─ Area: ENG: Shortwave ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Msg#: 22 Date: 06 Apr 96 22:01:11
From: Russ Leblanc Read: Yes Replied: No
To: All Mark:
Subj: [1/3] More Numbers Statio
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>>> Part 1 of 3...
Here's more numbers stations info from another web site- Russ
Spy Numbers Stations
Shortwave Spy Numbers Stations:
This is my Spy Numbers Station page, intended to be a repository for
information about numbers stations. You know, those strange shortwave
stations with the YL reading off a series of numbers. I'm working on
creating as complete of a schedule of known numbers stations broadcasts as
possible.
You can help by emailing submitting (via a form)me your loggings of numbers
stations. I'll merge them together here into one master listing. Other
bizarre stations (phonetics, musical notes, etc) are welcome also of
course.
Numbers Stations Mailing List
I have created a Mailing List of Numbers Stations reports over the
previous week. Email me if you'd like to be added to the list.
Email me at
[email protected]
Contents:
A description of the types of Spy Stations heard
My Compilation of Numbers Stations Schedules - Updated 23 December, 1995.
Numbers Stations loggings submitted by listeners.
A brief description of Numbers Stations.
A schedule of numbers stations operations (somewhat out of date).
One person's explanation of how Numbers Stations function.
Mike Chace's Numbers page. A very detailed description of several stations,
along with operating schedules.
http://www.ibmpcug.co.uk/~irdial/conet.htm (CONET) - They're producing a CD
of Numbers Stations, check them out.
Composite Schedule of Numbers Stations Broadcasts 23 December 1995
kHz UTC Day Sex Lang Last Type
3090 2225 Channel Marker L
3150U 2000 YL EE Mossad 5F groups
3195U 2040 Channel Marker R
3262U 2030 YL GG Number Stn GK 3/2F
3262CW 2100 Channel Marker P then Navy Kaliningrad
3280CW 1900 5F Groups
3280CW 2000 5F Groups
3280CW 2100 YL MOI Prague, 5F groups
4018U 1753 "Russian Man" Numbers Station
4025 0600 YL SS
4029 0500 MFSa YL SS 5 digit
4029 0600 M YL SS 5 digit
4030 0230 W YL EE 11/8/95 5 digit,Repeat of 5320@0130
4165 0247 W YL EE 11/8/95 young woman, much QRM
4301U 2043 Channel Markers C & S
4460 0300 Tu YL EE 12/5/95 5 digit, Irish Accent.
4468U 2200 Mossad 5F groups, FTJ station
4470 0100 TuWThSa YL EE 3/2 digit, carrier on a while before
bcst
4470 0130 M YL EE 3/2 digit
4487U 1355 Polish Bulgarian Betty Numbers Station
4560U 2101 Mossad, msg to YHF
4570 0300 W YL EE 11/22/95 5 digit, rpt of 5412@0200
4575 0400 Su YL EE 5 digit
5046 0100 WThSu YL EE //4470, "Warrenton Woman"
5046 2300 MTu YL EE 3/2 Digit
5091U 2030 Mossad 5F, station call JSR
5133U 0400 Su YL SS 5 digit
5205U 1730 "Cynthia counting station"
5300U 0422 W YL GG 3/2 digit
5301U 0400 W YL RR 11/22/95 5 Digit, Russian YL
5305U 2230 Channel Markers C & S
5320 0130 W YL EE 11/8/95 5 digit, end with # of groups, 0000
5412 0200 W YL EE 11/22/95 5 digit, British sounding YL
5417 0500 M YL SS 5 digit
5417 0700 MFSu YL SS 11/24/95 5 digit, preceeded by AIIAW in CW
5420 0100 W YL SS 11/15/95 5 digit
5525L 0237 M YL EE 517,517,517,1234567890 repeated
5716 2100 M YL EE 3/2 digit, parallel w/6796 & 7410
5740 0309 M YL EE 5/5 digit, older woman, until 0330
5750 0320 Su OM EE 5 digit, "British Man"
5752 0400 Su YL EE 11/26/95 5 digit
5763 0400 M YL SS 5 digit
5763 0600 WSa YL SS 5 digit, rpt of 7527@0500
6030 0000 M CW 4 digit
6201U 1700 Swedish Rhapsody number station
6227 0300 Th YL SS 5 digit
6500 0035 Tu YL EE 12/5/95 Phonetics. 5 ltr groups.
