ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 18

September 2003
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities
Enigma control list | Polytones debate | Numbers predictions
German speaking groups outside Germany (2/3) | News Items
Web sites | Requests | Stop press | Contribution deadlines
Index | E2K NL Home


Selected voice stations

Before we move onto the logs here is an interesting explanatory piece from JerseyAnon on the tones we hear prior to transmissions:

Tones on transmission

Prior to the start of transmission it is not uncommon to hear the odd, or a series of tones. The polytones are no stranger as 1200Hz tones of short, medium, long or very long duration are heard at various times whilst the carrier is up prior to the message proper being sent.

Other Number Stations using Single Sideband also regularly send tones prior to transmission, the sendings usually being of good quality unless propagation takes a hand in the unwanted ionospheric effects to the sent signal.

Inter-modulation Distortion [IMD] is a problem with modulated transmission and a two-tone test is carried out using two non-harmonically related audio tones. The result of this test should be a correctly set up signal of good purity. Similarly a single tone test can be used to measure unwanted sideband and carrier suppression of SSB signals.

The quality of what is sent and received is obviously influenced by a properly conducted test and transmitter adjustment but there is another, less obvious, benefit.

Looking at the keying of any particular M10 transmission on a spectrum analyser one recognises the waveforms [the AF envelopes] as against those sent by a different transmission, say M13.

Each transmitter can quite easily have an unwanted signature, allowing it to be distinguished from any apparatus used for sending the same message. If the same message is being sent from a slightly different location [ships would be a good example] then a properly set up transmitter at each location would not aid the identification or direction finding from anyone with an interest to do so. So are these tones we hear random? Probably not! [Tnx JerseyAnon]

In addition to the exciting revelations by JerseyAnon we were also contacted by MB who sent us some thoughts on judging propagation and the state of the HF spectrum. [A very useful article given the state of propagation lately].

This, MB says, is what he uses:

Kiel Beacon 10144.0kHz [Sunspot Number, Magnetic Field, Flux, Boulder A index]

Transmission path variable but generally pretty good.

 
Haifa 4XZ [M22] 8103.0kHz [Continuous Call Sign on Loop, does not carry traffic all the time].

Useful as a monitor on propagation to Israel.

 
Nicosia Cyprus 5BA42 8737.0kHz [ID on Voice Loop, "Radio Telephone Maritime Service"].

Useful as a monitor of propagation to this area.

 

Note: Quite often 4XZ and 5BA42 will not be heard together. [It seems the propagation path is not quite the same for each transmission].

 

The VOLMET transmissions [all USB] are a useful indicator of propagation conditions as they provide a round the clock transmission:

Gander/New York VOLMET: 3485kHz 6604kHz 10051kHz 13270kHz        

Gander and New York each have 30 min time slots in 1 hour. [New York is now back on air having been off for several months].

 
Shannon VOLMET: 3413kHz 5505kHz, 8957kHz 13264kHz        

On occasions propagation has been so poor that it has been impossible to receive a satisfactory signal on any of these frequencies.

 
RAF VOLMET: 5450kHz 11253kHz            

This is an interesting station to listen to. Although the time schedule remains the same the Met Stations change depending on where the military action is taking place in the world. There is, however, a sort of fixed core of Met sites with one in every broadcast.

 

Jammers

Commercial jammers are used to jam Commercial Broadcasts with Chinese Bubble and Musical jammers being a nuisance.

Examples can be found as:

 
Chinese Jammers: 9805kHz 9955kHz 11945kHz 13625kHz 13670kHz 13820kHz 15110kHz  
 
Iranian Jammers: 9530kHz         [bubble]
 
Buzzer jammer: 11430kHz        

[possibly Russian].

 

[TnxMB, Stirling stuff].

Non Number Station items of interest

American Forces Radio in single sideband still noted from time to time on 13,855 kHz, does not seem to be on every day. Also noted on 7,507 kHz, early mornings only UK time with a slight time delay relative to 13,855.

Amateur station in 15 metre band;- noted on Sunday 13-July at 1404z , 21,285 kHz;- callsign DJ3FK/ Aeronautical Mobile, location given as over northern Libya; unusual if genuine. Very strong signal, went QRT shortly afterwards much to the annoyance of the many stations waiting to work him. [Tnx PoSW]

A different view of numbers from CD

"UK band Spunkle has released a set of songs called "Music for DXing" that are inspired by the hunt for signals. There's some XP inspired tunes as well as some more challenging pieces, and they nearly all feature the flotsam of the airwaves. The "artist" figured that fellow listeners might want to hear them, and is interested in how "listenable" the collection is, given that some dxers don't seem to mind listening to the assorted fizzes of HF!"

Download this fine album [E2k has a file copy and it is excellent] from: http://1104.ca/dav

Now onto the logs:

E03/E03a

Apart from the regulations concerning the reception of wireless stations within Great Britain, advice on reporting intelligence matters also exists in the form of DA notices.

Whoever the messages, from E03/E03a, are aimed at ENIGMA 2000 has no wish to 'advertise' the existence of these stations to those who may not support the best interests of Great Britain, or its representatives abroad. Although we are unable to stop discussion of E03/E03a, ENIGMA 2000 will remain aloof from any such discussion and will not be including reports or analysis on E03/E03a.

ENIGMA 2000 thanks those who have recently posted logs of E03/E03a [E04] activity via group.

E05

There have been no reports concerning E05 messages but this was received from AnonUK hinting at some 'E05' activities:

6970kHz 2100z 20/07 [Carrier only]
8110kHz 2100z 20/07 [Carrier only]

 

Recently PoSW wrote for August, "No sign of any activity at all from the American Accent E05, last heard at the end of May; but on Saturday 12-July at 0706z there were strong carriers modulated by audio tone - measured as 1,022 Hz - on two known E05 frequencies, 8,110 and 9,090 KHz. Nothing has been heard since so perhaps someone was having a last nostalgic play with a couple of the transmitters before the scrap dealers moved in!" [Tnx PoSW]

E06

The E06 English Man seems to have deserted the one time regular Saturday 1230z + 1330z schedule - I couldn't find it at all in August although the second and fourth Saturday in the month 1220z + 1320z schedule turned up as expected. [Tnx PoSW].

5460kHz 2008z 10/07 AF and E
5735kHz 2130z 18/07 [315 217 48 23346] AF
9080kHz 1915z 16/07 [null msg 627] Gert
  2200z 16/07 [null msg 792] Gert
9120kHz 2100z 08/07 [null msg 471] Gert
9130kHz 2100z 22/07 [null msg 471] Gert
11130kHz 2100z 16/07 [792 00000] RNGB
12185kHz 2100z 12/07 [490 Null Msg] Jochen
12200kHz 1500z 12/07 [null msg 736] Gert
  1500z 26/07 [736 495 126 35243] AF, hfd & selco
13910kHz 1330z 17/08 [540 163 29 08367..] USB via Selco
14510kHz 1400z 26/07 [736] selco
14747kHz 1330z 12/07 [369 718 55 60492] AF
  1330z 19/07 [369 471 35 93770] AF
15813kHz 1220z 09/08 [Null761] AnonUK
16105kHz 1230z 12/07 [369-718/55=60492] Gert
17430kHz 1320z 09/08 [Null761]AnonUK

E07

7739kHz 0510z 01/08 [701] HFD
  0510z 08/08 [701] RNGB
  0510z 22/08 [701 000] PLondon
8251kHz 0510z 02/07 [246:0] hfd
  0510z 09/07 [246:0] hfd
  0510z 16/07 [246:1-4818/111=69375] Gert
9042kHz 0530z 06/08 [701 000] RNGB
  0530z 08/08 [701 000] RNGB
  0530z 22/08 [701 000] PLondon
9476kHz 0530z 16/07 [246:1-4818/111=69375] Gert
10353kHz 2052z 03/07 [573-143/68=38582] Gert.
  2050z 31/07 [573 759 63 83289 55273] RNGB
10361kHz 0550z 16/07 [246:1-4818/111=69375] Gert
11059kHz 1740z 13/08 [810 234 -38grps] RNGB
11137kHz 2030z 07/08 [233 759 63 84289 55273] RNGB
12177kHz 1720z 13/08 [810 234 -38grps] RNGB
12203kHz 2040z 07/07 [682-358/27=71997] Gert and AF, RN GB
  2040z 09/07 [682-358/27=71997] Gert, AF and Jochen
12226kHz 2010z 07/08 [233 759 63 84289 55273] RNGB
13506kHz 2020z 04/08 [950 423 30 51741 63205] RNGB
  2020z 06/08 [950:0] HFD
  2020z 18/08 [950 000] RNGB
13511kHz 1700z 09/07 [506 000]
  1700z 23/07 [506 000] RNGB
13526kHz 2010z 17/07 [573:0] RNGB
  2010z 24/07 [573:0] hfd
  2010z 31/07 [573 759 63 83289 55273] RNGB
13872kHz 2020z 02/07 [682:0] AF & hfd
  2020z 07/07 [682:1-358/27=71997] AF ,hfd RNGB
  2020z 09/07 [682-358/27=71997] RNGB
  2020z 14/07 [null msg 682] Gert
  2020z 21/07 weak, AF
  2020z 23/07 [682-257/42=29661] Gert
  2020z 28/07 [null msg 682] Gert
13833kHz 1700z 13/08 [810 234 -38grps] RNGB
14911kHz 2000z 04/08 [950 423 30 51741 63205] RNGB
  2000z 06/08 [950 000]
  2000z 11/08 [950 000] RNGB
15638kHz 2000z 07/07 [682:1-358/27=71997] hfd
15640kHz 2000z 02/07 BLOCKED BY KOL ISRAEL. hfd

E10

From our E10 desk :

