ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 28

May 2005
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

Morse stations | Voice stations | Oddities | Polytones
ALA 1530 | Spy radio | German branch | Numbers predictions
BRIXMIS | Non-numbers news
E15 schedule | Iraqi Embassy 21 Queensgate, London SW7 (1/2)
News Items | Web sites | Contribution deadlines
Index | E2K NL Home


Voice stations

Questions are often asked concerning the use of a variety of languages within number stations. Our response to this was prompted by the help offered by HJH to the 'radio accented' German used; an original chart having been printed in Issue 12:

As this question has arisen on more than one occasion we bring you a European numerical equivalent in tabular form:

English zero one two three four five six seven eight nine
French zero un deux trois quatre cinq six sept huit neuf
German^ null eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben acht neun
Spanish zero uno dos tres cuatro cinco seis siete ocho nueve
Czech nula jeden dva tr^i chtyr^i pêt shest sedm osm devêt
Polish nula jeden dwa trzy cztery pie,c' szes'c' siedem osiem dziewie,c'
Romanian zero unu doi trei patru cinci s,ase s,apte opt nouâ
Slovak* nula jeden dva tri shtyri pät' shest' sedem osem devät'
* West nula jeden dva try shtyry pet shest sedem ossem devat
* East nula jeden dva tri shtyri pejc shesc shedzem osem dzevec
Serbo-Croat nula jèdan dvâ trî chètiri pêt shêst sëdam ösam dëve:t
Slovene nula ena dva tri shtiri pet shest sedem osem devet
Russian null odín dva tri chety're pyat' shest' sem' vósem' dévyat'
Bulgarian nul edín dva tri chétiri pet shest sédem ósem dévet

^ Some German numerals have a radio accent. The numbers in question are:

2 ZWEI pronounced by some TXs, as TSWO.
5 FUNF some pronounce it as FUNUF.
9 NEUN pronounced by some as NEUGEN.

This is totally in keeping with some German armed forces stations and corresponds to our WUN, FOWER, FIFE, NINER

A tabular version that assists with the Slavic stations has been placed in that section.

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.

NOW READ ON!

No observations on E03 or E03a here but we do offer an appraisal of Simon Fanshawe's 'Tracking the Lincolnshire Poacher: The Number Stations' from a variety of remarks made to E2k

This 28:03m long broadcast was transmitted on BBC's Radio 4 at 0930z on Saturday 23rd April, 2005.

Unlike just about every other programme this show had a readily confirmed audience of a few hundred world wide.

It wasn't bad; “It was very basic and very historical”, said one E2k member who wished to remain Anon. Another suggested it was ok for the masses but not if you already knew about the subject.

PLondon also received a few phone calls and the general consensus amongst his callers was that the show exercised editorial licence to make the show "Curious and possibly very scary indeed.". Akin Fernandez stated from the outset that the Number Stations are, "believed to be the encrypted transmissions of secret services like MI5, CIA and MOSSAD to their agents in the field." So what about the KGB then?

"No one has been able to decode a number station as far as I know" was a little inaccurate as was Richard Norton-Taylor's mention of the one time pad as being the 'end-all' of spy transmissions.

Simon Fanshawe made the comment that enthusiasts make logs adding to Akin Fernandez, "People like you for instance?" There was no suitable reply, "It was almost therapeutic…", to that; whilst two of PLondon's callers said 'He managed to flog [sell] many copies of the Conet Project though'.

To be fair Akin Fernandez did mention Voice, Morse and 'noise' as well as schedules being constructed from the very many results received from enthusiasts.

Simon Mason also made an appearance with a historical account of the early seventies and into the present day as he loitered in a West London alleyway, wireless at the ready for a 1400z transmission from E03. He remained unscathed from comment as did Christine Large and David White.

Later in the programme US security technologist Bruce Schneier gave his opinions on the One Time Pad, "It's a manual paper and pen system", he stated as the scene moved back to Akin Fernandez who was trawling the Short Wave spectrum somewhere around 9359kHz.

Simon Fanshawe stated, with the incredibility filter removed, that they were, "On the verge of something very rare indeed". It was rare according to Akin Fernandez but to the rest of us the station that Akin found 'so wild' [or did he mean 'kind of wild'?] is classified as E07 to everyone else.

One Anon member wrote a mini appraisal with

"My initial thoughts are that the so called "specialist" who couldn't answer a question, with a straight answer, was all smoke and mirrors, to coin a phrase !

Interesting comment from the ex DWS chappie, about WRAF being used for voice transmissions. Well, I remember an article in The Times, some time in 1996 / 1997 about the FCO dropping Women ops for their Crypto Traffic. Titled something along the lines of "Hatti gives up the code".

As to the "Lincolnshire Poacher" being the signature tune. Apparently it was chosen by some FCO wag, who thought it all had something to do with RAF Digby....which it could, but the wrong way around !"

[PLondon mentioned that he had heard that before from another source and discounted it then – perhaps he was a little hasty].

In reply to the claims from Simon Fanshawe and Akin Fernandez that the Number Stations "believed to be the encrypted transmissions of secret services like MI5, CIA and MOSSAD to their agents in the field". Below is Para 19 taken from the Affidavit produced by an FBI agent that takes away the 'belief' and proves the matter.

"19. Further analysis of MONTES's copied Toshiba hard drive identified text consisting of a series of 150 5-number groups. The text begins, "30107 24624," and continues until 150 such groups are listed. The FBI has determined that the precise same numbers, in the precise same order, were broadcast on February 6, 1999, at AM frequency 7887 kHz, by a woman speaking Spanish, who introduced the broadcast with the words "Attencion! Attencion!" The frequency used in that February 1999 broadcast is within the frequency range of the shortwave radio observed in MONTES's residence on May 25, 2001.

Nevertheless, I learned that you entered the code communicating that you were having problems with radio reception. The code alone covers a lot, meaning that we do not know specifically what types of difficulty you are having. Given that it's only been a few days since we began the use of new systems, let's not rule out that the problem might be related to them. In that case, I'm going to repeat the necessary steps to take in order to retrieve a message.

The message then describes how the person reading the message should "write the information you send to us and the numbers of the radio messages which you receive." The message later refers to going "to a new line when you get to the group 10 of the numbers that you receive via radio," and still later gives as an "example" a series of groups of numbers: "22333 44444 77645 77647 90909 13425 76490 78399 7865498534." After some further instruction, the message states:

"Here the program deciphers the message and it retrieves the text onto the screen, asking you if the text is okay or not."

Near the conclusion of the message, there is the statement

"In this shipment you will receive the following disks: . . . 2) Disk "R1" to decipher our mailings and radio."

This excerpt tells the entire world what number stations are and gives another means to decode instead of the one time pad, using anything but a paper and pencil system.

[Plondon said he was surprised that those on the programme who claimed to possess expert knowledge did not mention the proof that exists about spies and number stations -- and its not all from Ana Belen Montes either. See next comment].

Mr Fanshawe heard that many spies were caught with radios from Mr Richard Norton – Taylor, and indeed they were. The Krogers ran a particularly powerful transmitter but others, such as Geoffrey Prime and Erwin van Haarlem, used only receivers and were the subject of witness statements where number stations were mentioned, mainly because the complainants suffered noise interference. Professor Hugh Hambledon used a tone reading device prior to his arrest, but best of all, the evidence above concerning Ana Belen Montes went so far as to state a frequency, time and date. This allowed E2k members to immediately recognise the station V02, or the Spanish Lady.

To read a bit more about Ana Belen Montes see E2k NL issue 21 [It also mentions the 'Red Avispa' group who also used similar communications from Cuba].

So in answer to your closing remarks, Mr Fanshawe, 'Who is the Spanish Lady? Does she dance to the tune of MI6 or the CIA?

In short she is nothing to do with MI6 or CIA and is most probably aligned with the Cuban Intelligence Agency, the DGI, her dulcet tones transmitted from Bauta, Cuba.

David Shayler made good comment on the use of low tech communication and use of simple codes, such as book codes. Where his expertise in this came from is anyone's guess. [Any ideas there AnonNI ;-) ].

All in all, the entire programme was interesting and entertaining. Unfortunately it also relied on editorial licence in an attempt to make it curious, mysterious and investigative, but then it wasn't really aimed at a small body of Number Monitors who would pick at it! It did misinform and we do wonder if the content was cleared for transmission by those with the power to stop it or, as DoK asks, were the researchers sufficiently knowledgeable to understand the subject. Or did Mr Fanshawe, as KW further asks, use only the Conet Project as his source material. That, according to KW, would account for the continual exposure of the audience to Akin Fernandez and the lack of accounts of recent developments in the world of numbers.

[This piece does not reflect the views of ENIGMA 2000 or its Editors - Thanks to all the correspondents who contactesd us to give their personal views].

E05

We recently received some information regarding this apparently defunct station. It reads,

"The E05 sent by the Frankfurt transmitter has stopped activity. They have changed to new equipment and built new antennae![It's not news, more like history!]

What the most people don't know is that these sites are not operated by CIA. That's absolutly wrong as these sites are all operated by the Army Security Agency or ASA, as it is better known."

[Tnx Anonde]

E06

The English Man continues in March with the weekly Sunday schedule, call 690, 1830z 6860kHz and 1930z 5405kHz.

There has been some March Saturday activity at 1330z on 16183kHz calling 791 but no repeat found an hour later. Not heard on 12/03 [PoSW].

5380kHz 1904z 27/02   E
5340kHz 2201z 24/03 [502-136 49] E
5405kHz 1930z 06/03 [690] AF
  1930z 13/03 [690] fast zeros AF
5406kHz 1930z 20/03 [690 00000] IW
5785kHz 2121z 25/02 [975-382 106] E
7840kHz 2100z 02/03 [569 0] HFD
  2100z 16/03 [569 0] HFD
12190kHz 1730z 08/03 [126 00000] fast zeros AF

RNGB's logs reflect E06 April activity as:

3rd April

1830 8020 '690' 00000 also by PoSW
1930 6970 '690' 00000 also by PoSW

6th

2100 9310 '983' 00000 also HFD
2200 7560 '983' repeat  
8th 2130 5197 '634' 457 35 44960 etc

9th

2100 10320 '285' 00000
2200 8170 '285' repeat
10th 1830 8020 '690' 00000

13th

1400 13415 '160' 359 87 91369 etc
1500 11125 '160' repeat

18th

1830 8020 '690' 743 209 13609 etc (a very long msg)
1930 6975 '690' repeat (this presumably went out on Sunday; they repeat following day if there is a message)

Two additional logs from PoSW:

17-Apr-05   1930 UTC 6,975 kHz full message transmission, call "690", DK/GC "690", DK/GC "743 743 209 209", long message, second sending, missed the first and forgot to listen for the repeat on the next day. Even closer to the BC station on 6,973, reception best with the receiver in USB mode.
20-Apr-05 Wednesday 2100 UTC 9,310 kHz 10 PM BST, "983 983 983 00000", very strong signal, lower sideband suppressed, carrier noted just before the hour.

