bases. - Leads and Sockets: The electrodes connect to leads that pass through the envelope via an airtight seal. These leads often take the form of pins, allowing for easy replacement in a tube socket, as tubes were a common point of failure in electronic devices. - Capacitive Design: Some tubes feature a top cap on the electrode to minimize interelectrode capacitance, enhancing high-frequency performance and maintaining safety by separating high voltages. The Evolution of Vacuum Tubes The earliest vacuum tubes emerged from incandescent light bulbs, which contained a heated filament sealed in an evacuated glass envelope. When heated, the filament releases electrons into the vacuum through a process known as thermionic emission. - Electrode Functionality: A second electrode, known as the anode or plate, attracts these electrons if it holds a more positive voltage. This mechanism results in a flow of electrons from the filament (cathode) to the plate, creating an electric field due to the potential difference between them. - Diode Function: A vacuum tube with two electrodes is termed a diode, which functions as a rectifier. Diodes allow current to flow in only one direction, converting alternating current (AC) into pulsating direct current (DC). This technology is widely used in DC power supplies and in demodulating amplitude-modulated (AM) radio signals. Film Availability and Production Details This film is available in the public domain under Creative Commons, and it can be accessed through the Library of Congress Prelinger Archives. The film has been edited and converted to HD quality for better viewing. Introductory and closing music is provided by Nero 10, with commercial use rights granted. This film not only serves as an educational tool but also highlights the enduring legacy of vacuum tube technology in the realm of electronics, illustrating its significant contributions to both past and present technological advancements. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US Also, please click on the bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. By subscribing and making sure that the bell (alert) notification is set to ALL, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. About me: https://nw7us.us Direct Support: 1. Donate - https://sunspotwatch.com/support.html 2. Become a Patreon Member - https://www.patreon.com/NW7US Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in The Spectrum Monitor - http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