E10 July 03

3.150 00:30 8/7 PCD G95 ISTWT            
3.840 01:00 26/7 YHF G58 AFVHY            
                     
4.015 22:45 1/7 VLB2   * 23:45 27/7 VLB2    
4.165 23:15 13/7 KPA2 (Freq Change)   * 22:15 29/7 KPA2    
4.270 00:01 21/7 PCD2   * 23:30 24/7 PCD    
4.360 23:15 1/7 MIW2 (Freq Change) * 22:15 29/7 MIW2    
4.461 21:00 4/7 FTJ G34 * 00:01 25/7 FTJ G119 LIDFW *
  00:01 26/7 FTJ G119 LIDFW   00:07 26/7 MIW2 (Two calls only)  
4.648 23:15 3/7 KPA2 (Freq Change) * 22:15 29/7 KPA2    
4.780 20:15 2/7 SYN2 (Extended transmission Ended 23:15 hrs) * 23:45 27/7 SYN2    
4.880 00:01 4/7 ULX G16 UFSTA + G24 WMCOL * 22:00 8/7 ULX2   *
  22:00 29/7 ULX G37 MZIRI            
5.091 21:00 4/7 JSR2   * 22:00 8/7 JSR G30 HPHOJ *
  22:00 29/7 JSR G39 RRFNH            
5.170 20:15 2/7 VLB2 ( Extended transmission Ended 23:15hrs)   * 23:45 27/7 VLB2    
5.230 22:45 1/7 CIO2   * 23:45 27/7 CIO2    
5.339 22:15 1/7 KPA2   * 22:15 29/7 KPA2    
5.435 22:00 2/7 ART2     00:01 5/7 ART G160 LQXAB  
  00:30 5/7 ART G18 ABUAQ   00:01 11/7 ART G160 LQXAB  
  00:01 15/7 ART G160 LQXAB   23:30 15/7 ART G51 BKCMJ  
  00:01 16/7 ART G160 LQXAB   00:30 25/7 ART G16 DZEMP  
  21:00 27/7 ART G61 LSQRD   22:00 29/7 ART2    
5.820 22:00 6/7 YHF2   * 20:30 27/7 YHF G95 HCTEW  
                     
6.210 N/H                  
6.270 00:01 4/7 ULX G16 UFSTA + G24 WMCOL   00:01 5/7 ULX G16 UFSTA + G24 WMCOL  
  00:01 16/7 ULX G109 QGKOB   00:01 25/7 ULX G69 HALZJ  
6.370 N/H                  
6.575 23:30 15/7 HNC-S (Ended at 23:40hrs)   * 23:19 20/7 HNC-S (Ended at 23:23hrs)    
6.840 23:00 4/7 EZI G65   23:00 16/7 EZI G65 JQRRX  
  23:00 18/7 EZI G65 JQRRX            
6.912 22:45 1/7 SYN2   * 20:15 2/7 SYN2 (Extended Transmission ended 23:15hrs)    
  00:15 25/7 MIW2 (Freq Change)   * 00:45 25/7 SYN2   *
  23:45 27/7 SYN2              
6.930 23:15 1/7 MIW2   * 21:15 19/7 MIW2 (Extended Transmission ended 22:21hrs)   *
  22:15 29/7 MIW2              
6.986 N/H                  
                     
7.445 19:15 13/7 KPA2              
7.540 20:00 17/7 JSR G105 OXAAC            
7.605 23:15 1/7 MIW2 (Freq Change)   * 21:15 19/7 MIW2 (Extended Transmission ended 22:21hrs)    
  00:10 26/7 MIW2 (Four calls only) then 00:17 to 00:22 hrs normal 5mins call   * 22:15 29/7 MIW2    
7.690 22:30 1/7 VLB2 (Freq Change)   * 23:45 27/7 VLB2    
7.760 19:30 13/7 ULX G69 KYTUB (Started group mess at 19:40 (Extended opening call)            
7.811 22:45 1/7 CIO2   * 23:45 27/7 CIO2    
7.918 20:30 27/7 YHF G95 HCTEW            
                     
8.025 23:45 1/7 SYN2 (Freq Change)   * 23:45 27/7 SYN2    
8.127 20:15 2/7 CIO2 ( Extended Transmission ended 23:15hrs) (Freq Change)   * 23:45 27/7 CIO2    
8.805 N/H                  
                     
9.130 23:30 3/7 EZI G63 UALNO   23:30 4/7 EZI G63 UALNO  
  19:01 7/7 EZI2     00:30 8/7 EZI G86 ZVPLB  
  23:00 10/7 EZI G65 JQRRX   23:30 10/7 EZI G63 UALNO  
  23:30 15/7 EZI G63 UALNO   23:00 16/7 EZI G65 JQRRX  
  23:00 18/7 EZI G65 JQRRX   23:30 18/7 EZI G63 UALNO  
  22:30 22/7 EZI G15 GAURN   23:00 22/7 EZI G65 JQRRX  
  23:30 22/7 EZI G63 UALNO   23:30 23/7 EZI G63 UALNO  
  23:30 24/7 EZI G63 UALNO   21:00 25/7 EZI G65 JQRRX  
  23:30 25/7 EZI G63 UALNO   21:02 27/7 EZI G65 JQRRX  
  23:30 27/7 EZI G46 ERLRD   21:00 28/7 EZI G65 JQRRX  
  23:31 28/7 EZI G63 UALNO            
                     
9.202 23:30 20/7 YHF2              
                     
10.648 23:30 16/7 YHF2              
                     
11.565 23:30 1/7 EZI G63 UALNO   23:30 3/7 EZI G63 UALNO  
  23:30 4/7 EZI G63 UALNO   18:30 14/7 EZI G86 ZVPLB  
  20:30 14/7 EZI2     19:30 17/7 EZI G75 OALQV  
  23:00 18/7 EZI G65 JQRRX            
                     
14.530 N/H                  
                     
17.410 16:30 25/7 EZI2   * 10:00 28/7 EZI G38 ALDDA  
                     
19.715 16:30 25/7 EZI2   * 15:02 29/7 EZI G83 QKGDI  

 

* Bold Lettering denotes Repeated Message

E10 Log Comments

The noise factor has certainly gone up since last month and reception has been poor. I'v had difficulty picking up the stns on various frequencies as you can see by the log.

I'm entering the xxx2 strings only once at the beginning and end of the month as I hear them, unless there is a change of schedule/Stn etc during the month.

I tuned in on the 2/7 at 20:15hrs and found VLB2, COI2 & SYN2 still transmitting, outside the normal time span of H+45 to H+50 this may have started at 1945hrs and continued till 23:15 hrs when all stopped. No group messages sent.

Note that CIO2/SYN2/VLB2/MIW2/KPA2 have all made freq changes at the start and during the month.

EZI Continues to transmit repeat messages, as does ART & ULX.

The most repeated messages from EZI heard during my survey in the three month period May to July were as follows:

G63 UALNO 30 times (Still being transmitted)
G83 NDNYP 12 times  
G73 MQKIF times  
G65 JQRRX 9 times (Still being transmitted)
G81 VZZXG 8 times  

 

HNC-S was twice heard breifly on the 15 & 20th of July again no group messages.

26 July. MIW2 must have been on the "Jeruselem Jollop" making two calls on 4.461at 00:07 hrs just as FTJ had commenced a G119 message on that same freq. MIW2 then came up on an expected freq of 7.605 at 00:10 four calls only, then up again at 00:17hrs with the normal call of 5mins till 00:22hrs

E10 Desk Aug 03

3.640 20:45 3/8 CIO2 (Freq Change)   <> 00:45 27/8 CIO2    
3.840 23:00 7/8 YHF G58 NAIMC * 23:00 13/8 YHF G26 XTFKT (Freq 3.839.8) *
  23:00 18/8 YHF G26 XTFKT            
                     
4.015 23:45 31/7 SYN2 (Freq Change)   * 00:45 01/8 SYN2 & VLB2 ( Transmitting at same time and freq)    
  22:45 1/8 VLB2   * 00:45 3/8 SYN2   *
  20:45 3/8 VLB2   <> 00:45 27/8 VLB2    
4.165 00:15 01/8 KPA2   <> 01:15 27/8 KPA2    
4.270 23:30 11/8 PCD G105 SBKHS * 22:30 25/8 PCD2   *
  01:00 27/8 PCD G93 ESCIR            
4.360 00:15 01/8 MIW2   <> 01:15 27/8 MIW2    
4.461 22:30 2/8 FTJ G10 EKVWI * 00:01 12/8 FTJ G171 IHRNF *
  23:00 17/8 FTJ G51 BTBAE   20:30 21/8 FTJ G12 IMBXW *
  00:01 23/8 FTJ G34 NHZJZ * 00:01 26/8 FTJ G34 NHZJZ  
  23:00 27/8 FTJ G108 FKBFD            
4.648 00:15 01/8 KPA2   <> 01:15 27/8 KPA2    
4.780 00:45 01/8 SYN2   <> 00:45 27/8 SYN2    
4.880 23:00 20/8 ULX G95 MIUNB * 22:30 25/8 ULX2    
                     
5.091 22:30 1/8 JSR G20 MAVRP * 23:30 11/8 JSR G92 OAAIU *
  22:30 13/8 JSR G20 MAVRP            
  21:30 14/8 JSR2   * 23:02 15/8 JSR & ART (At same time and freq)   *
  22:00 18/8 JSR G100 YZJYW   22:00 19/8 JSR G100 YZJYW *
  20:00 21/8 JSR2              
5.170 00:45 01/8 VLB2   <> 00:45 27/8 VLB2    
5.230 00:45 01/8 CIO2   <> 00:45 27/8 CIO2    
5.339 00:15 01/8 KPA2   * 23:15 25/8 MIW2 (Freq Change)   *
  00:15 27/8 KPA2              
5.435 23:30 3/8 ART G95 MHPCH * 00:04 4/8 ART G19 KETRO *
  22:00 7/8 ART2   * 23:00 7/8 ART G76 LRNTK  
  23:00 13/8 ART G95 OGNXK * 23:30 18/8 ART G?+ G48 QZETX ( No repeat)  
  20:00 20/8 EZI opening call then at 20:04 ART2   * 00:01 22/8 ART G19 KETRO *
  01:00 27/8 ART2              
5.820 22:00 4/8 YHF2   <> 22:30 25/8 YHF2    
                     
6.370 19:45 20/8 CIO2 (Freq Change)              
6.498 22:01 1/8 PCD G22 UJPJF * 23:30 6/8 PCD G23 QGH?G *
  23:30 11/8 PCD G105 SBKHS            
                     
6.840 23:00 3/8 EZI G76 VIKCL * 22:30 7/8 EZI G55 ZOGCQ *
  23:00 18/8 EZI G77 AESFH            
6.912 00:45 01/8 SYN2   * 23:38 8/8 SYN2 (Extended call ended at ?, see log comments)   <>
  00:45 27/8 SYN2              
6.930 00:15 01/8 MIW2   * 23:15 3/8 MIW2 ( extended call ended 23:27hrs )   <>
  01:15 27/8 MIW2   * 22:45 27/8 CIO2    
  23:15 27/8 MIW2              
6.986 00:05 01/8 ART G19 KETRO (Freq 6.985.8) * 20:00 3/8 ART2   *
  00:04 4/8 ART G19 KETRO (Freq 6.985.8)            
                     
7.605 00:15 01/8 MIW2   <> 01:15 27/8 MIW2    
7.690 00:45 01/8 VLB2   <> 00:45 27/8 VLB2    
7.811 00:45 01/8 CIO2   <> 00:45 27/8 CIO2    
7.918                    
                     