PoSW was prompted to write:

"The only regular weekly schedule of which I am aware is the Sunday 1830z + 1930z with call "690" - remains the same each month - which ran in 2004 and is still on in 2005. An E06 transmission was logged on the last Saturday in February and on the first Saturday in March at or just after 1330z which suggested that the Saturday afternoon E06 schedules which were common at one time had returned but I have been unable to find a 1330z E06 since."

PoSW sent a full set of logs to E2k but lack of space prevents us from including. [Thanks PoSW].

One last one from Simon Mason:

11425kHz 1510z 25/04 [849 526 37 00000] SM

E07

To start an eagle eyed reader has notified us of an error that crept into the E07 column last time:
'Page 14 Monday + Wednesday Schedule, 26-Jan-05 should have had the time 2100z not 2000z'

[Tnx]

8185kHz 2120z 21/03 [418 000] AF

To start the column correctly, PoSW states that the E07 English Man continues to use the same frequency schedules as in previous years with the exception of the Sunday + Wednesday starting at 1700z in the summertime which has to be searched for in the first week of each month. Low levels of modulation resulting in difficult to hear audio continue to be a feature of E07 but on two occasions in mid-March the Sunday + Wednesday E07 came up with really deep, broadcast quality modulation - but it didn't last.

AnonUK sent the early evening Wednesday schedule [as heard 02/03, first wed of March 2005]

1800z 9923kHz [906x3 1 6480 116 6480 116]
1820z 9068kHz [906x3 1 6480 116 6480 116]
1840z 7697kHz [906x3 1 6480 116 6480 116]
    [Also Sunday]

IW sent in the Wednesday schedule [as heard 02/03, first wed of March 2005]:

2100z 9420kHz [418 1]
2120z 8185kHz [418 1]
2140z 6817kHz [418 1]
  [Also Monday heard by PoSW HFD and E]

IW remarked on the high level of QRM that obviated his hearing the full message

PoSW sent a full range of E07 logs and makes this comment for the Mon/Wed schedules:

Monday and Wednesday Schedule
[note Voice of Greece comment]

2-Mar-05 Wednesday 2100 UTC 9420 kHz on the same frequency as an S9++ broadcast station, Voice of Greece in the Greek language, I think. Delightful bouzouki music, probably a traditional local song all about the defeat of the dastardly British plane spotters by the heroic Greeks.
  Could just make out E07's call, "418 418 418 1", but that was all.
2126 UTC 8185 kHz second sending in progress, ended just after being tuned in.
2140 UTC 6817 kHz "418 418 418 1", DK/GC "718 36" x 2, reasonable mod.

Gert offred his finding:

2110z 7614kHz [163-2188/63=52960]
2130z 5763kHz  
2150z 4633kHz

Thurs Sched tnx to HFD:

2110z 4633kHz [31/03 //7614//5763]
2140z 6818kHz [02/03 //5763//4633]

31st March [Thurs] 2110 7614 '163' 424 34 66684 etc
    2130 5763 '163' repeat
    2150 4633 '163' repeat (same as last years freqs)

RNGBs log shows April Schedules:

3rd April

[Sun]

1700 12123 '171' 798 82 78380 etc
1720 10703 '171' repeat
1740 8123 '171' repeat

11th

[Monday]

2000 13922 '920' 514 27 18568 etc
2020 12217 '920' repeat
2040 11028 '920' repeat

13th

[Wednesday]

1700 12123 '171' 807 67 33697 etc
1720 10703 '171' repeat
1740 8123 '171' repeat

14th

[Thursday]

2010 11064 '674' 715 48 61346 etc
2030 9277 '674' repeat
2050 8142 '674' repeat (same freqs as last year)

Report at end of month [04] from HFD also featured the April freqs

E10

From the pen of Bob we bring observations abd analysis from our E10 desk:

Frequencies and calls heard

2626 ------  
3150 PCD2
3230 VLB2 * VLB20A    
3360 KPA2  
3415 ART
3557 MIW2
3640 SYN2 * SYN72  
3840 ------  
4015 SYN2 * SYN72  
4165 CIO2 * CIO25
4270 PCD  
4360 VLB2
4461 FTJ
4560 YHF * YHF2  
4780 MIW2  
4880 ULX
5091 JSR
5435 ART2
5437 ART
5820 YHF2
6210 FDUN * FDUM * FDUZ
6270 ULX * ULX2  
6370 VLB2 * VLB20A
6498 PCD * PCD2
6575 HNCS    
6840 EZI * EZI2
6912 CIO2 * CIO25
6930 SYN2 * SYN72
6986 ART    
7358 FTJ2    
7540 JSR2 * JSR
7605 KPA2  
7760 ------
7918 YHF
8805 ------
9130 EZI * EZI2    
9202 YHF2  
15986 EZI2
17410 EZI2

Mar 05

1/3 2330 5435 ART2  
1/3 2345 6930 + 4015 SYN2
1/2 2345 6370 + 4360 VLB2
2/3 1330 15986 + 17410 EZI2
2/3 1345 6930 SYN2   N/H of VLB2 or CIO2
2/3 1545 6370 VLB2  
2/3 1545 6930 SYN2
2/3 2345 6930 SYN2
2/3 2345 6370 VLB2
2/3 2345 4165 CIO2
3/3 0615 7605 KPA2
5/3 2215 3557 MIW2
5/3 2215 3360 KPA2
6/3 2143 6370 VLB2   ended 2251hrs
6/3 2143 6930 SYN2   ended 2215hrs
63 2145 4165 CIO2   ended 2251hrs
6/3 2200 5091 JSR G11  
7/3 1420 6930 SYN2   ended 2251hrs
7/2 1420 6370 VLB2   ended 2251hrs
7/2 2035 4165 CIO2   ongoing call very weak signal faded out against background noise
7/3 2330 5435 ART2    
7/3 2331 4270 + 3150 PCD G20  
9/3 2047 6930 SYN2   weak signal ended 2250hrs
9/3 2047 6370 VLB2   ended 2250hrs. N/h CIO2
10/3 2045 6370 VLB2    
10/3 2045 6930 SYN2    
10/3 2130 5820 YHF2    
12/3 2045 6210 FDUN   3mins transmissin
12/3 2047 6930 SYN2    
12/3 2047 6370 VLB2    
12/3 2100 6498 PCD G19  
14/3 2345 4165 CIO2  
14/3 2346 6370 VLB2
14/3 2346 6930 +3640 + 4015 SYN2
15/3 0015 4780 MIW2
15/3 0115 3360 KPA2
19/3 1930 6986 ART
19/3 1945 6930 SYN2
19/3 1945 6370 VLB2
19/3 1945 4165 CIO2
20/3 0030 6498 PCD2
21/3 2145 3230 + 6370 VLB2
21/3 2145 6930 SYN2
25/3 1700 6498 PCD2
25/3 1700 6840 EZI2
25/3 1700 6270 ULX G92 SBBFE  
25/3 1745 6930 SYN2  
25/3 1745 6370 VLB2
26/3 2030 6840 + 9130 EZI G61 QXIGE  
27/3 0015 3557 MIW2  
29/3 1800 7358 FTJ2
29/3 1800 7540 JSR2
29/3 1800 9130 + 6840 EZI2
30/3 2200 6498 PCD G15 PUKHW  
30/3 2215 4780 MIW2  

Comments

April 05

1/4 0001 6270 ULX G74 KICIC  
1/4 0045 3640 + 4015 + 6930 SYN2  
1/4 0045 6370 VLB2
1/4 2300 6270 ULX2
1/4 2345 4165 CIO2
1/4 2345 6370 VLB2
1/4 2345 6930 SYN2
5/4 1915 4780 MIW2
5/4 1915 6210 FDUM   (No Message)
5/4 1945 4015 + 6930 SYN2    
5/4 1945 3230 + 6370 VLB2
5/4 2300 9130 EZI
5/4 2300 6270 + 4880 ULX2
5/4 2300 5820 YHF2
5/4 2300 5435 ART2
5/4 2300 5091 JSR
5/4 2315 4780 MIW2
6/4 2030 6986 ART G81 AWYEC
6/4 2030 4461 FTJ  
6/4 2045 6370 VLB2
6/4 2045 6930 SYN2
6/4 2045 4165 CIO2
7/4 1700 6210 FDUZ   (No Message)
7/4 1945 6370 VLB2 (SYN2 N/H)
7/4 2148 6930 SYN2   3mins late loud & clear
10/4 2145 6930 SYN2 Ext Call ended 2251hrs
10/4 2145 6370 VLB2 Ext Call ended 2251hrs
10/4 2215 4780 MIW2 Just Audible
11/4 2145 6930 SYN2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
11/4 2145 6370 VLB2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
11/4 2345 4165 CIO2 Just Readable
11/4 2346 6390 SYN2 Opening call at 2341hrs (one only)
11/4 2346 6370 VLB2  
12/4 0059 4780 MIW2 2 calls only
12/4 0116 4780 MIW2  
12/4 2145 6390 SYN2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
12/4 2145 6370 VLB2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
13/4 2245 6390 SYN2 Ext Call still ongoing at 0100hrs 14/05
13/4 2245 6370 VLB2 Ext Call still ongoing at 0100hrs 14/05
14/4 0015 4780 MIW2    
14/4 2145 6930 SYN2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
14/4 2145 6370 VLB2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
16/4 2145 6930 SYN2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
16/4 2145 6370 VLB2 Ext Call Ended 2251hrs
18/4 1630 7540 JSR G128  
19/4 0045 3230 + 4360 + 6370 VLB2
19/4 0045 3640 + 4015 + 6930 SYN2
19/4 0045 4165 CIO2
22/4 1900 5820 + 7918 YHF G71  
22/4 2015 4780 MIW2  
26/4 2247 6370 VLB2
26/4 2247 6930 SYN2
26/4 2250 6575 HNCS   Ongoing call ended 2256hrs. No Message
26/4 2315 4780 MIW2 Very weak signal with noise

Comments

[Tnx Bob]

©BMLongfield 27/04/05

E11

Note March changes:

  0800z 0830z 1030z 1200z 1230z 1300z
Mon
Tues 7663 8544 8759   8544 8800
Wed
Thur 7663
Fri 8091   8759 9130 8544  

7663kHz

0800z 10/03 [232/00] Mndbs
0800z 04/03 [232/00] AF
0800z 17/03 [232/00] AF
0800z 24/03 [232/00] JoA
0800z 31/03 [232/00] JoA
0800z 07/04 [232/00] QRM JoA
0800z 21/04 [232/00] S1 QRM JoA
8091kHz 0800z 11/03 [232/00]  
0800z 11/03 [232/00] QRM-noise JoA
0800z 08/04 NRH – too noisy JoA
0800z 15/04 [(232/00) ~S1 QRN+QRN-digital/morse] JoA
0800z 29/04 [232/00] HFD

8544kHz

0830z 01/03 [182/00] JoA
0830z 05/04 [182/00] HFD
0830z 08/03 [182/00] S1 JoA & AF
0830z 15/03 [182/00] S2 JoA AF HFD E
0830z 22/03 [182/00] AF & JoA
0830z 29/03 [184/35 message with excessive QRM] JoA
1230z 01/03 [312/00] JoA
1230z 22/03 [312/00] JoA very poor Gross QRM
1231z 15/03 [312/00] E
1230z 08/04 [312/00] JoA
1230z 29/04 [312/00] HFD

