ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 10

May 2002
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest : e2k_news@hotmail.com

CW beginners' corner | Morse stations | Voice stations
Oddities | E2K article | News Items
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Oddities

Firstly we start with a open carrier reported by E. He writes, "7880.5kHz 0925z Fri 15/03. Open carrier, Nothing heard. Often here." E askes, "Does anyone know what this one is?" Answers via e2k for E please.

Now an UNID pulse from JofAylesbury:. These have been heard again on 29/03 & 30/03 and appear to be continuous: At three minute intervals, twenty per hour, the first in the hour being H+01:34 the last being H+58:34 The timing is accurate. The signal starts with Three tones at the 34s points and last 10 secs [beginning of first tone to end of third tone]. After an interval of 6 secs, two buzzes total time 6 secs. The entire performance lasting 22 secs can be heard on 11116kHz, USB, daily at most times.

A change was noticed by JoA on 11/04 in a slightly later start time from H+01:34 to H+02:04 and finishing H+02:26, having maintained the 22s transmission length. The last now being at H+59:04

On 26/04 JoA contacted e2k with a further development; Unid: 3T2B/1T2B: 11116kHz: The unidentified 'Three tones + two buzzes' has now changed to 'One long tone followed by two buzzes.' The long tone lasting 10 seconds, followed by a 6 second pause, then two buzzes lasting 6 seconds. The total time being 22 seconds, as previously. Monitored as follows: 0659:04 - 0659:26, 0702:04 - 0702:26, 0759:04 - 0759:26, 0802:04 - 0802:26 QRM: E11 "232/00", 0805:04 - 0805:26 (F. 26/04/02).

[JofAylesbury].

A change of transmission now as C sends more observations on the Slow Polytone station:

SLOW POLYTONE - This was mentioned on Page 26 of issue 9, I noted it back on FRI Jan 11th at 2040 to 2100z on 5267kHz. Oddly I heard it again on TUE March 12th at 1851z on 10132 kHz, much clearer but very short transmission. It is out there somewhere !

[Tnx C]

Backwards music station (XM)

'Backward Music Station' still around, noted recently on 4084 and 8972kHz, strange how this particular signal always manages to avoid those XJT 'Jet Signals'. [Tnx C].

Others have also commented that other transmissions, just like XM, also seem to avoid XJT which appears to pop up just where it likes, or does it?

Crackle (XC)

This peculiar sounding signal has been reported for 2002 by 'C' as being heard, during the evening, on 5495 and 5505kHz. 'The Crackle' an old friend was noted again on SAT 15.12.01 and is still operating in the European evening time. The Crackle on 5495 // 5505 under Shannon Air Radio, is back ! Like a dog to a lamppost it as returned to its only known frequencies - where as it been ? Still crackling away for no apparent reason. Listen while you can for hours of entertainment. Any one any ideas on this ?

Gert of Holland confirms 'C's observations by hearing XC on a Thursday evening:

HAARP

Tom Sevart [US] reported hearing HAARP during the early morning of 17/03. At 0826z steady AM carrier on 3200kHz with a tone. Later replaced by quick dashes of the carrier on 3200kHz. At 0837z the signal moved to 5800kHz and consisted of an AM carrier with various tones.

Tom Pitts, Nevada City reported this:

Jet (XJT)

These raucous sounds seem to pop up all over the place and must have an important function.

An audit made over a few days and varying times, early evening to mid-evening by JoA has produced an interesting observation. PLondon also made a mid-morning observation and like JoA has noticed that there are no 'Jets' in bands where its presence [causing QRM to other users] would really matter, those in the aero service for instance. [None in the Amateur bands either - has the RSGB bared its teeth]? Some of the 72 freqs listed below by JoA were also active in the 48 listed by PLondon, but there were also others that had become active.

• XJT 25/02 Early evening:
  8108 8172 8181 8286 8302 8409 8458 8476 8507 8514 8525 8593* 8619 8634 8674 8702

• XJT 26/02 2135z -2220z:
  8702
  9072 9099 9103 9204* 9959 9983*
  10112 10170 10266 10423* 10560 10570 10754 10809

• XJT 17/03 1900z - 2020z:
  10170 10480 10560 10570 10742 10754
  11015 11457 11540
  12417 12593 12691 12714 12775* 12863 12885
  14390 14418 14432 14727 14754 14820 14870
  16062* 16567 16935 16945 16955*
  17084 17108 17221
  18367 18496
  19511* 19676*
  20192* 20848* 20883*
  21MHz. band: NRH
  22MHz. band: NRH
  23410* 24000*
  25191*
  26MHz band: NRH, 27MHz.band: NRH

Frequencies marked * indicate some slight variations:
8593 faster, 10423 faster, 12775 sl. faster, 16955 faster, 20192 faster 'pneumatic drill.', 20848 faster, 20883 faster, 23410 'pneumatic drill. 24000 fast, 25191 faint.