8.025 23:45 31/7 VLB2 (Freq Change)   * 22:45 1/8 SYN2   *
  22:45 2/8 VLB2   * 20:45 3/8 SYN2   <>
  00:45 27/8 SYN2              
8.127 00:45 01/8 CIO2              
                     
9.130 00:30 01/8 EZI G88 UWDNE * 21:00 1/8 EZI G76 VIKCL *
  20:00 3/8 EZI G86 WHEUI   23:30 3/8 EZI G63 UALNO *
  00:30 5/8 EZI G88 UWDNE * 23:30 6/8 EZI G63 UALNO  
  23:30 8/8 EZI G63 UALNO * 00:30 9/8 EZI G88 UWDNE *
  00:30 10/8 EZI G88 UWDNE   23:30 11/8 EZI2   *
  23:30 13/8 EZI G18 MESOP * 23:00 14/8 EZI G77 AESFH  
  23:30 17/8 EZI G18 MESOP * 19:30 18/8 EZI G90 YWELQ *
  02:15 20/8 MIW2     02:30 20/8 EZI G80 UOYWO *
  20:00 21/8 EZI G93 ZOFRC * 22:30 25/8 EZI G28 ULKEE  
  23:00 27/8 EZI G90 PVCFL            
11.565 20:00 25/8 EZI G97 RMWBS            
17.410 14:30 5/8 EZI2              

 

Bold Lettering denotes Repeated Message
<> Denotes From-To. No change to schedule

E10 Log Comments

I'm entering the xxx2 strings only once at the beginning and at the end of the month as I hear them, unless there is a change of schedule/Stn etc on that freq during the month. All freq's are in USB.

Many thanks to RN GB for the following

2626 2300z 24/7 FTJ            
3150 1830z 1/8 PCD * 2030z 18/8 PCD2    
3640 2045z 18/8 CIO2            
4015 2245z 24/7 VLB2 * 2045z 18/8 VLB2    
4270 1900z 1/8 PCD1 * 2030z 18/8 PCD2    
4461 2300z 24/7 FTJ * 1930z 1/8 FTJ   *
  2030z 18/8 FTJ            
4463 1900z 1/8 FTJ2            
4560 2300z 24/7 YHF2 * 2130z 9/8 YHF2    
4648 2115z 18/8 KPA2            
4780 2045z 18/8 SYN2            
4880 2300z 24/7 ULX * 1830z 1/8 ULX G75 *
  1900z 1/8 ULX2            
5091 2000z 31/7 JSR2 * 1830z 1/8 JSR 1900z *
    1/8 JSR2 * 1930z 1/8 JSR G106  
5170 1845z 1/8 VLB2 * 2045z 18/8 VLB2    
5230 1845z 1/8 CIO2 * 2045z 18/8 CIO2    
5339 2115z 21/7 KPA2 * 1815z 1/8 KPA2    
5435 1900z 1/8 ULX2 * 2030z 18/8 ART    
5820 1900z 1/8 YHF            
6270 1830z 1/8 ULX * 2030z 18/8 ULX    
6370 1815z 1/8 KPA2            
6498 2100z 19/8 PCD            
6912 2045z 31/7 SYN2 * 1845z 1/8 SYN2   *
  0515z 8/8 SYN2            
6930 2015z 17/7 MIW2 * 2215z 24/7 MIW2   *
  0515z 8/8 MIW2            
7322 1930z 1/8 FTJ            
7358 2100z 7/7 FTJ * 2100z 19/8 FTJ    
7540 1900z 22/7 JSR * 2030z 18/8 JSR2    
7605 2023z 17/7 MIW2 * 1845z 1/8 CIO2   *
  0515z 8/8 MIW2            
7690 2045z 10/7 VLB2 * 2045z 31/7 VLB2   *
  1845z 1/8 VLB2 * 1745z 13/8 VLB2    
7760 1830z 1/8 ULX * 1830z 1/8 ULX    
7811 1945z 7/8 CIO2 * 1745z 13/8 CIO2    
7918 1930z 1/8 YHF            
8025 1845z 1/8 SYN2 * 1945z 7/8 SYN2   *
  0513z 8/8 SYN2            
7811 1745z 7/7 CIO2 * 2045z 10/7 CIO2   *
  1745z 31/7 CIO2            
7918 1930z 31/7 YHF            
8025 1745z 7/7 SYN2 * 1745z 31/7 SYN2    
8127 1800z 7/7 CIO2 * 2045z 17/7 CIO2   *
  2045z 31/7 CIO2            
9130 1830z 1/8 EZI            
9202 1830z 17/7 YHF2 * 1830z 1/8 YHF2    
10648 2030z 22/7 YHF2 * 1830z 1/8 YHF2    
11565 1830z 1/8 EZI            
14530 0700z 10/7 YHF * 2030z 22/7 YHF2   *
  0700z 25/7 YHF2 * 2030z 7/8 YHF    
17410 1230z 5/8 EZI2            

© BMDartford August 2003

Tnx Bob - excellent stuff.

E11

A message was sent on 15/07 and intercepted by AnonUK. Another was sent 19/08 and intercepted by AF, more follows after the logs.

AF sent in an exhaustive Ell log for August. It was comprehensive enough to confirm these transmissions:

Tuesday
0830z 8544kHz [182 or 184] and 6814kHz
1030z 9610kHz [312]    
1230z 9448kHz [312]    
1330z 9950kHz [313]    
 
Thursday
0800z 10125kHz [232]    
 
Friday
0800z 11116kHz [232]    
1030z 9610kHz [312]    
1230z 9448kHz [183]    

Mixed logs:

6814kHz 0830z 15/07   [Message sent! 184/34] From AnonUK
8544kHz 0830z 12/08   [182/00] RN GB
9448kHz 1230z 01/07 Tues [null msg 312] Gert
  1230z 08/07   [312/00] RN GB
  1230z 15/07 Tues [null msg 312] Gert
  1230z 22/07 Tues [null msg 312] AF
  1230z 25/07 Tues [null msg 312] Weak AF
  1230z 29/07 Tues [null msg 312] AF
  1230z 05/08   [312/00] RN GB
  1230z 19/08   [312/00]
9610kHz 1030z 04/07   [312/00] AF
  1030z 08/07   [312/00] RN GB
  1030z 15/07   [312/00] AF
  1030z 18/07   [312/00] Good sigs, AF
  1030z 22/07   [312/00] AF
  1030z 25/07   [312/00] AF
9950kHz 1300z 08/07   [183/00] RN GB
  1300z 22/07   [183/00] AF
  1300z 05/08   [183/00] RN GB
  1300z 19/08   [183/00]
10125kHz 0800z 10/07   [null msg 232] AF & Gert
  0800z 17/07   [null msg 232] Gert
  0800z 24/07   [null msg 232] Gert, RNGB
  0800z 14/08   [null msg 232] RNGB
11116khz 0800z 11/07   [232/00] AF & JoA
  0800z 08/08   [232/00] Patrice
  0800z 15/08   [232/00] JoA & RNGB

 

AF has looked into the E11 message of 19/08 and notes the usage of "77777" [Remarkable repeats].

184/33 184/33 184/33 184/33 (5 Minutes)
Attention
77777 77777 77777 77777 29009 29009 36883 36883 52648 52648
38682 38682 55976 55976 58568 58568 79619 79619 87632 87632
78145 78145 91169 91169 24735 24735 90467 90467 12104 12104
27363 27363 75093 75093 76206 76206 45599 45599 94136 94136
81903 81903 57317 57317 98075 98075 49233 49233 11525 11505
28563 28563 33657 33657 39820 39820 07426 07426 21026 21026
50013 50013 77777 77777 77777 77777
Attention
77777 77777 29009 36883 52648 38682 55976 58568 79619 87632
78145 91169 24735 90467 12104 27363 75093 76206 45599 94136
81903 57317 98075 49233 11505 28563 33657 39820 07426 21026
50013 77777 77777
Out

That means in in the 33 groups we have 4 times 77777! Could that mean anything special? For 'randomness' that seems to be to often.

I compared this message with the only other E11 message I logged so far:

121/16 121/16 121/16 121/16 121/16 121/16
attention
32173 32173 36130 36130 00405 00405 65097 65097 17243 17243
64304 64304 86869 86869 25703 25703 59540 59540 56932 56932
77777 77777 48348 48348 13663 13663 54530 54530 68760 68760
63099 63099
attention
32173 36130 00405 65097 17243 64304 86869 25703 59540 56932
77777 48348 13663 54530 68760 63099
out

This 16 groups have also 1 times "77777".

So in 49 groups that should look random we have 5 times 77777, thats about 10% of the numbers!

[Thanks AF]

E15

We print the known schedule [as prev issue 6]:

1100z 18000kHz BEC 1700z 14000kHz FYS 2100z 4130kHz MSA
1200z 17503kHz WSP 1730z 5834kHz MSA  
1230z 11170kHz OSS 1800z 5834kHz WSP
1300z 11000kHz BEC 1900z 4130kHz PAR
1400z 14000kHz FYP 2000z 5530kHz NAS
1630z 6715kHz NAS 2030z 5530kHz BEC

E17

From Gert we receive this interesting log

6325kHz 2008z 04/08 [274 - 631/50] First groups were distorted, ended 00000

E17Z

Heard by RN GB:

7635kHz 0710z 24/07 [274 115 30 24852 03473 etc, ending 115 30 00000] RNGB remarks 'she does not speak with an English accent'.

 

Another heard by Gert:

6325kHz 2008z 04/08 [274-631/50 first grps distorted].

E18

E23

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

Transmits Monday Wednesday and Thursday:

Week 1 0957z 6507kHz 1157z 8188kHz 1257z 5340kHz    
Week 2 0957z 7250kHz 1157z 8188kHz 1257z 5748kHz    
Week 3 0757z 4832kHz 0957z 6200kHz 1157z 8188kHz 1257z 6507kHz
Week 4 0757z 5340kHz 0957z 8188kHz 1157z 7250kHz    
 

Week 4 in AM only.

 

8188kHz 1155z 06/08 AF
  1155z 21/08 AF
  0956z 25/08 [5f very weak] PatPrivFrance.