8759kHz

1030z 01/03 [312/00] JoA
1030z 04/03 [312/00] AF
1030z 15/03 [312/00] AF E
1030z 22/03 [312/00] JoA
1030z 08/04 [312/00] JoA
1030z 15/04 [312/00 QRN-fading out at times + QRM-noise, poor] JoA

8800kHz

1300z 01/03 [183/00] JoA
1301z 15/03 [183/00] E
1300z 22/03 [183/00] JoA
1300z 26/04 [183/00] S6 JoA
9130kHz 1200z 08/04 [187/00] JoA

E11b

8544kHz 0830z 19/04 [184/36 77777 77777 05055 etc each group repeated; ended 77777 out] RNGB AF

E15

We print the past schedule [as issue 22] but please read on:

1100z 18000kHz BEC[PIC]   1700z 14000kHz FYS
1200z 17503kHz WSP 1730z 5834kHz MSA
1230z 11170kHz OSS[See text] 1800z 5834kHz WSP
1300z 11000kHz BEC 1900z 4130kHz PAR
1400z 14000kHz FYP 2000z 5530kHz NAS
1630z 6715kHz NAS 2100z 4130kHz 0SS

And the phonetics used in station idents:

A ADAM   B BAKER   C CHARLIE   D DAVID
E EDWARD F FRANK G GEORGE H HENRY
I ITALY (INDIA) J JOHN K KING (KILO) L LOUIS / LEWIS
M MARY N NANCY O OTTO P PETER
Q QUEEN R ROBERT (RITA / ROMEO) S SUSAN  
T THOMAS U UNION V VICTOR W WILLIAM
X XRAY Y YOUNG Z ZEBRA (ZERO / ZULU)  

Our first E15 log of March from MoK:

8/3/05 11.00z 18000kHz E15 BEC
11.03z   QRU
11.05z ended
   
11.14/15z NRH

so no repeat today, and timings again different to yesterday, sig quite clear but deep fluttery fades.

 
  12.00z 17503kHz   NRH
 
12.33/34z 11170kHz i/p QRU

down in the noise but there, odd snatches only caught, with slight improvement for just 1 min.

 
  13.00z 11000kHz   NRH

From Manolis in Crete:

6715kHz 0708z 09/03 [English OM groups of 5 letters like "ADRIAN" etc. 0710UTC TX ended "ADRIAN ROVER" x2

The quality of the TX was really bad.

Manolis also advised us that Greek pirates use LSB mode in 5 kHz steps, local daytime on 6.6-6.8kHz. Common frequencies 6745kHz or 6765kHz. He also advised, "While waiting for a TX to start, spin your receiver's dial wheel as much you can! You never know!"

Manolis followed up the same day with more E15 observations [using USB]:

11170kHz 1237z 10/03 English OM repeating live "Queen Robert Union", ended 1238UTC. (Maybe only got the end of TX)
11170kHz 1307z 10/03 English OM calling "Baker Edward Charlie", then at 1308UTC "Queen Robert Union", ended 1310UTC. 1313UTC again BEC, 1316UTC QRU, ended 1318UTC. In USB.

Sound samples of both added to our Samples file – thanks Manolis! Then we receive this from the Island of Crete:

5834 kHz USB E15
1205z: OM in progress calling "William Susan Peter" (WSP) then "Queen Robert Union" (QRT), ended at 1207z.  
1211z Repeat of previous TX until 1214z. The TX quality was bad with a lot of noise, probably local.  

[Tnx Manolis]

MoK enters the E15 affray with some surprising observations:

Sun 13/3/05 11.00z 18000kHz USB E15 BEC R
  11.03z   QRU R
11.05z ended

This TX was strong, peaked S5, for first 30 secs then dropped smoothly down to "no reading" and just above noise floor in 10 secs, exactly as one would expect from a swinging beam, but why use a steerable for a small coverage area !!. At end of TX mic was blown into and tapped a few times.

repeat starts 11.08z   BEC R
  11.11z   QRU R
  11.13z   ended

whole of this just above noise floor.

Null repeats on this sked appear to be a standard feature now.

12.00z 17503kHz E15, NRH  
12.30z

11170kHz

USB

YL OSS (Otto Susan Susan)
12.31z

start of mssg sequence, 5L gps all of which appeared to end with RU, !*?, and many sounded as QQQRU. ended, I think.

 
12.40z

The YL is back on air, last personal logging I have of her on this sked is 19/06/95. This was an appallingly bad sig virtually on the noise, one would not catch this during a routine "band scan", it's hard work and I had to use filtered "cans" to pull anything out, and had the wife to "power down" the whole house except the direct feed to the "radio room". This also now changes the details given in the Issue 27 write-up as it's no longer only an OM and the ID/tuning sig was only for 1 min, not 5, I cannot confirm if the rest of the TX followed the known mssg format. We print, it changes - Sods Law.

13.00z 11000kHz E15 NRH
14.00z 14000kHz E15  

something there but u/r under a weak carrier about 100Hz HF which started at 13.57z, so weak it would not lock the "syncro" but killed the TX.

[Tnx Mike]

14/3/05 12.25z+ 11173kHz XFR for a few bursts before it moved HF.
  13.15z 13973kHz a dozen bursts or so followed by 3 at a much lower pitch and longer duration.
14/3/05 12.31z 11170kHz E15 clg OSS, noisy/weak/distorted, lost into noise by 12.34z so null/mssg unk.
  11.00z/12.00z/13.00z NRH

16/3/05 E15 11.00z sked 18000kHz   poor/noisy/weak
  start 11.07z   BEC  
  11.08:30z QRU
11.10:40z end
  rpt
11.13:15z BEC slight improvement but deep fades
11.16:20z QRU  
11.18:40Z end

(I wonder if these repeats are directed to another area as they regularly vary in quality from the first TX - better or worse).

  12.00z 17503kHz NRH  
12.30z 11170kHz NRH
13.00z 11000kHz something there, totally u/r, not a confirm.

For 16/03 Manolis in Crete sent the following log:

6715 kHz USB 0706z "NAS" then "QRU" at 0709z, which ended at 0711z. Repeat at 0713z-0717z. Moderate signal strength with little noise.
18000 kHz USB 1106z "BEC" then "QRU" at 1108z, ended 1110z.
  Repeat at 1113z-1118z, but at 1117z a ham or someone else (probably not related with E15 TX) whistles a couple of times.
(Attached sample listened to, sounded like a ham tuning up out of allocation)
17503 kHz USB 1206z something there, like the E15's OM but cannot resolve well by fine tuning at USB mode.
      The sounding reminded me harmonic transmissions from the local pirates operating around 6.7 MHz, LSB mode. So I got my calculator and started dividing 17503 by 2, 3, and tuned to the resulting frequency to find the fundamental frequency. This is common practice for me since in many occasions I can hear pirate's harmonics on HF who actually transmit on MW. Surprisingly, 17503/3=5834 is another E15 frequency and yes; there it was a signal, almost buried into local QRN, but there, transmitting 5-letter groups for sure, which I couldn't resolve because of QRN. The TX ended at about 1211z. No repeat.
11170 kHz USB 1237z "OSS" then "QRU" at 1238, ended at 1240z. Moderate to low signal strength with QRN.
1243z repeat until 1248z, with low signal strength.

[Tnx Manolis - this poses some questions indeed]!

17/3/05 10.00z    
  11.00z    
12.00z E15 NRH
12.29z 11170kHz i/p ur, odd Robert, Union only heard up to 12.35z
13.00z 14.00z NRH

[Tnx MoK]

For 19/03 Sal ibn Hari writes,

"While listening to 11MHz around 1300z today I hear very weak sound, not loud enough to identify it because lots QRM but itEnglish worse than mine! Then I read on spooks that somebody also hear but says is E15,
1100kHz 1300z 19/03 BEC fair sigs.
I don't remember what American sent to spooks but the reciever was in Sweden -is this a valid way of doing things I ask?"

[Tamaam,Sal. Shukri]

Well Sal has a point, however there is little difference to an Embassy of a foreign power having a wideband receiver and active antenna in the loft and sending its results to its home country via an encrypted satellite, or, internet link.

From MOK:

22/3/05 12.01z 17503kHz E15 WS? (sounded like Fox but improbable)
  12.04z   QRU
12.15z There but totally u/r
12.18z QRU and into noise.

Manolis writes,

'I did a little searching trying to determine a schedule for E15. Here are my findings:

Thursday 10 March – Tuesday 22 March 2005.

Notes:

UTC Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri1 Sat Sun Call
0700 6715 6715 6715 6715 - 6715 6715 NAS
0800 - - - - - - - -
0900 - - - - - - - -
0945 6715 6715 6715 6715 - 6715 6715 VSD
1100 - - 18000 18000 - 18000 - BEC
1130 6715 6715 - 6715 - 6715 6715 PAR
1200 58342 58342 58342 58342 - 58342 58342 WSP
1230 - 11170 11170 11170 - 11170 11170 OSS
1300 - - - 111703 - 11000 - BEC

FULL AND UP TO DATE VERSION OF THIS CHART IN "E15: An attempt to establish an up to date schedule" – with an full explanation – can be downloaded from the Files section of ENIGMA 2000 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/enigma2000

also available here

Furthermore, Manolis and Mike of Kent were both aware of harmonic relationships :

IMPORTANT NOTE:

In the known E15 schedule the 1200z frequency (17503 kHz) is a harmonic of 5834 kHz (3x5834 = 17502).'

[Tnx Manolis]

Further received logs:

29/3/05 E15  
NRH   08.00 - 10.00z  
18000kHz   11.00z i/p 11.03z BEC QRU ended 11.07z
  rpt 11.09z BEC
  11.12z QRU
  11.14Z END
11170kHz   12.20-40z NRH
11000kHz   12.55-13.10z NRH

MoK writes,

31/3/05 07.00 - 10.30z 12.00z 12.30z 13.00z NRH

11.00z, 18.000kHz under a massive OTH type sig which fired up at 10.59z spanning 17991 - 18015kHz, peak sig level slowly sweeping and at times appeared to have an embedded XSW. Underlying sine wave having 300ms cycle.

Had to go to CW setting with 200Hz filter to initially confirm E15 voice,then periods of improvement as OTH swept past.

11.00z BEC
11.04z QRU
11.06z ended
rpt  
11.10z BEC
11.12z QRU
11.14:20z ended

Then,

12/4/05 11.00z 18000 kHz E15 BEC very strong 1st 2 mins, then faded quickly
  11.03Z     QRU now just above noise
11.05Z Ended
  rpt
11.07z BEC strong start, gradually weakening
11.10z QRU fading below noise
11.13:15 Ended
   
10.00z 18000 / 6715 NRH
12.00z 5834 / 17502 NRH
12.30z 11170 NRH
13.00z 11000 NRH

18/04/05 07.00 - 10.30z 12.00/13.00z all NRH
  10.58z   monitoring started for 11.00z sked
11.01z i/p, weak in noise, BEC QRU
11.06z ends
  rpt
11.09z BEC, sig had improved slightly
11.11:45 QRU
11.14:15 ends.

As a result of some detective work by Manolis we have received a splendid piece from him which answers many questions about this station.