6715U 1630 "Nancy Adams Susan" Number Station
6723U 0200 Tu OM EE 5 digit, Irish??? Accent
6766 0400 FSa YL SS 11/25/95 5 digit
6768 0400 Sa YL SS 11/18/95 5 digit, rpt of 6786@0200
6768 0800 Sa YL SS 11/18/95 5 digit
6785 0600 W YL SS 5 digit
6786 0200 Sa YL SS 11/18/95 5 digit
6797 0600 F YL SS 5 digit
6797 1000 S YL SS 5 digit
6797 2100 M YL EE 3/2 digit, parallel w/5716 & 7410
6798 0300 F YL SS 11/17/95 3/2 digit
6798 0500 Th YL SS 11/23/95 5 Digit, same YL as 6934
6798 0800 F YL SS 12/1/95 5 digit
6813 0739 W YL EE 3/2 digit
6815 0700 ThF YL EE 3/2 letter groups, // 8075
6815 1908 M YL EE 3/2 digit, repeated at 1928
6825 0200 W YL SS 5 digit, "Squeaky Girl"
6826 0300 SuMW YL SS 11/20/95 5 digit, same YL as 8136.
6840 0200 Tu YL SS 4 digit
6840 0230 Daily YL SS 4 digit, // 9958
6840 0300 M YL SS 4 digit
6840 2230 W YL EE 11/22/95 EZI Phonetics, // 9130
6870 0300 M YL SS 5 digit
6880L 1340 Su OM EE 12/10/95 5 Digit
6934 0500 Th YL SS 11/23/95 5 digit, same YL as 6798
6935 0400 Su YL SS 5 digit, "Squeaky Girl"
6959 2200 M YL EE 10/30/95 5 Digit, Lincolnshire Poacher
6970 0230 Su OM EE 5 digit, "British Man"
6983 0200 F YL SS 11/17/95 5 digit
7039CW 1411 Channel Marker C
7410 0500 Sa YL SS 5 digit
7410 2100 M YL EE 3/2 digit, parallel w/5716 & 6797
7482 0300 F YL SS 11/17/95 5 digit
7482 0400 Th YL SS 11/9/95 5 digit, strong signal in Maryland
7490 0200 Su YL EE 11/26/95 5 digit
7521 0200 Th YL SS 5 digit
7527 0500 Sa YL SS 5 digit, rpt 5763@0600
7527 0700 Tu YL EE 5 digit, rpt 8137
7527 0800 Tu YL SS 5 digit, rpt 8137@0800
7541 0030 Daily YL EE 4 digit
7570 0200 Th YL SS 11/9/95 5 digit
7580 1515 Su YL SS Starts "Attencion"
7581 0200 Th YL SS 11/30/95 5 digit, carrier drop after each group
7582 0200 Tu YL SS 11/14/95 5 digit
7583 0000 Sa YL SS 11/18/95 5 digit
7681 0400 W YL SS 5 digit
7726 0500 Su YL SS 11/26/95 5 digit, LSB+carrier
7763 0130 Daily YL EE 4 digit
7836 0300 FSa YL SS 11/25/95 4 Digit
7846 0700 F YL SS 5 digit
7862 0300 FSa YL SS 11/25/95 5 digit
7887 0300 Su YL SS 5 digit
7887 0700 Sa YL SS 5 digit
7887 0800 F YL SS 5 digit
7890 0200 W YL SS 11/15/95 5 digit
7918 0415 Su YL EE Phonetics, British accent
7975 0800 Th YL SS 11/30/95 5 dig, Very strong signal in Calif
8010 0400 W YL SS 4 digit
8010 0500 W YL SS 11/29/95 5 digit
8025U 0650 W YL EE 11/29/95 Ended with CIO CIO
8025U 2150 Th YL EE 11/22/95 Phonetics
8027 0800 F YL EE 11/24/95 ???
8060U 0630 F OM EE 11/30/95 5 digit
8062U 0630 W OM EE 11/29/95 5 digit
8075 0700 F YL EE 3/2 letter groups, // 6813
8136 0100 W YL SS 11/15/95 5 digit
8136 0300 W YL SS 11/15/95 5 digit, FM, mix w/R Havana Cuba!
