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:

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

[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:

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].

E07

E10

From our E10 desk :

E10 July 03

* 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:

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

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.

• 01 Aug.
  It had to happen, SYN2 & VLB2 have been swopping freq's for a while now, and on freq 4.015 at 00:45hrs both stns were transmitting at the same time. (Jeruselem Jollop strikes again )

• 8 Aug.
  Tuned into SYN2 transmitting at 23:38hrs (outside its normal schedule) on 6.912 ,8.025 & 4.780, it may have commenced at 23:30 hrs but is normally heard at H+45 to H+50hrs. No group message given. This procedure is not rare and seems to occure with a number of xxx2 strings at various times. It is still transmitting at 01:00hrs as I close down.

• 15 Aug.
  You may have noticed that over the last month or so a majority of c/s have been late in opening the transmission at the expected times, 3/4 mins late in a some of cases. At one stage I did think my computer clock was playing up but constant checks proved it not to be the reason. However today the all the transmissions I have heard, have started and ended right on time. One of the main culprits had been EZI whom I have been monitoring. Other minor changes noted has been the up/down tuning of the frequency for the odd transmission by certain c/s ie ART, YHF & EZI this month
  
  At 23:00 hrs ART & JSR were transmitting at the same time on 5.091 very confusing lasted approx 4 mins before ending.

• 20 Aug.
  At 02:15hrs MIW2 was heard for its 5mins transmission on 9.130 a freq normally associated with EZI, may be a one off call, has not been heard since.

Many thanks to RN GB for the following

© 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:

Mixed logs:

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

• 8544kHz 0830z - 0841z 19/08/2003

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:

• 9063kHz 1030 - 1038z 01/09/2002

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]:

E17

From Gert we receive this interesting log

E17Z

Heard by RN GB:

Another heard by Gert:

E18

E23

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

Transmits Monday Wednesday and Thursday:

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!

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:

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

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!)

Friday 1930z Schedule

Sunday 2020z Schedule

Other observations:

G22

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]