See 'E15: An attempt to establish an up to date schedule' an additional publication from ENIGMA 2000 written by Manolis Petrakis, available with this newsletter from the ENIGMA 2000 Group site.

E17

No reports

E17z

No reports

E23

Best frequency is usually 8188kHz. 3 weekly cycle starting on the first Monday of the Month. [See E23 entry in NL24].

Transmits Monday Wednesday and Thursday:

Week 1   0955z 6507kHz   1155z 8188kHz   1255z 5340kHz  
Week 2 * 0955z 7250kHz   1155z 8188kHz   1255z 5748kHz  
Week 3   0755z 4832kHz   0955z 6200kHz   1155z 8188kHz   1255z 6507kHz
Week 4   0955z 8188kHz   1155z 7250kHz    

6507kHz 0954z 02/03 weak mikesndbs  
  0958z 03/03 weak mikendbs
8188kHz 1030z 12/03 from Nigel via 'DX Tuners' Sweden It ended around this time so poss scheduled 0955z sending.
  1155z 02/03 [Intro of 00000, 11111, 22222, 33333, etc message at 1157z] Mikwndbs and AF
1155z 03/03 AF  
1152z 14/03 AF
1155z 16/03 AF
1155z 17/03 AF

18/04 8188kHz USB Wk3 sked 11.54z start with stutter gps, then mssgs 03736, 20031, 05874, 18360 etc, very odd echo to parts of the TX (a bit like Long Path), some deep fades but generally good till 12.25z when started weakening into the noise.Ended 12.36:45z 12.55z, 6507kHz, barely discernable but some stutter gps heard, then at 12.57:35 QRM cleared sufficiently to hear mssg gps till 13.00:10 when sig lost.

E25

[From the E25 desk}

ID's used with messages so far:
222 275 440 555 730 780 835 (arabic) and 906

ID's used with control messages so far:
200 209 227 272 276 557 785 788 830 837 905 909

Frequency known so far
9450 kHz

Types of messages heard so far:

Null messages.

Instead of calling 000 or so it is calling "280" for several minutes. For example:

275 275 275 for 5 minutes
Message message message
280 280 280
for 5 minutes
End of message / end of transmission

Also noted a couple of times without ID/msg(x3)/eom/oet.

Control messages (= E25a)

For example: "785 58" or "905 22 23" repeated for several minutes.

Transmission with message
Usually starts with a 3 fig call, followed by "message message message".
A message of more 4fig groups follows, mostly between 8 and 20 groups.
"repeat repeat repeat" and the message in full is repeated.
Ending with "end of message end of transmission".

Just like E10, it ends with the same words. A coincidence or perhaps a joke from the Master?

Callup lasts several minutes. Interestingly is that almost every callup uses what seems two different voices. Or a tape is used and the operator is playing with the speed resulting in a lower voice when the tape is played at a lower speed. Some E2k members feel the tape is replaced after a few minutes by a live voice.

All three types of messages can start with eastern music, not every time though.

In short for the period March and April 2005:

March :

Sun 6 12.45 z control msg "785 51"
Tue 8 12.00 z null msg for 275.
Tue 8 12.28 z msg for 555 (16 groups) with music
Wed 9 12.00 z null msg for 275
Wed 9 12.29 z msg for 555 (16 groups) with music
Wed 9 12.42 z control msg "785 52"
Wed 9 12.44 z control msg "200 52"
Thu 10 12.31 z msg for 555 (16 groups) with music
Sat 12 12.30 z msg for 555 (16 groups) with music
Sat 12 12.38 z control msg "557 10"
Sat 12 12.45 z control msg "209 4 200 5"
Sat 12 13.36 z msg for 609 (18 groups)
Thu 17 12.33 z control msg "x3x"
Thu 17 13.31 z control msg "909 21"
Mon 21 13.33 z control msg "905 21"
Tue 22 12.40 z msg for 222 (9 groups) with music
Tue 22 13.45 z msg for 222 (9 groups) with music
Wed 23 13.30 z msg for 906 (18 groups)
Wed 23 13.44 z msg for 222 ( 9 groups) with music
Thu 24 13.30 z msg for 906 (18 groups) repeat of march 23
Fri 25 12.00 z control msg "227 1"
Fri 25 12.46 z control msg "785 58 59"
Sun 27 13.26 z control msg 909 23 23" and "905 25"

April

Tue 5 13.36z msg for 222 (9groups)
Fri 8 13.41z msg for 222 (9groups) Not same msg as tue march 5th.
Mon 11 11.58z control message "377 34 377 32" and "557 11"
Wed 20 13.30z msg for 906 (9groups)
Thu 21 13.30z repeat of wed april 20th.

In detail:

A brief look at the traffic from E25

By IW.

If you are a member of the E2K mailing list then you can't but notice the increase in loggings of this station, which appears to have become a lot more active in recent months. I saw that the station only ever sends short messages (the longest message logged so far only consisted of 22 groups of 4 figure numbers) unusual for a station of interest to E2K monitors which normally send much longer messages presumably encrypted using a one time pad. Then Manolis Petrakis noticed that in some traffic he had logged from this station that the 3rd and the final number group were the same. This is most unusual and I decided to look back at other E25 traffic to see if there were any other unusual characteristics in this stations traffic.

To do this I looked through past editions of the E2K NL for past loggings of E25 then copied the traffic into the table (opposite). If you look at the table on each line (left to right) you will see a line number followed by the date of transmission (in standard British day/month/year form) followed by 4 figure groups of the actual message.

01 20/01/01 1774 0124 2410 5140 0541 7457 9215 3140 4632 4413 1443 3543 1907 5194 4944 6976 9214 3602 2545 2302
02 04/10/02 1774 63?7 2410 7049 1248 3976 4253 0817 4418 4414                    
03 17/10/02 1774 4311 4410 5449 7438 3978 4472 0347 4492 4417                    
04 17/02/04 9549 6501 0210 3553 1254 7559 0481 6642 3755 0210                    
05 07/07/04 5091 1201 0410 4672 4220 4979 7576 1908 1858 0863 0410                  
06 27/07/04 9150 3141 9010 3541 9801 9121 5273 7257 9037 8208 8398 9273 9170 9010            
07 29/07/04 1519 9111 8210 1763 2838 3079 6637 8294 7356 8589 8210                  
08 30/07/04 5495 9501 2310 4455 0101 6656 8860 6207 4287 6057                    
09 24/09/04 9493 0681 8310 3830 7795 0472 8112 3369 8099 6631 3434 2638 1403 5514 7360 8487 9626 8310    
10 13/10/04 9542 7151 7510 7959 6707 9186 2922 0727 7558 1000 3865 2472 0918 1963 7510          
11 13/11/04 1211 5211 9410 2484 5913 9031 6613 4613 5947 7542 9410                  
12 07/12/04 1033 6211 8450 1821 9988 2631 6613 1670 1164 6713 8450                  
13 04/01/05 6092 7211 2110 8221 3936 1658 1818 0271 8521 7527 2110                  
14 10/01/05 2133 6190 5670 6244 4472 9227 8595 2237 5670                      
15 17/01/05 1480 4429 7333 5515 8970 6593 4421 6355                        
16 18/01/05 5533 7120 3330 8241 0411 9286 8378 3330                        
17 11/02/05 5990 9221 6110 8516 7378 2294 0866 8261 3878 3586 9828 6110                
18 11/02/05 1054 1001 4110 5394 0348 0546 3717 2423 4924 2149                    
19 16/02/05 4918 8621 5610 9571 9554 1942 6396 5792 7941 3268 5182 5610                
20 21/02/05 5942 2080 7010 8383 1984 1211 4684 7010                        
21 23/03/05 3481 5210 0755 4888 4875 5186 7397 2924 1676 2283 0373 2420 1787 8323 6716 3056 5210 7662    
22 23/03/05 3521 3190 8110 2075 3529 7299 5039 6144 8110  

A quick look at this traffic shows some interesting oddities ..

You just don't see these oddities in the traffic of other numbers stations. So what do they mean ? Well I'm no expert but these messages look to me to be far to short to be encrypted using a one time pad. Other signs of this not being one time pad traffic are the shared 1st and 3rd groups in many of the messages and the repeated numbers. Another way of encrypting messages is with a machine cipher an electronic equivalent of the famous WW2 German Enigma machine. However once again the messages seem to short and the repeated groups in several of messages can only be explained by the fact that the encryption key isn't being changed between messages. This is rather a basic mistake to make and would make it much easier for someone to break the encryption and decode the message.

So what could these messages be ? Well the only options that seem to make any sense to me are that these are simple status or activation messages (i.e 3rd Army go on the alert and 4th Brigade can stand down) encrypted using a hand cipher. Or another option is that these are encoded weather messages. However why these are being sent by a numbers type station is a mystery when they could be more efficiently sent by morse or by some other more modern data transmission method.

So I'm not convinced that this is what the messages are. All I can say is that the traffic from this station is highly unusual and closer examination appears to bring up more questions than answers.

Thanks I.W for your superb investigation.

In the event of a repeat incursion into Arabic numerals by this station we bring you the simple cardinals in tabular form:

English zero one Two Three Four five six seven eight nine
  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Arabic sifr wahid Itnien Talata Arba khamsa sitta saba tamanya tissa

For numerals compounded by tens see page 25 Issue 27 where Arabic numerals were discussed in some detail.

Jörg Eberhardt made comment on our last E25 column and sent a log too, "While I was reading the article on E25 in the new newsletter (really interesting, thank you) I tried again to receive this station. This time it worked. The BC was very strong but E25 was audible." [Tnx Jörg]

9450kHz 1245z 06/03 [785 51 Control Msg – no music] heard by JE

On 09/03 X writes, I Heard E25 yesterday and today, tue 8th and wed 9th, with a long message, starting 12.28 UTC.

Music, the regular one, lasting 5 minutes.
555 (5 min)
Message (x3)
9427 9261 2110 7933 5315
7902 5390 8745 7450 2083
4788 6287 0738 3721 7027
2110
Repeat
(x3)
--- rpt of msg ---
EOM / EOT

Carrier stayed on and at 12.40 heard it calling "785 52" for 3 minutes.

On thu 10/03/05 X heard E25 again with a message, starting at 12.30utc with music. I was a repeat of tue 8 and wed 9th.

This time without the control message at the end of the message for 555.

From MoK we receive:

Sat 12/3/05, 9450 kHz, AM

12.29z Blank carrier, then arab music(yl singer) with a very strong signal.
12.33z OM repeating "555". A ticking sound can be heard in the background.
12.37z Back to the first announcer, who calls "message" three times.
  9427 9261 2110 7933 5315 7902 5390 8745 7450 2083 4788 6287 0738 3721 7027 2110 (16 groups).
  Note: 3rd and last groups are the SAME.
12.39z Repeat
12.40z "End of message, end of…" interrupted from the other OM who start calling "557 10" a couple of times, then says "End of transmission"! Carrier stays on.
12.42z The other guy calls suddenly "449 4 … "and stops.
12.45z "449" many times from the other one.
12.45z, clg 443
12.47z changed to clg 449
12.48z ended, no intros no sign-off.
12.48:30z 449 x 5 only, no sign-off
  had to stop monitoring at this point to take urgent call from work, but left RX tuned.
   
