ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 23

July 2004
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities | Polytones
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Voice stations

An email from DK suggested a Portuguese UNID on 13170kHz heard on 12/05. JoA rang PLondon at 0749z 13/05 to say that he was hearing the station and a sample was heard over the telephone. PLondon immediately enlisted the help of his cleaner, Ligia, a native Portuguese, who stated that the transmission was “An advertisement for a radio station.” Jock Kane shuddered at the activities of his cleaning staff at Little Sai Wan, wrote a book that was never published or read, 'GCHQ: The Negative Asset', though many claim to have actually done so, and hoped that the lack of security there did not compromise the stations activities. Jock Kane was a civilian operator for GCHQ’s ‘Composite Signals Organisation’ although Little Sai Wan had been home to RAF 367SU. It is interesting to note that 367SU was disbanded in February 1962 and the base taken over as a Composite Signals operation until 1982 when it moved to Chung Hom Kok, west of Stanley. In later times the camp was used as an accommodation site eventually yielding to a land reclamation scheme.

JoA did some further investigative work on the 13170kHz USB UNID. He wrote, 'Numbers quoted in tx- 806 1232 1629 1640 2210 2217 which could be freqs. However allocated MW freqs. are 800 810 - 1230 1240 - 1610 1613 1620 - The highest recorded in "WRTH" being 1690kHz. The range of numbers are also within the 24 clock, although the 806 would be normally quoted as 0806 if it was a time. Nothing above 2359. I've had a look at Portugal, Brazil, Angola & Mozambique without getting any more clues. Subject closed!’[Tnx John - luvvly jubbly]!

An UNID is reported, tongue in cheek style from TomUS who writes:

“A friend of mine said that last tues/weds [25-26/05] he came across a station on 6855 reading off groups of 3 digit numbers.. each group repeated twice. Used a distorted male voice in AM and had a hum in the background. I believe it may of been that pirate WBNY numbers station that was active on 6850. But they used double and single digit numbers.. and said stuff like "the water is warm in Miami tonight" and said "Bravo sierra" (BS anyone?) BS? - more like LOB Tom!

Before we move to the logs PoSW offered an immediate insight to the current state of the number stations:

“Observations on the Number Station scene;- The S06 Russian man continues to be the most active member of this family; as well as the weekly Tuesday and the second and third Saturdays in the month schedules several transmissions have been logged which do not appear to be part of a regular pattern. The E06 English Man still does not seem to be particularly busy, the only regular schedule of which I am aware is the weekly Sunday 1830 + 1930z with call "690".

The G06 German YL follows the established schedules of first Monday in the month and alternate- or sometimes misses two - Thursdays at 1830z, repeated on the Friday at 1930z. It looks as though there is also a G06 Saturday schedule running; it was logged on both the 12th and 19th of June at 2020z on 12,210 KHz with a repeat on the Sunday. A weekly G06 would be something new, although it may well have been running for some time.”

[Tnx PoSW].

Peter also offered other valid analysis on other stations and these have been placed with the piece on that station. Peter’s fine logs have also been included where possible but personal circumstance [younger daughter’s marriage and older daughter gaining a First at Uni] have occluded much of the work necessary. Imagine the ensuing furore should I read out a station analysis at the wedding instead if the usual ‘Father of the Bride’ speech.

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.

E05

Nothing heard from the E05 network since the test tone activity on known E05 frequencies ceased in the first week of January writes PoSW; see E05, page 6 Issue 21 for the previous findings concerning the enigmatic and yet to be heard again, Cynthia. It would appear that Cynthia sleeps…………..

E06

Gert heard an E06 station last Sunday (23 may) at 14.00z on 14375 kHz. Id 469 and writes, 'It is the same Id heard on a E06 station on saturday, 22may 2004, 15.00 utc, 12212 kHz. That means that the sat/sun 14.00 / 15.00 utc E06 sked has probably been reactivated.'

Gert’s observations were well founded, however read PoSW’s account of the occurance,

“The weekly Sunday schedule at 1830 and 1930z uses the same call, 690 and has been moving up the band as days grow longer.

On Saturday 22/05 there was a transmission at 1500z on 12212kHz, a carrier with tone being noted earlier.”