8137 0300 W YL SS 5 digit
8137 0500 Su YL SS 5 digit, rpt 9154@0600
8137 0700 Tu YL SS 5 digit, rpt 7527@0800
8142U 1400 NumberStation Prague OLX
8160 0600 M YL EE 5 digit, rpt Tu@0600 & 7527&0700
8186 0200 SuM YL SS 11/26/95 5 digit, S9+60dB in Maryland!
8186 2100 Th YL EE 11/23/95 3/2 digit
8495CW 1428 Channel Markers C & S
8630U 1534 Su YL SS 5 digit
9024 0200 W YL SS 11/15/95 5 digit, "Attencion 616 06 03"
9073 0200 Th YL SS 11/30/95 new YL voice
9114 0300 M YL SS 5 digit
9130 2000 W YL EE 11/22/95 Phonetics, presumed Mossad
9130 2100 W YL EE 11/22/95 EZI Phonetics, presumed Mossad
9130 2230 W YL EE 11/22/95 EZI Phonetics, // 6840
9140 0200 M YL SS 5 digit, // 9227 & 9230
9140 0200 Tu YL SS 5 digit
9154 0600 Su YL SS 5 digit, rpt 8137@0500
9219 0130 W YL SS 11/22/95 3/2 digit
9219 0600 Th YL EE 11/30/95 3/2 digit
9223 0200 Tu YL SS 4 digit, // 6840
9223 0200 Th YL SS 4 digit
9223 0300 Sa YL SS 3/2 digit, // 10665
9227 0200 M YL SS 5 digit, // 9140 & 9230
9227 0200 Tu YL SS 5 digit
9230 0200 M YL SS 5 digit, // 9140 & 9227
9230 1000 Sa YL SS 5 digit
9240 0600 W YL SS "Attencion 75476"
9613 0400 Su YL SS 5 Dgt, sounded sleepy "Lazy Spaniard"
9958 0230 Daily YL SS 4 digit, // 6840
10665 0300 Su YL SS 3/2 digit, // 9074
10665 0300 Th YL SS 4 digit, // 9074
10665 0300 Sa YL SS 4 digit, // 9223
10872CW 1410 Channel Markers C & S
10921 0410 Su YL EE 5 Digit
11490 1823 W YL EE Very faint, past 1850
11490 1830 Daily YL SS 4 digit, // 16310
11492 0045 M YL EE 3/2 digit
11545U 1500 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //13375,15682
12201 0020 Tu OM EE 10/95 5 Digit
12270 1530 Su CW CW 4 Digit, Turkey TA7 ?
12603U 1702 "Lincolnshire Poacher" Number Stn
11375U 1500 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //11545,15682
13528U 0815 "Noi Noichen" Number Station
13636CW 1422 Channel Markers C & S
14487U 1200 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //15682,16084
14487U 1400 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //15682,16084
14487U 1700 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher
15682U 1200 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //14478,16084
15682U 1400 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //14478,16084
15682U 1500 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //11545,13375
15980 1200 W YL EE 11/22/95 5L Phonetics
16084U 1200 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //14478,15682
16084U 1400 W YL EE 11/22/95 Lincolnshire Poacher, //14478,15682
16310 1830 Daily YL SS 4 digit, // 11490
16380 1900 W CW CW 11/8/95 5 digit, 35 wpm
19715 1134 Su YL EE 11/19/95 Phonetics
17016CW 1420 Channel Markers C & S
25250 1346 Channel Marker R
An L or U after the frequency indicates LSB or USB.
I've created a new column called "last". This will be the last date a
particular broadcast was reported. It should be useful to help determine
which schedules are still active. The date is in US format: mm/dd/yy.
Please feel free to email me with your numbers stations loggings, so
that all may share.
Chris Smolinski
[email protected]
In response to recent questions about the "Numbers"
Stations, their origin and purpose, the following summary
captures the high points.
"Spy Numbers Transmissions" are a shortwave oddity which have
been around for the last 25 years. They are commonly heard
in English, German, Spanish and the Slavic languages and take
the form of four and five digit groups of numbers which are
preceded by a three digit "identifier" and a "group count"
which corresponds to the number of number groups transmitted
in the crypt. They are generally broadcast by a mechanical-
sounding YL, although Morse code (CW) "cut number" transmissions
are also frequently reported, as are phonetic alphabet trans-
missions. Several distinctly different formats have been
noted.