13.34z E25 restarted clg 906
13.36:45z m m m **** 0417 ---------

,

The initial 906 call up was a VERY slow repeat and sounded as if there was another call up, down on the noise floor, being "interleaved" with it which would have then given a normal speed.

Sun 13/3/05, 9450kHz, heard by MPetrakis and X

13.20z carrier up
13.30z clg 906, with long pauses, x 7
  very long pause then 906 x 20 with variable pauses,
906 x 4 quickly.
m m m (QRM started, static type ?)
2481 0410 3262 9057 0175
9071 4656 6791 5540 8839
4577 8477 1648 1050 2953
3954 0410 3665
rpt
13.37z eom eotx, said very quickly (QRM stopped ?) couple of "scraping noises" short pause then
  "6481 eom 90?5 13" said quickly, then carrier dropped.

The msg appeared slightly faster than usual in this TX with hardly a pause between groups,unless it's my imagination.

Plondon also managed to receive E25. He heard it on Thursday 17th march at 12.33z and writes:

Poor condx, only heard "x3x". He had a better reception at 13 .31z when he heard a E25a control message "909 21".

CAcuff heard E25a on mon march 21st at 13.33z on a Dxtuner site in Sweden and writes:

"It was around 13.33 UTC when I started to hear a weak OM who sounded like he was reading numbers. There was no music intro, it just went straight into the callup. The callup was either 925 21 or 905 21 repeated about 23 times".

This catch was later that day confirmed by X who heard it calling "905 21".

Well done guys!

Tuesday march 22th E25 appeared with a message, heard by TomH (via an internet tuner in Sweden).

222
Message message message
3521 8190 8110 2075 3592 7299 5039 6144 8110
Repeat repeat repeat
--- rpt of msg ---
End of message / End of transmission.

He also writes:

"It was definately a live announcer because sometimes his trhoat sounded like it had to be cleared… The spacing between each "222" group changed in terms of timing".

Nice work Tom!

This same message was heard by X who heard it Tuesday the 22nd at 13.45 UTC with the same message of 9 groups.

Both CAcuff (via a dx tuner in Sweden) and MPetrakis heard E25 on Wednesday march 23rd.

13.29z

carrier up

13.30z

calling "906" several times

13.34z

Message x 3
3481 5210 0755 4888 4875 5186 7397 2924 1676 2283 0373 2420 1787 8323 6716 3056 5210 7662
Repeat x 3
--- rpt of msg ---
End of message, end of transmission.

CAcuff writes:

"fair to strong signal strength, about S7-S9. 18 grp msg. Carrier never went down, it was on during the 6-minute intermission between transmissions".

13.44z Music intro
13.47z Calling "222"
13.50z Message x 3
  3251 8190 8110 2075 3529 7299 5039 6144 8110
13.51z Repeat x 3
  --- rpt of msg ---
13.52z End of message, End of transmission, Carrier down.

Another sending from E25 was noted on thu march 25th by X, TomH(via dxtuner Sweden) and IW, starting at 13.30 UTC.

906 for 3 minutes
Message message message
2481 5210 0755 4888 4875
5186 7397 2924 1676 2283
0373 2420 1787 8323 6716
3056 5210 7662
Repeat repeat repeat
--- rpt of msg ---
End of message end of transmission.

A E25a controlmessage was heard by X on fri march 25 at 12.00 UTC, calling "277 1" for about 4 minutes.

X notes: "the number 1 sometimes sounds like the english word –when--"

On the same day, the 25th, both MPetrakis and X heard another control message, starting at 12.45 and calling "785 58 59" ended 12.48 UTC

TomH (dxtuner Sweden) heard E25a with a control message on sun march 27th at 13.26 UTC calling "909 23 24 905 25" repeated for a couple of minutes.

Note from the E25 desk: This is a nice one as it now seems E25 did not change times after the clockchange. So it's staying UTC.

On april 5th E25 made its appearance with a message heard by TomH via internettuner in sweden.

Signed on 1336z,
Arabic Music played for about 10 minutes, was played twice. About an
S7 with light fading , much co-channel interference from nearby broadcasters.
Song replayd at 1343
music kept going in and out at 1346 for a bit and then continued.
started 1347 with usual announcer going "222" for like another 6 minutes
MESSAGE MESSAGE MESSAGE
3375 9190 7660 4487 7391 1753 3946 7537 7660
REPEAT REPEAT

--- rpt of message ---

END OF MESSAGE END OF TRANSMISSION
2 Minutes of dead carrier..
Signed off 1354

Another E25 log by Tom H (receiver in sweden) and partly heard by RNGB on april 8th,

Sign on 1341 with usual Arabic Music, 1343
"message message message"
Calling "222"
1761 0290 3390 9746 2275 1727 1276 8062 2210
REPEAT REPAT

(text over again)
End of message, end of transmission.
Signed off 1348

Nice work Tom !

MoK offered this E25a reprot :

11/4/05, 11.58z, 9450kHz, i/p E25, "377 34", readable but flutter
12.01z changed to, "377 32", till 12.02z, no sign-off.
this sig was not there at 11.52z, sounded "live" as spacing between 377
& 34/32 very erratic from very long to almost none at all.
Then:-
12.28z i/p "557 11" till 12.32:20z, no sign-off.
again not there at 12.24z, different voice, and the delivery so erratic
it was difficult to tell whether it was "557 11" or "11 557" until the TX ended with "11".

RNGB and X both heard E25 with a message on 20 and 21th/04/2005 starting at 13.30z.

Calling 906 for a couple of minutes
Message (x3)
9020 9165 0846 6498 8093 1394 9020 6431
Repeat
(x3)
--- rpt of msg ---
End of message, end of transmission.

Interestingly in this case the last and second group are identical. Usually this happens with the last and third group.

The song

It would be intersting to know what the meaning is of the musical intro sometimes played at the beginning of a transmission. I searched on the internet and found a couple of interesting sites.

I understand this song is from Um Kalthoum, a populair female singer in arab speaking countries. So I searched the internet for "Kalthoum MP3". Dozens of songs found. I did not listen to all of them – and perhaps therefore – did not find the song used by E25. Another intersting site is "maroc.net" where english translations can be found from this singing lady. If anyone has the luck to find the song used by E25 the Desk would be grateful to hear.

G06

PoSW writes,

"Known schedules include the first Monday in the month 1900z + 2000z and the alternate Thursday 1830z with a repeat on the following day at 1930z. A Sunday G06 was logged back in February at 2200z on the 6th of that month, frequency 4,441KHz but I have not been able to find a Sunday transmission since.

First Monday in the Month Schedule

7-Mar-05 1900 UTC 6,870 kHz calling "308", as always, full message, DK/GC "295 295 143 143", S9 signal, lower sideband well suppressed.
2000 UTC

and I forgot to write the frequency down in the log! - but a full message means there will be another chance tomorrow! - repeat of "308" and "295 295 143 143".

8-Mar-05 Tuesday 1900 UTC 6,870 kHz  
2000 UTC 5,190 kHz that's 5,190, then - the expected "next day" repeats of yesterday's "308" and "295 295 143 143".
4-Apr-05 1900 UTC 8,055 kHz "308 308 308 00000". Strong signal, lower sideband suppressed.
  The carrier was found at 1842z being up for a fraction of a second then off for 20 - 30 seconds, noted before with this schedule and also with some recent S06 Russian schedules.
2000 UTC 6,935 kHz second sending, very strong, S9+ signal.

Thursday 1830z schedule

10-Mar-05 5,935 kHz

change of Frequency for March, same as in March last year, inside 49 metre broadcast band, difficult copy but best with the receiver in USB mode and the carrier tuned for zero beat. Calling "579", DK/GC "834 834 41 41", not too strong, sank way down in the noise at times.

24-March-05 I couldn't find G06 this evening but it must have been there somewhere because there was a transmission at 1930z on Friday 25th, see below. Perhaps it was being flattened even more than usual by the broadcasters.
14-Apr-05 5,934 kHz I made it, not 5,935; started well before the half hour, about 30 seconds early. Call "947", DK/GC "261 261 38 38", difficult copy inside 49 metre band but using the receiver in USB mode did much to suppress the S9++ broadcast station on 5,930.

Friday 1930z schedule

11-Mar-05 5,442 kHz same frequency as in March last year, calling "947", DK/GC as last night's 1830z, "834 834 41 41". Started approx 12 seconds early.
25-Mar-05 5,442 kHz a bit surprised to find this because I couldn't find an 1830z sending yesterday. Never mind!, "947" and "834 834 41 41" as when last heard on the 11th. S9 signal, lower sideband well suppressed. Started approx 35 seconds late. Carrier was up at 1900z and remained on until start-up, no attempt at pre-transmission concealment here!
15-Apr-05 5,442 kHz call "947", DK/GC as expected, "261 261 38 38", strong signal, lower sideband well suppressed. Carrier with tone was up at 1853z.

PoSW's findings prove that schedules for this station do exist:

First Monday of each month [2004]

  July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan05 Feb 05 March05 April05
1900z 11430 11075 8170 6856 5415 5190 5110   6870  
2000z 9240 9125 6840 5210 4585 3845 4025   5190 6935
Ident: 380 380 380 380 380 380 308   308 308

[Repeated Tuesday if message]

5190kHz 2000z 08/03 [308-295/143=97219] HFD
6935kHz 2000z 04/04 [308 00000] RNGB

Interesting input from Group:

6870kHz 1903z 07/03 [398]
5190kHz 2000z 07/03 [398]

According to one member on group the error warning Chime from Microsoft was heard in the transmission on 5190kHz!

Gert followed up with,

"I heard that too a few months ago with E06. Looks like they are using Windows."

A change of freq was noticed by HFD

6935kHz 2000z 04/05 [308:00000] HFD - new freq

Thursdays[2004]:

  July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan05 Feb05 March05 Apr05
1830z 6887 6887 5934 5934 4512 4519 4719   5935 5934
Ident:   842 579 579 271 271     579 947

[Thurs freqs are 4519, 5934 or 6887kHz]

5935kHz 1830z 10/03 [579 834 41 53761 see Friday below. Note this ID] AF
  1830z 14/04 [946 261 38 97340 see Friday below. Note this ID] AF

Friday[2004]:

  July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan05 Feb05 March05 Apr05
1930z 5934 5934 5442 5442 4792 4792 4782   5422 5422
Ident:   842 947 947 436 436 436   947 947

[Friday Freqs are 4792, 5442 or 5934kHz and occur alternate weeks].

5422kHz 1930z 11/03 [947 834 41 53761- same message as sent to 579 10/03, dif ID] AF
  1930z 25/03 [947 834 41] E
  1930z 29/04 [947 261 38 97340] AF

Saturday [2nd and 3rd Sats each month]:

  July Aug Sept   Nov
2020z 12210 12210 8530  
Ident:   178 178  
         
2200z   6834   4642
Ident:       531

Sundays
  July Aug Sept   March05
2000z       5190
2020z ……….No reports…………  
2025z 10875 10875 No reports  
Ident: 178     308

5190kHz 2000z 06/03 [308 295 143 97219] AF

G22

4823kHz

2300z 03/03   AF
0030z 04/03   AF
2300z 17/03 [186-260/21= 47419 0 0 0] Gert also AF & HFD
0030z 18/03   AF

Slavic stations

Before we move on to our Slavik Desk's chart we bring you a useful little table, as mentioned previously, to help with the recognition of numerals used.

