International Radio Research Articles

The afterlife of colonial radio in Christian missionary broadcasting of the Philippines

ABSTRACT The article explores Christian missionary radio broadcasting as part of a wider sonic colonization of the Philippines under US colonial rule. Specifically, I explore how some post-Second World War faith-based broadcasters shaped the listening practices of Filipino audiences through programming tactics such as blocktiming. Furthermore, I consider how missionary broadcasters cultivated direct relationships with listeners through the imagined ‘shared experiences’ of aural space. As a case study, I explore the activities of the US-based Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC), which began its operations in the Philippines in 1948. Since then, the organization has used the country as a hub for its expanding domestic and international radio network, which now includes broadcasts to South East Asia, China and other parts of the world. In addition to exploring how FEBC’s localized approach to programming has cultivated specific listening audiences, I explore how programmes have been received by listeners in the Philippines, many of whom continue to tune in via terrestrial radio.

Spectral Line Registration Backend Based on USRP X300 Software Defined Radio

This paper presents implementation of spectrometer based on off-the-shelf software defined radio (SDR) Ettus Research USRP X300 equipped with TwinRX daughterboard. Parallelized software, employing Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), is developed which allows two channel spectrum processing in real time with bandwidths up to 50[Formula: see text]MHz per channel, sample resolution of 14 bits and FFT lengths up to 32k points. Measured Allan stability time of the spectrometer is at least 750 sin laboratory environment. Software has network server-type interface that allows to conveniently integrate the spectrometer in radio telescope observation control and monitoring system with versatility of SDR allowing to implement various observation modes, for example, total power detection functionality with high frequency selectivity, which allows to carry continuum amplitude calibration in presence of near-by radio frequency interference. Presented spectrometer has been successfully integrated and used at RT-32 and RT-16 radio telescopes of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre.

A Combination Prediction Model of Long-Term Ionospheric foF2 Based on Entropy Weight Method.

It is critically meaningful to accurately predict the ionospheric F2 layer critical frequency (foF2), which greatly limits the efficiency of communications, radar, and navigation systems. This paper introduced the entropy weight method to develop the combination prediction model (CPM) for long-term foF2 at Darwin (12.4° S, 131.5° E) in Australia. The weight coefficient of each individual model in the CPM is determined by using the entropy weight method after completing the simulation of the individual model in the calibration period. We analyzed two sets of data to validate the method used in this study: One set is from 2000 and 2009, which are included in the calibration period (1998–2016), and the other set is outside the calibration cycle (from 1997 and 2017). To examine the performance, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the observed monthly median foF2 value, the proposed CPM, the Union Radio Scientifique Internationale (URSI), and the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) are compared. The yearly RMSE average values calculated from CPM were less than those calculated from URSI and CCIR in 1997, 2000, 2009, and 2017. In 2000 and 2009, the average percentage improvement between CPM and URSI is 9.01%, and the average percentage improvement between CPM and CCIR is 13.04%. Beyond the calibration period, the average percentage improvement between CPM and URSI is 13.2%, and the average percentage improvement between CPM and CCIR is 12.6%. The prediction results demonstrated that the proposed CPM has higher precision of prediction and stability than that of the URSI and CCIR, both within the calibration period and outside the calibration period.

Performance of the IRI-2016 over Santa Maria, a Brazilian low-latitude station located in the central region of the South American Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA)

Abstract. In this work we analyze the ionograms obtained by the recent digisonde installed in Santa Maria (29.7∘ S, 53.7∘ W, dip angle = −37∘), Brazil, to calculate the monthly averages of the F2 layer critical frequency (foF2), its peak height (hmF2), and the E-region critical frequency (foE) acquired during geomagnetically quiet days from September 2017 to August 2018. The monthly averages are compared to the 2016 version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model predictions in order to study its performance close to the center of the South America Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA), which is a region particularly important for high-frequency (HF) ground-to-satellite navigation signals. The foF2 estimated with the Consultative Committee International Radio (CCIR) and International Union of Radio Science (URSI) options makes good predictions throughout the year, whereas, for hmF2, it is recommended to use the SHU-2015 option instead of the other available options (AMTB2013 and BSE-1979). The IRI-2016 model outputs for foE and the observations presented very good agreement.

