ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 5

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

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities
Geoffrey Prime, Radio Operator, Linguist, Spy! | Book review : The big breach | News Items
Web sites | Requests | Stop press | Contribution deadlines
Index | E2K NL Home

Selected voice stations

E2k received this most interesting and informative posting from John of Aylesbury:

An Observation on Reports of Sedeye Mojahed "Ayom" - Farsi Language.

Concerning the higher than expected frequencies for targets Iraq or Iran. There is another area where a variation of Farsi is spoken, namely TAJIKISTAN (TADZHIKISTAN).

The official language being Tadzhik, described as a form of Persian.

Would this slightly longer distance, and the presence of the high Pamir and Alay mountain ranges in the area influence the choice of the 10 & 12 MHz frequencies?

It would appear that Tajikistan, although improving, may still be slightly politically unstable: 3 changes of government since independence in 1991, and although a peace agreement was signed among rival factions in 1997, implementation has progressed slowly. There appear to be about 9 political parties.

Also to be noted: Tajikistan has, and probably still is, a major transhipment point for illicit drugs from South West Asia to Russia and West Europe. [Thanks John].

Sedeye Mojahed reported in Issue 4 is also using 10090kHz. Note that it consists of 'Arabic' style M/F reading phrases and numbers. Just prior to the publishing of the last Issue E2k received a comment that signals were good on 8600kHz.

An informant reveals that the term 'Ayom' may well mean 'Day', perhaps as a greeting [good day]. Thanks to the person who offered us that and who wishes to remain anonymous. The informant having whet my appetite, concerning 'Ayom', I returned home and looked up 'Day' in my 'Aden Arabic for Beginners' in the English - Arabic glossary. That rewarded me with 'yaum' whilst the plural of day [presumably 'days'] gives 'aiyam'. With this in mind we include the Arab Cardinals just in case Farsi is not the language of the 'Sedeye Mojahed':

[Of interest is the word for spy, being 'gasus' and its plural 'gawasis]'.

For the information of others who had the misfortune of having been to Aden: The book 'Aden Arabic for Beginners', by MA Ghanem MBE BA, Deputy Director of Education Aden, has a foreword recognising the interest-free loan granted to the author to produce the 2^ndedition, as well as the 'kind and gracious Foreword' by His Excellency Sir William Luce, KCMG, KBE Governor of Aden 1958. [The last Governor was Sir Kennedy Trevaskis]. It was purchased for the princely sum of 17.50 East African Shillings, from A Hakim & Sons, near the Crescent, Steamer Point. Who remembers sitting on the steps of the B&C [British and Colonial Stores] drinking beer and occasionally scuttling across to Nakoohda's shop for your 'buksheesh' goods in favour of more expensive purchases previously made. Swimming in Gold Mohr, visits to the Tawila Tanks or the Shenaz cinema, swerving in the car to avoid a stupefied customer from the Friday Qat market whilst driving back from Crater and into Maa'la?

Happy days from better times; now sadly past.

Takashi of Nagasaki sent a log to E2k [Thanks] with some very interesting results from his monitoring activities.

Takashi reports South Korean numbers:

as well as Chinese Intelligence activity on:

Further observations from Igor bring:

• 16572kHz 728: Chinese Number Station, 0600Z (26-05-2001) AM YL/CC 4F
  very strong AM
  call: 316 316 316 this is 728 728 728(R5)
  number 15 count 8
  8757 9610 4210 8715 6340 9174 3545 0010 (each grp rpt'd twice)
  repeated twice

• 18649kHz 728: Chinese Number Station, 0600Z (26-05-2001) AM YL/CC
  000-format:
  316 316 316 this is 728 728 428(R5)

Russian communications seem to be underway with a large amount of voice traffic, in AM, and on the LF side of 80metre band. These comms fall between approximately 2900 and 3210kHz. Our source remarks that the stations sound like pirates making use of military surplus equipment, perhaps a Russian version of the Echo Charlie net around 6600kHz. E2k would be grateful to learn more about these comms so any Russian speakers please give it a few minutes!

Now onto the logs and comment:

E03

On 6959kHz 2210Z 25/06 Cap'n Davros noted that E05, calling 598 in AM mode obviated the E03 SSB signal.

E03a

Schedule: Sun to Fri, [0000Z transmission first, ends 2300Z]

Transmissions outside 1000 to 1300Z are not normally audible in Great Britain.

In South London:

E05

Another long standing transmission Saturdays at 1300Z on 14739//16198kHz was last heard on 31/03. The Saturday 1400Z 18617//19622kHz is back.

