Thirty-second edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2000 11:43:47 +0100)

Russian HF beacons | Voice stations | Various modes | Morse stations | Intelligence news | Logs
Index | NS NL Home

Russian HF beacons [MX]

The mysterious single letter morse stations have been with us since the early sixties. During recent years we have gained some useful information about these stations, but the mystery is still not 100% solved.

What are they and how are they called?

The stations are known under various names:

• SLHFB (Single Letter High Frequency Beacons)

• SLHFM (Single Letter High Frequency Markers)

• Channel markers

• Cluster beacons

• FSK markers

• SLB (Single Letter Beacons)

• MX (the code that the ENIGMA group uses for these stations)

It would be nice if everyone would use a similar code, though. I would like to suggest to use the ENIGMA code [MX], or even better, an extended ENIGMA code:

• MXb: single letter propagation beacons, operating in clusters [C,S,F,...]

• MXm: single letter channel markers [R,P,L,V,...]

• MXr: other related markers [Buzzer, Pip, Squeaky Wheel,...]

Well, that takes care of the code, but what should we call these stations? In my opinion, we are talking about two different types of stations here. The so called 'cluster beacons' are most probably propagation/navigation beacons. The solitary letter stations and the related pip/buzzer like stations, are definitely channel markers for Russian military stations, like Navy Kaliningrad (P).

Dots and dashes in...... Cyrillic

A few words about the call signs. Actually we are reporting the wrong call signs as our Russian friends can confirm. As you can see on the Russian CW chart (http://home.luna.nl/~ary/ruscw.jpg), we should report the Cyrillic equivalents of the letters that we normally report. But as most of us cannot write or read Cyrillic, or our word processor cannot handle the characters, I suggest to keep it simple and not to change the characters that we hear. In reality though, it is wrong to say that the stations transmit the letters C, S, P, etc, and Cyrillic characters like ..-- and .-.- because all we hear is in fact Cyrillic, including C, S, and P.

Known locations of channel markers and cluster beacons.

Cluster beacons

The so called 'cluster beacons' are most probably propagation and/or navigation beacons. I have never heard anything else but the beacons, nor did I ever see a log of a message being sent by these stations.

Since the 60's, many suggestions were made about the purpose of these stations. Some say that they are beacons for vessels on the Russian inland waterways. Others are convinced that the stations are being used for satellite tracking. Propagation beacons for the navy is another one. A nice one appeared in Popular Communications back in July 1994:

"The explanation given was that a DF net control would transmit an idle marker on several frequencies to keep the channels open. When an intercept site would tip-off the control station regarding a target, the callsign, frequency and other pertinent details were sent to the DF net stations. Bearings were taken by those stations and the results sent back to control where they were placed on a plot board."

Over the years the clusters have moved up and down the SW spectrum. The current clusters are grouped around the following frequencies: 5154, 7039, 8495, 10872, 13258, 16332, 20048. The stations in these clusters are: C,F,K,P,S.

Notes:

• P recently disappeared from the clusters. This has happened before, so it is quite possible that it will return one of these days.

• F is normally one of the cluster beacons that can be heard in the Far East. Same story as P. It will probably be back.

• K is also a cluster beacon but was only heard on 2 freqs during the past few months.

Channel markers

A couple of years ago I had the chance to speak to a Russian naval radio operator who works on a Russian frigate. He confirmed to me that the channel markers are military stations, mostly used by the navy. His English was poor so I could not ask for more detailed info, and as I don't speak Russian, you can imagine that it was a really nice conversation. I had to write down the morse characters of the call signs of the stations and he told me the locations. It was really fun, believe me :-) A couple of the markers that he mentioned have now disappeared but still exist as cluster beacons. The radio operator identified 'L' as St.Petersburg, 'P' as Kaliningrad (HQ of the Baltic Fleet), 'S' as Arkhangelsk and 'C' as Moscow (naval HQ). He knew that there were more stations but didn't know which ones because they were not relevant for his vessel.

At the moment there are a number of channel markers active, or were active during the past months: A, D, E, EO (or J), F, H, I, K, L, OB, P, R, T, V, W, Y.

