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Loggings => Shortwave Broadcast => Topic started by: East Troy Don on March 22, 2018, 1722 UTC

Title: CUBAN NUMBERS STATION
Post by: East Troy Don 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

Title: Re: CUBAN NUMBERS STATION
Post by: MDK2 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.

Title: Re: CUBAN NUMBERS STATION
Post by: East Troy Don on March 23, 2018, 0131 UTC

Good to know. Thanks for the info.  I surmised the Aussie info was bogus.

Don