Hundred thirty-fifth edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: December 2008)

Utility round-up

2008 Clandestine activity survey

During the year 2008 the activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting on shortwave has dropped by 5.3 % to 1251 Weekly Broadcasting Hours (WBHs). This is the result of the latest Clandestine Activity Suvey, which has been published annually since 1986.

The activity of clandestine stations broadcasting to target areas on the Asian continent has decreased by 2.6 % to 915 WBHs. Activity to target areas on the American continent has remained unchanged at 215 WBHs. The activity to target areas on the African continent, where volatility has always been very high in recent years, has decreased by 27.5 % to 121 WBHs.

The most active target area worldwide is now - for the first time in the history of the CAS - North Korea with 245 WBHs (+49 when compared with last year), followed by China P.R. with 224 WBHs (-16) and Cuba with 215 WBHs (unchanged).

The number of different target areas active worldwide has decreased from 18 to 17, with Senegal dropping from the list of active targets. On the other hand, no new or reactivated target areas have been reported over the past 12 months.

Mathias Kropf
December 21, 2008

Unid "77777"

Last month I mentioned the unid "77777" station on 3659, 4444 and 5344 kHz. The station has been copied again on 5345 kHz at ca 1550 UTC on 6 and 7-12. It transmits "77777" for 12 minutes, followed by a 12 mins pause, and then "77777" again.

Unid Polish Pip

This unid was mentioned in N&O #134. Had I looked better than I would have noticed that this was in fact the Russian BRAS navigation system. One of its frequencies is 1810 kHz. Thanks for the tip Alan.

Unid 5115 and 5715 kHz

An unid morse numbers station is frequently heard on 5717 kHz during the past month. The format is similar to the unid that has been reported earlier on 5115 kHz which is thought to be a South Korean intelligence station. The first log that I have seen of this station is way back in October 2002.

The station transmits at 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500 kHz on 5715 kHz and 1400 UTC on 5115 kHz. Other skeds haven't been reported yet.

The format is similar to the message below.

vvv vvv vvv cq cq cq de 815 815 815 qrk5 qtc k (repeated)
hr w33 bt
54172 65897 25896 83765 85421 89013 08463 35724 18423 64120
35257 95150 68120 79103 58769 20968 73426 51746 89724 54135
36275 80510 23980 70031 73096 81493 64724 32659 82596 87259
57249 72562 15018
rpt bt
54172 65897 25896 83765 85421 89013 08463 35724 18423 64120
35257 95150 68120 79103 58769 20968 73426 51746 89724 54135
36275 80510 23980 70031 73096 81493 64724 32659 82596 87259
57249 72562 15018
bt ar k tu va
nnnn

More info and logs are most welcome. You can download a sample from the N&O sound sample page.

(Logged by Tomonori and 2 other dxers)