ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 3

March 2001
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest : e2k_news@hotmail.com

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities | Notes on jamming
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Oddities

No reports, as yet, on the open carrier that manifests itself between the frequencies of 1900 and 3200kHz. Has anyone else heard this? Please state your area and the exact frequencies heard between.

A report of a particularly nasty 'buzz saw' has being heard in the 5M band has been made. On 09/01 and 11/01 it sat on 5250kHz. The signal was approx. 30kHz wide with additional 'crud' 10kHz either side of the signal. The signal was first thought to be a time base from an errant television, but perusal of the signal disclosed that it consisted of a continual pulse train of two sets of 3 pulses, of equal amplitude, 1kHz apart but separated by two like peaks with an amplitude of around 60% and 80% of the others. It disappeared when the antenna was disconnected.

This signal also appeared on 7019kHz between 1125Z to1140Z, the actual spread was from 7018 to 7020kHz on 12/01 [D of Kent].

It was not prevalent on 10/01 but has been heard sporadically since. Any ideas, suggestions or reports of monitoring a like signal required please.

From the North of England a report of a signal using a one minute cycle and jumping within this freq range:
16095 12725 8460 6351 5435 3295kHz.

Another 'Oddity', this time from K of Kent. Heard on 06/01 at 1910Z, this repetitive signal was on 4700kHz. The signals consisted of :
Buzz [x6] for 3 sec
Tone [x3] for 3 sec
Pulse [x2] for 2 sec

Another like signal appeared on 14363.5kHz 1502Z and monitored until 1545Z 04/02.

Every 3 mins was heard: 3 tones and two buzzes. The exception was at 1517Z when a single buzz preceded the above described signal

We would be interested to hear from any monitor who has also heard these 'anomalies'.

Alarm

The frequency of the 'Alarm' station, 9364.2kHz, has its frequency marked as the 'Fixed' classification, marked only as 'fixed' in the US frequency tables but also as 'Government' in the UK tabulation. [See mention in 'Slot Machine'].

This was noted with a very strong signal in the U.K. at 19.20 on SUN 14.02.01 on 5600 kHz.

ENIGMA 2000 would be grateful to receive further details of the 'Alarm' or readers thoughts.

Faders (XF)

Faders - A Shortwave mystery of many years standing, these peculiar stations fail to grip the monitoring community and other than mentions in the former ENIGMA Newsletter any references or information about them seems non-existent. It also may be the case that they only operate in Europe? They are an unusual but very easy signal to find on the shortwave bands - it is never easy describing a noise in a newsletter so my advice is monitor the frequencies listed and listen for a common signal. Best reception is noted in the afternoon and evening times in Europe. They are very busy. So what are we listening for?

Faders are so called due to their habit a 'Fading' from a high to low level of audio in a matter of seconds. It is quite easy to dismiss them as interference or just another odd noise. The fading effect is probably due to two or more stations communicating from distant locations. Once you find and recognise the 'unique' mode you will have little difficulty in locating the signal as you tune around. The signal has a number of peculiar habits and consist of a loud rasping sound not unlike that of a passing motorbike. The behaviour of the transmission is unusual in that all traffic is sent in exactly 7.5 second bursts at 7.5, 15, 22.5, 30, 37.5, 45, 52.5 and 00 seconds. These can vary from single 7.5 burst to a transmission lasting anything up to 15 minutes, the 'Fading' element can occur at any 7.5 second point with the signal varying from a high to a low or going off air only to return without warning.

(It is interesting to note that transmissions always follow precise 'clock-time' e.g. any given 7.5 segment is always correctly positioned within the clock minute).

The multi channel signal operates at 500 HZ, 1100 HZ, 1400 HZ, 2 kHz, 2.6 kHz & 3.4 kHz. And active frequencies are has follows: Note the signal is wide and can vary by +/- 3kHz.

Over the years a few cracks have emerged and one transmitter site has been identified in the U.K. "RAF" Mildenhall, Suffolk, a USAF HF station which is one home known to house these transmissions. Mildenhall is the home of the 488. Intel. Sq. (RC-135) USAFE - United States Airforce Europe.

It is almost certainly the case that only one organisation uses this unusual mode of communication and we would be very interested to hear from any readers who may be able to answer any of the following questions. What is the mode? Where are they all located, what is all that traffic about and what is their purpose? For all the wonders of modern science these signals seem to have evaded the clutches of demodulation! All comments welcome.

Someone reading this knows exactly what the mode used is and the locations from where this peculiar signal is transmitted. Perhaps they would like to share that knowledge.

However faders continue to be as active as ever. On December 28th a new frequency was found active at 11.00 on 20850, this is the highest I have ever heard this signal, as you may be aware quite a large number of 'Fader' frequencies were previously registered for use by the "Inform & Gangbuster" US Networks, however 20850 is not one of these.

The previous highest known frequency was 13431, this would suggest that others between 14 and 19 MHz are also waiting to be discovered. If anyone is in any doubt as to how active the are then all the following were logged in January this year as active.