E25

From Manolis we received an interesting account of his discovery of E25 which reads:

I tuned my radio on 9448kHz USB around 12.29z but a strong carrier was nearby. (9450kHz) A man was reading something like "nine, (?), zero, five, thirty-one" until 12.33z. He had an Arab accent, and the signal strength was like of a BC station! (5-7 out of 7 signal strength indicator bars of my Sangean ATS-909 & 7m longwire.)
Today (Friday 22/8) I got back from my vacation, and I wanted to see if the culprit was still there. At 12.27z I tuned on 9450kHz, but I didn't find anything. I searched the frequencies nearby and I stumbled at a carrier on 9202kHz. At 12.30z started calling "EZI1" until 12.31z. What a surprise! Back on 9448kHz USB, E11 calling "312/00". I kept on searching, and at 12.48z on 9450kHz, I heard Arab music! At 12.53z a man was saying (live) "two-zero, two-one, two-two, two-three, (longer gap), two-two-seven" continuously. He stopped at 12.57z (carrier down)!

Excellent work Manolis - thanks for sharing!

9450kHz 1229z 2/08  
  1248z 2/08 heralded by 'Arab' music, carrier down after figs at 1257z

 

Manolis' finding prompted those of us in Western Europe [includes GB and NI!] to tune our receivers to 9450kHz; without success it might be added.

It was encouraging that Manolis used the Sound Sample posted in the Files section to identify what he had heard. AnonUK emailed to say thet whilst he was unable to hear an entire message he did hear some evidence of E25 activity due to peculiaritries noticed just above the noise level on Sat 30/08 1245z.

G04

Nil Reports

G06

Gert writes in to inform us that for G06 on the first Monday of the month, 1900 and 2000z uses last years frequencies:

  1900z 2000z
jan 5084 8060
feb 6915 5360
mar 8035 6785
apr 9220 7680
may 11485 9115
june 12195 10310
july 11425 9240
aug ? 9120
sept 8170 6835
oct ? 5210
nov 5415 4585
dec 5190 3845

 

Frequencies may vary +/- 20 kHz from last years freqs.

PoSW wrote, " The G06 German YL has been turning up at the expected times; the Friday 1930z transmission is still inside the 49 metre BC band which makes for difficult copy. If this one follows the same pattern as previous years it should move to somewhere in the region of 5,442 kHz in September which is well away from the broadcasters. It will be interesting to see if the Thursday 1830z schedule can be found in September."

First Monday in the Month Schedule

7-July-03 1900z 11,435 kHz "Drei null acht" x 3, "Null" x 3 (308 308 308 00000). Good signal, lower sideband well suppressed. Carrier was up at 1836z on 11,425 kHz - which was the frequency used in July last year, moved to 11,435 at 1851z.
  2000z 9,265 kHz repeat of "308 308 308 00000", strong signal, frequency for the second sending in July last year was 9,240 kHz
4-Aug-03 1900z 11,075 kHz "308 308 308 00000", as in July; I missed this one in August last year so I had no starting point in the search; there was a strong carrier a few hundred Hz LF of G06 which caused a strong beat note and made copy difficult.
  2000z 9,120 kHz repeat sending of "308 308 308 00000".

 

Thursday 1830z Schedule
(Rule of thumb; if G06 shows up at 1830z on a Thursday the same message will be heard on the following day at 1930z on a lower frequency!)

12-June-03 6,887 kHz calling "Acht vier zwo" (842), DK/GC "Drei funef seben" (357) x 2, "drei funef" (35) x 2. Signal strength S7, lower sideband well suppressed. This schedule last heard on 22-May.
26-June-03 6,887 kHz same call, DK and GC as when last heard two weeks ago, "842" and "357 357 35 35".
10-July-03 6,887 kHz calling "Acht vier zwo" (842), DK/GC "Sechs funef seben" (657) x 2, "Drei neun" (39) x 2. Signal strength S9, lower sideband well suppressed.
24-July-03 6,887 kHz same as when last heard on 10-July, "842" and "657 657 39 39".
14-Aug-03 6,887 kHz call as always "842", DK/GC "Drei funef sechs" (356) x 2, "Vier zwo" (42) x 2.

 

Friday 1930z Schedule

13-June-03 5,943 kHz inside 49 metre BC band, severe QRM from broadcast station, last heard on 23-May on 5,933 kHz, a slightly clearer frequency. Call "Zwo eins acht" (218), DK/GC as last night's 1830z G06, "357 357 35 35".
27-June-03 5,933 kHz slightly better copy than when heard 10 kHz higher on 13-June, but still can only really be copied when using the RX in USB mode with the carrier tuned for zero beat. Call "218", DK/GC as last nights 1830z sending "357 357 35 35". Carrier was up when checked just after 1900z with numbers 1 to 9 in German spoken for several minutes after 1914z.
25-July-03 5,943 kHz "218" and "657 657 39 39", extremely difficult copy due to QRM from BC station.
15-Aug-03 5,943 kHz call is still "218", DK/GC same as last nights 1830z transmission, "356 356 42 42", usual severe QRM.

 

Sunday 2020z Schedule

22-June-03 13,380 kHz was also noted last Sunday, 15-June, and today's transmission had the same call, DK and GC, "Neun vier drei" (943) and "Eins zwo acht" (128) x 2, "Vier seben" (47) x 2. Signal strength up to S9, rapid QSB, lower sideband well suppressed. Not heard on the following Sunday, 29-June.
13-July-03 13,380 kHz still around in July; G06 on a Sunday used to be a rare event, just a few times per year! Call is still "943", DK/GC "Zwo funef sechs" (256) x 2, "Seben eins" (71) x 2. Strong signal, lower sideband well suppressed.
20-July-03 13,380 kHz same as on 13-July, "943" and "256 256 71 71"
10-Aug-03 11,435 kHz and possibly started later than 2020z; having found no sign of G06 warming up on 13,380 kHz a suspicious carrier was noted on 11,435 at approx. 2015z; 2020z came and went and there was no sign of any kind of transmission but when checked again at 2030z the G06 German YL was heard in progress.
17-Aug-03 13,380 kHz back to 13,380 kHz and 2020z, as in June and July; call still "943", DK/GC "Funef eins seben" (517) x 2, "Drei zwo" (32) x 2. Signal weak for a G06, S5 to S6 at best, lower sideband suppressed

 

Other observations:

6887kHz 1830z 14/07 [842-657/39=01290 hfd
9120kHz 2000z 04/08 [308 00000] rn gb
9265kHz 2000z 07/07 ['308' 00000] af, hfd and rngb
11075kHz 1900z 04/08 [308:0] hfd
11435kHz 1900z 07/07 ['308' 00000] af, hfd and rngb
  2025z 09/08 [943 517 32 05955] RNGB
  2027z 10/08 [943] RN GB
13880kHz 2020z 13/07 [ID943, with a msg: 256/71] Jochen and hfd
  2020z 19/07 [943-256/71=82822] Gert
  2020z 20/07 [943-256/71=82822] AF

G22

6683kHz 2200z 03/07 [186 - Nr240 gr21=64406 poor audio] Initially discovered by Gert, also heard by CS in US.
  2330z 03/07 [186 - Nr240 gr21=64406] AF
  2200z 17/07 [186-240/21=64406] Gert

Slavic stations

Before we move onto the Slavic Staion logs DoK on the Slavic Desk writes:

The past two months have been an eventful period for M10, S10D and S17C with changes commencing on Saturday 5th July.

As a result there has been more activity on the higher frequencies and new frequencies appeared from the end of July into August.

Chart No7 [As at 31/08/03]

Freq kHz //   Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat  
3808 5681     0400 0400   0400      
6780                 0410  
6763 9166     0450 0450          
8175       S0450     S0450      
6780     0535 0535   0535     0535  
9386 11416           S0600   S0600  
14565 15976   0615 0615 0615 0615 0615 0615 0615  
5945 9386               0700  
9986 13406               S0755  
8190 12295           1200 1200    
6758     1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 [S17C]
7380 10923     1410 1410          
7745 9166               S1520  
6763 4485   1610 1610            
4030 6801   1630 1630   1630     1630  
5076 10125       1640          
5076 7745     1700 1700          
5076 8175         1700 1700      
8190 12295             1720    
8190 13502     S1740 S1740          
5945     1800       1800      
8190 13502     1820 1820          
13405 14445         S1855        
5076 8143         1900 1900      
8143 12226   1920 1920            
8190 13405         1940 1940      
9385 14445       1950   1950   1950  
3563 4485     S2020     S2020      
8175     S2050   S2050          
3808 5735     2100   2100        
7475 9166           S2130   S2130  
5945 9166     2200 2200          

 

©DoK31stAugust2003

Saturday 5th July saw the beginning of changes to the repeat routines as detailed in NL17 [p15]. These changes have reduced the number of repeats by over 50%, other routines mentioned in NL17 still apply.

These changes affected the 0210, 0400, 0410, 1720 and 2100z schedules and occurred two to three days after the publishing of NL17; like changes have also occurred on three previous occasions. Coincidence or paranoia? [Note correct spelling]!

For early risers, Saturday has rich pickings and on Saturday 21st July, whilst looking for the parallel to 14565kHz at 0615z, I was very surprised to find weak signals from 15700 to 16077kHz.

The strongest signals were 15976 and 15999kHz. Subsequent days led me to believe the parallel was 15976kHz and has been listed as such. However, these signals were only heard on days of good conditions. I would appreciate other reports of findings.

The spurious emissions lead me to believe that old technology is in use and an old transmitter being pushed beyond its design capabilities and without having the advantages of band-pass filters, some might call it junk! I have come across this problem before in both my amateur and professional life. Incorrect tuning of the power amplifier in order to try to increase the power output should also be considered, the resulting high SWR being more easily tolerated with a valved [tubes to our US cousins] power amplifier.

The S1855 schedule appears to be monthly. The 1900 schedule is not fully understood yet but it repeats the 1700 schedule messages.

The schedules from 1820 to 1940 appear to vary.

The 0535 schedules are repeated at 1630 and one message is repeated all week, 571, 275, 049 and 435 ID's being used.

On Thursday 14th August at 0615z M10 sent message 033 91 33 . This was repeated five times, by M10, over the next 12 days, culminating with it being repeated on Tuesday 26th August by S10D at 2050z on 8175kHz.. The was the first 'cross-over' message since earlier in the year and I wonder if this heralds a change at the end of the month.

I am writing this on 29/08 so by the time this is read all the foregoing may well be out of date and therefore should be used for reference purposes.

My thanks to AnonUK, Gert, PoSW and RN GB for their input. Finally Plondon for shaving with one hand and recording the 0400 and 0410z schedules, no doubt on an underwater writing pad!

[A final note to UK listeners: If you consume too much ALE of a certain Australian Bre, are you likely to lose your head]?

Until next time - Dobronotz & nazdar.