The Joint SLR (Optical Range) and Radar-VLBI Satellite Observations using VIRAC Radio Telescope RT32, RT16 and SLR Station Riga

Abstract Joint VLBI and SLR satellite tracking is a novel tracking approach to explore potential applications and to work out common procedures to coordinate observations between astronomical observatories in Latvia. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites equipped with laser retroreflectors have been chosen as test targets because they are accessible by both measuring techniques – satellite laser ranging (SLR) and Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI). The first Joint SLR and VLBI observations of selected GNSS satellites using three of Latvian large-scale astronomical utilities – VIRAC radio telescopes RT32 and RT16 (Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences) with L band receivers and SLR station Riga (Institute of Astronomy of University of Latvia) were obtained in 2016 (NKA16) and 2017 (NKA41 and NKA42).

IEEE Radio 2019

The 2019 edition of the international conference, IEEE Radio and Antenna Days of the Indian Ocean (IEEE RADIO 2019), was hosted in Reunion Island for the second time. This seventh edition of the conference was held from September 23 to 26, 2019, at the Lux Resort & Hotel, Saint-Gilles Les Bain. The conference was managed by the Radio Society (Mauritius) and financially sponsored by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S). Région Réunion financially supported the conference, and the Union Radio Scientifique Internationale (URSI) provided technical cosponsorship. The Local Organizing Committee consisted of researchers from Centrale Supélec, France, the University of Mauritius, and the University of Reunion Island.

Designing of an Expert system for the management of Seafarer’s health

In general merchant ships do not have medical facilities on board. When seafarer got sickness or accident, either ship captain or officers who are in charge will assist them, but these people do not have enough medical knowledge. To overcome this, we developed a Seafarer Health Expert System (SHES) that can facilitate telemedical services in an emergency. A comprehensive analysis of seafarers’ medical issues that were conducted from medical records of patients assisted on board ships by the International Radio Medical Center (C.I.R.M.), Italy. Data mining techniques are involved to manage epidemiological data analysis in a two-phase setup. In the first phase, the common pathologies that occurred onboard were analyzed, later a detailed questionnaire for each medical problem was developed to provide precise symptomatic information to the onshore doctor. In this paper, we mainly highlighted the SHES framework, design flow, and functionality. Besides, nine designing policies and three actors with separate working panels were clearly described. The proposed system is easy and simple to operate for anyone of no computer experience and create medical requests for the fast delivery of symptomatic information to an onshore doctor.

Public health events in the maritime transport sector

Abstract Introduction A literature review to describe evidence on communicable diseases affecting people on ships or at ports, from 1990 to 2013 was carried out. Also, a literature review on radiological and chemical events of public health relevance associated with ships or at ports, from 1940 to 2013 was performed. Methodology Databases reviewed were: Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Spanish Society of Maritime Medicine, and WebPages of WHO, The International Radio Medical Advice Centre, International Atomic Energy Agency, European Maritime Safety Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Spanish Nuclear Safety Council and the Major Accident Reporting System. Results From 1990 to 2013, 196 outbreaks relating to ships or ports with more than 24,000 cases and 19 deaths were published. 59% of outbreaks (n = 116) were food- and waterborne, causing 82% (n = 19741) of cases and 12 deaths (11 deaths due to Legionella, case fatality ratio of 7%); almost a third was caused by norovirus. Respiratory diseases, mainly Influenza, caused 18% of outbreaks and 2 deaths. Thirteen radiological events were published that affected 500 persons and caused 47 deaths, 24 due to exposure to elevated levels of radiation. During the study period 94 chemical events were published, of which 69 events affected people and in the remaining events only a public health risk was present. These 69 chemical events generated almost 12,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. Thirty countries, including all EU Member States, Norway and Iceland, were requested to complete the questionnaires regarding identification of authorities and practices for management of radiological and chemical events. Conclusions Food- and waterborne diseases are most reported; followed by respiratory diseases. Legionellosis accounted for the highest case fatality ratio. Tuberculosis was reported only on seafarers from cargo or fishing vessels and vaccine preventable diseases was mainly reported on crew members from cruise ships.