E06

On Friday 23/03 at 2128Z on 8101kHz the weak E06 transmission suffered QRM from a very strong CW station sending 'VVV DE 4XZ 4XZ BT BT.

E06 ended its transmission with 507 507 233 233 00000. That was a repeat of the strong 22/03 2104Z transmission 14kHz higher on 8115kHz.

At 2200Z on 6944kHz 418and 507 507 233 233were heard but on a much stronger signal, with the lower sideband suppressed.

On Monday 26/03 at 2118Z on 9225kHz a transmission was heard in progress and ended just before 2134Z with 672 672 115 115 00000. The lower sideband was noted to be well suppressed.

On Tuesday 27/03 at 2110Z on 8070kHz the call 672, DK/GC 672 672 115 115was noted [same as previous days 9225kHz]. A strong signal with the lower side band well suppressed.

At 2124Z on 9225kHz another E06 transmitter was noted to be on but with the same 672/115/00000 message. This indicated that there were two separate E06's running with one slightly ahead of the other. They were not parallel freqs.

Saturday usually sees E06 come up on 18250kHz at 1230Z and then repeats same message on 15647kHz. However whilst this station was heard on 15647kHz at 1330Z on 31/03 there had been no sign of the earlier 1230Z transmission on 18250kHz.

07/04 saw the change of freqs for E06 and at 1232Z 18190kHz was heard with 461 DK/GC 732 732 88 88, again with lower sideband well suppressed. The second sending at 1330Z was heard on 14930kHz.

At 1915Z 9090kHz carried 264 264 264 00000strong signal, lower sideband suppressed. A carrier with tone was noted at 1904Z

Saturday 14/04 at 1238Z 18203kHz transmission in progress ended at 1244Z with 582 582 60 60 00000. This was a strong signal with both sidebands.

At 1330Z on 14947kHz call 461 DK/GC 582 582 60 60 was heard.

Thursday 19/04 at 2032Z on 5186kHz '891' DK/GC 570 570 49 49 with the numbers spoken at a much more rapid rate was heard. Hetrodyne QRM from a strong carrier on a nearby frequency was also noted.

461 461 461 00000 was heard on 18190kHz at 1230Z on 21/04.

At 1915Z a very strong signal, again with the lower sideband suppressed, was heard on 9080kHz, 10kHz lower than that heard on 07/04.

Gert of Holland reports hearing E06 on:

[and suggests trying each Monday].

Gert received E06:

As well as:

John of Aylesbury sent the following report:

Whilst GD reported hearing E06:

and via Spy Numbers Robot:

Paul of London reported:

Jmm reported:

E07

Usually sends on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2100Z, 2120Z, 2140Z. H+20 and H+40 repeats of 2100Z broadcast.

[Date order]:

In this log from Gert of Holland the 0510Z, 0530Z and 0550Z May transmissions are a confirmed new slot, Gert has answered questions being asked here, Thanks Gert!

The 2000Z frequency of 15640kHz was also used on the Saturday schedule for March at 1330Z and confirmed as such on 03/03.

Whilst John of Aylesbury sends the following:

Gert informs us that the frequencies for June in the early morning slot are:

and his findings were:

GD writes to inform E2k readers of these June schedules as:

GD advises that E07 appears to be using the same freqs as June00; if this trend continues he advises July freqs as: 15480, 13870 and 12200kHz

E10

Further new frequencies can be added to the matrix. These are;

MIW SENDS A MESSAGE.

On the eve of a visit to Israel by the head of the CIA, E10 station MIW sent a rare message. Normally confined to sending MIW2 the station was noted on Wednesday June 6th at 18.40 UTC on 5339 // 4360 sending MIW MIW MIW - this was followed by a 15 group message. Following the standard repeat of the message the MIW idler continued for several minutes followed by further airing of the same message. This continued for several hours.

The full message was :
YZHLY OUKJS MQBUY NMADS NLBSW YDXCD UEZZR MCHSX BSLDW REFLT MMKRL TGEQB BNDAS KFPAG GWPEU.

A quick check of SYN, VLB & CIO revealed they were all sending the standard 2 idler at that time.

SYN is now using 6930 a new frequency for this call. At 19.45 UTC VLB is on 6912 at that time. These are quite close by E10 standards, only 18 kHz apart. It is interesting to tune to both and compare signal strength. [Thanks C]

E11

Has been heard on Tuesdays at 1230Z 9450kHz, ID 312, and at 1300Z 9950kHz. The 0800Z transmission on Thurs/Fri remains on the same frequency.

