Everything You Need To Monitor The World's Most Secret Radio Signals
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 เม.ย. 2024
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Small correction: SSB does NOT transmit the carrier. 73 de ON4WIX
Thanks Glenn
I have only got to that part of the video...and I thought I'd come down here to see if anyone had mentioned that. It's more correctly known as SSB-SC - Single Side Band Suppressed Carrier.
Pinned: guys I made an error here! Apologies!
So let's elaborate on that a bit, so the non radio techs may learn something:
In a traditional AM signal you have a carrier and the voice modulated on each side of the carrier. The carrier makes it easy for a receiver to lock onto it and then demodulate both sidebands. Your receiver oscillator can be based on cheap ceramic oscillators.
But from the transmitter perspective this is a problem, as 50% of the transmitted power is going into that carrier and 50% power splits into both sidebands. Simply spoken, from 200W of power only 50W end in a useful information the receiver needs, as the two sidebands are duplicates, you only need one.
If you now remove the carrier and one sideband, you end up with 100% (200W) power driving the information through the air. As the carrier is missing, the receiver needs some extra precision to keep on the imaginary carrier. This saves a lot of power on the transmitter but makes the receiver a bit more expensive as it needs an oscillator based on a crystal (or TCXO / OCXO)
However, you can have the transmitter on 24/7 without being seen on the bands by an unmodulated carrier. Only when you really transmit, you show up on the scanners. And if you send your agents not only a decoding scheme for the numbers but also a frequency scheme to use, you hide even more.
@@RingwayManchester No worries. I thoroughly enjoy your installments.
At 640 when "the buzzer" starts, you can ever-so-slightly hear the 1980 vid game Pac-Man intro music looped in the background. HA HAA...I nailed it.
I know everyone has their own preference, but if you want to use your own radio rather than access someone else's via the internet, I would be very tempted to try a SDRPlay RSP1a. They are priced around £100 in the UK and allow reception on all bands from 1kHz to 2GHz, using all regular modulation modes (AM, FM, LSB, USB CW etc. In addition it has a spectrum plot, waterfall plot and a range of noise filters. One requirement is a computer or laptop with a USB connection, but most people can provide this. I have received just about all of the number stations available in the UK that Lewis has described with a SDRPlay RX and a small Wideband loop antenna.
I use this SDR for shortband listening and other SDR related things. It is easier to have a SDR, a multiband antenna and a small laptop powered by a powerbank than a big receiver when I travel.
My Pop had a WWII Era Hallicrafters Sky Buddy receiver. He really enjoyed listening to everything he could pull in with it. His antenna was thirty feet of wire that ran from our second floor to a tree across our driveway.
Thank you for being such a good source of information for those who want to get into the hobby, but aren't as technically minded yet as probably is required!
I dusted off my old RadioShack DX-398....Still works like a champ!
great video, just one thing for SSB it is suppressed carrier and single sideband, (derived from AM), the receiver requires a BFO (Beat Frequency Oscillator) to reinsert the carrier. All that is transmitted in the single sideband (either upper or lower), as the other sideband and the carrier carry no information.
But great video. as usual.
Thanks from a fellow manc. I've often looked at getting something to start off and got lost/not known what was ideally required. Spells it out nicely.
Another option which is becoming popular these days are more general purpose and proper software defined radios. These can be had for ATS-20+ prices and even lower but don't come in a case or with a user interface. The user interface is provided by a single board computer such as a Raspberry Pi and gives features like waterfall displays and large touch screens. A very good starter rig can be had for as little as $100 US which brings features found in the expensive solutions with RF performance of the mid-priced solutions. As with all radio, understanding how antennas operate is paramount.
I'd avoid the cheap SDRs to avoid their headaches due to issues on SW and MW, they overload easy (especially on a decent SW antenna), you see images from MW all across the SW bands, you'll see images from SW broadcasts all across the SW band that are not even there you can't lower the gain on them (hope you can adjust the gain on the antenna). The cheap ones are infuriating on SW. But with that being said, the cheap ones do work well on VHF and UHF (you can at least adjust the gain on VHF and UHF), just not on SW.
