Spook Stuff - Arab covert radio traffic

Since 08-06-07

From: Harry Cooper [mailto:sharkhunters@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 4:18 PM
To: sharkhunters
Subject: Spook Stuff - Arab radio traffic

Sharkhunters HOT MAIL

We have just heard from one of our premier S.E.I.G. Agents, and here's what he reports:

"Good Evening Harry.  I thought I would keep you posted on a very interesting development here in 'radioland'.  As you know, our group monitors and logs "Numbers Stations"......that is to say, stations which transmit endless strings of numbers and/or letters.  The purpose of these and their intended recipients we can only guess at, but given that our membership includes people of all nations (which gives us a pretty well world wide coverage radio wise).  Coupled to this, many are ex-service who were active in ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) and know a fair bit about this type of thing.

          One station, which has been with us for some time now, is an Arab station which always transmits in the English language.  I should explain that, as a sergeant in the Intelligence Corps of the British Army once said to me during my time in ECM, the language in which the message is sent only means that the sender and the receiver understand that language.  Coupled to that, given that cypher transmissions consist only of numbers and/or letters, then the sender/receiver do not, of necessity, have to be fluent in that language.

          The Arab station about which we are speaking has, for as long as we have been monitoring it, transmitted on one frequency only, namely 6140 kilohertz in the HF band in the AM mode.  As your radio guys will know, this is the basic transmission mode for most if not all, commercial stations.  This station regularly transmits strings of 4 figure numbers, preceded by a 3 figure call sign which we assume is the call sign of the intended receiver.  This year, on 27 May, a new frequency was logged for the first time, namely 9450 kilohertz AM.  Transmission format was the same as was the content (i.e. number groups).  We are assuming that these numbers are one time pad messages.  These, as you know, are unbreakable.  However, much can be done in the way of traffic analysis, volume of traffic and call signs from which can be assumed the number of stations which this station is servicing.....always assuming he does not use the time honored trick of sending dummy messages to bogus call signs to fool monitors into thinking that there are far more agents in place than there actually are.  Fun, isn't it?

          The point is that the volume of traffic has considerably increased in the past few months.  This station in the past has not been the most professional of senders and is quite close to a commercial broadcast station.  However, this trick can be used to camouflage the signal for distant monitors......i.e. the USA!  He may not be the amateur that he at first appears.

          Also music of the Arab variety and in that language is often transmitted.  The purpose of this could be:

               1.  To make people think that they have tuned in to a commercial station;   or

               2.  the code/cypher could be in that song;     or most likely

               3.  It could be a channel marker to occupy that frequency until the sender is ready.

The other question we ask ourselves with a station of this nature is - what events are taking place, especially at this time of increased traffic and the extra frequency.  Hardly needs the brains of a taxidermist to look at Iraq/Iran.  One or two guys here have basic DF (radio direction finder) kit and sure enough, Middle and Near East in the general direction indicated by the DF kit.

          So there you go guys - anyone with a yen to be a radio spook can tune in on the frequencies given.  You don't need any Gee-Whiz sub space communicators kit.  Basic Radio Shack short wave set will do fine.  Usual transmit times are early to mid-day Monday through Sunday but be advised, it is hard to catch in the USA.  Our most prolific monitors for this station are in Crete and Egypt.  We have however, had one of our USA monitors pick up this guy."

 Thanks for that report.  Makes one wonder what is being planned in that area of turmoil and trouble.  Keep your powder dry!

SHARKHUNTERS - Official Worldwide Publication of U-Boat History

www.sharkhunters.com

Harry Cooper

sharkhunters@earthlink.net