Newbie looking for advice

[SPACE_MUNGO]

Hi,

Any suggestions for a newbie to get started? I've spent a lot of time using http://www.spynumbers.com/numbersDB/dbOnAirNow.php3 and cannot pick up anything. I've also used http://priyom.org/number-stations/station-schedule but didn't get results.

Thanks for any advice/tips,
SPACE MUNGO

[Rob.]

I don't think you can beat Priyom when starting out. If you click on the link that is below NEXT STATION IN XX MINUTES it will take you to an online SDR receiver that has the best chance of receiving that station. Not all stations keep their schedule so once in a while you won't hear a station that is listed. Also, many stations are transmitting to a particular region and either propagation or the antenna beam direction or both will not favor your own home location.

Keep at it, you will hear something.

[Looking-Glass]

Space-Mungo: I just clicked on the link and found the information posted to be years old and probably of little use, most likely why you aren't hearing all that much? 

You haven't posted your location?  If you are chasing the Asian numbers stations in China and North and South Korea you need a propagation path to hear them.

The M89 Chinese military CW transmissions are quite consistent and stay on assigned frequencies for a few months, the fun of chasing them is when the Round Slip is changed unannounced.

My March 2018 loggings of M89 Spy Numbers appears on the Spy Numbers page  and the frequencies are accurate.

The "V" series of voice numbers stations in Asia alternate frequencies and transmission times on a regular basis so you need to keep abreast of these moves with accurate information.

HM01 out of Cuba is a regular and a good starting basis, see notes posted by others on the Spy Numbers page, also the USAF Skyking style SAC stations can be heard on SSB around HF in USB voice.

You will need a decent receiver capable of CW reception, accurate frequency plus a half decent antenna.  Multi band HF vertical antenna's are reasonable, but a good Loop or Long Wire antenna is even better, especially to cover the lower bands 2MHz through to 16MHz is ideal.

Good luck with your endeavours, hope you have a lot of fun...Jack

[MDK2]

Where are you listening from? If you're in the USA, there aren't many numbers stations for us to copy, with one exception: the station known as HM01 from Cuba. That one is on many times every day, and is an easy catch. Here's their info at priyom:

http://priyom.org/number-stations/digital/hm01

There's a schedule link at that page.

Will wait to hear back before offering more advice.

[Ary-B]

Besides Prioym you might want to check the Numbers & Oddities logs database
http://numbersoddities.nl/files.html

and the Numbers & Oddities and Enigma newsletters
http://numbersoddities.nl/newsletters.html

I hope to finish the next N&O within 3 days

73, Ary

[Token]

Hi,

Any suggestions for a newbie to get started? I've spent a lot of time using http://www.spynumbers.com/numbersDB/dbOnAirNow.php3 and cannot pick up anything. I've also used http://priyom.org/number-stations/station-schedule but didn't get results.

Thanks for any advice/tips,
SPACE MUNGO

The SpyNumbersDB is a log of past receptions.  While past activities can be used to suggest future transmissions it is best viewed as a record of what has happened, not what will happen.  And it was inactive for a long time, so it will have old data in it and be very unreliable for future predictions, at least until people start to populate it, assuming they do so.

The Priyom schedule is probably the most accurate available online.  However keep in mind it is pretty Europe centric.  Like all Numbers Stations predications it relies on past listener input to predict future transmissions.  Most of the more active listeners who contribute to Priyom are in Europe, so they tend to have the most current and detailed information on stations that can be received there.

And that comes to location, location, location...and natural radio propagation.

Most of the transmissions noted on the Priyom schedule happen on time and on freq.  However all transmissions cannot be heard in all locations of the World.  So your location (and equipment) must be taken into account as well as normal expected propagation conditions.

For example, an hour and a half ago there was an S06s transmission on 9145 kHz USB w/carrier.  However, because of the frequency used and the location of the source combined with normal propagation I would not have heard it at my location in the Mojave Desert of California.  But a listener in Europe would have had a very good chance of hearing it.  By the same token, last Sunday morning at 0100 there was a V07 transmission on 18174 kHz USB, and it is very unlikely a listener in Europe would have heard it, while it should have been usable at my location.

So you have to start by considering your location (or the location of the remote receiver you are using if you a re using a remote), consider the time of day, and consider the expected propagation conditions for the specific frequency used.  Then you can come up with an idea of what stations are most probable to be heard, or a target list if you want to call it that.

If you want suggestions certain minimal information must be supplied.  You have to start with your location, if you are using a local receiver, or the location of the remote you intend to use.  If using a local receiver, what kind of RX and antenna?

T!

[Jasper26]

Go through the bands, listen to the static in scan mode. Work with it the HF & find it & it post. A #'s station phishing expedition can be more rewarding than finding a frequent UTC table of the broadcasts.