PoSW also mentioned that was the first Saturday afternoon E06 he had heard in 2004. He noted that the message format was of the two message type with the call 469 [dk/gc 253 253 61 61 and 308 308 72 72.] Searching for repeats on Sunday 23/05 produced E06 at 1400z 14375kHz and calling 469 – with XJT nearby. Also repeated at 1500z 12212kHz. The messages heard were not repeats of those heard on 23/05 though – Peter noted a different dk/gc for both messages passed.

PoSW’s log also mirrors Gert’s report as well as some of the logs that appear below.

[Tnx PoSW].

E07

Both AnonUK and Gert of Holland sent in details of a possible new schedule for E07 informing us of a 220grp message:

Noting the mentions of weak signals from AF and HFD, PoSW writes that he could find no trace of the 1700/1720z schedule on 14942 and 13472kHz respectively, for Sunday 30/05.

Offering his logs PoSW mentions;

“The E07 English Man continues, in general, to use the same frequencies as in the same month in previous years; but one exception to this rule has been observed in June. The 1700z transmission on Sundays and Wednesdays seemed to have vanished in June, or at least there was no sign of it on the frequencies used in June 2003, but has subsequently been found on a completely different trio of frequencies. The modulation problem persists with E07; quite often the carrier is very strong but the speech is faint and difficult to hear, but every once in a while they manage to get things about right.”

PoSW’s logs were placed on file as constraints on time prevented our usual sort for duplication etc – apologies Peter.

E07a

E10

E10 Desk May 04

• Bold lettering in black denotes repeated message

• <> Denotes No changes to schedule heard.

• Frequency in ( ) Denotes slight variation in transmitted frequency used on some occasions.

• All timings are GMT

E10 Comments

• 29th April at 2000hrs. I hear SYNA50B2 and based on previous transmissions its more than likely it commenced at 1945hrs as it ended at 2051hrs. This was again verified by Ary's (enigma2000)SYN of the 29th of April.

• During the evening of the 4th of May on 6912 CIO10 and on 6930 SYNA41050700, both were recorded by Jochen Schupper and Joseph Chircop. I have included these in the above log

• MIW2 & KPA2 commenced call at 2215hrs and were still transmitting at 0030hrs over 2hrs later, on 5339 & 6370 respectively when I was overcome by sleep.

• Looking at the above log you will notice a number of C/S whose transmissions were over the hour long and in some cases 3hrs. Where possible I have put the ending time. Also the amount of activity during the last month , seems to have brought out a spate of Special headers which makes more interesting listening. KPAA67T2R2 being one of the latest

• An example of another practice that is becoming more frequent is as follows, KPA2 commences transmission at 2015hrs on 6912 and continues until 2045hrs when up pops CIO2 whom transmits the normally expected 5mins and ends its call. KPA2 then restarts on the same frequency ending at 2120hrs.

• Mike L sent in a report of an unusual time and frequency for FTJ2 on 14000khz at 1100hrs. A new one for me.(Thx Mike)

• From Ary. Long header from CIO K160045P50045, it is included in the above log (Thx Ary)

• Further logs from JC Malta and Chris Acuff received, many thanks. Relevent bits included in above log.

• 28 May VLB2 + KPA2 transmitting at same moment on 5.339 at 2115hrs. See log Above. Once again the swopping of freq's causes chaos.

E10 Monitored Networks & Callsigns Jan 04 to Dec 04
As At 25 June 04

Special Headers

Call Sign. Date Last Heard & Frequencies Used

I apologise to all for failing to produce the June E10. My forefinger has been severely whipped and is currently doing 3 days bread and water in the guardroom for wilfully deleting the said June E10.

In its place I send the above covering Special headers/Callsigns and frequencies in use that I have managed to hear during the first six months of this year.

E10 Comments

• 24 June at 2319hrs on freq 6912 MIO2 was heard calling and after a few more calls it changed to MIW2, for one brief moment I thought we had something new. Next little cockup came at 0015 25/6 on freq 5170 when KPA2 & MIW2 were both transmitting at the same time. MIW2 was also using 5339,4165 & 6912 at that time.