©DoK29thAugust2003 [Tnx DoK]

Onto the logs:

S06

5745kHz 1800z 26/08 [724:0] near to E03 HFD
  1900z 05/08 [176 176 176 00000] AF
7245kHz 0800z 08/07 [null msg 394] Gert
7600kHz 1900z 15/07 [176:0] AF and E
7608kHz 1900z 01/07 [176:0] AF & hfd
  1900z 19/08 [176 00000] RNGB and AF
  1900z 19/08 [176?] USB, mighty clear!
8080kHz 1750z 01/08 [102 367 40 96220 07240] RNGB remarks, "This station could have started much earlier!"
  1950z 05/08 [254 254 254 00000] AF
10220kHz 1850z 26/08 [257:0] HFD
11060kHz 1800z 26/07 [208-375/84=25342] AF, hfd and Gert
11150kHz 1800z 09/08 [Null 635] AnonUK
12210kHz 1500z 08/07 [493 00000] RNGB
13910kHz 1700z 09/08 [Null 635] AnonUK
  1330z 14/08 [540 163 29 08367] AF
14580kHz 0700z 09/07 [null msg 729] Gert, RNGB
  0700z 16/07 [null msg 729] Gert
  0700z 13/08 [729 00000] RNGB
14860kHz 1400z 08/07 [493 00000] RNGB
15820kHz 1600z 09/08 [Null 724] AnonUK
16020kHz 0710z 09/07 [null msg 729, repeats 0700z 14M sending] Gert

 

PoSW's log included:

19-June-03 Thursday 2017z 14,540 kHz Russian Man calling "Pyat vosyem tri" x 3, "Noll" x 5. (583 583 583 00000). Signal strength S8, AM signal with both sidebands, unusually for S06. Stopped 2019z.
23-June-03 Monday 2115z 12,190 kHz "Tri vosyem cheteria" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (384 384 384 00000), S9 signal with lower sideband well suppressed. Carrier with tone had been noted almost 20 minutes earlier.
28-June-03 Saturday 1600z 14,860 kHz the fourth Saturday in the month, along with the second, brings S06 activity. "Syem dva cheteria" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (724 724 724 00000), S7 signal, lower sideband well suppressed, was also heard on 14-June
    1700z 12,175 kHz repeat of "724 724 724 00000", very weak signal, S3 at best.
and;-        
    1700z 13,940 kHz another S06 calling "Adean cheteria deviet" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (149 149 149 00000). Signal strength S8, lower sideband suppressed.
12-July-03 Saturday 1700z 12,175 kHz "724 724 724 00000", same as heard in June, strong signal, lower sideband well suppressed.
    1800z 11,060 kHz S06 calling "Dva null vosyem" (208), DK/GC "Tri syem shesht" (376) x 2, "Vosyem cheteria" (84) x 2. S8 signal, lower sideband well suppressed.
15-July-03 Tuesday 1950z 8,149 kHz "Dva pyat cheteria" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (254 254 254 00000). Strength S9, lower sideband well suppressed. Carrier with tone noted approx 1940z.
26-July-03 Saturday 1600z 14,860 kHz fourth Saturday in the month, "724 724 724 00000", S9 signal with lower sideband well suppressed, repeated 1700z, 12,175 kHz, as heard on 12-July.
    1800z 11,060 kHz same as when heard on 12-July, "208" and "376 376 84 84". Weak signal, almost lost in noise QRM from nearby TV sets, difficult copy.
29-July-03 Tuesday 1850z 10,410 kHz "Dva pyat cheteria" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (254 254 254 00000).
9-Aug-03 Saturday 1700z 13,910 kHz second Saturday in the month S06, "Shesht tri pyat" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (635 635 635 00000). Signal strength peaking S9 but with deep QSB, lower sideband well suppressed.
    1800z 11,150 kHz repeat of "635 635 635 00000".
12-Aug-03 Tuesday 1950z 8,080 kHz "Dva pyat cheteria" x 3, "Noll" x 5 (254 254 254 00000) - same transmission also heard on 15-July, see above; signal strength S8 to S9, lower sideband suppressed, carrier with tone noted 1936z.
23-Aug-03 Saturday 1700z 13,920 kHz fourth Saturday in the month S06, calling "Shesht tri pyat" (635), DK/GC "Tri syem shesht" (376) x 2, "Vosyem cheteria" (84) x 2. Strong signal, lower sideband well suppressed. Carrier with tone was up at 1646z on 13,910 kHz then moved to 13,920 a few minutes afterwards.
    1800z 11,150 kHz repeat of "635" and "376 376 84 84".

[Tnx PoSW].

S10D

PoSW's log for this 'Slavic' station:

Saturday and Thursday 0600z Schedule, 9,385 // 11,416 kHz

28-June-03 Saturday "555 555 555 898 898 898 34", 9,385 kHz flattened by an S9+ BC station on the same frequency.
3-July-03 Thursday "555 555 555 586 586 586 42" No sign of the BC station on 9,385 kHz this morning!
5-July-03 Saturday unable to copy anything on 9,385 kHz; the BC station is back, S10d only just detectable. Nothing at all heard on 11,416 at first until 0606z when the Czech YL slowly emerged from the noise.
10-July-03 Thursday "555 555 555 663 663 663 23", then "663 663 663 04 04 23 23"
    11,416 kHz was a strong signal, much to my surprise; - what a contrast with Saturday - 9,385 only just detectable under that S9++ (Religious) broadcst station.
12-July-03 Saturday same call - up as heard on Thursday, "663 663 663 23". No sign of the BC QRM on 9,385 so S10d clear signal; 11,416 very weak at first, became stronger as transmission progressed.
19-July-03 Saturday "555 555 555 182 182 182 33", 9,385 kHz signal strength S4, weak but clear, no sign of the Holy Roller broadcaster, 11,416 kHz much stronger, S8 to S9.
24-July-03 Thursday "555 555 555 031 031 031 32", the BC station is back on 9,385 but S10d heard clearly underneath; 11,416 strength S5.
31-July-03 Saturday "555 555 555 877 877 877 27", 9,385 kHz with BC QRM, 11.416 very weak signal.
9-Aug-03 Saturday "555 555 555 184 184 184 25", 9,385 just readable under S9+ BC station, 11,416 peaking S8.
21-Aug-03 Thursday "555 555 555 919 919 919 25". Both frequencies signal strength S7 and the BC station on 9,385 much weaker than usual.

 

Saturday and Thursday 2130z Schedule, 7,475 // 9,165 kHz (same message as the 0600z schedule).

28-June-03 Saturday "555 555 555 898 898 898 34". 7,475 kHz very strong S9+ signal, 9,165 S8 to S9.
3-July-03 Thursday "555 555 555 586 586 586 62".
10-July-03 Thursday "555 555 555 663 663 663 23", strong signals on both frequencies.
12-July-03 Saturday "555 555 555 663 663 663 23", as on Thursday, very strong signals on both frequencies.
17-July-03 Thursday "555 555 555 182 182 182 33", 7,475 strong signal, S8 to S9, 9,165 much weaker, only just readable, what a contrast!
26-July-03 Saturday "555 555 555 031 031 031 32", again 7,475 kHz strong signal, 9,165 very weak, could only just be detected.
9-Aug-03 Saturday "555 555 555 184 184 184 25", 7,475 kHz very strong signal, S9+, splatter QRM from a BC station on a lower frequency, 9,165 signal strength S5.

 

Saturday 1520z Schedule, 7,745 // 9,165 kHz

28-June-03 "555 555 555 197 197 197 37", 7,745 kHz strength S9, 9,165 slightly weaker.
5-July-03 "555 555 555 388 388 388 25". Signals on both frequencies weaker than usual, 7,745 kHz S5, 9,165 S7.
19-July-03 "555 555 555 624 624 624 27", 7,745 kHz very weak, only just readable, 9,165 much stronger, S9.
26-July-03 "555 555 555 273 273 273 21", 7,745 kHz S9, 9,165 S7.Morse
2-Aug-03 "555 555 555 133 133 133 40", 7,745 kHz very weak signal, 9,165 kHz much stronger, S7.
16-Aug-03 "555 555 555 472 472 472 17", 7,745 strength S7, 9,165 S9 to S9+.

 

Monday and Tuesday 0540z Schedule, 9,369 kHz, 2 message variant

1-July-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 412 412 412 18 277 277 277 42". Heterodyne beat note from a broadcast station on 9,370 kHz.
7-July-03 Monday "555 555 555 183 183 183 37 378 378 378 25", with severe QRM from the BC station.
8-July-03 Tuesday "183 37" and "378 25", as yesterday. Difficult copy due to BC QRM.
14-July-03 Monday "555 555 555 262 262 262 17 279 279 279 40", severe BC QRM.
29-July-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 211 211 211 28 374 374 374 27", severe BC QRM.
5-Aug-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 880 880 880 21 231 231 231 31", usual severe BC QRM.
19-Aug-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 879 879 879 21 021 021 021 40", very strong signal for a change, completely over - riding the BC station on 9,370 kHz which was a very weak signal.

 

Monday and Tuesday 1740z Schedule, 8,190 // 13,502 kHz (same message as the 0540z schedule)

30-June-03 Monday "555 555 555 412 412 412 18 277 277 277 42", 8,190 KHz S9+ signal - there had been an M10 CW on this frequency which ended approx. 5 minutes before S10d started - 13,502 kHz S6 to S7.
1-July-03 Tuesday "412 18" and "277 42", as yesterday.
7-July-03 Monday "555 555 555 183 183 183 37 378 378 378 25".
8-July-03 Tuesday "183 37" and "378 25" again.
15-July-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 262 262 262 17 279 279 279 40", 8,190 KHz strong signal, 13,502 much weaker.
21-July-03 Monday "555 555 555 689 689 689 42 219 219 219 35".
28-July-03 Monday "555 555 555 211 211 211 28 374 374 374 27". 8,190 KHz strong signal, S9, 13,502 much weaker, S4 at best.
29-July-03 Tuesday "211 28" and "374 27", as yesterday. 8,190 strong signal, 13,502 very weak, only just detectable.
4-Aug-03 Monday "555 555 555 "880 880 880 21 231 231 231 31", 8,190 strong signal... 13,502 gets ever weaker.
5-Aug-03 Tuesday "880 21" and "231 31", as yesterday.
12-Aug-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 148 148 148 26 879 879 879 21", signal heard on 8,190 kHz only. nothing on usual // 13,502 which has gradually been becoming weaker and weaker over the past few weeks and now seems to have sunk into the noise completely.
19-Aug-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 879 879 879 21 021 021 021 40", 8,190 KHz strength S9, 13,502 recovered somewhat, S5.