  S04 S11 Presta S11 Presta S11a Cherta S10d S17c
0 nula zero zero nul Nula* Nula*
1 edna yezinka yezinka adinka Jeden^ Jeden^
2 dvoytze dvonta dvonta dvoyka dva dva
3 tri troika troika troyka tri [she] tri [she]
4 chetyri chidiri chidiri chetyorka shytri shytri
5 pedartze peyonta peyonta petyorka pyet pyet
6 shest shes shes shest shest shest
7 sednitzer sedm sedm syem sedoom sedoom
8 asem osem osem vosyem Osoom~ Osoom~
9 devet prunka prunka dyevyet devyet devyet

Notes:

Onto the Slavic Desk's chart, followed by the logs:

Chart 18
M10, S10d and S17c from 1st March to 30th April, 2005

Compiled by the Slavic Desk

Freq Freq   Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Activity
kHz //               Designation
4485 6758             0210 R
4485       0330   0330     R
4485         0340        
3522 4485   0400 0400   0400     R
4485 6763             0410 R
5473 5904       S0410 S0410     R
3522 5301     0430         R
5301 8190   0450 0450         R
4835     S0450     S0450     R
                   
5917   0535 0535   0535     0535 R
9455     S0450 S0450         R
9986 13405         S0600   S0600 R
14565   0615 0615 0615 0615 0615 0615 0615 R
5945 9166             0700 R
9986 13405             S0755 R
5078 8190       0800 0800     ALT
9986 13405       S0820 S0820     ALT
14445         0840 0840     ALT
5945 9166   1140 1140          
8143 12226       1200 1200      
5301 8190 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 1250 R S17c
5945 9166   1340 1340         ALT
8175     1410 1410         R
14445           1440 1440   ALT
8175 9986             S1520 R
14565           1530 1530   ALT
5027 7605 1610 1610           ALT
5078 7745 1630 1630   1630     1630 R
7605 11417     1640         R
5078 8112   1700 1700         ALT
5917 9116       1700 1700     ALT
7475 9986     1720   1720     R
11417             1720   R
6945 10582   S1740 S1740         R
5945 9369 1800       1800     R
4835 7380   1820 1820         ALT
7745 9386       S1820 S1820     ALT
14377         1840 1840     ALT
13405         S1855       ALT
4030 6758       1900 1900     ALT
5945 10125 1920 1920           R
8190         1940 1940     ALT
7745 9166     1950   1950   1950 R
2774 3383   S2020     S2020     R
6895 7745 S2050   S2050         R
3522 4782   2100   2100       R
5474 6894         S2130   S2130 R
3522 4485   2200 2200         R
5945     2200 2200         R

M10e [Now M11] 5019kHz 0900z Mon 07/03 to Fri 11/03 inc.
    0900z Mon 04/04 to Fri 08/04 inc.
0900z Mon 02/05 to Fri 06/05 inc

M10e is now active on the first full week at the beginning if each month.

In the March Newsletter, En27, I explained the problems with the alternate week transmission schedules. These continued during March and did not cease until week commencing 11/04. The end result is that most alternate week schedules have changed weeks.

The next change will be on the 1st May, see Chart 12 ammended for further guidance, although there may be, as usual, some minor changes.

It will be seen that the activity designation for 0340, 1140 and 1200z have been left open due to above problems.

The S10d 0540z has been charted again, heard by PLondon on 26/04 on 9455kHz, my own early morning attempts have been hampered by sleepso I do not know if it has been active regularly or reappeared from 1st March.

From the 1st May S17c will be on 6758kHz, once again competing with the tty transmission on that frequency.

I listened to the radio programme 'Tracking the Lincolnshire Poacher: The Number Stations' as I am sure others did, I found it more interesting in what it did not say than what it did say, particularly information which was in the public domain ie Ana Belen Montes. Perhaps the programme researchers should have consulted ENIGMA 2000 for help in producing that programme.

From time to time enquiries come in regarding M10 and S10d; it baffles me when all the information I have compiled in over two years, almost exclusively on this Group, and published in the Newsletters and Group 'Files' section is ignored.

Am I wasting my time?

S04

Nil Reports

S06

A plethora of input for this particular station this time. PoSW kindly pushes the boat out with his thoughts on scheduling. PoSW did send full logs [Tnx PoSW] but which, due to the size of this column we are unable to fit in. [Thanks to the others full logs too].

Known regular schedules include the weekly Tuesday 1850z + 1950z with call "254", was heard throughout 2004 and is still on in 2005. There was also a schedule on Tuesdays at 1630z + 1730z logged in March but I couldn't find it on Tuesday 5-April UPDATE;- second sending found on 12-April, both sendings found on 19-April. The second and fourth Saturdays in the month schedule at 1600z + 1700z with call "724" was heard in March and April. There was for several years an S06 schedule on the second and fourth Saturdays at 1700z + 1800z, repeated 12 hours later in the early morning UK time for anyone inclined to be up at that time on a Sunday but I have been unable to find this one at all in 2005

Stays on UTC with the start of summertime so appears one hour later clock time, which is more convenient for some of us!

An interesting analysis from AnonOK:

S06 has two types of skeds:

1   ) h:xx/h:xx+10 with 3 pairs of frequencies (Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec)
  (Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct)
(Mai, Jun, Jul, Aug)
1 a

) same SN for the whole year

1 b

) different SN for each "season"

 
2  

) h:xx/h+1:xx with frequency change each month

2 a

) same SN for at least the whole year

2 b

) different SN for each month

The 0930/0940 is the only sked I know of type 1b:

....f.. 0930 11780 0940 12570 516 Jan-Feb seit/from
  12140   13515   Mar-Apr 05/04
10290   9655 843 May-Aug  
12140   13515 726 Sep-Oct  
11780   12570 516 Nov-Dec  

[Thanks AnonOK]

Gert sent in two charts [he gives credit to those who supplied help, AnonUK, RNGB and HFD]:

Here is a list of S06 stations that end slow.

As these stations use frequencies yearly and all known freqs are included and can be used as a kind of S06 prediction list

Could you please add the following to credit the persons who earn it?

HFD and AnonUK found that the slow ending S06 stations use the same freqs each year.

There are three freqs used for the whole year:

Thanks to this tip I could make the list as it is below [Tnx for all help].

S06 Regular skeds ending slow  

Note 1: there are no slow ending transmissions on Saturday or Sunday.

Note 2: the wed 8.30 S06 on 7335 is a special / different one as it uses the same

 

freq for the whole year. No repeat freq found (yet).

 
 
Day time (utc) jan feb nov dec mar apr sep oct may jun jul aug Ending
mon 06.00 4580 7620 7545 slow
mon 06.10 6420 8105 8220 slow
mon 12.00 8420 9145 10230 slow Sometimes+1 hr
mon 12.10 10635 11460 12165 slow Sometimes+1 hr
tue 07.00 5250 5760   slow  
tue 07.15 6320 6930 6780 slow
tue 08.00 5810 7320 7245 slow
tue 08.10 7440 9840 9670 slow
tue 08.00 10265 11635 14373 slow Poss only wk 2,4
tue 08.10 9135 10420 12935 slow Poss only wk 2,4
tue 18.00 5625 5680 5745 slow  
tue 18.10 6605 6815   slow
wed 07.00 12365 13420 14580 slow
wed 07.10 14280 15380 16020 slow
wed 08.20 6880 7605   slow
wed 08.30 7840 9255 slow
wed 08.30 7335 7335 7335 slow
wed 08.30 6820 9260 10120 slow
wed 08.40 5760 8330 9670 slow
wed 11.00 13438   slow
wed 11.10 11158 slow
wed 12.30 8530 9220   slow
wed 12.40 7520 8270 9110 slow
thu 09.30 Possible sked For freqs see fri  
thu 09.40 Possible sked For freqs see fri
thu 10.00 8533 9225 10175 slow
thu 10.10 10480 11515 12215 slow
thu 14.00 7865 8650 9255 slow
thu 14.10 5310   7630 slow
thu 16.00   10410 slow Last hrd aug 04
thu 16.10 9690 slow Last hrd aug 04
thu 17.00 5070 6464 6666 slow  
thu 17.10 6337 7242 7744 slow
fri 06.00 5460 6340 7845 slow
fri 06.10   5470 9125 slow
fri 06.00 7795   slow
fri 06.10 8695   slow
fri 09.30 11780 12140 10290 slow

Gert follows this chart with his derivations for S06 and E06 with fast endings [Regular Scheds].

Again Gert credits others for their assistance in finding these frequencies: Tnx AnonUK and RNGB.

S06 and E06 both ending fast. Regular skeds.

   
    2005 2005 fast / ID ID
Day time (utc) march April short March April
mon 08.00   fast  
mon 08.10 fast
mon 18.50  
mon E06 19.30 5405   fast 690  
mon 20.15   fast  
mon 21.15 fast
mon 22.15 fast
tue 08.00 fast
tue E06 11.00 fast
tue E06 12.00     fast    
tue 14.00 14390 14730 fast 493 493
tue 15.00 12200 12190 fast 493 493
tue 16.30 14560 16120 fast 126 036
tue 17.30 12190 13950 fast 126 036
tue 18.00     slow    
tue 18.50   7820 fast   254
tue 19.00     fast    
tue 19.10 9225   fast 270  
tue 19.50   6840 fast   254
tue 19.50          
tue E06 20.00 8015   fast 357  
tue 20.15          
tue E06 21.00 6910   fast 471  
wed 08.30 9225 9225 fast   480
wed E06 08.50   fast  
wed 09.00 slow
wed 11.00  
wed 11.10
wed 13.00
wed 14.00   14730 fast   493
wed E06 14.00   13415 fast   160
wed E06 14.05 13414 14610 fast 457 457
wed 14.30          
wed E06 15.05 11120 12210 fast 457 457
wed E06 15.00   11125 fast   160
wed 15.00   12190 fast 493
  15.15   fast  
wed 15.30    
wed 16.30   16120 fast 036
wed 17.30   13950 fast 036
wed 19.50     fast  
wed 21.00 7840 9310 fast 569 983
wed E06 22.00 6830 7560 fast 569 983
wed E06 22.30   7730 fast   726
wed 05.00   fast  
thu E06 05.00 fast
thu E06 06.00 fast
thu E06 06.00  
thu 11.00 fast
thu E06 12.00 fast
thu 15.00 fast
thu E06 16.00 11427   fast
thu E06 16.00  
thu 16.10
thu 20.30 5186   fast/slow
thu E06 21.20   fast
thu E06 22.00  
fri E06 05.00 fast
fri E06 06.00 fast
fri 08.10  
fri 21.30 5197 5197 fast/slow 634 634
sat 13.30   fast  
sat 14.00 fast
sat E06 15.00 fast
sat E06 16.00   6923 fast   890
sat 16.00 15840 14910 fast 724 724
sat 17.00 13890 12190 fast 724 724
sat 18.00   fast  
sat 19.00  
sat 20.00
sat 21.00   10320 fast   285
sat E06 22.00 8170 fast 285
sat E06 14.00   fast  
sun E06 15.00 fast
sun E06 15.40  
sun 17.00
sun 17.15
sun E06 18.30   8020 fast 690 690
sun E06 19.30 5406 6970 fast 690 690

The weekly S06 Tuesday Russian Man 1850 and 1950z schedule is still in existence. Heard on every Tuesday in 2004 but not in Jan and Feb 2005, PoSW eventually found it at 1950z on 5370kHz 08/03 and the first sending at 1850z on 6805kHz. The freq reduced to 6799kHz 15/03 possibly to avoid a nearby XJT.

