We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

Author Topic: CUBAN NUMBERS STATION  (Read 1070 times)

Offline East Troy Don

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1529
  • Southern Wisconsin
  • "If you can't convince them, confuse them" Truman
    • View Profile
CUBAN NUMBERS STATION
« on: March 22, 2018, 1722 UTC »
Transmitting on 11,530 KHZ at 16:59 UTC 03.22.18 (11:59 Central Daylight Time Local)  in Spanish.   Standard 5 number groups with heavy QRM between groups spaced spaced about 20 seconds apart. SINPO: 4-3-2-2-3 Transmitter sight unknown but the few indicators I could uncover suggested transmitting from Australia (?!).  Can anyone shed any light on this?   Why would a Cuban Numbers Station XMT from "Down Under"??
Thanks,
Don
Primary: R75 W/WV-601 passive loop masted @ 20'  Secondary: Yaesu  FRG 7700 W/MLA-30+ indoors. Tertiary: Grundig  750. Tecsun PL-990X, Tecsun PL-880 . Malahit DSP SDR V3,  . : Also, Qdosen DX-286, 1940 Mantola am/sw tube. CountyComm GP-5/SSB hand held, Tecsun PL-380 ,et al.  QTH: FONTANA, WI  USA.  Sea Level: + 990' .  75 miles (but not far enough) NW of Chicago

Offline MDK2

  • Marconi Class DXer
  • ********
  • Posts: 6325
  • Denver, CO
    • View Profile
    • My radio reception videos
Re: CUBAN NUMBERS STATION
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2018, 2328 UTC »
The "heavy QRM" between numbers is a mode called RDFT. They send files with encrypted text which are partially identified by the number sets. Those files likely contain the real messages being sent, if real messages are still being sent by Cuba.

They are definitely transmitting from Cuba for North America. I'm not technically adept enough to describe how, but they know that it's coming directly from Cuba.

One fun thing to listen for is errors, most often Windows startup sounds and Radio Habana Cuba audio. At times HM01 audio will appear on RHC frequencies as well.
Denver, CO.
SDRPlay RSPdx & RSP2pro, Airspy Discovery HF+, Icom IC-7100, Grundig Satellit 750, Realistic DX-300, Tecsun PL-600.
MLA-30 active loop, G5RV dipole.
eQSLs appreciated wickerjennie at gmail

Offline East Troy Don

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1529
  • Southern Wisconsin
  • "If you can't convince them, confuse them" Truman
    • View Profile
Re: CUBAN NUMBERS STATION
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2018, 0131 UTC »
Good to know. Thanks for the info.  I surmised the Aussie info was bogus.

Don
Primary: R75 W/WV-601 passive loop masted @ 20'  Secondary: Yaesu  FRG 7700 W/MLA-30+ indoors. Tertiary: Grundig  750. Tecsun PL-990X, Tecsun PL-880 . Malahit DSP SDR V3,  . : Also, Qdosen DX-286, 1940 Mantola am/sw tube. CountyComm GP-5/SSB hand held, Tecsun PL-380 ,et al.  QTH: FONTANA, WI  USA.  Sea Level: + 990' .  75 miles (but not far enough) NW of Chicago

 

HFUnderground T-Shirt
HFUnderground House Flag
by MitchellTimeDesigns