Comparison of IRI‐2016 F2 Layer Model Parameters with Ionosonde Measurements

AbstractInternational Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is the international standard ionospheric climatic model. Since the original formation of the international task force in 1970s, the IRI model has been continuously improved by ingesting developments in research in ionosphere. The most current version, namely, IRI‐2016, is offered with International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) and International Union of Radio Science (URSI) model choices with “STORM” option for the F2 layer critical plasma frequency (foF2) and BSE‐1979, AMTB‐2013, and SHU‐2015 options for maximum ionization height, hmF2. Since these two parameters are the determining values for the other model outputs, the evaluation of the options offered by IRI‐2016 is critical for various applications. In this study, all foF2 and hmF2 model options offered online at irimodel.org are computed for winter and summer solstice and equinox seasons of 2011 and 2015 at the locations of all available ionosondes and for all measurement intervals. The ionosondes are grouped into northern and southern midlatitude, northern and southern high‐latitude and equatorial regions. Individual, regional and global model output foF2 and hmF2 values are compared with those of ionosondes in both root‐mean‐square (RMS) and normalized RMS (NRMS) senses. For foF2, “STORM ON” can be used any time and in any region. Equatorial and high‐latitude regions have larger RMS values due to the sparse ionosondes. In northern midlatitude and high‐latitude regions URSI, in all other regions CCIR is the better option. For hmF2, SHU‐2015 and BSE‐1979 options provide a better fit for all regions, seasons, and years.

Political and Institutional Characteristics of the Entry of the CEE Region into Regional Media Systems During the Bipolar and Post-Bipolar Periods

In the newly shaped post‑WWI Europe the CEE region was an integral part of the pan‑European media system. The iron curtain that split Europe into two parts in the bipolar period, inevitably led to the emergence of two separate media systems, i.e. the Western European one and the one driven by the USSR (and existing predominantly in Eastern‑European states). These systems were institutionalized by the establishment of separate broadcasting alliances and corresponding TV programme exchange networks. At the same time, in the context of the Cold War, the CEE region was a key target of Western broadcasting with the aim to counter Soviet propaganda and political influence. This factor reinforced by the willingness of the CEE countries to preserve their European identity caused the socialist media system (as well as other Soviet integration projects) to remain artificial and to be rejected in the region. It was clearly confirmed at the beginning of the post‑bipolar period, when, after the collapse of the socialist camp and the USSR, the Soviet‑driven International Radio and Television Organization ceased to exist, and the CEE countries integrated into the European Broadcasting Union, unleashing their desire to “return to Europe”. At the same time, in the context of a policy aimed at preserving control over the post‑Soviet space, Russia makes efforts which could be regarded as an attempt to restore (preserve) the common media space in the post‑Soviet territories. In the paper the CEE region is regarded in the broadest way, including all states which were in socialist bloc, and appropriate former European Soviet republics.

An International Survey of Front-end Receivers and Observing Performance of Telescopes for Radio Astronomy

This paper presents a survey of microwave front-end receivers installed at radio telescopes throughout the world. This unprecedented analysis was conducted as part of a review of front-end developments for Italian radio telescopes, initiated by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics in 2016. Fifteen international radio telescopes have been selected to be representative of the instrumentation used for radio astronomical observations in the frequency domain from 300 MHz to 116 GHz. A comprehensive description of the existing receivers is presented and their characteristics are compared and discussed. The observing performances of the complete receiving chains are also presented. An overview of ongoing developments illustrates and anticipates future trends in front-end projects to meet the most ambitious scientific research goals.

Modeling of the Ionospheric Critical Frequency of the F2 layer over Asia based on Modified Temporal‐Spatial Reconstruction

AbstractA model based on modified temporal‐spatial reconstruction is proposed to improve the accuracy of predicting the monthly median ionospheric critical frequency of the F2 layer. This model has three new characteristics. (1) The solar activity parameters of the 10.7‐cm solar radio flux and sunspot number are together introduced into temporal reconstruction. (2) Both the geomagnetic dip and its modified value are chosen as features of the geographical spatial variation for spatial reconstruction. (3) Harmonic functions are used to represent the ionospheric critical frequency of the F2 layer, which reflects seasonal and solar cycle variations. Furthermore, combining the least squares fitting regression for these characteristics with harmonic analysis, a valid model can be established from vertical sounding data spread across three ionospheric regions (high, middle, and low latitudes in Asia). Statistical results reveal that the ionospheric critical frequency of the F2 layer calculated by the proposed model is consistent with the trend of the monthly median observations. The average root‐mean‐square error is only 0.70 MHz (corresponding to relative error 11.30%), reflecting that our model outperforms the International Reference Ionosphere model with International Union of Radio Science and Consultative Committee on International Radio (CCIR) coefficients. Moreover, the proposed method has great potential in terms of providing higher prediction accuracy for ionospheric parameters on the global scale.

