Spanish numbers and then transmission

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Any ideas as to what this could be? A woman reads off a string of numbers in Spanish, then there appears to be a data transmission...

 

[Markb]

That's a numbers station. You can search the DB or Google for more details, but it's an encoded message for spies. I'm not sure on this, but they could be using a "one time pad" or probably a more advanced Cypher system. Not sure where that station is originating from, but Cuba would be a decent guess, IMO.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

That's a numbers station. You can search the DB or Google for more details, but it's an encoded message for spies. I'm not sure on this, but they could be using a "one time pad" or probably a more advanced Cypher system. Not sure where that station is originating from, but Cuba would be a decent guess, IMO.

Interesting, thanks! That's kind of what I was thinking, but the other numbers stations I've heard have been in English. Then again, I haven't really heard many overall. I first noticed this signal on the waterfall on my Ham radio a couple times since it's so close to the 20m band, but I never really listened to it until today when I was playing with my SDR. I think it's kind of cool that this "old school" spy stuff is still happening.

 

[a417]

You've found HM-01.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Cool

 

[BinaryMode]

That might be from the new Casa Bonita in the Denver area...

On a serious note, I can pick up that transmission in Colorado with practical full quieting on an Icon IC-R3 with stock antenna. When I heard it I thought that was pretty impressive.

Numbers Stations and Enigma Stations - Signal Identification Wiki

These are mysterious signals that are found to be connected to possible number station activity or considered enigmatic in behavior and content. Usually suspected to be transmitted by government services.

www.sigidwiki.com

Cuban Five - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A friend of mine that worked in the CIA said they used nursery rhymes...

 

[a417]

On a serious note, I can pick up that transmission in Colorado with practical full quieting on an Icon IC-R3 with stock antenna. When I heard it I thought that was pretty impressive.

Not a lot of mountains between Colorado and Cuba, my friend.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

 

[dlwtrunked]

Interesting, thanks! That's kind of what I was thinking, but the other numbers stations I've heard have been in English. Then again, I haven't really heard many overall. I first noticed this signal on the waterfall on my Ham radio a couple times since it's so close to the 20m band, but I never really listened to it until today when I was playing with my SDR. I think it's kind of cool that this "old school" spy stuff is still happening.

This is the Cuban one. It has been around since I started monitoring around 1970 (and was more active back then). I now also transmits in a digital mode. Note that this is a "numbers station" but many wrongly call other things like alphanumeric broadcasts like on 11175 and other frequencies "numbers stations" and they are not. (The term "numbers station" being properly reserved for one-way voice links to espionage stations. About the only ones heard now in English are the Russians and they are not as commonly heard as the Cuban. The U.S., U.K., and Israeli ones are gone.

 

[Boombox]

I've heard Cuban YL Numbers on top of 9330 kHz at night. Odd they would pick that frequency (when W.L.C. is on) but they did.

As for the data blasts, in the 80s and 90s there weren't any, that started some time this century. It used to just be the numbers, five character groups, being read. They've advanced in tech, obviously.

 

[Boombox]

Not a lot of mountains between Colorado and Cuba, my friend.

The 9330 kHz numbers transmission (which is the last one I have heard, twice in the past month) is sometimes S5+ here in the PNW, west of two large mountain ranges. They're putting out the power.

 

[dlwtrunked]

I've heard Cuban YL Numbers on top of 9330 kHz at night. Odd they would pick that frequency (when W.L.C. is on) but they did.

As for the data blasts, in the 80s and 90s there weren't any, that started some time this century. It used to just be the numbers, five character groups, being read. They've advanced in tech, obviously.

I would may be argue the advanced part as they use a derivative of an amateur radio mode and big nations (except some Russian broadcasts) have moved to not even been heard on HF. See this link to here in RR for more info

Strongest signal ever for Cuban spy numbers

Cuban spy numbers Time: 20:58 UTC / 12:58 PM local Freq.: 16180 kHz They're still on the air now at 21:08 UTC. The signal strength varies between S9+ and S8, and the audio for the female voice is much clearer than usual. This is on my Sangean ATS-909X, as usual, with just the whip antenna. I...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[BinaryMode]

Not a lot of mountains between Colorado and Cuba, my friend.

Interesting, because I thought a shortwave broadcast bounced off the ionosphere...

I've heard Cuban YL Numbers on top of 9330 kHz at night. Odd they would pick that frequency (when W.L.C. is on) but they did.

As for the data blasts, in the 80s and 90s there weren't any, that started some time this century. It used to just be the numbers, five character groups, being read. They've advanced in tech, obviously.

There is a program that I long forgot its name that will decode the data, but it's in encrypted format. I'm sure the NSA or CIA captures this data in hopes that one day quantum computers will break it. Which they may. Or they're breaking it now. Who knows. I mean, I know what kind of cracking power some 15 daisy chained high end GPUs could do, let alone what the government has with its virtual endless tax payer money, ya know? You can run your own GPU craking at Amazon AWS, but it's a fine penny, let me tell you. I mean, you can't just use one GPU, it has to be several and running for hours and days at a time. That equates to thousands of dollars. Better off owning your own GPUs a that rate.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Interesting, because I thought a shortwave broadcast bounced off the ionosphere...




There is a program that I long forgot its name that will decode the data, but it's in encrypted format. I'm sure the NSA or CIA captures this data in hopes that one day quantum computers will break it. Which they may. Or they're breaking it now. Who knows. I mean, I know what kind of cracking power some 15 daisy chained high end GPUs could do, let alone what the government has with its virtual endless tax payer money, ya know? You can run your own GPU craking at Amazon AWS, but it's a fine penny, let me tell you. I mean, you can't just use one GPU, it has to be several and running for hours and days at a time. That equates to thousands of dollars. Better off owning your own GPUs a that rate.

One time pads, as are used, when properly used (generate a true key of random numbers, do not re-use the code key and only allow the key to be had by those you want to be able to decode), are *absolutely unbreakable*, no matter what computer and no matter how long one has -. mathematical fact. You have to have the key. That is why they are used. (Beside being a utility HF hobbyist for over 50 years, I am a Ph.D. mathematician by the way so you should trust me on that, but it is quite well known.)

Anyway, for the program to long the data down to HEX, see Cuban numbers station HM01

 

[a417]

Interesting, because I thought a shortwave broadcast bounced off the ionosphere...

Check it out.

 

[Boombox]

Interesting, because I thought a shortwave broadcast bounced off the ionosphere...

I think it's more local than wide-geographic area based. If you're really close to some high mountains, your angle of reception (hams have a different term for it, can't recall it right now) will be less beneficial than if you're in the middle of a plain consisting of several hundred miles.

But yeah, hearing Cuba in the Mountain West can happen. I live in a mountainous region (the PNW) and I hear them.

 

[dlwtrunked]

This station (definitely in Cuba) has been heard in Europe. Depending on the direction it is beamed at the time, it can be strong anywhere in theU.S.