• 26/6. 2015hrs 0n 5170 MIW2, by 2025hrs it had changed to KPA2 and then at 2027hrs it became MIW2 + KPA2 together and still is at 2100hrs. (Ended 2120hrs)

• 28/6. After the preamble of the last day or so with MIW2 & KPA2, tonight at 2050hrs I heard both stns on different frequencies as follows---- MIWY33M2S2-----KPAT88R2A2. I suspect that the transmissions commenced at 2015hrs and expect them to stop at 2120hrs if the normal pattern is followed. (It ended at 2122hrs)

©BMDartford June 04

[Not only has Bob’s finger suffered corporal punishment but since its release it has now been placed on orders with loss of privileges for 48Hrs- any subsequent offence will be dealt with at Colchester]!

E11

STOP PRESS FROM ANONUK:

Chart updated to reflect these new freqs [Tnx AnonUK]

Ell schedule. Note all times zulu, freqs in kHz. *M03, was E11 - t reverted to E11 0830z 15/06 [message 184/30]

[Tnx to AnonUK for info rx’d inc Change of freq].

E15

We print the known schedule [as issue 22]:

MikeL sent in an UNID that he had heard and this is included because of his ending suggestion. He stated that it was not E25, so worthy of mention:

E17

Jochen E2kde reports:

E23

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

Transmits Monday Wednesday and Thursday:

Week 4 in AM only.

Regarding E23 activity AnonUK wrote, 'I did not hear E23 at all in June. In May just heard it on weeks 3 and 4.' That supports AF’s findings too.

E25

Although this station was weak and noisy it was heard by ML who reports:

Around that time PLondon also reported a lift in condx. See also E15.

A little unusual for us but: E25 STOP PRESS

Manolis Petrakis remarked via group:

“After celebrating the European Cup, it's time for business! Being absent for a long time, the guys from Alexandria (if this is the transmitter location) decided to send something!

Please note that the group "0410" appears twice. It is the 3rd and the 11th (last) group. Please refer to my message 2596 on this group for another E25 message.”

[Message 2596 reads:

From: "Manolis Petrakis"
Date: Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:46 pm
Subject: E25 message


Hello everybody! E25 today with a message:
9450 kHz AM, 12:45 UTC

Calling "780" many times,
"Message" x3,

9549 6501 0210 3553 1254
7559 0481 6642 3755 0210

"Repeat" x3,

...

"End of message",
"785 41" ca. 4 times,
"End of transmission" at 12:51 UTC.
Carrier off at 12:52 UTC.

Note that "0210" appears twice!]

As in the message of 17/02/04 detailed above Manolis pointed out, “There is also the group "0210" repeated twice, and it is also the 3rd and last group of the message!!!”

Excellent work Manolis – Thanks for posting!

G06

As usual PoSW offers his comprehensive analytical log of the G06 German Frauline and includes scheduling info too.

“The same three regular schedules known;- first Monday in the month at 1900 UTC and 2000 UTC, Thursday 1830 UTC schedule, usually alternate weeks but sometimes misses two weeks; and a repeat of the Thursday transmission on the following day at 1930 UTC but with a different "Call".

[Excellent Peter, many Tnx].

Excellent logs too from AF, AnonUK, HFD and RNGB.

G22

Slavic Stations

Once again DoK offers his definitive chart with updates:

Chart 13
M10, S10d and S17c Listings at 30^th June, 2004. All times GMT/UTC
Compiled by the Slavic Desk.

[*Multi message format on 29/06]

All frequencies stated +/- 2kHz / Times prefixed ‘S’ designate S10d

Activity designations:

No further changes are expected until 1^st September 2004 assuming continuation of routine as for 2003. Minor changes may occur from time to time.

Since the last chart was posted, the S0150 schedule is now confirmed together with the // 9986kHz.

The 0615z schedule now boasts what I believe is its // freq, namely 15898kHz and on a number of occasions a much better signal than 14565kHz.

The 15898kHz freq only came to light in the last 10 days, I immediately checked the freq on other days and on Wed 23/06 a transmission in progress was discovered at 0839z, I suspect this may be the 0830 schedule which has not been heard for some time. Further time will be taken to ascertain its habits. On 30^th June it was not heard and has been classified as ALT until further detail is forthcoming.

It will be noticed that a number of schedules last listed on Chart 12 no longer appear; this does not mean they no longer exist, lack of time and other activities have restricted my searching. This brings me onto another problem I have at the moment. I live in a converted manor house and the landlord has decided to renovate and refurbish the building exterior. Without any mention my antennae were removed from their outside supports and left laying on the ground, leaving me to work on my two indoor antennae. I hope to have three bigger and better antennae installed for the 1^st Sept change.