 

Sunday - also later found on Tuesday - 2050z 8,175 kHz Schedule

6-July-03 Sunday transmission in progress at 2059z, ended a few seconds later with "Pozor pozor, 28 28 22 22 konets konets".
13-July-03 Sunday "555 555 555 307 307 307 26", strong signal, S9+, no // found.
20-July-03 Sunday "555 555 555 173 173 173 25", strong signal.
27-July-03 Sunday "555 555 555 182 182 182 18".
3-Aug-03 Sunday "555 555 555 377 377 377 19", very strong signal.
5-Aug-03 Tuesday - hadn't realised until today that this schedule also runs on a Tuesday; "555 555 555 140 140 140 41".
17-Aug-03 Sunday "555 555 555 273 273 273 20".
19-Aug-03 Tuesday "555 555 555 834 834 834 22"

 

H-FD's logs:

8175kHz 0450z 17/07 [555:624-17/27=16614]   hfd
  0720z 17/07 [555:182-83/33=40328]   hfd
8190kHz 1740z 21/07 [555:689-37/42=63420, 219-56/35=65310] //13502 hfd
  1740z 22/07 [555:689-37/42=63420, 219-nn/35=nnnnn] //13502 hfd
  1740z 29/07 [555:211-58/28=25080, 374-92/27=24121]   hfd
           
7745kHz 1520z 16/08 [555 472-96/17=546] //9166kHz  
  2130z 16/08 [555 776-08/28=800] //9166kHz  

S10E

Nil Reports

S11A

The UNID that PoSW had heard [Page 5 'Selected Voice Stations' NL17]:

5358kHz 2104z 21/05

 

has been identified as S11A by AF, [Tnx] who informed us of the null message 176 x3 00000.

4783kHz 0500z 21/08 [972/00, started with cw "742/tt"] AF
5358kHz 2100z 16/07 [null msg 971] AF, Gert and RNGB
  2100z 06/08 [971/00] HFD
  2100z 20/08 [971/00] AF

S17C

It's all change from 1st September. DoK paged to say 'now on 8190kHz // 5301kHz'
Tnx Slavic Desk

The teleprinter that occludes S17C has been active since the change of frequency on 01/05. DoK has, like others, had problems with hearing the five figure sequence as well as the rest of the sending, except where there were breaks in the to transmission or the tp was sufficiently weak.

6758kHz remains the active frequency for now, the S17C transmission still occurs at 1250 to 1257z.

DoK rang in to report a different number on 17/07 it was 00040, also heard by hfd. [A previous offering that was of this ilk was sent 27/06 when it was 00037]. However, that on 18/07 was 67032, a totally different number! 23/07: 69045

Groups reported by AF, DoK and HFD were:

01/07 69038 05/07 72044 06/07 67032 08/07 58032 [?] 13/07 67028 14/07 67041 15/07 75042 16/07 58038    
17/07 00040 18/07 67032 19/07 77058 20/07 94032 21/07 90079 22/07 69038 23/07 69045 25/07 67000 26/07 69036
27/07 69036 28/07 76053 29/07 70038 30/07 69038                    

 

From AF, DoK and HFD for August:

01/08 00031 02/08 56035 03/08 67038 04/08 98034 05/08 39058 09/08 68038 10/08 69048 11/08 67032 12/08 91034
15/08 69035 16/08 69039 17/08 00079 19/08 65041 20/08 78039 22/08 70038 23/08 62032 24/08 70038 26/08 84033
27/08 96036 28/08 68037 29/08 84042 30/08 75036 31/08 69040                

S21

AF sent in his July log:

4793kHz 1742z 03/07 973 830 38 BT 32621] same message as June 2003.
  1742z 08/07 …338 32 000] new message
  1742z 10/07  
  1742z 17/07  
  1742z 22/07 973 338 32 BT 33012]
  1742z 29/07 973 338 32 BT 33012]
  1742z 31/07 973 338 32 BT 33012]
5373kHz 1742z 01/07 973 830 38 BT 32621] same message as June 2003.
  1742z 08/07 …338 32 000] new message
  1742z 15/07 973 338 32 BT 33012]
  1742z 17/07 973 338 32 BT 33012]
  1742z 22/07 973 338 32 BT 33012]

 

For July RNGB offered 4973//5373kHz 1742z 31/07 and remarks '973 with message, bad modulation].

August reports from AF and also heard by RN:

4973kHz 1742z 05/08 [973 338 32 BT 33012 msg 7/2003]
  1742z 05/08 [973 338 32 BT 33012]
  1742z 12/08 [973 729 34 BT 28157]
  1742z 14/08 [973 729 34 BT 28157]
  1745z 19/08 [793(!) 729 34 BT 28157 different (life?) voice for 739]
  1742z 26/08 [973 729 34 BT 28157]
  1742z 28/08 [973 729 34 BT 28157]
       
5373kHz 1745z 19/08 [793(!) 729 34 BT 28157 different (life?) voice for 739]
  1742z 26/08 [973 729 34 BT 28157]
  1743z 28/08 [973 729 34 BT 28157]

V02

Dave Mosier, Tucson, AZ posted this via 'Spooks' and made the comment that he has not heard this format in years! Distinct pauses every 10th group.

6837kHz 0733z 27/07 [A 132-74. rpt of 0703z]

PoSW also found a V02 station:

27-July-03 Sunday 0704z 8,132 kHz Senorita from Cuba starting up with "Atencion, uno tres dos (pause) siete cuatro" (132 74), repeated many times and into 5Fs after 0706z. When checked again at 0717z had gone leaving carrier only, which went QRT shortly afterwards.
[Also reported by Dave Mosier, Tucson, AZ].

V02A

3292kHz 0402z 29/07 wk sigs
  0200z 05/08  
4017kHz 0300z 29/07  
  0300z 05/08  
4028kHz 0324z 12/07 BM US
  0500z 25/07 [A 0xx21 82711 x6x01] Badly distorted DM US
  0100z 08/08 C Acuff
  0300z 09/08 USB (in progress. M8a blocking out. YL/SS)
4329kHz 0400z 16/07 AM
4479kHz 0415z 04/07 In progress S5 PLondon
  0410z 11/07 In progress Gd sigs PLondon
  0300z 16/07 LSB
  0400z 18/07 Gd sigs, sl fade. PLondon
  0307z 30/07  
  0400z 01/08 S2/3 Plondon
4507kHz 1100z 30/08  
5417kHz 0200z 04/07 USB
  0208z 22/08 [AM In prog]
5762kHz 0200z 05/07 AM
  0400z 12/07 [AM A 48713 85493 ????1; extremely poor audio ]BM US
  0426z 09/08 [USB (in progress) ----- ----- 95362 (YL/SS)]
  0400z 30/08 [52623 5034. 30992 (YL/SS)]
5883kHz 0500z 09/08 [USB (in progress) ----- ----- ----- (YL/SS)]
  0500z 30/08 [52623 50347 30992 (YL/SS) (rpt of 0400z on 5762m)]
6768kHz 0412z 07/07 LSB in prog, S5 PLondon
  0400z 14/07 Good sigs, better in LSB Ended 0426z PLondon
6855kHz 0300z 14/07 Gert //10466kHz
8010kHz 0602z 18/07  
  0617z 01/08 weak sigs
  0608z 11/07  
  0630z 25/07 RNGB
  0617z 29/08  
8097kHz 0600z 10/07 Gert & RNGB
  0530z 07/08 RNGB
  0543z 21/08 BM
  0600z 21/08 [A 05103 13213 87881] BM
  0600z 30/08 [AM ID ----- 89501 85372 (YL/SS)]
8136kHz 0900z 06/07 USB (in progress - missed callups)
9063kHz 0700z 09/07 RNGB
  0700z 18/07 [AM A 03692 11031 80543]
  0702z 01/08  
  0700z 13/08 RNGB
9153kHz 0700z 19/07 [AM A03693 53541 9345]
  0731z 05/07 E
  0700z 24/07  
  1300z 08/08  
  0700z 14/08 in prog RNGB
  0700z 30/08 [AM ID ----- ----- 85372 (YL/SS) (rpt of 0600z on 8097m)]
9322kHz 0400z 07/08  
9323kHz 0400z 10/07 [ID 81772 13042 28.11] MS
  0400z 21/08 Good sigs PLondon
10446kHz 0300z 14/07 Gert //6855kHz
  0300z 16/07 LSB
11566kHz 0300z 11/07 [AM A 03891 01701 37441]BM US
  0300z 18/07 [AM distorted signal]
  0320z 22/08  
12165kHz 0200z 07/07 AM
  0203z 21/07  
12215kHz 0200z 04/07 USB
  0200z 29/07 [A 91371 06492 27632]
  0200z 08/08  
  0212z 22/08  

 

PoSW also sent a log for VO2A, one interesting entry being:

17-July-03 Thursday 0539z 8,097 kHz transmission in progress, weak signal with an unusual variety of QRM from a station slightly LF, i.e. an OM voice in the French language calling out days of the week from Dimanche through to Samedi!

V07

Gert informs us that V07 is also using last years freqs:

  0600z 0620z 0640z
jan 10879 12179 13479
feb 13366 14866 16266
mar 14387 16087 17487
apr 14387 16087 17487
may 14621 16321 17521
june 14621 16321 17521
july 13837 14937 16637
aug 13837 14937 16337
sept 13381 14781 16281
oct 13521 15821 16421
nov 12152 13552 14952
dec ? ? ?

 

From Gert,HFD,MPetrakis & Pat Privat:

13837kHz 0600z 10/07 [null msg 893] also RNGB on 10/08
  0600z 15/07 [null msg 893]
  0600z 05/08 [893 265 46 78345] RNGB
  0600z 12/08 [null msg 893]
  0600z 21/08 [weak sigs]
14937kHz 0620z 08/07 [null msg 893] also by hfd also RNGB on 10/08
  0620z 17/07 [null msg 893]
  0620z 24/07 [null msg 893]
  0620z 05/08 [893 265 46 78345] RNGB
  0620z 12/08 [null msg 893]
  0620z 28/08 [893:0] HFD
16337kHz 0640z 05/08 [893 265 46 78345] RNGB

 

hfd offered:

13840kHz 0600z 08/07 [893:0]
  0600z 22/07 [893:0]

 

AnonUK found the August freqs and a message

0600z 13838kHz
0620z 14938kHz
0640z 16338kHz

 

The message: Call 893 235 46 235 46.

[TnxAnonUK]

Polytones

On 10th June 2003 the 2010, 2030 and 2050z transmissions started at ten minutes earlier [2000, 2020 and 2040z]. This means that on a Tuesday night there are two XP transmissions to monitor and although this poses no problem to the E2k monitors there is a need to recognise the two stations. We shall refer to the original 2000z et al sendings as schedule 1, the other, previous 2010z sending, as schedule 2.