I'd recommend going with a higher end SDR if you want to listen to SW, something like the RSP1A or similar.
So do yourself a favor of you want to buy an SDR and save up and buy a higher end SDR instead of going with a cheap SDR you'll be far more happy with it.
When I bought my RTL-SDR Blog V3 it barely worked on SW due to the antenna they give you and pretty much gave up on it, it wasn't until I bought an Eton Elite Executive and a MLA-30 and Youloop antenna when I tried the RTL-SDR V3 again.
I have heard "number stations" on both my Tecsun PL-398 BT and Tecsun PL-880 with "just" the whip. (Tecsun makes pretty damn good radios). As to online SDRs, That's an AMAZING thing! You are working a radio remotely, and it might be on the other side of the planet! I'm in the US and listen quite often to SDRs in the UK, Australia ETC for just their LOCAL content! Unlike a radio feed (Listening to scanners on Broadcastify for example) YOU control the radio! Coolest things on the whole damn innerwebs!
My go to receiver these days is an Airspy HF+ Discovery. It’s a very good radio. For the price it’s spectacular.
The ATS-20 that you’ve showed, I built a random wire antenna and with those two things I received FT8 from over 9k miles in 54 countries. I was blown away
The D-808 was the radio I bought as an introduction to analogue radio which I got with the additional wind-up wire antenna. It's good to know that my investment was well spent. I have also picked up The Buzzer in my house.
Great video, this information was all out there but a bit scattered about when I was digging into this 3-5 years ago. Awesome you put it all together for anyone trying to get started!
I hear that Pacman at the end!
...wait, is that used in a real numbers station? 😯
Brilliant!
I used to have an Icom 706 mkII with a tunable inductance antenna (rather than a compensating antenna tuner). Great bit of kit, that.
I would stand behind any Icom and the used market had some amazing bargains from time to time.
Thank you for the video 🙂👍. I did not know that I can use a normal house radio like my "national Panasonic from the 90,s
I use the IC-7300!! Works great! (Im also a ham radio operator btw)
Another excellent, very helpful video the the newbies. Thank you Lewis.
I use an RTL-SDR. If you already have a laptop, or any kind of PC it is very cheap (around $30), and you can do much more with it than just a receiver, like tracking aircraft, or get satellite images.
I can live with the numbers stations as long as they don't send their operatives a message such as: "Get ready for the Earth shattering Kaboom."
All your receivers look good, thanks for the video, 73!
Great summary of some interesting receivers, Lewis. I had a 7300 for a couple of years - brilliant rig and only went because I part-exchnged it against the Kenwood TS990. I'm interested in the IC-705 as a 'portable' rig. 73
The D-808 is a fantastic "backpack" radio, excellent for when you're out and about. For home listening, I find my FT991 does an excellent job, as will many HF sets but for pure listening pleasure, for easy on the ears and fantastic selectivity and audio quality you just can't beat an old analogue radio, my favourite being an Icom-751A.
Thank you for this.
If you asked me one week ago if this would interest me, then I would've said no. Then I found this channel, watched a few videos and spent two hours last night on that Dutch SDR site trying to listen to stuff.
Welcome aboard!
It was these post's & similar, that got me subscribed to your channel m8.
Which then introduced me to amateur radio. Gratitude. Even though i'm still learning. I'll never look back.I really like the, XHDATE D-808. Very compact.
Im really getting into your channel mate, i find this stuff fascinating. Even though i understand very little of the content. 😊
Excellent video! Thank you.