Others marked * indicate only a slight variation in sound.

XJT observations from PLondon, 0950 to 1122z 16/03 [ freq, time, sig strength (9+ means greater than 9 but less than 10dB. +10 means 10dB over 9)]:

• 4208 1122 7, 4231 1122 8, 4266 1122 8, 4602 1121 9,
• 5270 1120 9, 5293 1119 9,
• 6228 1115 9+, 6241 1115 +10, 6340 1114 9, 6386 1114 9+, 6417 1113 9, 6443 1112 9, 6475 1112 +10, 6711 1111 8, 6809 1111 9+, 6898 1111 9+
• 8105 1109 9, 8111 1109 9+, 8148 1108 8, 8174 1108 9+, 8304 1107 +10, 8413 1107 +20, 8458 1106 9, 8514 1105 +10, 8527 1104 +10, 8631 1104 9, 8675 1102 +10,
• 10265 1018 +10, 10563 1018 +10
• 11454 1017 +10, 11541 1016 9+
• 12569 1016 +20, 12592 1015 QRM, 12660 1014 QRM, 12694 1014 +10, 12785 1014 +10, 12889 1013 9+, 12912 1013 +20, 12984 1012 8
• 13410 1012 +30, 13920 1011 +30
• 14390 1010 +20 14753 1009 +10, 14815 1008 9
• 16436 1006 7, 16918 1005 9+, 16933 1004 +10, 16946 1004 8
• 17083 1003 7, 17139 1002 7
• 18367 1000 8, 18857 0959 6
• 19716 0957 6
• 22190 0955 6, 22239 0955 6, 22450 0954 +20
• 23200 0953 7
• 24714 0954 2

These signals must be transmitted by the Military, who else has the facilities for antennae to deal with the above range of frequencies?

One interesting snippet comes from an E2k correspondent who remarked about XJT, " Using the yagi of a friend of mine we have found the direction to be on 300 - 310 degrees which is towards France or England. Germany is on 330 deg." [Bearings taken from the area of Greece].

Of 6230kHz 'C' adds, 'A particularly bad choice of frequency from Trans World Radio (pres. Monaco Tx) on 6230kHz at 1900z in what appears to be Russian language. Bang under an XJT, which was very strong.'

Jammers

An enquiry has been received via email concerning jammers that apparently operate circa 1630z and very strong in Athens, Greece. The freqs mentioned were: 5320, 5600, 6420, 6880, 7040, 7050, 7070, 8320, 8340, 8515, 9360,10280,10470 and 13410 kHz.

The answer that we received via 'C' makes interesting reading:

"Most of what is mentioned is emanating from Iran, these same jammers were used against E3 (Lincolnshire Poacher) for many years, initially between 1000 and 1445z and 1800 to 2245z, with increased anti-Iranian clandestines coming on air the jamming was cut back to end at 1445 and resume at 2000z (rather than 1800) when more transmitters became available. Some time ago this all stopped, with improved (if only temporary) relations between Britain and Iran.(Wait for next war).

Iran seems determined to block anything it does not want the population to hear, some years ago (mid 90s) it purchased from the West a large number of Telefunken transmitters which were set up at Sarjan (phonetic) in central Iran, there sole purpose was not for broadcast use but to jam incoming transmissions, in times of crisis (e.g. recent elections) they were turned against BBC VOC and KOL Israel's,Persian services - although this is not the norm.

The most hated station is Voice of Mojahed National Liberation Army of Iran. This broadcasts from Iraq (I must confess that I am not sure if this is controlled by the regime or from Northern Territories). Some of these stations have been linked to MI6 and the CIA who fund them through shell operations, Of late there was talk of Radio Free Iran, a CIA station - with the ever changing scene in that area I am not sure what is happening. I did read that a transmitter had been commissioned (Collins I think) and was to be sent to a 'secret' location very soon, in order to commence transmissions. Some transmissions are sent on MW from Kuwait also.

VOM continues to grow and this is putting more pressure on the Iranian jamming network. Two VOM services operate.