Schedule 1 signals are generally, but not always, stronger than Schedule2. The frequencies used in Schedule2 appear to be one megahertz higher than those of Schedule 1. Finally, Schedule 2 has a tally mark on every 50th group, the 303Hz tone for that group being correspondingly longer.

Now onto the logs:

XP June 03 morning sendings, courtesy JoA, PLondon:

0600z 11157kHz 03/06 06/06 10/06 13/06 17/06 20/06 24/06 27/06
0620z 12458kHz 03/06 06/06 10/06 13/06 17/06 20/06 24/06 27/06
0640z 13857kHz 03/06 06/06 10/06 13/06 17/06 20/06 24/06 27/06

ID148

 

XP June 03 evening sendings, courtesy JoA, PLondon ,PoSW:

2000z 14597kHz 03/06 05/06 10/06 12/06 17/06 19/06 24/06 26/06
2020z 13417kHz 03/06 05/06 10/06 12/06 17/06 19/06 24/06 26/06
2040z 11532kHz 03/06 05/06 10/06 NRH 17/06 19/06 NRH NRH

ID545

 

2010z 16174kHz 03/06 06/06 NRH 13/06 17/06 20/06 24/06 27/06
2030z 14878kHz 03/06 06/06 NRH 13/06 17/06 20/06 24/06 27/06
2050z 13445kHz 03/06 06/06 10/06 13/06 17/06 20/06 24/06 27/06

ID184

Late XP, June 03 from JoA, PLondon, PoSW:

2120z 18459kHz 03/06 missed 10/06 13/06 17/06 19/06 20/06 24/06 26/06
2140z 17439kHz 03/06 missed 10/06 13/06 NRH 19/06 NRH 24/06 26/06
2200z 15659kHz NRH missed 10/06 13/06 NRH 19/06 NRH 24/06 26/06

ID446

XP July 03 morning sendings from AF JoA, PLondon, PoSW

0600z 11085kHz 01/07 04/07 08/07 11/07 15/07 18/07 22/07 25/07 29/07
0620z 12185kHz 01/07 04/07 08/07 11/07 15/07 18/07 22/07 25/07 29/07
0640z 13885kHz 01/07 04/07 08/07 11/07 15/07 18/07 22/07 25/07 29/07

ID018

Splendidly strong signals started the July sending, 00958/00225, following up with 00542/00323. However there was a peculiarity about this sending. It is common for XP transmissions to be preceded by a series of undefined 1200Hz tones and for the carrier to be removed quickly after the end of message, or the 8th ID + 000 if a null sending. The first two 04/07 transmissions had the carrier removed after the passing of 1200Hz tones: 0607z after the sending of 4 short tones - about 30s after message end. The 0620z sending was a little stranger. It clashed with a Morse transmission at the start, sent its message that ended at 0626:30 and then the carrier stayed up until 0633z. In the seven minutes tones were sent: 2 short 0629z, 3 medium 0632z, 2 long followed by 3 long tones at 0633z, the carrier being removed 30s later. For the 0640z transmission the carrier was removed 30s after message end with no tones having been passed. The 08/07 sending was another 323 group message [or same msg, different dk], 03169/00323. Excellent sigs all sendings on 11/07 produced 00182/00267 some slight fading on 0640z transmission.

Sigs on 15/07 started strong for the first and second transmissions whilst the third was noticeably weaker. Msg was 01037/00255.

That sent on 18/07 was 04526/00195. Excellent sigs 22/07 all sendings. 00302/00183., 25/07 excellent sigs again, 00875/00275. Splendid sigs on 29/07; 00737/00185.

Before we move on to the July and August logs an interesting discovery from PoSW:

Additional XP transmissions were found by PoSW, who wrote :

"XP polytone remains a regular, but the early morning schedule has been noted on days other than the usual Tuesday and Friday slots:

Early Schedule Starting at 0600z ;-

(I thought this schedule only ran on Tuesdays and Fridays but it has shown up on various other days of the week in both July and August).

13-July-03 Sunday 0624z 12,184 kHz surprised to find XP in full flow on a Sunday, full message format in progress, ended just after 0625z, 7.25 AM BST.
    0640z 13,884 kHz good signal but some QRM from a WEFAX signal.
23-July-03 Wednesday 0600z 11,084 kHz or approx. 6 seconds before, carrier noted a few minutes earlier, very strong signal, full message, total transmission time 6 minutes 6 seconds - one of the longest XP messages in recent times.
    0620z 12,184 kHz

repeats.

    0640z 13,884 kHz
9-Aug-03 Saturday 0620z 12,201 kHz - XP on a Saturday - strong signal, carrier noted a few minutes earlier, "No message" format lasting something like 2 minutes 18 seconds."

 

[Tnx PoSW].

This 'new' schedule is on different frequencies, probably with a different destination to the schedule that we regularly report. We have, in the past, discovered other isolated sendings [obviously parts of other as yet undiscovered schedules] at 0500z and 1720/1740z

XP July 03 Schedule 1 sendings from AF, AnonUK, JoA, PLondon, PoSW

2000z 13806kHz 01/07 03/07 08/07 10/07 15/07 17/07 22/07 24/07 29/07 31/07
2020z 12211kHz 01/07 03/07 08/07 10/07 15/07 17/07 22/07 24/07 29/07 31/07
2040z 11075kHz NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH 17/07 NRH 24/07 NRH 31/07

ID820

First message of the month occurred on 17/07, good sigs 00235/00163. JoA noticed that the carrier came up as usual on 2040z tx on 11075k on Th.17/07, but no polytone developed. Carrier went off at the time when the polytone would have finished,if it had occured. JoA queries if this is the first time this has happened. Message sent again 24/07, very good sig strengths in SLondon/Aylesbury. Chris Acuff in US could hear them but not of good strength. Msg: 00431/00241.29/07 was a very weak sending. The 2000z was not heard by PLondon but just copied by AnonUK Good signals 31/07, both JoA and PLondon experiencing metered strengths +35 and +40dBs at times for the 00146/00207 final schedule 1 message for July 2003.

XP July 03 Schedule 2 sendings from AF, JoA, PLondon, PoSW, RN GB

2000z 15780kHz 01/07 04/07 08/07 11/07 15/07 18/07 22/07 25/07 29/07
2020z 13804kHz 01/07 04/07 08/07 11/07 15/07 18/07 22/07 25/07 29/07
2040z 12215kHz NRH NRH 08/07 11/07 NRH NRH 22/07 25/07 NRH

ID782

All the sendings on 08/07 were poor and generally noisy. Message sent was 00116/00149. This message was repeated on 11/07, signals on that day reported as poor by both JoA and PLondon. 22/07 poor sigs for PLondon: 2000/202z +10dBs for 2040z 00367/00077.

RNGB sent in an example of the 15780kHz 2000z sending for 22/07:

782 782 782 1 782 782 782 1 782 782 782 1 782 782 782 1
782 782 782 1 782 782 782 1 782 782 782 1 782 782 782 1
782 782 782 1


MESSAGE
R>>>>>>>>>>>>> _________00367 00077 38265 35950 81102
82371 35728 40458 10199 96854 89114 17755 59196 96981 35793
24374 39686 68621 79243 47578 73496 12497 35631 23041 80096
28485 56440 19029 13636 28968 26231 18618 02405 30132 49347
33318 76732 73580 71920 98676 16998 75317 62736 45429 20528
27766 57242 72328 87140 18559 98958 64388_59028 86287 41490
45736 08478 62222 98011 34168 07699 82914 39125 14573 80889
58604 87224 47135 56171 95363 58593 09816 13077 44224 12446
61043 84877 78324 90447 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Very interesting because PLondon found his reception too poor to allow him to process until 2040z. [Tnx RN].

This message was repeated on 25/07 with signal strengths marginally better, clocking in at S7 to S9 variable at PLondon's QTH.

XP July 03 Late sendings from JoA, PLondon, PoSW, Chris Acuff[US]

2120z 18192kHz 01/07 03/07 08/07 10/07 15/07 22/07 24/07 29/07 31/07
2140z 16292kHz 01/07 03/07 08/07 10/07 15/07 22/07 24/07 29/07 31.07
2200z 14892kHz 01/07 03/07 08/07 10/07 15/07 22/07 24/07 29/07 31/07

ID128

Strong late night signals in opposition to last month's offerings on 01/07 00967/00189 repeated 03/07. 08/07 produced reasonable signals 00423/00171. Excellent signals again 10/07 produced a repeat of 08/07 171 group message. Very poor signals on 15/07, 08141/00231 repeated on 17/07 with equally poor sigs.

Chris Acuff [US] sent in his report for 22/07; it reads "XP at 21:20, Poor/fair signal, fading from S0 - S4 on the S-meter, off at 21:25 15, XP on 16292 at 21:40, Fair/strong signal, fading from S3 - S5 on the S-meter, Off at 21:45 12, XP on 14892 at 22:00, Fair/strong signal, fading from S4 - S6, off at 22:05 12." PLondon heard it S9+10dBs for the first two sendings. 00930/00219, repeated 24/07. [Heard by Chris Acuff in US]. Weaker sigs 29/07 message 00234/00197 sent , The message of 29/07 was repeated 31/07 but the signals were so poor it was almost impossible to process them. The initial 2120z sending was the worst, the best being the 2200z offering.

 

XP August 03 morning sendings from JoA, PLondon,

0600z 10601kHz 01/08 05/08 08/08 11/08 15/08 19/08 22/08 26/08 29/08
0620z 12201kHz 01/08 05/08 08/08 11/08 15/08 19/08 22/08 26/08 29/08
0640z 13501kHz 01/08 05/08 NRH 11/08 15/08 19/08 22/08 26/08 29/08

ID625

Excellent signals kicked off the August 03 morning schedule. A two message format was sent, 02166/00045 and 00214/00231. Good signals throughout with JoA and PLondon. Having been made aware of the tally mark previously by RN GB, PLondon noticed the long 303Hz tone prior to the '00000 00000' separator. As can be seen here:

'97190 55720 _00000 00000 00124 00231 05131'

The two underlined groups are the dk/gc for the next message, whilst the opening two groups are the 44th and 45th groups of the first forty-five group message. The tally mark can be seen before the first separating group of zeroes.

Excellent sigs again on 05/08, this time in PLondon's S London shack prior to a visit to the British Museum's brickyard under glass! 02578/00299 was the dk/gc, also weakly heard in US by BM [reported via 'Spooks']. 08/08 Null messages started badly with fading in the first sending. The 0620z transmission was a stable S9 with PLondon. The 11/08 transmission reflected the same problems noticed on 08/08 - 00456/00239 - also heard by MPetrakis, good sigs. 15/08 produced excellent signals into Plondons work QTH: 00672/00281JoA also monitored the 0600z sending and noted that there was a 1 sec break in the sending 56 secs after the start. PLondon had also noted the gap but understood it to be from local QRM.