For the right spy feeling, I recommend R&S EB100 or EB200. To stay more in the HAM field, the ICOM R9000 gives the right feeling to the job. All these radios were actively used for spy operations on both sides. But that said, these units cost a fortune and an arm and sometimes a leg too. The SDRs, especially the ICOM 7300 and some of the cheap receivers do suffer a small flaw, if you sit near to a higher power transmitter. That clogs up your ADCs and makes smaller signals disappear. For hunting weak signals, a traditional receiver design, with a narrow filter, first LO and some crystal filters there is the best. The GRUNDIGs and SONYs may be more expensive, but they are worth it, if you get into the SWL hobby. But if you just want to try it, the cheap solutions are fine. But keep in mind that the GRUNDIGs have to be completely re-capped and the SONYs may be almost destroyed by capacitor fluids internally, even when they carry a price-tag of 1000€ and up. I know what I am talking about...
Great video! Where you say "one of of the sidebands is transmitted along with the carrier wave" maybe some refined wording to explain SSB supresses one of the sidebands AND supresses the carrier as well.
Thank you so much for this, im not opposed to investing in equipmemt, but the right equipmemt is key as you noted, and the ability listen on web based interfaces is a huge plus keep up the great presntations!
At the end uvb 76, good job Lewis. Thanks from germany.
I use the Dutch Web-SDR too regularly. Even though I have my own RTL-SDR I just like the web functionality and that I can use it anywhere. It's great fun for picking up skyking EAMs too.
As much as I like number stations, I'm starting to wonder what other interesting stuff is out there.. 😅
For really small HF/SSB radios, the CountyComm GP-7/SSB is competitive. I already have the GP-5/SSB, and the new GP-7 is on order to upgrade my collection. An SDR with a spectrum display is a big help for finding signals of all kinds, but you need to be aware that any radio with a wide input bandwidth will be susceptible to overloading by strong stations, even those far, far away in frequency from your interest. Bandpass L-C filters are easy to build, though, and can screen out many sources of out-of-band interference.
This was great 👍 thanks for a great vid 👍
A full wave wire antenna with an antenna tuner or a yagi with a rotor mount. AOR makes some excellent receivers.
Back at it 💯
Superb as usual
Good to see the ATS 20+ getting some use. On mine the encoder has pretty much given up.
allways love your videos. it makw radio acessable.
Thanks as always Matthew
Thanks!
Sound advice 👍
Nice review. What about Antennae ?
;)
Having been interested in radio for over 40 years and seen the noise floor steadily rise; the one piece of advice I'd offer anyone looking to explore the short-wave bands is get a magnetic loop antenna.
They aren't as sensitive as a tuned antenna but are both broadband so cover the whole LF/MF/HF spectrum from below 1MHz to 30MHz and are a lot better at rejecting electrical noise from things like LED lighting, power supplies and so on. The signal strength will most likely be lower than a wire antenna, but the noise rejection will give a better signal to noise ratio so better quality of signal. The MLA30+ is about £40. Also it is best mounted outdoor. For most use cases listening above medium wave (1.5MHz up) you won't need a rotator but for low frequency stuff it can be useful.
Probably mention more sophisticated setups using RTL dongles with an upconverter? I'm using a miniwhip antenna simiar to the type Twente SDR is using, and it's the best antenna I've ever used.
Great Video how about the tecsun pl-330 ?
Have just noticed a strong DSB data signal on 12404KHz.
Can you do a report/video on the US Navy’s SEAFARER Extremely Low Frequency project in the upper peninsula? I have some pictures I think of a diorama of the command center and such.
LETS GO!!!
Started on an old Sony in the late 80s. It didn't cover much, 6 - 18 ish. I could hear cordless phones on it, lol. Since then... Rfspace sdriq, icomm r75, homemade regen. I find the muting between tuning freqs on the ats25 annoying, so I rarely use it.
Nice kit. I am a dinosaur.🦖
i use an Alinco DJ-X11 hand held. It has an iq output for HDSDR and 1000 memories and scan and bug detection and more to 1.2 Ghz.
Great for airband and HF & more and charges off USB. Underrated.
My bug out bag 🎒 radio .📻
I like your base station radio 👌
My base station stuff is 70s and 80s ex ASA and NSA monitoring stuff. Old like me.