S17c remains impossible for me to log due to the ever present RTTY QRM and still no // freq.

On 20^th May the 150z transmission on 13405kHz was conspicuous by spreading over 10kHz with four spaced carrier peaks, maybe the same transmitter that was causing problems in the 15-16MHz range last year.

Finally, I must state that I use an emailer phone. It was my intention to comment on the email usage and content but for now I will bite my tongue.

Thanks to AF, AnonUK, JoA, PoSW and PLondon for their assistance.

©ENIGMA 2000 30/06/2004

S06

To open Issue 23 S06 AnonUK answers a question posed by RNGB who asked [in Issue 22] 'if anyone "heard messages on the IDs where the repeat is 10 mins later." RNGB added that the time factor only gives time for a short message. AnonUK answered, "Yes, but only a short one.This morning [04/05] at 0810z on 9610kHz there was a repeat of 0800, frequency of which I missed. Call 418 273 273 5 5 11287 78639 51152 64829 87044 (Groups sent twice) 273 273 5 5 00000".

Then AnonUK and Gert of Holland alerted E2k that they had both heard a female announcer on S06:

AnonUK wrote "First time I have heard that. It was a short 6 group message, I did not get the call as the quality was very poor." AnonUK kindly sent a sound sample, which has been placed within the group. AnonUK further explained that theWednesday 0700z had changed to 14580kHz; the 0710z to 16020kHz using the ID 729 and had sent an 8 group message Wednesday 05/05.

[TnxAnonUK and Gert].

Other examples of the short repeated message format were sent by RNGB:

Repeats of 967 243 5 44453 etc [OM]

Repeats of 862 467 5 5f groups – difficult to copy [YL]

On 10/05 AnonUK followed the following procedural glitch from S06, with a sound sample posted to group.

[TnxAnonUK]

AF also sent his May log showing Female voices:

RNGB’s logs for Tuesday 11/05 reflect the busy nature of S06 and the change of gender of the announcer:

S06 has also reached Crete! Manolis reports:

The saga continues when on 17/05 RNGB contacted E2k, sending an attachment of S06 (YL) heard that same morning at 0800/0810z 14373/12935kHz respectively. "The transmission has a sort of pulsation to it and is in AM mode," RNGB observed. "It was the same last week also, so doesn't sound like it's coming from the normal S06 sources." PLondon heard the sound sample and the background was pulsing, at one stage almost sending the interrogative IMI[?] in Morse.

Regarding Gert's postings of the S06 listings Gert offers, 'The S06 list is still growing and many new freqs have been found. These lists could not have been this complete without the help of Guy and Richard.' [Thanks to Guy, Richard and Gert for this].

Gert also makes note that the zero's at the end of the message remain doing the same. Long ones stay long (0 0 0 0 0), short ones stay short (00000). He also states that he queries its meaning; not to do with the operators behaviour but having some meaning, maybe signal strength. Gert mentioned that he was not sure about that. PLondon suggested that perhaps the spread of the zeros, close or spaced indicates the importance of a message - fake or real, important or mundane? But then again PLondon was not sure of that either, as both Gert and he indicated it could indicate a myriad of things.

Of S06 PoSW writes he has been keeping an ear on the May weekly Tuesday schedule at 1850 and 1950z on 11130 and 9230kHz respectively. The schedule, using the call 254 has appeared every Tuesday this year and moving up in frequency as we move into summer. PoSW says that the transmissions are of the usual four minute ‘no message’ variety but noted a past message being sent on 27/04, and repeated on Wednesday.

In his weekly report AnonUK listed four instances where he had monitored the S06yl:

AnonUK writes, "The S06 on Thursday at 1600 on 10410 has returned to a male voice, no doubt the agents had as much trouble as us to copy the very poor quality transmission with the female voice."[Confirmed for Mondays too on 07/07 by AnonUK].

RNGB listened for S06 on 01/06 and writes,

"This morning [01/06] at 0715z for S06 and found on 6780kHz (no change) with ID 374 DK 891 5 groups starting 64177 Also no change of the 0800/0810z sked on 7245/9670kHz with ID 418 DK 972 5 groups starting 40255.