Another S06 has been heard 08/03 and 15/03 at 1730z on 12190kHz. With a 126 126 126 00000 it is not known if this is a regular weekly slot

[PoSW].

Below are truncated examples of logs received from others.

AF's logs:

2005-03-01 Tue 0810 0816 10420 s06 "352 941 7 45924..." slow zeros
2005-03-01 Tue 1800 1807 5680 s06 "624 873 15 92949..." slow zeros
2005-03-01 Tue 1810 0000 6815 s06 "624 873 15 92949..." slow zeros
2005-03-02 Wed 0820 0000 7605 s06 "471 583 6 85395..." slow zeros
2005-03-04 Fri 0600 0000 6340 s06 "934 281 7 9?592..."
2005-03-08 Tue 1800 0000 5680 s06 "624 873 15 92949.. slow zeros, same as 1.3.
2005-03-08 Tue 1812 1819 6815 s06 "624"slow zeros, same as 1800
2005-03-09 Wed 0820 0000 7605 s06 "471 583 6 85395..."
2005-03-10 Thu 1000 1006 9225 s06 "895 237 6 20826..."
2005-03-15 Tue 1730 1734 12190 s06 "126 000000" fast
2005-03-15 Tue 1800 0000 5680 s06 "624:00000" slow
2005-03-15 Tue 1810 0000 6815 s06 "624:00000" slow
2005-03-16 Wed 0700 0000 13420 s06 "729 00000" slow
2005-03-16 Wed 0820 0000 7605 s06 "471 00000" slow
2005-03-17 Thu 1010 0000 11515 s06 "895 00000" slow
2005-03-18 Fri 0600 0000 6340 s06 "934 00000" slow

[Tnx AF]

Below is a truncated example of logs received from others.

April logs from RNGB:

20th 0820 7605 '471' 00000
  0830 9255 '471' repeat
0840 9480 '328' 00000
0850 11040 '328' repeat
1230 9220 '371' 00000
1240 8270 '371' repeat
21st 1100 10485 910x3 98043x2 then repeated for 4 mins; then 910x3 83543x2 repeated for 4 mins. (S06e)
  1400 8650 '314' 00000
22nd 0600 7795 '196' 00000
  0610 8695 '196' repeat
23rd 1600 6923 '890' 00000 (fast 0s)
  1700 12190 '724' 00000

PoSW concludes this S06 coverage with comment,

"There are regular S06 Russian Man schedules on Tuesdays, weekly at 1850z + 1950z with call "254" as in 2004 - but not using the same frequencies - and a Tuesday 1630z + 1730z sending also seems to be weekly. There is still S06 activity on the second and fourth Saturdays in the month at 1600z + 1700z but the 1700z + 1800z schedule heard for several years seems to have gone; this was always the easiest to find, a strong carrier with tone always up at least 15 minutes before the hour."

S10d

S10d schedules are much as in the same month last year and as expected there were frequency changes to many schedules in the first week of March. Schedules known to be operating in April include;-

Tuesday and Sunday 2050 UTC 6,894 // 7,745 kHz as from March changed from 5,272 // 5,904 used in the winter months. There are wide variations in signal strengths, for example on Tuesday 5-April both frequencies were very weak signals, only just detectable but on Sunday 10-April both were a good S9.
Thursday and Saturda 2130 UTC 5,473 // 6,894 kHz as from March changed from 4,446 // 5,904 kHz. Again, signal strengths vary widely; on Thursday 31-March there were good signals on both frequencies, 6,894 being particularly strong at S9+ but on Saturday 2-April both frequencies were noisy with very weak signals.
Thursday and Saturday 0600 UTC 9,985 // 11,416 kHz to be quite honest I have managed to find both frequencies of this schedule on one occasion only so far in April, on Thursday 7th; there is a strong Italian language broadcaster on 9,985 which usually flattens the Czech YL and the signal on 11,416 has been so weak as to be only just detectable at the very best. When heard in the summer months of last year this schedule always carried the same 5F message as the 2130z transmission but has not been strong enough to confirm so far this year!
Monday and Tuesday 1740 UTC 6,945 // 10,582 kHz a two message transmission usually good signals on both frequencies, was on 5,028 // 7,605 kHz in the winter months.
Saturday 1520 UTC 8,175 // 9,985 kHz same frequencies as in the winter months, usually good signals on both frequencies although 9,985 at the high end of the 31 metre band sometimes suffers from broadcast QRM and a weak swept frequency jammer aimed at one or other of the broadcasters.

[PoSW]

2774kHz 2025z 07/03 [ --- --- 82 24 KK 2030z]//3383 PLondon in prog, fair readable.
  2020z 17/03 [555 961 49 24 KK 2031z]//3383 PLondon strong sigs
4835kHz 0450z 03/03 [555 771 57 50 KK 0501z] PLondon writes, "Weak noisy, almost unreadable so unsure of dk/gc."
5473kHz 2130z 05/03 [555 816 35 38 KK 2148z] //6894 PLondon
  0410z 09/03 [555 642 48 20 KK 0420z]//5904 PLondon Weak USB used
2130z 31/03 ['555' 801 39 555 etc]//6894 RNGB
2130z 21/04 ['555' 558 17 555 etc] RNGB //6894
5474kHz 2130z 17/03 [ 01 37 KK 2142z]//6894 PLondon Strong sigs
  2130z 19/03 [555 382 01 37 KK 2142z]//6894 PLondon rpt of 2130z 17/03
6895kHz 2050z 06/03 [555 727 85 40 KK 2104z]//7745 weak readable PLondon
  2050z 20/03 [555 363 22 29 KK 2101z]//7745 PLondon v.strong
2140z 24/03 [28 26 KK] E
6945kHz 1740z 07/03   AF
  1740z 14/03   AF
1750z 12/04 in progress RNGB
7745kHz 1820z 10/03 [555 342 48 20 KK1829z]//9385 PLondon
8175kHz 1520z 05/03   AF
  1520z 12/03 [82 24 KK 1530z]//9986 PLondon – apparent rpt 2025z 07/03
1520z 19/03 [555 961 49 24 KK 1530z]//9986 PLondon rpt 2020z 17/03
9452kHz 0552z 26/04 in progress ends: 69 69 34 34 ended 0558z PLondon.
9986kHz 1520z 23/04 [555 587 66 31 KK 1531z]//8175 – XJT on freq, PLondon
10852kHz 1740z 21/03 [555 983 28 35; 727 45 26 KK 1757z]//6945 PLondon
  1740z 21/03 [555 983 28 35; 727 45 26 KK 1757z Rpt of 21/03]//6945 PLondon

S11a Cherta

4016kHz

2100z 02/03 [971 000] Jochen/HFD/AF
2100z 16/03 [971 000] AF E
2100z 06/04 [971 000] AF

S17c

New freqs were used from 1st March 2005: 5301//8190kHz

We thank AF, DoK, HFD, RNGB and PLondon for their input:

01/03 69030
02/03 70029
04/03 64030
06/03 85029
07/03 83038
08/03 79030
09/03 70029
11/03 63031
12/03 73034
13/03 71028
14/03 87031
15/03 83030
16/03 78031
17/03 69028
19/03 83035
20/03 67030
21/03 78033
22/03 77032
23/03 66029
24/03 u/r
27/03 82047
28/03 62031
29/03 59034
30/03 70030
31/03 67031

01/04 58035
02/04 62033
03/04 68030
04/04 67035
05/04 48030
06/04 67033
07/04 71031
08/04 75031
09/04 78031
10/04 73037
11/04 71031
12/04 77032
14/04 60033
15/04 63032
17/04 63035
18/04 62033
19/04 67032
22/04 58031
23/04 65033
25/04 62030
27/04 71032
28/04 68059
29/04 67032
30/04 69035

In general only the 8190kHz freq was reported as being used by DoK and PLondon. HFD reported both freqs as viable and AF only 5301 on 12/03..

S21

4016kHz 2100z 02/03 [971/00] HFD
4454kHz 1842z 08/03   AF
  1842z 17/03   AF
  1842z 22/0 3[454-540/30=58854] HFD
4854kHz 1842z 08/03 [404 msg 000] TomH via Sweden internet radio.
  1842z 17/03   AF
  1842z 22/03 [454-540/30=58854] HFD

S30

Those of you who have read this far will have read of Manolis' success with E15 and E23. In this report he discloses a little about the equipment he uses prior to his log of this station, which is something of a rarity:

Detailed S30 log for Saturday 12 March 2005:

5448 kHz 1500z 12/03 USB Slavic OM in progress! Stops for a while and starts again. Then back to the beeping sound.

Manolis also provided a sound file of S30, it was uploaded to Group in the early hours of 13/03/05 [Tnx Manolis, you have done us proud once again].

Spanish lady: V02 and variants

The V02 Spanish language transmissions have increased in signal strength as the hours of daylight have increased although I think some long standing schedules are not always transmitted , for example on Wednesday the 0600z 8,010 kHz V02 has been on with good signals in the last couple weeks but nothing heard in April, so far, of the other 0600z Wednesday transmission on 9,331, not even a weak carrier. V02 still shows a lack of punctuality with regards to start-up time and there is often that annoying background buzz from time to time and occasionally a mode of transmission which seems to be double sideband but with the carrier suppressed.

[TnxPoSW]

We have received reports of unclassified V02 transmissions as:

6097kHz 2209z 28/03
9063kHz 0725z 25/03

V02 from PoSW:

27-Feb-05 Sunday 0814 UTC 9,354 kHz this early Sunday morning UK time V02 was heard earlier in the winter months, seemed to vanish but has re-emerged in the second half of February. Weak but readable, was not heard when checked at 0800z. Was being transmitted in double sideband suppressed carrier mode; unreadable with the receiver in AM mode, rendered readable in both LSB and USB, no carrier heterodyne evident when tuned away from centre frequency.
11-Mar-05 Friday 2114 UTC 6,855 kHz transmission in progress, weak signal, there appeared to be an equally weak broadcast station on the same frequency.
2200 UTC 6,797 kHz starting up with "Atencion, 346....72", weak but clear, into 5Fs 2203z, pause after every tenth group.
12-Mar-05 Saturday 0636 UTC 8,097 kHz transmission in progress, weak signal but when checked just before 0644z in time to hear the ending of 3 x "Finale" had become much stronger at S7 to S8.
0700 UTC 9,153 kHz or rather about 30 seconds before, starting up with "Atencion, 58863 24163 89653", strength S8, really much stronger than even just a few weeks ago, QRM from the utility station slightly off to one side.
13-Mar-05 Sunday 0804 UTC 9,354 kHz transmission in progress, in the double sideband suppressed carrier mode noted on previous occasions with this transmission, loud background buzz. Strength S5, strongest for some time.
14-Mar-05 Monday 0638 UTC 9,331 kHz very weak signal.
17-Mar-05 Thursday 0700 UTC 9,153 kHz starting up with "Atencion, 05861 58111 66123", strength S7, usual utility QRM from slightly HF the same as when this frequency is used on Saturdays.
20-Mar-05 Sunday

no sign of the V02 on 9,354 kHz this morning when checked several times between 0800 and 0813 UTC.