Taking a tour around the shortwave radio spectrum, to catch exotic radio signals from around the world. Right at the start, we are tuned to 22477.6 kHz with the transceiver, and Icom IC-7610, set to the CW mode to monitor the infamous maritime station, KPH, transmitting from Point Reyes, California in Morse code. The keying is done by hand, just as was done historically. The antenna used to receive this is a 160-meter doublet up at about 80 feet. KPH - https://www.radiomarine.org/ The Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) was formed on 12 July 1999, the date of the supposed last commercial Morse transmission in the US. On that day Tom Horsfall and Richard Dillman resolved that the tradition of commercial maritime Morse could not be relegated to the dustbin of history. With that in mind they visited the KPH transmit and receive sites in Bolinas and Point Reyes - closed for two years. They were amazed to find not the vandalized sites they expected but instead an intact radio time capsule - with the receivers still on, maintaining a watch on the Morse calling channels. Their mission became instantly clear: they should form an organization to repair, restore and operate KPH as a way to honor the men and women who for 100 years had made the profession of radiotelegrapher one of honor and skill. All they had to do was convince the National Park Service since the station sites are part of the Point Reyes National Seashore. With trust and vision that are still amazing to think about, the Park Service gave these two radio squirrels, previously unknown to them, the go-ahead. Since then the MRHS has succeeded beyond what Tom and Richard thought possible in their wildest dreams. Not only has KPH returned to the air but so has KSM, KFS and K6KPH. This has been possible only through the efforts of the dozen or more volunteers who make up the MRHS and who feel honored to contribute to our mission. Decoding software is MSRP40 -- MRP40 is a powerful and highly effective ham radio software program that decodes received audio Morse-Code signal that has been fed to a computer's sound card. The decoded text is displayed on the computer's monitor. For transmitting CW, the program encodes keystrokes from the computer's keyboard. Hams use MRP40 to send and read QRQ (high-speed) CW. It reads weak DX signals and decodes with excellent accuracy. It makes you score in CW contest. Link: https://www.polar-electric.com/Morse/MRP40-EN/ Reference for KPH on this frequency, also here: https://www.dxinfocentre.com/maritimesafetyinfo.htm What was decoded during this live stream, from KPH: ... PANAMA CANAL TUGBOAT CAPTAINS ARE WORKING DANGEROUSLY LONG DAYS WITHOUT RELIEF, A SITUATIC THAT POSES GRAVE RISKS FOR TUG CREWS, CANAL OPERATIONI AND THE SECURITY OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CE TIN. MM AT GS PTNAMA AFFILIATE TM UNIN DE CAPITANES Y OFICIALES DE CUBIERTA knUCOB U, REPRESENTS PANAMA CANAL TUG CAPTAINS AND ASSOCIATED VESSEL PERSONNEL. UCMTC PRESIDENT DANIEL CAMAZON HAS REACHED OUT TO ARE ENIO DOMINGUEZ, SECRETARY- GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGARIZATION, ASKING THAT HE URGE THE PANAMA CANAL ADMINISTRATION TO BRING WORKING CONDITIONS ON THE CANAL INTO COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNTTIONAL MINIMUM HOURS OF REST REQUIREM T E. TUGBOAT RAPTAINS ON THE CANAL ARE NOT ALLOWED THE MINIMUM HOURS OF REST REQUIRED BY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION RUA ES TUR PANAMAS NATIONAL REGULATIO ES, CAMAZON WROTE IN AN AUG. 2 LETTER THAT WAS ALSO SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENTI OF MM AND P AND NAUTILUS INTERNATIONAL. TH I IS ENARTICULAA T DANGEROUS IN THE NEW CANAL WHERE TUGS WORK DIRECTLNM UNDER TH S MWS AND ON THE STERNS OF TEOPANAMAX VESSELS WITH NO MARGIN IIOR ERRTMR, PROTETRTING THE CANAL LOCK TIATES FROM EOTENTIAL DISASTER. THE HAZARDS STEM MOSTLY FROM THE POOR DESIGN OF THE EXPANDED CANAL, WHICH HAS GIVEN RISE TO A MUCH MORE LABOR- INTENSIVE PRO/ESS OF VESSEL TRI EIT. IN THE TALD LOCKS, ELECTRICEVR OWERED LOCOMOTIITE MULES RUN ON TRACKS ALONG THE SIDEWALLS, USING MOORING WIRES AND TENSION WINCHES TO MAINTAIN THE POSITION OF TRANSITING SHIPS. IN THE NEW LOCKS, TUGBOATS ARE REQUIRED TO CONTINUOUSLY POSITION VESSELS IN TRANSIT, WHICH MEANS TUG CAPTAINS MUST BE AT THE CONTROLS THE ENTIRE TIME. THE RECENT EXAMPLES OF THE MV EVER GIVEN IN THE SUEZ CANAL AND THE MV DALI IN BALTIMORE HARBOR MAKE THE POTENTIAL FOR DISE STER ALL TOO CLEAR, THE UNION PRESIDENTS WROTE. WE DO NOT ASK YOU TO INTERVENE IN THE POLITICAL OR LABOR RELATIONS PROCESSES OF PANAMA THAT HAVE LED TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHAT WE SEEK IS YOUR ASSISTANCE IN POINTING OUT TO THE PANAMA CANAL ADMINISTRATION THAT ALTHOUGH THE CANAL DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MLC, STCW OR SOLAS, THE REPUTATION OF PANAMA AS A MARITIME INDUSTRY LEADER, AS WELL AS COMMON SENSE, DICTATE THAT THESE STANDARDS SHOULD BE READILY AND AMICABLY COMPLIED WITH. = VVV VVV VVV DE KPH KPH KPH SAN FRANCISCO RADIO MMP FREE PRESS