Low-Cost L-Band Receiving System Front-End for Irbene RT-32 Cassegrain Radio Telescope

Abstract Irbene RT-32 radio telescope is one of the main instruments operated by Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center (VIRAC), which is used for participation in VLBI and single-dish mode observations, including European VLBI Network (EVN) and other astronomy projects such as recently started research on small bodies of solar system, which involves weak spectral line detection at L-band. Since start of the operation as a radio telescope, single C-X band receiver has been available at RT-32, but regular demand for L-band frequencies has been received due to its importance in spectral line science. In case of RT-32 geometry, optimum dimensions of L-band feed antenna system are inconveniently large and its installation without significant feed cone rebuilding is complicated. While work is currently ongoing to redesign the feed cone for multiple receiver support and to develop high performance L-band feed system, temporal, compact and low-cost receiver has been built and installed laterally to secondary focus, which in sense of performance and functionality has been proven to be appropriate for most of the current needs. Receiver is based on small parabolic reflector allowing one to use a compact dual circular polarized horn antenna, which together with a Cassegrain antenna forms a three-mirror system. Front-end is uncooled that allows reducing operational and maintenance costs, while still providing acceptable noise performance. Practical tests show average overall sensitivity of 750 Jy at 1650 MHz in terms of system effective flux density (SEFD). The paper describes the development of the receiver and presents the main results of performance characterization obtained at Irbene RT-32.

Eleanor Roosevelt and radio in early Cold War France

ABSTRACTThe American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a prolific writer, public speaker and broadcaster. She appeared on her own radio programs in the 1930s, 40s and 50s and those of others, both in the US and abroad. In many of her daily newspaper columns over the years, Mrs. Roosevelt spoke of the importance of international radio and seemed to suggest there was a unique role for the medium as a way to reach ordinary men and women. Of the Voice of America, she said it played a vital role in spreading understanding of the American way of life and American democracy. This paper looks at American broadcasting to France in the early Cold War and considers two broadcasts Mrs. Roosevelt made while in France with the United Nations: a 1948 episode of the program Changement de Decors and a series of weekly talks about the UN for the French service in 1951–52.

Community Engagement Before Initiation of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Trial in Schools in Two Urban Townships in Blantyre, Malawi: Experience and Lessons.

BackgroundTo determine the efficacy of a new typhoid conjugate vaccine in an endemic setting in sub-Saharan Africa, the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium is conducting a phase-3 randomized controlled trial in Blantyre, Malawi. This article describes community and stakeholder engagement activities before and during the trial, challenges, and lessons learned.MethodsIn October 2017, Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW) organized a wide range of community engagement activities, including meetings with Ministry of Health and Education officials at the district and facility level, local community leadership, and parent teacher association groups. We engaged media outlets to include local and international television, radio, and print media. Community members were informed directly through a study jingle played via loudspeaker from a van and by community-based activities.To review engagement activity effectiveness: The MLW team met to discuss progress and challenges; and a focus group discussion (FGD), consisting of trial staff, sought feedback from the community on each engagement modality.ResultsThe school-based vaccine campaign increased community participation exceeding recruitment targets to date (on average, >200 children/day).ConclusionsThe FGD concluded that the van and local activities improved awareness and turnout for the trial, but prior engagement with local government and community leadership is an essential mechanism to provide details of the study, answer questions, communicate the value of the study, and address safety concerns. Effective community engagement is essential in a large intervention trial. Multiple channels of communication are required to reach the community and deliver information needed for participation and provide opportunity for dialogue with the trial team.

Transformation Processes and Convergence in the Activities of the Ukrainian Editorial Offices of International Radio Stations

The purpose of the paper is to study intensive transformational processes and deep convergence in the activities of Ukrainian editorial offices of international radio stations. This analysis will enable to identify the most promising directions for the development of other sectors of Ukrainian-language radio under the competitive conditions in the media environment of the present-day world.Research Methodology. The research is based on the methods of systematization, monitoring, induction, numerical analysis, discourse analysis and forecasting.Results. The work of 8 Ukrainian editorial offices of international radio stations was investigated taking into account the introduction of modern convergent tools into their activities. The paper enlists the perspectives of the use of some atypical means in the Ukrainian-language radio — prolonged playback of audio, audio-databases, music, visualization (text, graphic content, video on demand and studio), social networks, Internet advertising and donations as forms of capitalizing a radio project. These measures are considered the decisive trends of its transformation and the key to increasing the competitiveness of the sector in the global media environment.Novelty. The study is one of the first attempts of the scientific comprehension of the transformation and convergence in the activities of Ukrainian editorial offices of international radio stations and their influence on the development of mainland Ukrainian-language radio space.Practical significance of the paper lies in the formation of a map of the Ukrainian-language radio of the world and the clarification of its competitiveness in the media environment of the world.Key words: convergence, transformation, Ukrainian editorial boards of international radio stations, Ukrainian-language broadcasting.