23-Mar-05 Wednesday 0633 UTC 9,331 kHz transmission in progress, weak but just about readable, best reception of this Wednesday 0600z transmission for some time. No sign of the other V02 which used to be heard at this time on 8,010 kHz.
24-Mar-05 Thursday 0638 UTC 8,097 kHz transmission in progress and my word!, an S9 signal, by far the strongest V02 signal for many months!
0659 UTC 9,153 kHz must have started before 0700z, call-up was in progress when tuned in almost a minute before the hour, "Atencion, 42234 58013 05562".
26-Mar-05 Saturday 0636 UTC 8,097 kHz transmission in progress, S7 to S8.
0659 UTC 9,153 kHz call-up had begun when tuned in about a minute before 0700z, "Atencion, 42236 94762 29321. Strength peaking S7 with deep QSB.
27-Mar-05 Sunday 0806 UTC

which, with the start of summertime last night and the advancing of the clocks by one hour is now 9.06 AM, V02 having stayed on UTC; 9,354 kHz, couldn't find this one last Sunday, on this morning strength S5 with background buzz and with carrier unlike on previous recent Sundays when this has been heard, so could be copied in AM mode.

2-Apr-05 Saturday 0559 UTC 8,097 kHz "Atencion, 74433 94763 29323", strong signal, S8, even S9. Must have started early, was in call-up when tuned in at 0559z and went into 5Fs on the hour so must have started at 0557 if call-up was the usual 3 minutes.
0700 UTC 9,153 kHz or about 5 seconds after - don't they have accurate clocks in Cuba? - "74433 94763 29323" same as heard earlier. S9 signal although with deep QSB, and the utility station close to this frequency was much weaker than usual.
3-Apr-05 Sunday 0729 UTC 8,132 kHz another Sunday morning V02, transmission in progress, signal strength S7, ended with 3 x "Finale" a couple of minutes after being tuned in
0800 UTC 9,354 kHz something strange with this one this morning, carrier with slight buzz was up ten minutes before the hour which seemed to stand me in good stead to hear the start-up; however, at 0800z started up not with numbers in Spanish but with letters in Morse, keyed audio tone on a constant carrier - I thought at first it was a CW signal a  kHz or so away beating with the V02 carrier. Sent "GGAWN UWDDD MTWWD" for three minutes, then "GGAWN" five times and "= = =" and into groups of 5 Morse letters - the format is similar to a V02 call-up. Only lasted for a minute or so when the Morse stopped. Carrier stayed on, was still on at 0816z when I gave up on it.
6-Apr-05 Wednesday 0605 UTC 8,010 kHz V02 in progress, strength S8 to S9, no sign of the distorted FSK/RTTY signal which usually sits on this frequency flattening V02. No sign either of a transmission on 9,331KHz, the other V02 which has been noted in the past at 0600z.
7-Apr-05 Thursday 0536 UTC 8,097 kHz transmission in progress, signal strength peaking S9, paused and called "04466" several times before proceeding with more 5Fs.
0600 UTC 8,097KHz expected V02 to start up again on the hour but was plain carrier, still unmodulated at 0606z but was up with 5Fs when checked again at 0618z.
8-Apr-05 Friday 0536 UTC 9,153 kHz transmission in progress, very weak signal, only just detectable.
0607 UTC 8,010 kHz what a contrast with the earlier V02, good signal here, even over-riding the FSK/RTTY which has returned to this frequency
9-Apr-05 Saturday 0634 UTC 8,097 kHz transmission in progress, S8.
0700 UTC 9,153 kHz starting up with "Atencion, 81973 71561 48342. Call-up was in progress just before the hour.
10-Apr-05 Sunday 0704 UTC 8,132 kHz transmission in progress, peaking S9, pause after every 10th 5F group.
0800 UTC 9,354 kHz starting up, weak signal, distorted audio and background buzz; unreadable in any mode, could just make out the "Atencion".
13-Apr-05 Wednesday 0607 UTC 8,010 kHz transmission in progress, weak signal but no FSK QRM. Nothing heard on 9,331 kHz.
14-Apr-05 Thursday 0540 UTC 8,097 kHz weak signal.
0607 UTC 8,097 kHz stronger than earlier, now S7.
16-Apr-05 Saturday 0600 UTC 8,097 kHz appeared to have started early when tuned in at 0559z, was in 5F message mode; but just before the hour paused and called "Atencion, 91163 71562 41121". Good signal peaking S9.
0700 UTC 9,153 kHz starting up with 91163, 71562 and 41121 again, weak signal, difficult copy.
17-Apr-05 Sunday 0700 UTC 8,132 kHz starting up with "Atencion, 280.....97", into 5Fs 0703z, ended after 0710z with 2 x "finale".Weak signal.

No sign of the 0800 UTC V02 on 9,354 kHz, not even a weak carrier.

21-Apr-05 Thursday 0538 UTC 8,097 kHz in progress, peaking S9
0600 UTC 8,097 kHz starting up again with "Atencion, 20534 69072 94502", weaker signal than earlier.
24-Apr-05 Sunday 0700 UTC 8,132 kHz "Atencion, 445 .....62", heterodyne from a carrier on 8,130.
0804 UTC 9,354 kHz transmission in progress, very weak signal, only just detectable, couldn't find this one at all last Sunday

V02a

4028kHz 0300z 02/04 [(in progress) (YL/SS)] MS
4035kHz 1000z 02/04 [(in progress, very weak signal) (YL/SS)] MS
  1000z 16/04 [In progress - missed callup (YL/SS)] MS
4479kHz 0400z 22/04   JLAS
  0500z 22/04   JLAS
4502kHz 1100z 12/03 [A 99803 33351 42293 (YL/SS)] MS
4507kHz 1100z 16/04 [In progress - missed callup - very weak (YL/SS)] MS
5417kHz 0100z 22/04   JLAS
5762kHz 0200z 02/04 [(in progress) (YL/SS)] MS
9153kHz 0735z 31/03   E
  0723z 02/04   E
  0700z 16/04 [A 91163 71562 41121 (YL/SS)] MS
10345kHz 1100z 26/03 [in progress-very garbled-YL/SS] MS

V02c

V02c schedule from MS:

Day 0900z 1000z   1700z 1800z 1900z 2000z 2100z 2200z
Sunday 7887m 7975m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m
Monday 7527m 7681m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m
Tuesday 7520m 7887m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m
Wed 7482m 7862m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m
Thursday 7527m 7681m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m
Friday 7520m 7887m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m
Saturday 7887m 7975m 8010m 8097m 8097m 7887m 6855m 6797m

6797kHz

2200z 07/03 [A346 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
2200z 10/03 [(in progress - missed calls)(YL/SS)] MS  
2200z 13/03 [A346 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
2200z 16/03 [A888 16x2 A252 166x1 A888 16x2 (R3) 44621 62561 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
2200z 20/03 [(in progress - missed callup) (YL/SS)] MS  
2200z 23/03 [A346 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
2232z 29/03   E  
2000z 01/04 [A347 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS *NOTE TIME*

6855kHz

2100z 06/03 [A343 53] PLondon Weak readable – unsure of figs.  
2100z 23/03 [A346 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  

7887kHz

2000z 20/03 [A347 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
2000z 07/04 [A888 16x2 A252 166x1 A888 16x2 (R3) 44621 62561 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
0950z 16/04 [In progress – missed callup (YL/SS)] MS  
2000z 22/04 [A888 16x2 A252 166x1 A888 16x2 (R3) 44621 62561 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  

7975kHz

1000z 02/04 [A346 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  
1000z 16/04 [A346 72x5 (R3) 73511 91082 . . . . (YL/SS)] MS  

With his 22/04 log MS kindly offered his interesting thoughts, "V02c continues to send the same message to A888 and the same message to A346 day after day. It never seems to vary. I wonder if this could just be a training exercise that the Cubans have instituted? With the number of mistakes on the V02a and M08a/M08c networks recently, they could be all rookies."

[TnxMS]

V07

14387kHz 0600z 17/03 [304-976/19=] HFD

V13

In message 4573 dated 05/03 Ben Mesander wrote,

"For a while, V13 seemed to have timeshifted into slots where it was not possible to hear it at my QTH. It seems to have resumed at least some skeds that are possible to pick up in the western US. Check around 1100utc-1500utc on:

Note that some of the above freqs are in error, but since it's been so many years since I monitored this station I can't remember the ones that are "real"".

[Tnx Ben]


Printed as a separate page for reference.

European Number Systems

English zero one two three four five six seven eight nine
Bulgarian nul edín dva tri chétiri pet shest sédem ósem dévet
French zero un deux trois quattre cinq six sept huit neuf
German^ null eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben acht neun
Spanish zero uno dos tres cuatro cinco seis siete ocho nueve
Czech nula jeden dva tr^i chtyr^i pêt shest sedm osm devêt
Polish nula jeden dwa trzy cztery pie,c' szes'c' siedem osiem dziewie,c'
Romanian zero unu doi trei patru cinci s,ase s,apte opt nouâ
Slovak* nula jeden dva tri shtyri pät' shest' sedem osem devät'
* West nula jeden dva try shtyry pet shest sedem ossem devat
* East nula jeden dva tri shtyri pejc shesc shedzem osem dzevec
Serbo-Croat nula jèdan dvâ trî chètiri pêt shêst sëdam ösam dëve:t
Slovene nula ena dva tri shtiri pet shest sedem osem devet
Russian null odín dva tri chety're pyat' shest' sem' vósem' dévyat'

^ Some German numerals have a radio accent. The numbers in question are:

This is totally in keeping with some German armed forces stations and corresponds to our WUN, FOWER, FIFE, NINER

Arabic Numerals [E25 and V08]

English zero one two three four five six seven eight nine
  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Arabic sifr wahid itnien talata arba khamsa sitta saba tamanya tissa

Numeral systems used on selected Slavic Stations

  S04 S11 Presta S11 Presta S11a Cherta S10d S17c
0 nula zero zero nul Nula* Nula*
1 edna yezinka yezinka adinka Jeden^ Jeden^
2 dvoytze dvonta dvonta dvoyka dva dva
3 tri troika troika troyka tri [she] tri [she]
4 chetyri chidiri chidiri chetyorka shytri shytri
5 pedartze peyonta peyonta petyorka pyet pyet
6 shest shes shes shest shest shest
7 sednitzer sedm sedm syem sedoom sedoom
8 asem osem osem vosyem Osoom~ Osoom~
9 devet prunka prunka dyevyet devyet devyet

Notes:

©ENIGMA 2000 7th March, 2005

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