This is a video in which I check out the Voice of Korea. The radio used in this video is an Icom IC-7610 hooked up to a 160-meter doublet antenna that is up above ground about 80 feet. The Voice of Korea serves as the international broadcasting service of North Korea, providing content across various languages such as Chinese, Spanish, English, Russian, French, Arabic, German, and Japanese. Formerly known as Radio Pyongyang before 2002, this station operates on shortwave frequencies and features a website accessible in nine different languages. The Voice of Korea delivers news, information, and cultural programming to a global audience through its shortwave broadcasts. The origins of the Voice of Korea can be traced back to 1936 with the establishment of the radio station JBBK during the Japanese occupation. This station broadcasted a first and second program as part of Japan's radio network covering the Korean Peninsula from Seoul. Founded in October 1945 as Radio Pyongyang, the station officially launched its programming on the 14th, featuring a live broadcast of Kim Il Sung's victory speech upon his return to Pyongyang at the conclusion of World War II. The Voice of Korea began its foreign broadcasts with Chinese content on March 16, 1947, followed by Japanese broadcasts in 1950, English in 1951, French and Russian in 1963, Spanish in 1965, Arabic in 1970, and German in 1983. During its peak in 1960, Radio Pyongyang broadcasted 159 hours of programming weekly. By 1970, the weekly broadcasting hours increased to 330, reaching 597 hours by 1980. The broadcasting time declined to 534 hours per week in 1990, 529 in 1994, and 364 in 1996. In 2002, the station underwent a renaming, becoming officially known as the Voice of Korea. The station continues to be a prominent platform for broadcasting North Korean perspectives and information to the global audience. The current government of North Korea establishes its status as a socialist state and is defined as a dictatorship of people's democracy. Here are some key points about the government of North Korea: - Head of Government: The head of government is the premier, who is assisted by several vice-premiers and a cabinet. - Cabinet Members: The members of the cabinet are appointed by the national leadership. - Political Rights: People in North Korea have civil and political rights, but these rights are often superseded by the government's control. - Political Party: The government operates under the rigid control of the communist Korean Workers' Party (KWP), to which all government officials belong. This information provides an overview of the current government structure in North Korea, highlighting its socialist nature and the central role of the Korean Workers' Party in governance. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. Don't forget to click on the notification bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. About me: https://nw7us.us Direct Support: 1. Donate - https://sunspotwatch.com/support.html 2. Become a Patreon Member - https://www.patreon.com/NW7US Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in The Spectrum Monitor - http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

Official Air Force Film, T.F.I. 4801 and 4802, Department of the Air Force Produced by Wilding Picture Productions, Inc. This is a United States Air Force black and white training film that came in two parts in 1947. This film deals with radio transmission systems converting electrical energy into radio waves. In 1947, the fundamentals of radio antennas were well-established, building upon the knowledge developed in the early days of radio communication. Here are some key points regarding the fundamentals of radio antennas in 1947: - Types of Antennas: In 1947, common types of radio antennas included dipole antennas, loop antennas, Yagi antennas, and horn antennas. Each type had specific applications based on their radiation patterns and gain characteristics. - Antenna Design: Antenna design in 1947 focused on optimizing the size, shape, and orientation of the antenna elements to achieve the desired radiation pattern and gain. Engineers relied on mathematical models and empirical testing to refine antenna designs. - Radiation Patterns: Engineers studied the radiation patterns of antennas to understand how radio waves were emitted and received. Radiation patterns were characterized by parameters such as beamwidth, directivity, and gain. - Transmission and Reception: Radio antennas in 1947 were used for both transmitting and receiving radio signals. The efficiency of an antenna in transmitting or receiving signals was a key consideration in its design. - Frequency Considerations: Antenna design in 1947 took into account the frequency of the radio signals being transmitted or received. Different antenna lengths and configurations were used for different frequency ranges to maximize performance. - Matching Networks: Antennas were often connected to matching networks to ensure efficient transfer of power between the antenna and the radio transmitter or receiver. Matching networks helped minimize signal loss and impedance mismatch. - Propagation and Reception: Understanding radio wave propagation and reception was essential in antenna design. Engineers considered factors such as ground reflection, atmospheric effects, and interference in optimizing antenna performance. - Advancements in Technology: In 1947, advancements in materials and manufacturing techniques allowed for more precise antenna construction. The development of new technologies, such as radar and television, also drove innovation in antenna design. Overall, the fundamentals of radio antennas in 1947 were rooted in a solid understanding of electromagnetic theory and practical experimentation. Engineers and scientists continued to refine antenna designs to improve the efficiency and reliability of radio communication systems during this period. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US Also, please click on the bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. By subscribing and making sure that the bell (alert) notification is set to ALL, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. About me: https://nw7us.us Direct Support: 1. Donate - https://sunspotwatch.com/support.html 2. Become a Patreon Member - https://www.patreon.com/NW7US Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in The Spectrum Monitor - http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