Ever since the 1960's traffic has been noticed on the marker frequencies. Callsigns as RUT, UMS, RMP and ROD were used. One of the most active stations was navy Kaliningrad (P) with callsign RMP. A typical RMP transmission started with 'P' marker being transmitted, followed by either morse or RTTY traffic to REO, RMA91, RJD69, REE5, RLA88, or naval vessels like UHEl and RWRI, to name just a few. The messages consisted of weather reports for the Baltic or other northern areas, or off-line encrypted messages. After the messages were sent, 'P' appeared again. Sometimes for hours, or just for a couple of minutes. Kaliningrad is still active, but the channelmarker 'P' isn't used as often as it was in the past. RMP now often begins its transmissions without the marker.

Related stations

When I think of stations that are closely related to the channel markers, five of them immediately come to mind: 'U', the 'Pip', the 'Squeaky wheel', the 'Yelper', and the 'Buzzer'. Although mentioned above as single letter channel marker, 'R' fits better in the 'related' section. The known channel markers are all naval stations, while 'R' is most likely an army station.

• Jammer station 'U'. Used to be active on many frequencies. The 'U' beacon was transmitted on FSK and the traffic on the 'U' frequencies was RTTY.
  
  In his excellent book 'Jamming', Rimantas Pleikys writes:
  
  "The data from the archive was found by long-time Ministry employee, Mr. A. Stelingis, who at one time was responsible for the operation of jamming objects. During one conversation a secret came to light about a long time mystery regarding the Soviet 'U' channel marker. I was able to monitor the work of this marker at 16 frequencies. The 'U' marker disappeared from the airwaves in the spring of 1990. I have recorded an occasion when the 'U' marker ran on 13 frequencies simultaneously! My colleague, A. Stelingis, confirmed that these channels were continuously monitored at the jamming correction and control posts. The 'U' channels were used to transmit orders to the jammers -most likely to issue jamming frequency times and schedules. It must have been that 'U' channels were used as backup instead of the teletype link to Moscow. (It is also believable that the 'U' marker was on the shortwave bands was used also for civil defense and other purposes). It is worthwhile to note that when the USSR ceased its jamming on 30-11-1988, the 'U' marker transmitters continued to operate for almost another 18 months! This would indicate that throughout most of the USSR jamming systems continued to be kept ready to start again."
  
  Note: Rimantas Pleikys' book JAMMING is still available. For order info, please check www.is.lt/ratekona/2/knygos/jamminge.htm
  
  Rimantas also supplied an overview of the three known standard voice message formats of the Russian military HF channel marker stations 'the Pip', 'the Buzzer', and 'R'. All transmissions are live, non-computerized, mostly male voices, repeated twice, in the Russian language.
  
  The purpose of the control messages is to check a readiness of the operators at the receiving (network) stations. The received message content, or a special reply message, must be repeated back on the return link. This can be a MW or SW link, a telephone line or a satellite link. In the cases of the Pip and 'R', the final message phrase 'v priyom' ('over') means that the station is waiting for the quick answer.

• The Pip, 3756//5448 kHz, USB+reduced carrier mode, Rostov-Volgograd area (possibly also transmitting from a site closer to the west) at different times. The channel marker consist of a pip. Sometimes control messages are transmitted.

• 'R', Izhevsk, military. There are two different marker types; a CW type and an UC type (USB+carrier mode). Frequencies: see freq list. Voice transmissions are usually on the hour, regular schedules.

• The Buzzer, 4625 kHz, Moscow area, AM mode. Voice transmissions are extremely rare. The channel marker consists of a continuously repeated on-off buzzing tone except during minute :59 of each hour, when an alternating high-low tone is repeated. Note that the marker consisted of a pip in the 1980's.

• The Squeaky Wheel, 3814 and 5461.5 kHz. No messages noted so far.
• The Yelper, 3650 kHz. No messages noted so far.

Callsign and frequency lists

Cluster beacons

All currently active or active during the past six months.

Channel markers

All currently active or active during the past six months.

1. Operates only during daytime. Irregular.
2. Probably not related to the old 'W' stations from Cuba.
3. Unclear whether it sends EO or J. Both have been logged by a number of people.

Related markers

All currently active or active during the past six months.

Historic _now defunc_ stations

Sources:

WUN newsletters, Spooks reflector, ENIGMA, SPEEDX, Monitoring Times, Popular Communications. A special thanks to the people who wish to remain anonymous and a very big 'THANK YOU' to Takashi Yamaguchi, Albert W. Hussein, and Rimantas Pleikys.

Russian HF beacons | Voice stations | Various modes | Morse stations | Intelligence news | Logs
Index | NS NL Home