19/08 produced 00673/00197, the third sending was od poor strength. NOTE: the dk 00673, previous 15/08 was 0672 with just 10 more groups sent. 22/08 00673/00197, 26/08 00674/00183 and 29/08 08545/00189, again excellent strength.

XP August 03 Schedule 1 sendings from AnonUK, JoA, PLondon, PoSW

2000z 13953kHz 05/08 07/08 12/08 14/08 19/08 21/08 26/08 28/08
2020z 12176kHz 05/08 07/08 12/08 14/08 19/08 21/08 26/08 28/08
2040z 10736kHz 05/08 07/08 12/08 14/08 19/08 21/08 NRH 28/08

ID917

Same freqs as last year, strong sigs 04623/00127 for the kick-off in August repeated 07/08. 12/08 were all good sigs 00678/00251, this message being repeated on 14/08. Strong sigs again on 19/08: 00449/00173. 21/08 started with a poor signal, just audible with PLondon but NRH with JoA, 2020z was NRG with PLondon - the third sending at 2040z was a stronger signals - 00449/00173, a repeat of the previous transmission. 28/08 produced good signals at JoA and Plondon's shacks - 00954/00083.

XP August 03 Schedule 2 sendings from JoA, PLondon,

2000z 14984kHz 01/08 05/08 08/08 12/08 14/08 15/08 19/08 21/08 22/08 NRH 28/08 29/08
2020z 13849kHz 01/08 05/08 08/08 12/08 14/08 15/08 19/08 21/08 22/08 NRH 28/08 29/08
2040z 12151kHz 01/08 05/08 08/08 12/08 14/08 NRH 19/08 21/08 22/08 NRH 28/08 NRH

ID982

The first message for August 03 was 00256/00119, the first sending suffered from QRM from a nearby fax tx. For the 2020z JoA noted ' QRM-digital. re-tuned to 13849.3kHz to cut out QRM.' On 05/08 the first transmission was inaudible even with a bandpass filter. The remaining sendings were variable with last being the best in PLondon's shack - 00256/00119. The 08/08 sendings produced 00476/00185 - PLondon omitted to put sig strength details in his logs [252 and immediate loss of days pay] as he made an unusual foray onto 2M to enjoy reminiscing about his time in Guyana and Aden at the same time he tackled XP[2].

Poor sigs on 12/08 09922/00149. The underlined date of 14/08 indicates a Thursday sending , instead of Friday. Thanks to JoA's vigilance we learnt of this sending which lasted around 4 mins and is possibly a repeat of the 12/08 sending - the duration being similar, also reported by Jochen in Marburg. Friday 15/08 was a Null Msg.

The sendings on 19/08 were of very poor strength, 00963/00035 - birthday greetings? The 2040z 19/08 was very weak and noisy in PLondon's shack. An unexpected sending again on 21/08 and intercepted by JoA. Unfportunately no dk/gc bit its length matched that of the 35 group message sent on 19/08.

The 22/08 sending was another short message, 00843/00041. The expected 26/08 sendings were not heard. Problem with propagation or schedule change? On 28/08 Schedule 2 signals were heard at around S5 in PLondon's shack and produced a two message format: 00524/00053 and 00941/00151. Was this just a 2 msg format or the missing message from 26/08 Null Msg for final sending of August 2003 confirmed by AnonUK.

XP August 03 Schedule 3 [Late sendings] from RN GB freqs from HFD

2120z 16309kHz 12/08 14/08 19/08 21/03 26/08 28/08
2140z 14909kHz 12/08 14/08 19/08 21/03 26/08 28/08
2200z 13509kHz 12/08 14/08 19/08 21/03 NRH NRH

ID395

PLondon originally posted a request for freqs and had those above sent to him by h-fd. Listening on the night of 07/08 PLondon heard nothing. On 12/08 RN GB mailed e2k to say that he had proved the freqs which had carried a message; 00534/00207. [Tnx HFD and RN GB]. PLondon heard the repeat of the 12/08 message on 14/08 noticing that the first sending was of poor strength.

All the 19/08 sendings were poor, PLondon struggled to pick from the tones: 00681/00141. The last sending, at 2200z, was particularly poor and virtually inaudible. RN GB managed to transcribe the entire message, which he sent to E2k and which confirmed PLondon's analysis of the dk/gc. The 19/08 sendings were also heard by Chris Acuff, US who wrote," 16309 XP 21:20z Good to hear XP again, caught this one while doing homework, fairly strong/mostly readable, message. 14909 XP 21:40z Fair/Strong/Mostly readable, message. 13509 XP 22:00z very weak/barely heard/almost unreadable, lost in static at around 22:02z. Good stuff Chris, Thanks! Note that Chris states the sigs as strong, is the US the target area for this sending? 2120/2140 and 2200z are a more reasonable time with 5 hours removed from the zulu time to correct for time difference. It places the sendings, locally, in late afternoon. 21/03 sendings started badly with the first sending being inaudible the other two sendings also low signal strengths, typically S" with both PLondon and JoA: 00681/00141.

26/08 were extremely weak with PLondon, he heard only the odd snippet of the sendings and was unable to distinguish between a null or full message. Stronger signals were heard on 28/08, albeit a null message.

XPH

The Tuesday and Saturday high pitched polytone XPH was heard in July, 1830z 16,354 kHz and 1850z, 14,873 kHz always with the "No message" type of transmission usually with fairly weak signals. In August the frequencies are 15,629 kHz - maybe plus or minus several kHz - it is in the 19 metre BC band and so badly flattened by a broadcast station that it is difficult to tune in XPH well enough to read the frequency. The second sending is on 14,352 kHz which is clear enough. Again, only "No message" transmissions heard. By the way, since XPH comes up on the frequencies as used in the same month as last year, 1830z 13,368 kHz and 1850z 11,634 kHz might be worth checking in September. [Tnx PoSW]. PLondon adds the third freq: 1910z 10143kHz [from his interception of a two format message on 14/09/02 dk/gc 02367/00043 and 06148/00062].

June's evening XPH:

1830z 17455kHz 03/06 NRH 10/06 14/06 17/06 21/06 24/06 28/06
1850z 15932kHz 03/06 07/06 10/06 14/06 17/06 21/06 24/06 28/06
1910z 14470kHz NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH

ID494

July's evening XPH freqs from PoSW, obs AF JoA, PLondon RN GB:

1830z 16354kHz 01/07 05/07 08/07 NRH NRH 19/03 22/07 - 29/07
1850z 14874kHz 01/07 05/07 08/07 NRH 15/07 19/03 22/07 26/07 29/07
1910z 13367kHz NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH

ID383

Good signals, still NRH on 01/07; the warm up was interrupted by a short drop of carrier at 1851:30, its raising heralded by two tones at 1954z. The expected signals of 12/07 were not heard by PLondon and could have been due to poor propagation. However on 15/07 DoK also listened for the 1830z transmission and heard nothing. The second transmission appeared with S5 sig strength for the null message. 19/03 first sending at 1830z was very poor, onlt the odd tone appearing on the spectro display whilst just as poor audibly. The 1850z sending weighed in at S2 in South London.

As the previous 1830z sendings had been poor Jochen Schäfer was requested to listen for this sending on 22/07. Jochen reported from Germany: "XPH was there on 16354 kHz at 18.30, ID: 383, and so a null-msg. The signal strength here was at least 5." [Tnx Jochen]. The signal strength report also matches that from PLondon/RNGB: 22/07 sendings were S5 and S2 respectively with PLondon and RN GB also heard XPH. 1830z sending missed on 26/07, PLondon was recollecting on buying a new bathroom suite but snapped out of his misery to catch the 1850z null message, noting the very noisy background that occluded the like poor signals. Reasonably strong signals heralded the last null message of July 2003.

August's evening XPH freqs:

1830z 15632kHz 05/08 09/08 12/08 16/08 19/08 23/08 26/08 30/08
1850z 14350kHz 05/08 09/08 12/08 16/08 19/08 23/08 26/08 30/08
1910z 12223kHz NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH NRH

ID632

The sending of August's first message on 02/08 remained unreported because JoA was unable due to previous arrangements and PLondon was dragged out to watch Terminator 3 [A right load of rubbish, he commented later]!

The selection of the first freq was not a good one - BC station occludes the polytones although display on spectro was possible on 05/08. The 1850z sending strength in S London was S7 to 30dBs. As usual for this station a null message.

The null message was sent 09/08; the first sending was virtually inaudible, the 1850z was better, audible and visible on spectro. Chris Smolinski [Spooks] sent a message to say that he too heard the 1850z offering at S2, in PLondon's it was S3. So if it isn't meant for GB or US where is it meant for? Did anyone receive this station at a better strength?

Better strengths on 12/08 but still null message. The recipients are either not very important, not working or using the phone for their instruction! Of course it could be a 'reserve line' undergoing a weekly scheduled test.

The fact that there is rarely a message could be a statement that all is well, a message may outline a problem, whilst no message may mean something bad has happened - after all you can't interfere with silence!

16/08 was heard by AnonUK who mentioned that the first sending was weak whilst the second, at the end of the 20M ham band, was reasonably strong. PLondon, subject to a four hour journey from Bletchley Park phoned ahead to another member requesting that he listen for the 1850z sending. Unfortunately that member [you know who you are] dozed off whilst on watch and missed the sending. Luckily AnonUK has saved the day!

19/08: a null message again, first sending 1830z 15626kHz not apparent apart from a few tones, 1850z a better sending, Strangely the 1830z signal came up at good strength at 1819z with a series of short tones until 1821z.

23/08 produced reasonable signals, again a null message. S5 sigs for both sendings for 26/08. Good strong sigs for the last sending on 30/08.

Possible Sept freqs: 1830z 13,368 kHz, 1850z 11,634 kHz and 1910z 10143kHz [PoSW and PLondon]

Polytones also reported by HFD.

XPL

The last observations by AF were :

5460kHz 2000 - 2008z Wed 26/03
5476kHz 2011 - 2018z Wed 26/03
9112kHz 2027 - [2035?]z Wed 26/03
11432kHz 1920 - 1943z Tues 25/03

XPM

Last monitored by AnonUK on:

15604kHz 1220z 15/03

 

logo alapage


Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities
Enigma control list | Polytones debate | Numbers predictions
German speaking groups outside Germany (2/3) | News Items
Web sites | Requests | Stop press | Contribution deadlines
Index | E2K NL Home

---