VOM 1: 0225-0635 1125-1235 and 1425-1835z * all approx. varying on 5350 5625 5665 6450 6480 7050 8315 8365 8520 8815 8865 9335 10250 10450 and 13450kHz, these jump freq. every few minutes to avoid jamming. In the UK audio is often better heard above 9MHz in the afternoon period, jammers seem quite strong most of the time.

VOM 2 : is heard 1700 to 2100z on approx. 7075 kHz and tends to stay put most of the time. This is jammed by two jammers. They hate it twice as much. A warble jammer and a transmitter sending a steady carrier, 50 Hz offset gives it a very nasty low pitch 'wine'. Just now and again the second jammer is not used, when only the warble is in use it is possible to hear the programmes, I guess 7075 is a more powerful transmitter - possibly closer to us in the UK.

It is not beyond reason to suggest these stations are engaged in intelligence related matters.

To add to the problems there is nothing short of a multitude of varying smaller clandestine - without expert (BBCMS) information it is hard for the casual listener to work out who what and where they are broadcasting to/from. Iranian jammers will seek and destroy anything they even suspect might be broadcasting against them - they have an efficient monitoring service and are not in the ITU - so don't care... Also to make matters even worse they are now using SW frequencies to send jamming signals between remote transmitters, rather like 'jamming feeds' - suggesting that more sites are in use.

China is the second largest jammer. They however, use a domestic service transmission offset on a broadcast channel (usually Radio Free Asia) to block out the audio, making it into mush, they do this so they can claim -they do not jam - it is the other station causing interference - strange Chinese logic.

Lets face it though, it did not work for the USSR and they spent millions on it for 50 years...."

©'C' [Thanks C]

New pip XT2

Heard on 2200kHz, 2207kHz, 3250kHz and 7605.5kHz, no recent reports to e2k, C also notes: "XT2 - The New Pip - Which was discussed in the last issue was noted for the first and last time (by me anyway) on 7606 kHz at 1849z on WED February 2nd. Seems to have gone very quiet recently".

S28 [formerly XB]

Still buzzing!

However E2K received this message from JimSF who related this experience:

"I was in Barcelona for vacation and had brought my shortwave receiver with me to see about listening in on some numbers stations. I came across the Buzzer at 4625hz on 27/03/02. I wanted to hear the change at the top of the hour only to catch a message instead. This was at 7:00 GMT." ©JimSF [Tnx Jim]

At the time of writing we await a .wav/mp3 from Jim to hear the message.

S30 [The Pip]

Continues to Pip away on 3757kHz despite mutterings from amateur radio operators on 80metres.

X06

E wrote in with the following for Mazeilka:

Gert heard the 6 tones on two freqs, 8097 and 9105kHz at 2035z 27/03, also being monitored by C who heard 8097kHz being utilised at 1907z on 13/03.

C also noted:

Slot machine (XSL)

XSL is heard on 4233, 4292, 6419, 6445, 6466, 8555, 8589 and 8703.5kHz. USB mode

Still being heard in US, Oceania and like areas.

E2k would like to receive details of any observations made in Great Britain, Eire and Europe please.

XSL general transmission times [freqs of 8588.0//8703.5]

Squeaky wheel (XSW)

3828kHz continues with this marker.

Teleprinter 4710

Can be heard on the usual frequencies of 4710, 6702, 9000kHz, 11122kHz [daytimes] and 15020kHz [evenings].

Wopwop (XWP)

XWP Daily schedule to date appears to be:

repeated through the night*

*It would appear that the station operates 24/7 the daily freqs being the same as night freqs with the exception of 2100z being the same as 2200z. [9250kHz].

Ary states that another type is regularly on ca 6915 kHz [nothing heard by e2k to date] and guesses that XWP may come from France, or maybe SE England / Channel islands. [NL9 states a bearing 147/327 deg from London and suggested France area].

A further offering from Ary was 'The surface radar that I mentioned recently is now (13/04, 2150z) on 6813 kHz. [Again nothing heard by e2k to date].

C adds "This is still very active see detailed report in last issue, I did however note a new frequency in the region of 13950 - 13965kHz heard just before 1900z. This is much higher than my previous observations."

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

Thanks to AB, AF, AK, ANUER, Anon UK, AnonNI, Anon Scandinavia, AR, Ary, BMDartford, 'C', CD, D of Kent, 'E', Gert of Holland, HFD, IB, J of Aylesbury, JM, Ben Mesander, JMM, K of Kent, Lazarus[US], LP, Mike of Kent, Mark Slaten, 'P', Peter of Saffron Walden, R anon, Rob of Essex, and all others for their contributions to the Morse, Voice and Oddities columns. As ever we acknowledge information from the Spooks site.

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