Presented to the Vange ARC on the 21st August 2008
At a previous meeting at the club, the Yahoo group UKQRM http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKQRM/ was mentioned by Robin G3JWI.
The topic of how amateurs could identify QRM was mooted, and Members were invited to bring along recordings of unusual signals that they had experienced, in the hope that as a team, and with our wealth of experience, we could identify these signals.
A number of recordings were obtained via the Internet, and these are linked below, along with the resampled recordings from our members.
Single letter beacon - A
This is an example of one of these mysterious beacons, which are also known as cluster beacons, their true purpose is unknown.
This was recorded on 7038.98khz on 28th Feb 2006 at 03:13UTC
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Single letter beacon - D
This is a further example of one these mysterious beacons, which are also known as cluster beacons, their true purpose is unknown.
This was recorded on 7038.7khz on 06th Sep 2004 at 02:58UTC
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
The 'Buzz saw'
This is a recording of interference that is also referred to as the "Saw Mill", these transmissions may be heard at the lower end of the 40 and 80 Metre bands.
This was recorded on 7040khz on 13th Oct 1999 at around 03:18UTC
Latest sources report that this is Iranian jamming of Iraqi pirate stations
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
40M Pulse signal
This is a recording of a pulsed signal that has been heard around 7Mhz it is reported to have been heard on other bands up to 10Metres too.
This was recorded on 7.043Mhz on 04th Sep 2005 at around 23:13UTC
It is believed to be Over the horizon radar
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Scrambled SSB
This is a recording of an undecipherable SSB transmission , these are often heard on the 80M band, but may also be heard on 40M and 30M.
This was recorded on 3590khz on 28th Apr 2000 at around 04:45UTC
It is believed to be Over the horizon radar
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Unknown Digital transmission
This is a recording of an unidentified digital transmission , these are often heard on the outside of the amateur bands. It has been likened to amateur MFSK-16, but was too powerful to be amateur.
This was recorded on 70090khz on 27th Feb 1999 from around 04:30UTC to 05:15
It is believed to be Over the horizon radar
This sample is from the aa5tb website, where further information can be found.
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Unknown MFSK transmission
This is a recording of an unknown MFSK transmission , very little is known about this sample.
This was recorded on 7038.5khz on 22nd May 2003 at around 18:53
It's purpose is unknown.
This sample is from the aa5tb website, where further information can be found.
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Alarm
There are no details available for this sample.
It's purpose is unknown. but may be a jamming signal. This sample is from the Utility DX'ers forum .
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Cuban RDFT
There are no details available for this sample.
It's purpose is unknown. But may be data. This sample is from the Utility DX'ers forum .
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Ocean surface radar
There are no details available for this sample.
It's purpose is unknown. but is lilely to be OTHR. This sample is from the Utility DX'ers forum .
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
The Havana gurgler
There are no details available for this sample.
It's purpose is unknown.
This sample is from the Utility DX'ers forum .
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Tick 14000khz
There are no details available for this sample.
It's purpose is unknown. Possibly OTH Radar This sample is from the Utility DX'ers forum .
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
XPH Null
There are no details available for this sample.
It's purpose is unknown. But sounds similar to the Decca location system signal. This sample is from the Utility DX'ers forum .
The recording, along with many others may be found HERE.
Unknown transmission #1
A recording of an unknown transmission.
This was recorded on 153.0250MHz FM at around 23:00 on 19th of August 2008 by G0KVZ
It's purpose is unknown, but it is likely to be data from a utility company or similar.
The recording, may be heard HERE.
Unknown transmission #2
A recording of an unknown transmission.
This was recorded on 153.2500MHz FM at around 23:00 on 19th of August 2008 by G0KVZ
It's purpose is unknown, but it is likely to be data from a utility company or similar.
The recording, may be heard HERE.
Presented to the Vange ARC on the 30th October 2008.
Over the years, at our weekly club meetings, I have enjoyed many fascinating talks and lectures, but none have been quite as strange than one that was given a many years ago by a visiting speaker on the subject of numbers stations.