E15

Times and frequencies, Note last logged in GB 04/04 [tnx GD] as follows:

Takashi in Nagasaki monitored this station at 1700Z on 21/04, presumably on 14000kHz?

E17

E18

J of Aylesbury noted that E18 did not appear on 6545kHz between 2040 to 2115Z 9-10/05

However this station is known to transmit on the second Wednesday of the month and has been heard, by GD, on 8025kHz 09/05. It appears that this may be its summer frequency.

Gert previously heard this station on its 'winter freq' 6545kHz:

Thanks to our correspondents on E18.

E23

Best frequency is usually 8188kHz. 4 weekly cycle starting on the first Monday of the Month.

Transmits Monday Wednesday and Thursday

All transmissions are in AM.

John of Aylebury reported that:

E25

Not heard recently. If you are aware of any transmissions please inform e2k.

G04

[Thanks AK]

The freqs used for 05/01 are those previously used 05/00. Thanks HFD

J of Aylesbury noted extraneous tones and groups between 2025 and 2027Z on 10/05, which is a trait of G04 and previously noted.

G04 has yet to come to notice in June. Perusal of its Morse counterpart, M29, shows reduced activity to date.

G06

Peter of Saffron Walden reports that G06 YL has broken her schedule of turning up on alternate Fridays which she had been following throughout the winter months. G06 was heard on 23/03 at 1930Z and expected to be heard again on 06/04. She did not turn up on her established frequency of 5442kHz or anywhere else. On the following Friday 13/04 on 5442kHz she was heard, call 947, DK/GC 243 243 95 95.

On Saturday 21/04 on 10860kHz G06 appeared again, possibly a once a month type message, with strong signals, Call 105 DK/GC 243 243 95 95. Peter queries if there was another sending, either an hour earlier or later.

GD heard G06:

PoSW heard G06:

C reported:

S06

A 3 group message was sent on 9255kHz 0830z 28/03 and again at 0840Z on 9260kHz. The exact same groups have now been sent again on 21/05 and 28/05, as below:

C reported two messages sent:

Also heard in June:

S06C

S10E

This station was due to transmit at 1300Z on 03/05 but failed to do so. Its Morse sister, M10E was also notable by its absence. Both signals appeared 0n 07/05 and continued up to and including 11/05.

In keeping with M10E the signals commenced 28 days later on 04/06 with better strength than those signals received prior, although signal strength denigrated in the first 10 minutes of the 04/06 transmission. This round of transmissions, for this station and M10E ended with the 08/06 transmission. If the 28day schedule is maintained, like its Morse twin, transmission can be expected on 02/07.

D of Kent remarked on the following trait of the 07/06 transmission:

"They obviously have a fault on the transmitter and need a good service engineer. I noticed a loud hum on the carrier, which was already up, when I switched over from S17C and was unable to distinguish if it was on the carrier, or on the modulation. This was still present when the transmission proper started and prevalent at the end. Perhaps with the break-up of the Warsaw Pact system of cooperation they are now suffering from the western disease of spare parts not being available any more!"

S11A

S17C

The time keeping with this station has been noticed to be slipping a little. 07/05 saw the station starting at 1252Z and ending 1257Z, whilst on 14/05 the station did not start until 1254Z ending at 1300Z. Signals strength and quality has been noticed to be becoming worse.

8190kHz seems to have been very quiet over the past few months.

V02

V02a

Ben Mesander[US] reported that he had been monitoring the V2 family and as a result detected a change in the id [usually ending in 1,2 or 3]. However, on the 02/05 transmission heard id's that ended in a 4 and a 6.

Ben posted the following audio snip:
http://www.hungry.com/~ben/radio/v2a-05-02-01-0300-5117kHz.mp3[Thanks Ben].

The following was taken from the Spooks reflector:

In keeping with strange goings on with V2a JM[US] posted the following intercept of V2a on the Spooks reflector:

Takashi in Nagasaki reported hearing V02a as well:

And from Mark Slaten[US]:

Other reports:

V07

V08

V09

Reported by Takashi as:

V13

V21

V22

XPH

The daily polytone transmissions [1700, 1720, 1740Z on 12217, 10589, 9344kHz] noted by Peter of Saffron Walden on 26/03 reports that the last intercept was made on 03/04. He comments that the total transmission time was always 6 minutes, almost to the second.

John of Aylesbury wrote in to say that he intercepted a continuous polytone transmission as follows:

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities
Geoffrey Prime, Radio Operator, Linguist, Spy ! | Book review : The big breach | News Items
Web sites | Requests | Stop press | Contribution deadlines
Index | E2K NL Home