This video is a screen and sound capture of my reception of weather charts and images by shortwave radio, from a station in California running about 4 kilowatts of RF power. This HF WEFAX (Weather Facsimile) service is on every day for ship (marine) weather dissemination so that ships out on the ocean can get weather charts and images not by satellite, but by receiving shortwave signals. Here is a snippet from the published schedule from Point Reyes WEFAX Radio, callsign NMC, is as follows: 22527 kHz - tune offset 1.9 kHz (thus I was tuned to 22526 kHz USB, based on this: "Unless otherwise stated, assigned frequencies are shown, for carrier frequency subtract 1.9 kHz. Typically dedicated radiofax receivers use assigned frequencies, while receivers or transceivers, connected to external recorders or PC's, are operated in the upper sideband (USB) mode using carrier frequencies.") UTC CHART ++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1913 TROPICAL GOES IR SATELLITE IMAGE sample 1923 WIND / WAVE ANALYSIS sample 1933 96HR SURFACE FORECAST 1943 96HR WIND/WAVE FORECAST sample 1953 96HR 500MB FORECAST 2003 96HR WAVE PERIOD / DIRECTION sample This is from the page, "NMC Point Reyes, Marine Radiofax Broadcast Schedule" at https://weatherfax.com/nmc-point-reyes/ Full description of the weather charts: https://www.weather.gov/marine/radiofax_charts ================================================== WORLDWIDE MARINE RADIOFACSIMILE BROADCAST SCHEDULES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL OCEANIC and ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE April 12, 2024 https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/rfax.pdf ================================================== Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US Also, please click on the bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. About me: https://nw7us.us Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in: - The Spectrum Monitor http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

(Older version) In this video, I briefly introduce some of the type of signals I hear on my high-frequency (shortwave) amateur radio. Some of them are voice transmissions, and some are data. This video is simply the initial teaser for many videos to come. And, it served as an experiment in my editing two video sources and a third audio source, using Adobe Premier CC 2014 software. I've lost nearly 80 pounds since this video was uploaded! Thank you for subscribing (which will keep you in the loop for new videos from me!) -- Tomas, Amateur Radio NW7US -- Home page: https://NW7US.us/ Contributing editor, propagation and space weather columns in "The Spectrum Monitor" ( http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ ) X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) YouTube: https://YouTube.com/NW7US Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Copyright, Tomas Hood (NW7US

Gander Radio handles the "over the pole" traffic in addition to the North Atlantic traffic out to 30W. This is one of the radio services heard in this air-check video. Note in the video how up to four receivers are selected for simultaneous monitoring, all in the 8-MHz Aeronautical subband on HF (shortwave). Each has its own squelch, and so on. As the video plays, you can see me make various adjustments. Video was of 07:09 UTC onwards, on June 9, 2024 (UTC date). Rig is an Icom IC-7610, and the receiving antenna is a 160-meter doublet up at about 80 feet above ground. Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US Also, please click on the bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. About me: https://nw7us.us Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in: - The Spectrum Monitor http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: Twitter: https://Twitter.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

What is the proper (and most efficient) technique for creating Morse code by hand, using a manual Morse code key? Ham radio operators find Morse code (and the 'CW' mode, or 'Continuous Wave' keying mode) very useful, even though Morse code is no longer required as part of the licensing process. Morse code is highly effective in weak-signal radio work. And, preppers love Morse code because it is the most efficient way to communicate when there is a major disaster that could wipe out the communications infrastructure. While this military film is antique, the vintage information is timeless, as the material is applicable to Morse code, even today. More about Morse code, at my website: http://cw.hfradio.org Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more... -- Tomas, Amateur radio guy and space weather guru; NW7US -- Home page: https://NW7US.us/ and https://SunSpotWatch.com -- Contributing editor, propagation and space weather columns in + "The Spectrum Monitor" http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ -- X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) -- Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us -- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Credits: National Archives and Records Administration Original Title: INTERNATIONAL MORSE CODE, HAND SENDING Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Chief Signal Officer. (09/18/1947 - 02/28/1964) ARC Identifier 36813 / Local Identifier 111-TF-3697. PRINCIPLES AND BASIC TECHNIQUE FOR GOOD, RHYTHMIC SENDING 0F MORSE CODE BY OPERATING THE HAND KEY. Made possible by a donation from Mary Neff. Producer National Archives and Records Administration

The romance of the radiotelegraph service. This service utilized the high frequency spectrum known as "shortwave" (from 3 MHz up to 30 MHz) as well as the longwave and medium frequency spectrum (below 3 MHz). This is a short film about communication to and from New Zealand on these shortwaves, using Morse code (eventually, using CW modulation). This film is a 1939 Government film scanned to 2K from a 16mm combined B/W reduction print. It is from ArchivesNZ ( http://YouTube.com/ArchivesNZ ) and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution, reuse allowed. Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. About me: https://nw7us.us Direct Support: 1. Donate - https://sunspotwatch.com/support.html 2. Become a Patreon Member - https://www.patreon.com/NW7US Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in The Spectrum Monitor - http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: X: https://X.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