3215, 4477, 4496, 4560, 5146 (new), 5092, 5311, 5328, 5787, 6824, 6875, 7658, 9244, 10139, 10478, 11100, 11515, 13431, 20850 (new). 5146 was previously an "Inform Net" and is now used by Faders. It is very disappointing that so little as been learned about this 'mode', despite its widespread use in Europe. Many other frequencies are also known. Full list available on request.

FSK bursts

Previously discussed in Issue 2, this particular station operates on 5435 kHz (approx) and can be heard along with E10's transmission.

The station follows the clock minute sending 8 x 7.5 bursts across a wide frequency range.

It would be very interesting to know just what information this station is sending, why it needs to send it over such a large frequency range and why it needs to operate 24 hours per day. It is interesting that it uses 7.5second block - exactly the same as those used by 'Faders' -.

If you know anything about this station, its purpose and transmitter location(s) or can decode its messages, please contact ENIGMA 2000.

Link 11

Still lots of active frequencies, recent monitored include; 4020, 5071, 5385, 5417, 5726, 6706, 6985,

8028, 8305, 9280. 9280 collides badly with WYFR in Chinese (?) at 15.00 not a good choice. Do Link-11 transmitters not operate above 10 MHz ?

Pip (S30)

Still going strong on 3757kHz, CW

Rapid pip

This was heard on a number of occasions last year [December 2000 7812//4457kHz evenings] and has returned for 2001. The signal consists of a Rapid Pip about 3 per second, transmissions are usually found on two frequencies and can run for up to one hour, leaving the air without warning or indeed any message. Only on one occasion have I heard anything intelligent, when the 'Pip' stopped about 20 seconds of random letter were sent, followed by more 'Pips'.

Previous pairs noted have included ; 8093//6844, 8093//5446, 8093//3767, 6821//4816, 5739//5225, 7572//???? On December 28th the signal was noted on 5812//4457 for over 45 minutes with no message sent and on January 15th 2001 it was noted on 3935 under Radio Laser Hot Hits, unusually at 19.30 it moved to 3838, no parallel was found for either of these frequencies. It is probable that the signal is some form of status indicator, however I am puzzled as to how the recipient is supposed to find it ?

Comments welcome.

Slot-machine (XSL)

This station has now been received by ENIGMA 2000 member C who reported, 'On Sat 06/01 at 1844Z I heard the Slot Machine on 8588 & 8703.5 + 6417 & 6445 (1st time on this pair) using a narrow filter on the later two. A good signal on 8M freqs but only fair in the 6M freqs, due to co-channel interference. Nothing on 4292 - Teletype QRM only.' [Thanks C].

Note the use of decimals in some of the frequencies where the slot machine has been heard. Decimal frequencies, such as this, are common in the maritime service. Given the US allocation being 'special and data transmissions systems' in allocated frequencies where this is heard does suggest a modified mode, as yet not commonly used.

Further observations will be made to receive this oddity and ENIGMA 2000 would like to hear from anyone, Stateside or Europe, willing/able to make observations, or offer constructive thought on this interesting unknown. TS, USA reported an observation of XSL on 6445kHz 0807Z 13/02 USB.

Note the use of decimals in some of the frequencies where the slot machine has been heard. Decimal frequencies, such as this, are common in the maritime service. Given the US allocation being 'special and data transmissions systems' in allocated frequencies where this is heard does suggest a modified mode, as yet not commonly used.

The classification of XSL, for the slot machine, has been added to the Control List.

Other observations of this station [By JM in US]:

E2k were contacted by Eddy of Australia who sent a .wav of the signal that he heard:

Further observations will be made to receive this oddity and ENIGMA 2000 would like to hear from anyone, Europe/ Aus or NZ / Stateside etc, willing/able to make observations, or offer constructive thought on this interesting unknown.

Squeaky wheel

Last reported on 3815kHz 2218Z 02/12 and now heard on same freq 2243Z 11/12 es 0014Z 21/01 es 2305Z 31/01

MP3 file available on Ary's N&O site.

Teleprinter 4710 kHz

Teleprinter 4710 has been reported as being active [and heard by e2k]: 4710//6702//9000kHz.

Whales (XM Backwards Music Station)

For Europe try these historical frequencies: 5094, 6422, 6695, 8460, 10225 and 10513kHz. For the US: 4155, 5399, 6817, 9285, 10225 and 11209kHz

Eddy of Australia also reported XM as well and kindly sent a .wav:

Workshop (XW)

This peculiar station was last heard on 11/11/00 at 1744Z on 5430kHz. At S7 in South London.

The transmission lasted for around 20 mins. Not heard since.

A previous frequency for this station was 4330kHz

Zebedee

This station has finally been heard again.

We would be grateful to receive reports of these or any other 'oddities' via the usual e-mail addresses or pager number.

More Info on 'oddities' can be found on Brian of Sussex excellent web pages:http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/brogers/page2.html

Thanks to C for his most valid input and to K, R , Eddy of Australia, JM&TS of US and all other monitors who supplied details of their observations.

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities | Notes on jamming
Covert loop antenna | Book review : Between Silk & Cyanide | News Items
Web sites | Requests | Stop press | Contribution deadlines
Index | E2K NL Home