17510 kHz DRM Test from Vatican Radio

[G0SVN]

19 Aug 2016 : Vatican Radio on 17510 kHz from Santa Maria

Nothing received here in the UK

18:00-21:00 UTC Planetary K-index: 1+. Local K-index: 1.

Planetary A-index: 7. Solar flux: 81. SWPC Sunspot number: 54.
Sunset 19:16 UTC.

[tpreitzel]

Sergio,

The 10 kHz channel was filled with noise and interference. Although the signal was strong enough under normal conditions, it couldn't overcome the noise in this case... At least Vatican Radio is using a MSC of 16 QAM for maximal reception.

[G4TMV]

I think someone has either turned the wick up, or switched the band on, as it's putting a really good signal in here this evening for a change. Some sort of classical music programme.

[G0SVN]

20 Aug 2016 : Vatican Radio on 17510 kHz from Santa Maria

76% decoded audio during the transmission.

18:00-21:00 UTC Planetary K-index: 0+. Local K-index: 0.

Planetary A-index: 4. Solar flux: 78. SWPC Sunspot number: 12.
Sunset 19:14 UTC.

[G4TMV]

What a difference this evening, the real-time MUF chart showed we were up at 19 MHz and that made a massive difference. The signal peaked here at about 18.2db SNR, but considering the highest it had gone on previous evenings was 5db that was quite a big difference.

I did notice that the info on the panel changed from 'transmission to Europe' to 'transmission to North America' about half way through, though I didn't notice any change in signal strength at all.

[PhilipOneL]

Here, in eastern Newfoundland, I got very spotty reception of the Vatican DRM on 17510kHz today, Sat 20 Aug 2016. The label was legible through most of the 1930 - 2000 half-hour, but decoded audio was down around 20% or lower. What audio came through to my Avion AV DR 1401 (with Sony loop antenna) was high-quality; the EQ at Vatican R is definitely better than at some other DRM b/crs' studios. My loop is aligned for NE-SW signals which makes me think their beam must be NW, bringing it right over my head (from a NE direction) on its way to Miami.

If you want to hear what I could hear, I have put a sixteen-minute segment of my recording on Soundcloud.

soundcloud.com/justfolk-853653903/mp3vaticanradiodrmtestsat-20aug2016at1930utc

[Braccini]

20 Aug

The best signal DRM in Brazil!
Video: https://youtu.be/eL1mt424T2k
Conference HFCC B16, Miami - EUA
More details:

http://www.drm.org/?p=4449

http://www.hfcc.miami/conference-dates.html

http://www.hfcc.org/B16/

[PP5AZF-Ataliba]

Radio Vaticana in Brazil

RX in São José - southern Brazil

My coordinates: -27.5795486, -48.6163322,340

https://www.google.com.br/maps/@-27.6222365,-48.645622,220686m/data=!3m1!1e3

PP5AZF-Ataliba

[AF4MP]

17510 kHz Vatican Radio reception near Atlanta, Georgia USA

This afternoon's reception report, decoded audio 28.23% and max SNR 15.86 dB.

There was geomagnetic storm occuring at the time with a planetary Kp Index of 4. The sudden drop in the signal at 1942 looks more like a transmitter issue than a propagation anomaly?

The quality of the decoded classical music audio was excellent!

Nice to have a DRM signal directed to North America again even though for a short time.

[Digger]

21st Aug.

1% decoded audio. I watched the audio spectrum and the spectrum ended above 10'000 Hz - very good sound quality, but unfortunately, the bursts were very short.

[G0SVN]

21 Aug 2016 : Vatican Radio on 17510 kHz from Santa Maria

Zero% decoded audio during the transmission.

18:00-21:00 UTC Planetary K-index: 2+. Local K-index: 3.

Planetary A-index: 4. Solar flux: 77. SWPC Sunspot number: 12.
Sunset 19:12 UTC.

[PhilipOneL]

Right now, 1935 UTC Monday 22 August 2016, the Vatican 17510kHz signal is booming in here in eastern Newfoundland. Both the MR27024 (with eight-metre outdoor wire) and the Avion DR-1401 (with Sony AN-LP1 loop antenna) are getting about 95% decoding. The Avion is showing MER rates of between 15 and 24 dB.

By the way, with the two radios running, I hear the half-second difference in audio -- the Avion is the slower processor.

And also by the way, the MR's decode rate is somewhat lower than the Avion's, perhaps only 75%. I'm not sure why.

[Digger]

Hi Philip and all,

At my location the frequency is too high (I'm in the skip zone), it is too late at night and I'm at 90° angles to the transmitter, so here is my result: 0% decoded audio.

By the way, interesting to hear that the Avion works on 17 MHz despite the internal interference (or beat tones). And, how far away (in meters) is your Sony loop from the Avion?

[AF4MP]

17510 kHz Vatican Radio reception near Atlanta, Georgia USA

This afternoon's reception report, decoded audio 28.77% and max SNR 16.53dB.

Tough conditions, the received waveform was showing lots of multipath nulls, and the signal was up and down.

Audio quality when decoded was excellent.

The received Screen ID mentioning the HFCC conference in Miami is shown in Attachment 2.

[tpreitzel]

I agree with Zyg ... as my log demonstrates. Furthermore, at my location significant interference exists near the middle of the channel during weekdays. As with RRI on 7330 kHz, this interference disappears during weekends. As stated by other listeners, the quality of the audio is very good with a robust configuration and hopefully more digital broadcasters will consult Vatican Radio for the proper way to broadcast DRM via shortwave.