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General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: Mick Boyle on February 21, 2025, 1613 UTC

Title: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: Mick Boyle on February 21, 2025, 1613 UTC

I have never heard one live and I would like to. Any suggestions about when and where to find them would be appreciated. Also, do you have to listen for long periods to hear one? Thanks.

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR? You'd think earier.
Post by: ThaDood on February 21, 2025, 1840 UTC

Well, I don't actually hunt for them on purpose, but run into these by accident every time. Lately, the most places have been either right on, or next to, WBCQ's FREQ's. http://www.wbcq.com/  Go figure... Other times have been around the 43M area from 6800kHz to 6995kHz. Usually around stupid-o'clock at night, like 06:00UTC, or so. Then, in the middle of the daytime, I've heard them around 11400kHz - 11995kHz, 13500kHz - 13995kHz, and 15040kHz - 15995kHz. So, sooner, or later, you'll stumble upon one, and most likely it will totally cover-up a station that you are trying to ID. (Um, yeah...)

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: Ct Yankee on February 21, 2025, 1915 UTC

Hi Mick -

If the link came through correctly, this is the current HM01 Cuban Spy Numbers (misspelled on chart) broadcast times.  The larger question here is whether HM01 is still broadcasting due to hurricane damage and power outages on the island.  Days highlighted in blue are broadcast days.

https://shortwaveschedule.com/index.php?station=452

I just found a couple of others for China:
https://shortwaveschedule.com/index.php?station=281
https://shortwaveschedule.com/index.php?station=433

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: Sealord on February 21, 2025, 1923 UTC

Priyom is also a great resource listing both who & when is on the air and the target areas which could help with deciding what sdr to pick.

https://priyom.org/

I can hear V13 (Taiwan) on mornings when conditions are right (13974 USB) at 12:00z, but most of the Russian stations are hit & miss at my location.

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: Ct Yankee on February 21, 2025, 1931 UTC

Thanks for sharing priyom, never knew about it.

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: Sealord on February 21, 2025, 1957 UTC

Quote from: Ct Yankee on February 21, 2025, 1931 UTC

Thanks for sharing priyom, never knew about it.

NP :)  They also have a presence on the Dischord chat as well.

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: Mick Boyle on February 22, 2025, 2233 UTC

Thank you ThaDood Ct Yankee and Sealord. This info will help me to look for them. If I find one I will record and post it. Thanks!

I found one in Spanish. Thanks to Priyom and you guys

https://jmp.sh/s/1fYJHwEDgVKkeu9AgMDg

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: prldx on March 01, 2025, 0824 UTC

Another source: http://www.numbersoddities.nl/index.html

73,
Patrick

Title: Re: How hard is it to find a numbers station on KiwiSDR
Post by: KnowFear on March 27, 2025, 0254 UTC

It's busy time here, so it's been a few months... but the 11-ish MHz Cuban station was a nearly daily occurrence here in East Texas.

Will check around in next day or so and see if I can nail down common times/freqs for you.