The "who" and "why" aspects of these transmissions are,
for the most part, unknown. Their mysterious nature has
resulted in their common characterization as 'spy' trans-
missions. Information on the "where" aspects below.
The spy theory has been enhanced over the years by the FCC's
inconsistent position in response to numerous inquiries by
the Shortwave Listening community.
If you've never heard a numbers transmission, tune your
radio to 11468 kHz any Saturday at 4pm EST (2100 UTC).
You'll almost certainly hear a 'classic' numbers transmission
which will run from 15-30 minutes. The signal from this
Saturday transmission is very powerful and can be heard
across the United States.
In regards the "where" - a number of sites have been identified
in recent years, notably in Warrenton and Remington, VA and
Miami, FL. In addition, with the aid of sophisticated RDF
(radio direction finding) equipment and the invaluable assist-
ance of highly authoritative and professional resources, several
new transmission sites have been positively identified over the
past several months, including sites in Nicaragua, Honduras, El
Salvador, Cuba and Cozumel.
One particularly dangerous station has been interfering with
air to ground traffic on 6577 kHz, a frequency allocated to inter-
national aeronautical communications in the busy Caribbean sector.
On at least one monitored transmission, the air traffic controller
at ARINC moved the pilot to an alternate frequency as the numbers
transmission was totally blocking the frequency from effective use.
This regular transmission can be heard on Mondays at 0200 UTC
(Sunday night local US time) across most of the US.
A recently identified Cuban site (Guineo) is believed to ba a major
transmitter site used by DGI (Cuban Intelligence).
There has been some suggestion that the numbers are a form of
'one-time-pad' - a crude but unbreakable form of encryption
(unless you've got the key, that is) - if that's the case,
it's very curious to note that the same five-digit groups are
often seen to repeat over and over again in the very same
crypt - and that the same transmissions are seen to
repeat from week to week, and from month to month -
so often, in fact, that tape breaks are sometimes noted. When
spliced back together, the sloppy handling sometimes results in
truncated 5-digit groups - the end result being amixture of 4
and 5 digit groups in the very same transmission!
These facts would tend to point one away from the one-time-pad
concept and support a couple of other theories - suggesting that
the numbers are NOT a cipher, but rather a code unto themselves,
and that much of this traffic is 'dummy' in nature - broadcast
simply to keep a frequency open over a long period of time.
In addition, most five-digit Spanish numbers transmissions are
very badly over-modulated, resulting in numerous spurs up and
down frequency. When broadcast under such conditions, the
numbers (6) seis and (7) siete are almost indistinguishable,
making it impossible to copy a crypt without numerous errors.
It is worth noting that the four-digit Spanish and English
transmissions do not reflect this same technical ineptitude.
There are a number of reference materials available which provide
detailed information about cryptography and cryptanalysis, in
general, and numbers crypts, specifically. I'd be happy to provide
anyone interested with a list of books.
Only two publications I know of are currently available which
provide regular coverage of numbers, clandestine, pirate and
other interesting transmissions. The ACE Bulletin (monthly news-
letter of the Association of Clandestine Enthusiasts - PO Box
11201, Department KK, Shawnee Mission, KS 66207 $16/yr) and the Umbra
et Lux Newsletter (a newsletter devoted to SIGINT, covert radio
and related topics - 10606-8 Camino Ruiz, Department KK, Suite
174, San Diego, CA 92126 $18/yr).
Havana Moon
Types of Shortwave Spy Numbers Stations
4 Digit Spanish YL
5 Digit Spanish YL
4 Digit English YL
5 Digit English YL
Lincolnshire Poacher
3/2 Digit English YL
4 Digit German YL
5 Digit German YL
Mossad Stations
4 Digit Spanish YL
This is a fairly commonly heard format, though not as often heard as the
five digit variety. The transmission starts with a three digit block
repeated three times, followed by a count, such as "376 376 376 1234567890".
This is sent for several minutes, and is followed by a series of tones.
