IZ3LSV

WG3K   > SWL      06.06.25 03:43l 57 Lines 4626 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 18348_WG3K
Subj: Shortwave Radiogram Program 404
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6IHL<IK7NXU<HB9ON<DK0WUE<PI8ZTM<PI8LAP<VE2PKT<VE3CGR<WW4BSA<
      N3HYM<WG3K
Sent: 250606/0135Z 18348@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24

Hello friends,

This week was notable in that I successfully connected a PL-259 to the RG-8X cable leading in from my homebrew 10/6M fan dipole. I don't use this antenna often for transmitting, so I am using it as an antenna for my SDRPlay RSPdx receiver. The SDRPlay is employed because my main transceiver, a Yaesu FT-991A, has quit working again, the second time three weeks after warranty service.

I drove up to RF Connection in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to buy five of the PL-259 connectors, crimp with solder on the center pin. I bought five, because I thought it might take five tries to do one successfully. As it turned out, I succeeded on the second PL-259. In the process, I learned that those fancy cable splicing tool are more trouble than they are worth. A hobby knife does the trick. Also, I have a drawer full of soldering tools, but the only one that really works is my butane powered Solder-It.

Also notable during the past week is that we had a bat flying around the house. I was wondering why the cat was moving around so much. Then I saw the bat gracefully flying orbits above the bed. I thought I had it sequestered in the bathroom adjacent to our bedroom. But later I saw it in the bedroom itself, so closed the door to that room. The Arlington, Virginia, animal control officer came over at 4:30 am. He searched the rooms for about an hour but found no bat. It may be hunkered down among the clothes in the walk-in closet. The plan for tonight is stay awake in the bedroom, hoping that it reemerges, then try to isolate it in the bathroom or the screened balcony. The bat is behaving perfectly normally, certainly not aggressive, but I'm afraid it will have be tested for rabies.

We have no idea how the bat entered the house. After the previous bat, about three years ago, we had our chimney and fireplace extensively and expensively rebuilt, with critter-proofing. Apparently, that did not solve the problem.

This has also been a week in which the bad news about US international broadcasting under the US Agency for Global Media became worse. Our first story this week is about the Trump Administration's plan to reduce the USAGM workforce from 1,033 to just 81. If you want to weigh in on this, write to your members of Congress, especially if they are Republican, because they have more influence in this matter. 

A video of last week's Shortwave Radiogram (program 403) is provided by Scott in Ontario[0] (Wednesday 1330 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK[1]. Analysis is provided by Roger in Germany[2].

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 404, 5-11 June 2025, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:43  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:55  MFSK32: Press freedom group decries USAGM firings 
 6:59  MFSK64: Orbital constellations for solar storm defense
10:20  MFSK64: This week's images
28:07  MFSK32: Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Bluesky: swradiogram.bsky.social or https://swradiogram.bsky.social
Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram
(visit during the weekend to see listenersâ€Ö results)
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304
Shortwave Radiogram Gateway Wiki: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
UTC Day     UTC Time     Frequency kHz     Transmitter
Thursday    2330-2400    9265              WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday    0230-0300    9265              WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday    2300-2330    7570 7780 9455    WRMI Florida
Sunday      1430-1500    9955              WRMI Florida
Monday      0800-0830    5850              WRMI Florida
Wednesday   1330-1400    15770             WRMI Florida

Other Shortwave broadcast programs that include digital text and images include The Mighty KBC, Pop Shop Radio and Radio North Europe International (RNEI). Links to these fine broadcasts, with schedules, are posted here[3].
 
Thanks for your reception reports!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at kaedotcom.bsky.social

[0] https://swradiogram.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43fc8ba8977b432a99e9b8db7&id=9f57b338a2&e=1315cb884b
[1] https://swradiogram.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43fc8ba8977b432a99e9b8db7&id=cc4982dc66&e=1315cb884b
[2] https://swradiogram.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43fc8ba8977b432a99e9b8db7&id=8f05892265&e=1315cb884b
[3] https://swradiogram.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=43fc8ba8977b432a99e9b8db7&id=0d6d88bbbf&e=1315cb884b




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