This is a video of the German Weather Broadcast from DWD, Hamburg, on shortwave (HF), using teletype (RTTY). I demonstrate two decoding software options: JWcomm32 (older), and, FLdigi. Note the in FLdigi, the "Reverse" feather is selected to properly decode the signal (in either USB or LSB, you still need to select, "Reverse"). The radio used to receive these weather bulletins is an Icom IC-7610, using an antenna designed for 160 Meters. RTTY is a system for broadcasting text over radio. The technology dates back to the late 1950s and seems somewhat anachronistic. Speeds are slow, even slower than NAVTEX. A similar service is the USCG service, SITOR (Simplex Teletype Over Radio) providing offshore and coastal forecasts over very wide and remote areas from the tropics to the polar regions. There is dedicated equipment to receive RTTY and SITOR but we can receive both using a standard HF/SSB receiver with software packages such as TRUETTY and SEATTY to decode the signals. The main advantage of RTTY/SITOR is the reception of information over an entire ocean area. The USCG also shares frequencies across multiple transmitters according to a schedule, rather like NAVTEX. The system is available over the Atlantic and Pacific including polar regions not served. For more about SITOR see the Monitoring Times link or the USCG site. Around Western Europe and the Mediterranean, the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) , the German Weather Service has accepted the responsibility to broadcast weather information for mariners on RTTY. Frequencies are in the table on the webpage at: https://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Radio-Teletype-Weather-Broadcasts This video captures the RTTY transmission on 14467.3 kHz (with adjustment in the passband to center on Mark and Space as seen in the video). DWD (Hamburg) Broadcast Content: Some broadcasts are of raw weather observations in a WMO coded form. Otherwise, for the broadcasts include, + Strong wind, gale and storm warnings for German Bight, Western and Southern Baltic Sea, German North Sea and Baltic Sea coast + Weather forecast for the North Sea and Baltic Sea, Weather situation, forecast valid for 12 hours and outlook valid for another 12 hours + Weather report German North Sea and Baltic Sea coast, Weather situation and forecast valid for 12 hours. + Navigational warnings for North Sea, Baltic Sea and German coast + Weather report Norwegian Sea and Baltic Sea Route North Cape - Shetlands, The Quark - Gulf of Finland. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days + Weather report North Atlantic. Route Pentlands - Southwest Greenland. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days + Station reports North Sea and Baltic Sea + Weather report Western European Sea. Route Southern Ireland - Area Canarias. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days + Medium range weather report North Sea, Weather situation and time series forecast for 5 days + For the Mediterranean there are Station reports Mediterranean Sea + Weather report Mediterranean Sea (in German), Weather situation and forecast valid for 24 hours. + Alborán - Tunis. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days + Weather report Eastern Mediterranean Sea (in German). Route Eastern Tunis - Rhodes/Cyprus. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days + Medium range weather report Mediterranean Sea (in English), Weather situation and time series forecast for 5 days + Around the North Sea and the Baltic this service is a useful supplement to NAVTEX. Particularly so are the 5 day outlooks, These give wind forecast every 12 hours for the 5 day period. The values are straight from the DWD NWP model at a few grid points although these are sufficient to give an overall view and much quicker to receive than synoptic charts on radio fax. In the Mediterranean, most valuable is the 5 day forecast which seems to be used and very highly regarded by the majority of serious cruising yachtsmen. It is a most valuable service for predicting the major strong wind systems such as Mistrals, Libeccios, Tramontanes, etc. Such winds are usually well predicted 4 and often 5 days ahead. Conversely, I have never found the 24 hour forecast to be much use. For this period, the French, Spanish and even the Italian NAVTEX broadcasts are to be preferred. 73 de NW7US

