Numbers stations listening & discussion - I had to ask Null which forum was appropriate for this

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

I use alinco DJ-X11 which is a handheld scanner because I don't have room nor money for a proper hf setup. I've used web sdrs but I prefer walking outside with my scanner at night because its a more fun experience.

I have seriously considered doing a full setup just for listening, but I have a wife and several other expensive hobbies. WebSDRs allow me to do what I want on the cheap. Those handheld scanners are really cool, though, and picking up shortwave at night is a smart move.

Also, the Buzzer is on now for anyone who wants to listen to it.

 

[News Enjoyer]

I don't know much about the history of numbers stations although I do find the subject fairly interesting. What I do know is listening to The Conet Project, which is a compilation of numbers stations recordings, is one of the eeriest and genuinely disturbing music/audio listening experiences I've ever had, and I can really only listen to one track from it at a time before I get too creeped out. Really cool and interesting though:

Huh, that's a very interesting URL on that video there.

 

[SigueSigueSpergnik]

I have seriously considered doing a full setup just for listening, but I have a wife and several other expensive hobbies. WebSDRs allow me to do what I want on the cheap. Those handheld scanners are really cool, though, and picking up shortwave at night is a smart move.

One thing about SWLing: it can be as expensive or as cheap as you wan it to be.

I'd suggest starting off by building an SDR based around something along the lines of a Raspberry Pi 4B (a RasPi 5 is overkill), Nooelec RTL-SDR dongle, and an HF longwire antenna. Run OpenWebRX (assuming you want to access it via a browser) and you're set. The advantages to doing this are that the build costs can be broken up over time, it's about cost-comparable to a dedicated receiver, and the hardware can be moved between devices if you want. It's also expandable.

For just getting your feet wet, this is a decent setup. Having a dedicated receiver is useful, but unless you're planning on getting deep into the hobby and / or need it for SHTF reasons, remote camping, or similar, an SDR is the way to go.

 

[Nuclear Poisoning]

This Romanian numbers station had a pretty fun-sounding interval signal:

Sorry for the OT, but FYI that song is Ciocarlia, a Romanian traditional song about skylarks.

Here are two fun versions:

Spoiler: Fanfare Ciocarlia

Spoiler: Secret Chiefs 3

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

For just getting your feet wet, this is a decent setup. Having a dedicated receiver is useful, but unless you're planning on getting deep into the hobby and / or need it for SHTF reasons, remote camping, or similar, an SDR is the way to go.

It's a slippery slope.

 

[Commander Kneewing]

I fucking love numbers stations. No matter how communications technology develops numbers stations will remain the most secure form of communication for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately I've never heard one on my scanner beside the Buzzer but I'll keep listening.

I'm a layman with regards to communications technology so I wonder how number stations compare with what Edward Snowden uses with regards to safety.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

I'm a layman with regards to communications technology so I wonder how number stations compare with what Edward Snowden uses with regards to safety.

How numbers stations work is the transmitter blares out a code and the intended recipients have a single-use key to decode the message. So long as the code and key are only used once and a one-time pad is not stolen or recovered, it is mathematically improbable for an unintended recipient to decrypt an encoded message. It's old-school and, so long as everyone is doing what they are supposed to do, you do not have to re-invent the wheel. As for cybersecurity, there is no such thing as a secure computer. Period. There is always a backdoor.

 

[SigueSigueSpergnik]

It's a slippery slope.

Believe me, I get how that goes. Thing is, most SWL hobbyists tend to buy one or two radios and stick with them. Antennas are usually more important than the receiver, and are something that can be built rather than bought. Besides, used equipment is resellable.

But yeah, that only works with self-control. Not keeping yourself in check is how you end up with $5K in gear turning up on your porch.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

But yeah, that only works with self-control. Not keeping yourself in check is how you end up with $5K in gear turning up on your porch.

Knowing me, my wife would come home one day with the laundry room converted into a bunker. In any case, your SDR setup is the best bang for your buck and I endorse it for anyone else who's interested.

 

[888Flux]

hfunderground.com - forum that logs all sorts of HF and shortwave oddities around the globe. They have a section for number stations and logs + schedules
Very fun for SWL.

HF longwire antenna.

I would suggest a RX magnetic loop antenna like the YouLoop or MLA-30. Both are much more capable than a wire antenna and come with a preamplifier that can be powered either through USB or by the RTL-SDR when the bias tee option is enabled (sending power over the cable itself)

The mag loop will have much better performance if it has to be placed indoors and can reduce the noise floor enabling better reception.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

The mag loop will have much better performance if it has to be placed indoors and can reduce the noise floor enabling better reception

Loop antennas are better if there's a lot of radio interference where you live, which I have to deal with. Wire antennas are amazing if you live more rural and will generally pick up more frequencies at further distances.

 

[Manuel Noriega]

Spanish numbers stations - likely they are from cuba

 

[itogi]

Spanish numbers stations - likely they are from cuba

First one is probably connected to a network of KGB stations that used that voice saying numbers in spanish. The second is HM01, a station that combines that same voice with HamDRM data.

---

Speking of voices, here are videos about voice/morse code generators that were used by that network:

Spoiler: Number Stations Revealed in nine parts

 

[SigueSigueSpergnik]

I would suggest a RX magnetic loop antenna like the YouLoop or MLA-30. Both are much more capable than a wire antenna and come with a preamplifier that can be powered either through USB or by the RTL-SDR when the bias tee option is enabled (sending power over the cable itself)

No disagreement there, and antenna options are pretty much endless. Given that this was intended to be a low-buck build, however, the Sangean longwire was chosen to keep the build cost down (a $100 price point was semi-arbitrarily chosen). Antennas are one of those things that can definitely be upgraded later as the need / want arises.

 

[Manuel Noriega]

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

Big thanks to everyone who has posted videos of recordings and other useful information about numbers stations and listening to them. Radios are cool and it seems like very few people care about the hobby these days.

 

[Manuel Noriega]

Big thanks to everyone who has posted videos of recordings and other useful information about numbers stations and listening to them. Radios are cool and it seems like very few people care about the hobby these days.

No problem here! I grew up listening to them a lot and it can sometimes be a sad thing to see less and less appreciate them.

 

[Hey Johnny Bravo]

No problem here! I grew up listening to them a lot and it can sometimes be a sad thing to see less and less appreciate them.

Do you know anything about the case of the Cubans who were arrested in 2001 (the Atención case)? @itogi already posted the generators used for the stations utilized by the Cuban spies.

 

[Manuel Noriega]

Do you know anything about the case of the Cubans who were arrested in 2001 (the Atención case)? @itogi already posted the generators used for the stations utilized by the Cuban spies.

I was only a far off observer of events when it happened, i apologize for not being able to provide any information

 

[SigueSigueSpergnik]

@itogi already posted the generators used for the stations utilized by the Cuban spies.

Take a look at this info on the Gerät 32620 if you haven't already. It's also been emulated in MAME for some time, so is available to fool around with.