These broadcast stations are transmitted by wide variety of organisations, on various frequencies and modes, they are not licenced, and few governments will admit to operating them. They are usually identified by an introduction (often a piece of music), and then proceed to follow this with the data, the method of sending the data is usually a womans voice, although occasionally a mans voice or even a childs is used, alternatvely the codes are sent using morse code. the data itself usually consists of five number groups, although there are some examples that use four letter groups, the data may be repeated a number of times, and then finally the transmission is often closed using an indicator of some description.
Their exact purpose is unknown, but there is compelling evidence that many are operated by government intelligence agencies, but some may be operated by sophisticated groups of criminals, and drug cartels.
The numbers stations usually commence their broadcasts on the hour or half hour, but some deviate from this generalisation and start at odd fractions past the hour.
The enthusiasts that monitor these transmissions have used a variety of techniques to identify the source of these signals, these methods include direction finding or monitoring the frequency of the traffic, and matching this up with world events to enable an educated guess at the agency making the transmission.
These messages are believed to be encoded using a technique known as a one-time pad.
After hearing about these secret stations, I was determined to hear more about them, but I soon realised that I didn't have the equipment, skill or the time to track these down personally. (The DTI state that it is illegal to listen to such unlicenced broadcasts)
Fortunately the internet yet again came to my rescue, and I stumbled on a website that distributed a set of Four CD's containing a comprehensive collection of these recordings. (150 of them)
These recordings may be obtained from the following site:
The CONET Project.
or alternatively they can be downloaded from www.archive.org.
I have trawled through the Conet recordings, and have identified the following as being a fairly representative cross section of the material:
The Swedish Rhapsody. - disk1, Track1.
This station operates on a rigid and complicated schedule in both voice (AM & SSB) and Morse modes. It does not operate on Fridays. The operating agency is unknown. Recorded 06 Sept 1993
Counting control. - disk1, track3.
This was used by the CIA, it is no longer active, but traffic was heavy when in operation. Of particular note is the rushing air noise as the numbers cease. This sound is heard on every E14 transmission. Recorded 1994
The lincolnshire poacher. - disk1, track6.
This station was operated by the British CIA, and was found to be transmitted from the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, Cyprus.It consisted of an electronically-synthesised English-accented female voice reading groups of 5 numbers: e.g. '3-9-7-1-5'. The final number in each group was spoken with a lifted voice. Each transmission lasted for 45 minutes, and 200 five figure groups are always sent. It is transmitted on seventeen different frequencies, with one of these being jammed (Iran or Iraq)
Ready ready 15728. - disk1, track9.
This station operates to a very regular schedule, it's transmissions repeat on two frequencies at twenty minute intervals. It is thought to originate from Bulgaria or Italy.
3 note oddity. - disk1, track12.
The three note oddity has a Morse sister station, and is believed to be operated by Hungarian intelligence.
DFD21/DFC37. disk2, track3.
Operated by the BND, This station has it's origins in the 1970's when it used a different interval signal (10 note rising scale) and a live announcer
NNN - disk2, track5.
The English language version of the NNN family. Still active, with new voice
Phonetic Alphabet - disk2, track9.
An example of an unusual message string
2 letter 'NU' - disk2, track12.
No known details.
2 letter 'MD' - disk2, track22.
No known details.
Phonetic Alphabet (NATO) - disk2, track25.
An example of an unusual message string, stations from this family transmit these strings at times of political crisis.
nancy adam susan. - disk2, track27.
This station uses an unusual phonetic alphabet, it is possibly Ukrane or Belarus Intelligence.
cherry ripe - disk2 , track30.
The far east version of 'The Lincolnshire Poacher' Uses the same format but using a different signature.
High pitch polytone - disk2, track39.
5 figure groups, represented by tones, the lowest being a space. No further info available.
Ready ready - disk3, track1.
Believed to be operated by the CIA due to it's ending.
English lady - disk3, track3.
Due to the type of ending, this is believed to be operated by the CIA