International Radio Journalism. History, theory and practice - Tim Crook, 1998

Review of: International Radio Journalism. History, theory and practice. Tim Crook. Londen, New York (Routledge), 1998, x + 308 p.

Localisation between Negotiating Forces: A Case Study of a Chinese Radio Station in the United States

During the past decade, Chinese state-owned media have accelerated their pace of overseas development to establish their international presence. In their worldwide expansion in the service of the government’s political and diplomatic initiatives, these media outlets attempt to connect with and rise in the global media market by borrowing experiences from their Western competitors. This article revisits the Western model of media localisation and examines how the strategic components in Western media’s localisation practices are absent in Chinese media’s applications, where tensions and incongruities exist between the headquarters and the local production team. By looking closely at the operations of a US-based studio jointly run by the Chinese international broadcaster China Radio International and its local partner, the article further analyses the negotiation between propaganda-oriented logic and market-driven logic as two major driving forces behind Chinese media’s worldwide expansion, and how the contradiction and disjuncture between the two affects the media outlets’ localisation practices and outcomes.

From International Shortwave to Digital Rebroadcast

In January 2015, the US government agency Voice of America loaned the Leo Sarkisian Music Library to the University of Michigan with the goal of digitizing and providing access to the materials for research and teaching. Transfer created an archive where once existed a longstanding music resource that supported all aspects of the production of the VOA’s Music Time in Africa radio program. The archive encompasses sound recordings and type-scripts of the radio program (1965-2004), along with extensive recordings of live musical performances made by Leo Sarkisian in his travels through Africa or by African staff trained by Leo Sarkisian to make professional quality recordings on his behalf—often at the radio stations he helped establish. This article describes the Music Time in Africa radio broadcast and then contextualizes efforts to provide access to the digitized recordings in terms of the nature of the post-modern archive, performance studies, and the repatriation of musical heritage resources found in archives. The article concludes with a reflection on the complexities of providing access to digital recordings of international radio and the author’s efforts to explore opportunities for digital repatriation through rebroadcast on social media, which in many ways shares the underlying characteristics of the radio broadcast medium itself.

Variation of hmF2 and NmF2 deduced from DPS-4 over Multan (Pakistan) and their comparisons with IRI-2012 [formula omitted] IRI-2016 during the deep solar minimum between cycles 23 & 24

We report the results of ionospheric measurements from DPS-4 installed at Multan (Geog coord. 30.18°N, 71.48°E, dip 47.4°). The variations in F2-layer maximum electron density NmF2 and its peak height hmF2 are studied during the deep solar minimum between cycles 23 & 24 i.e 2008–2009 with comparisons conducted with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) versions 2012 & 2016. We find that the hmF2 observations peak around the pre-sunrise and sunrise hours depending on the month. Seasonally, the daytime variation of NmF2 is higher in the Equinox and Summer, while daytime hmF2 are slightly higher in the Equinox and Winter. High values of hmF2 around midnight are caused by an increase of upward drifts produced by meridional winds. The ionosphere over Multan, which lies at the verge of low and mid latitude, is affected by both E×B drifts and thermospheric winds as evident from mid-night peaks and near-sunrise dips in hmF2. The results of the comparison of the observed NmF2 and hmF2 for the year 2008–2009 with the IRI-2012 (both NmF2 and hmF2) and IRI-2016 (only hmF2) estimates indicate that for NmF2, IRI-2012 with Consultative Committee International Radio (CCIR) option produces values in better agreement with observed data. Whereas, for hmF2, IRI-2016 with both International Union of Radio Science (URSI) and CCIR SHU-2015 options, predicts well for nighttime hours throughout the year. However, the IRI-2012 with CCIR option produces better agreement with data during daytime hours. Furthermore, IRI-2012 with CCIR option gives better results during Equinox months, whereas, IRI-2016 with both URSI and CCIR SHU-2015 options predict well for Winter and Summer.