Olivia is the digital communications mode on shortwave (high frequency sub band, or, HF) for amateur radio operators who want more than the "Check Propagation" FT8 mode. This video is an introduction that was presented to the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society ( https://www.rars.org/ ) on December 12, 2023. Presented by Tomas Hood, NW7US Olivia information can be found, here: https://OliviaDigitalMode.org Olivia, a Multi-Frequency Shift Keying (MFSK) radioteletype digital mode, is an amateur radioteletype protocol designed to work in difficult (low signal-to-noise ratio plus multipath) propagation conditions on shortwave radio (i.e., high-frequency, or HF) bands. The typical Olivia signal is decoded when the amplitude of the noise is over ten times that of the digital signal! It is commonly used by amateur radio operators to reliably transmit ASCII characters over noisy channels (slices of high-frequency spectrum -- i.e., frequencies from 3 MHz to 30 MHz; HF) exhibiting significant fading and propagation phasing. The Olivia digital modes are commonly referred to by the number of tones and the bandwidth used (in Hz). Therefore, it is common to express the Olivia digital mode as Olivia X/Y (or, alternatively, Olivia Y/X ), where X refers to the number of different audio tones transmitted, and Y refers to the bandwidth in Hertz over which these signals are spread. Examples of common Olivia modes are, 8/250 (meaning, 8 tones/250-Hertz bandwidth), 16/500, and, 32/1000. The protocol was developed at the end of 2003 by Pawel Jalocha. The first on-the-air tests were performed by two radio amateurs, Fred OH/DK4ZC and Les VK2DSG, on the Europe-Australia propagation path in the 20-meter shortwave radio amateur band. The tests proved that the Olivia protocol (or, digital mode) works well and can allow regular intercontinental radio contacts with as little as one-watt RF power (when propagation is highly-favorable). Since 2005, Olivia has become a standard for digital data transfer under white noise, fading and multipath, flutter (polar path) and auroral conditions. Olivia can perform nearly as good as the very popular WSJT mode, FT8, and better than FT4. See you on the waterfall!

Reception of WTWW here in Ohio was marginal, but worse, the audio feed into the transmitter appears to be having intermittent cuts. The audio drops often, intermittently, during this short air check. The international shortwave broadcasting station, WTWW, was broadcasting on the HF frequency of 5085 KHz, from their transmitting location which is south of my receiving station. My station consists of an SDRPlay RSPdx radio receiver, hooked up to a 220-foot doublet antenna. -=-=-=-=- Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/NW7US Also, please click on the bell, to enable alerts so that when I post a new video, you will be notified. By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. About me: http://me.nw7us.us Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in: - CQ Amateur Radio Magazine http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/ - The Spectrum Monitor http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: Twitter: https://Twitter.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, Tomas Hood / NW7US

It might not take as much antenna as you may think would be necessary to make two-way contacts on shortwave radio (as an amateur radio operator putting an HF transceiver on the air). However, often, makeshift antennae are effective enough to be viable. Just look at all the contacts many amateur radio operators make with their low-power (QRP) rigs (transceivers) using short, helically-wound, mobile antenna sticks. If they can work magic with such inefficient antenna setups, surely your effort at an antenna would pay off to some degree. Right? Of course, I want to make a proper dipole out of this example antenna. But, while I wait for the rest of the parts I need to complete this antenna project (pulleys and a ladder, and maybe a potato launcher), I've put this makeshift antenna on the air, with it just high enough so that I can enjoy some time on the shortwave bands. With this antenna, I've made successful two-way voice and Morse code contacts (QSOs) with stations in Europe and across North America. I am able to tune it on the 60-, 40-, 30-, 20-, 15-, 17-, 12-, and 10-Meter bands. Reverse beacon detection picks up my Morse-code CW signals, especially on 40 meters (the band on which it is tuned physically). Yes, this antenna, even at its current elevation, works. It works well enough that I can be patient on getting the rest of the supplies and hardware needed to erect this antenna high up in the trees. The bottom line for you: just get something up in the air and start communicating. Improve things over time. You'll have much fun that way! I'll be making videos during the builds and deployments of my antenna projects, as I go forward, so please subscribe and click the bell icon so that you will be alerted when I post new videos. Thank you for watching, commenting, and most of all, for subscribing. By subscribing, you will be kept in the loop for new videos and more. About me: http://nw7us.us and http://me.nw7us.us Highlights: I am a contributing editor with propagation and space weather columns in: - CQ Amateur Radio Magazine http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/ - The Spectrum Monitor http://www.thespectrummonitor.com/ Social media: Twitter: https://Twitter.com/NW7US (@NW7US) Tumblr: http://blog.nw7us.us Instagram: https://instagram.com/nw7us Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NW7US Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/spacewx.hfradio Copyright, 2020. All rights reserved, Tomas Hood / NW7US Music provided by YouTube, with their permission.