This evening [01/06] at 1950z on 9310kHz with ‘254’ 708 (131 groups), the first few groups were quite interesting – 37601 00000 01000 01289 78876 (the rest seemed quite normal) signal strength around S5 and ended with fast zeros."

S06 logs may and june 2004.[Incorporates findings from Gert, AnonUK and RNGB]

Finally PoSW writes

“12-June-04, Saturday;- 1800 UTC, 11,120 KHz, repeat of "149" and "652 652 107 107", very strong, S9+ signal. Carrier was up 15 minutes earlier and something was heard which has been observed before when number stations of this family have been found with pre-transmission carriers, namely the loud piano keyboard chord made by a computer running under Microsoft Windows software when an error is made by the user; the sound was heard distinctly twice while monitoring the carrier today.”

An interesting piece from his full log, which due to the size of the S06 observations we are unable to include. PoSW’s full log has been added to our records.[Tnx PoSW].

Finally on 25^th June Gert sent

“Found two S06 stations today, friday 25th;

Both freqs are also used in May 04.”

Thanks Gert

Thanks to all the monitors who sent in their S06 logs. The sheer amount of observations of this station stands note of its current activity.

S06c

Heard by RNGB:

S10d

We acknowledge receipt of PoSW’s very comprehensive log, sent direct to DoK for utilisation within the ongoing S10d analysis.

S11a Cherta

On 17 June AnonUK wrote

“Looking back at my log for 2 years ago, I see I had a log for Thursday at 0500 for S11a on 4783kHz. Just as a matter of interest, I left my RX to record at 0500 today, and amazingly up she came with 972/00. I did not hear it on Wednesday at all, I think the sked is 2100 but I am not sure. Perhaps at this time of the year it changes to the 0500 sked.”

S17C

For May this station continued to send on 6758kHz as notified by AF. Others supplied by HFD:

S17c continues to send on 6758kHz leaving those of us in the outer European reaches the problem of the tty signal that obviates S17c. AF started June by sending the numbers for early June, followed by a surprising observation from AnonUK for 01/06:

[majority via AF others H-FD – tnx]

S21

Spanish Number stations

The Spanish language senorita from Cuba continues much as usual; signal strengths are better at this time of the year than in the winter months on this side of the Atlantic Ocean but technical shortcomings are still much in evidence [PoSW].

V02

Instead of ‘Nil Report’ thanks to the unfortunate delay in the production of this issue we are able to bring a most valid STOP PRESS.

After a long absence from our lists Mark Slaten[US] sent an exciting find. We have for this purpose used the V02 classification for this but will consider any change for the forthcoming and updated ENIGMA Control List. Mark wrote, 'I found V02 with the pause after every tenth group. Found him at 0500z on 8132kHz. Was there a separate designation for this format? Or will V02 suffice? I have not heard this format in quite some time. Not very common.' Thanks Mark - excellent find!

V02a

PoSW offer his most comprehensive Spanish Lady log, “Not much new to report, the same long-standing schedules. Late starts, early starts, poor quality audio and background buzzes are still commonplace!”

[Excellent V02a log – Tnx PoSW].

Onto other logs, like PoSW’s mainly heard in Europe.

*Tom offers from the US,

"Tonight 28/05 in the rainy state of Pennsylvania I noted some disruptions in the V02a signal. I tune in at 0207z and at 0219z another V02a with a quieter "carrier" came on over it... then they seeemd to fight one another with the original voice going on and off and making all sorts of buzzing and junk. The first original voice went off and the second voice remained on reading off numbers. What is strange is that one had a louder carrier than the other. BUT I believe it's not the fault of the transmitter! Because after each V02a broadcast the loud carrier noise turns off and all you hear is the clean and quiet carrier. Apparently the device (a phone?) that pumps the numbers into the transmitter is a bit noisy. Plus, at the end you can hear two clicks like someone is hanging up a telephone or it is done automatically through auto switching.

BTW the signal here was S+20DB on 12215. Usually it booms in here on higher frequencies as in this case. Right now at 0300 it's on 11565kHz but weaker... I suppose they beam it to different areas at different times but still with Washington D.C. at the target! (Ana Montes anyone?)"

Tnx Tom

V07

AF sent in Mays logs for this station querying the ident [635?]

AF sent the first June logs of this sation in, querying the ident [635?]

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