Then the number of message blocks to be sent is give, for example "grupo
87". Then the four digit message blocks begin. The message is terminated
with "fin". Four digit numbers stations generally have excellent technical
quality. They may be the "real" messages (as opposed to training exercises),
or just run by better funded spies!
5 Digit Spanish YL
This is by far the most commonly heard type of numbers station in North
America. There appear to be two distinct types of transmissions. The first
format starts off with "attencion", then a five digit block, such as
"Attencion 38952". This repeats for several minutes, and is followed by
"38952 150" repeated several times, where the "150" is the number of groups
to be sent in the message. Note that there are <bold>ALWAYS</bold> 150
groups in this format. The message is then sent, and the transmission
closes with the word "final" either two or three times.
The second variation is slightly different. This format starts off with
an opening such as "Attencion 726 01" with a distinct pause between the
third and fourth digit. This is repeated for several minutes, and then
"01 49" might be sent several times. Note that the last two digits of
the 5 digit opening ID is always the same as the first two digits of the
second number sent, in this case "01". The "49" is the number of groups
to be sent in the message. This number varies. The message is then sent,
and this is followed by "final", usually twice. It is not unusual for a
second transmission to begin immediately after the first one ends.
It is my personal belief that this second variation represents actual
messages being sent, while the first format (always 150 groups) is used
for either training exercises, or perhaps as some sort of control message.
AM modulation is sometimes used, although SSB is also reported. I have
heard many stations which seem to be using reduced carrier sideband, with
modulation on one of the sidebands, and a lower power carrier, sufficient
for reception on AM receivers. These transmissions often have technical
problems (poor audio, hum, distortion); sometimes big "accidents" like
starting to play the Radio Habana opening music!
4 Digit English YL
These transmissions start with a three digit block (presumed to be the
recipient number repeated for several minutes. No message length is sent.
A 1234567890 count is then heard, often followed by some tones. Then the
five digit message blocks begin.
5 Digit English YL
These transmissions start with a three digit block (presumed to be the
recipient number repeated for several minutes. Then a two group block is
sent, such as"284 109", where the second group (109 in this case) is the
length of the message to be sent.. Then the five digit message blocks
begin, usualy with each group repeated. The accent of the female announcers
of the five digit stations often varies. Some are distinctly Britsh, some
Spanish, others sound American. This may indicate that there are several
organizations operating the various stations. Or, as with many "facts"
about Numbers Stations, it may mean nothing at all!
Lincolnshire Poacher 5 Digit English YL
This is a variation of the five digit English station. The tune
"Lincolnshire Poacher" (which sounds like "Pop Goes The Weasel" is
played at the beginning of the transmission. This station is most often
heard in Europe and the eastern part of North America. I have often heard
it being jammed. Reports indicate that transmitters in Cyprus are used,
with the Middle East as the target area.
3/2 Digit English YL
These transmissions are very similar to the five digit transmissions,
except that a distinct pause is heard between the third and fourth digits
of each message block. It is not known if this signifies a different
encryption system than used in the five digit transmissions.
4 Digit German YL
Similar to the five digit German stations described below. Rarely heard
(at least in North America).
5 Digit German YL
These transmissions often open with tones or some sort of music. Sometimes,
a two letter phoentic phrase is heard, such as "Papa Romeo". The preamble
opens with "achtung" and a three digit block, generally presumed to be the
recipient. (Perhaps it is really the number of the one time pad to be used
to decode the message, and the two letter phonetic sent at the beginning
is the recipient. This makes sense to me because the agents would listen
at the beginning of the transmission to see if the message is for them.)
This is followed by "gruppen" and the number of message blocks to follow.
The message closes with "ende".Commonly heard in Europe, and North America.
This would tend to indicate a European transmission site. Indeed, several
years ago, transmissions were DFed to a then East German location.
3 Letter Phonetic (Mossad)
A female voice is used to repeat a three letter phonetic phrase (followed
by a number), such as "Papa November Oscar Two". This can go on for hours
before a message is sent. The message is generally blocks of phonetic
letters.It is believed that Mossad (the Israel Intelligence Service)
operates these stations, and they are often referred to as Mossad
transmissions. If the number is a One, a message will follow, if the
number is Two, no message follows.
Last updated 10 March 1996
----------end of posting, that's all folks--------------