Is it just me or is there the Pac-Man melody audible in that buzzer recording at the end of the video?
I heard it too and yep it was the Pac-Man melody
Your job is to monitor this transmission equipment in 12 hour shifts. - are there any benefits? - yes we got a Pac-Man machine in the corner that you can use
LOL. Buzzer PLUS Pac Man! What more could anyone want or need?
thanks for the mention but im still waiting for the throughout review of the 808
I use Tecsun portables, PL368, PL680, and a PL990x. With these I use an MLA30+ antenna and a 80ft long wire.
Didn't expect to see my full name in the end 😊 Thanks Lewis for, all the information that involves everything radio to all of us, well seasoned and new.
Quick question: I got into scanning from watching your videos and have a baofeng UV 5R, if I wanted to hear things like shopwatch, security and nightclub staff radio what would I need? I have a Nagoya NA771 antenna but I don’t get much more than aircraft frequencies atm, thank you!
Can you do a video on the Antenna you use with the icom 7300
I just ordered the xhdata d808 😂🎉
THIS🔥
Now I must have checked what my old Sony ICF-SW7600G can do.
The WebSDR, has only one antenna (not antenna`s), and is believe it of not only 20cm long and and about 20 meter high mounted on a fire escape. Its a diy active antenna on PA0RDT his design.
After listening to a numbers station for 5 minutes you wont want to go back to those frequencies for years. I can have my wife calling out random numbers from the kitchen and have her periodically simulate a tone burst if I feel the desire to hear one between now and the year 2030. There are a lot of older radio's that are still very desirable provided a waterfall isn't necessary. One being a yaesu ft-1000. An Icom 7300 can be had for less than a grand in the US. Both are solid radios. Start with an antenna or two. HF and 2 meter/70cm. Don't forget the MFJ-259 antenna analyzer and some lmr-400 coax.
6:39 This recording of The Buzzer has a loop of the Pacman start music quietly playing in the background. I wonder, is it harmonics from another frequency or had someone tried jamming The Buzzer and the operator turned the power up to work around it?
Hi there are we a able to listen to these situations in South Africa I tried listening both during the day and at night but not able to locate them even after going through the enigma frequency guide are we perhaps a too far away being on the rear-end of the world
Icom R 9500 and an antenna array at a 100 ft.yep about 12000 £.
Or get a winradio conputer powered radio.
Nice
What are the 4 radio towers at Tameside running track near Ashton moss used for? I used to run this back in school and I always wondered
th-cam.com/video/3FZNBqFoHm8/w-d-xo.html
Loving the content on number stations, very interesting. Any chance you might do a video on currently active stations and where in the world they can be heard? I'm particularly interested in what's receivable in Australia, but that's just my selfish wish.
Thanks!
Of course, if I were an actual spy waiting on communications, I wouldn't be able to bring a cinderblock-sized Icom with me, or string up a huge antenna because it would be a bit of a giveaway. So what equipment would an actual spy use to receive these broadcasts while remaining inconspicuous?
I have two TECSUN radios. PL-990x and PL-368. They are great!
Thanks for this video. When I was growing up in the 80s USA things were simple: you wanted a shortwave radio? You go to Radio Shack and get yourself a nice Grundig for starters. Now it's more difficult, and there are so many random Chinese brands out there, none of them are household names like Sony or Panasonic, so it's hard to tell which ones are decent and which are pure junk.
I've been having good luck with C Crane.
Nice price on ats20. No tricks to make it better?
I have an ATS-20+... I use it with a long wire antenna... Great little unit for the price point...
Do you have a list of the frequencies where to here Ukraine Russia
On the U.S. west coast the only numbers station I get reliably is Cuba's hybrid digital station HM01. In the 70s and 80s I heard them all the time.
I can pick up the Buzzer from Staffordshire with an RTL SDR and a long-wire + balun - although pretty much anything can pick it up late at night (using HF up-converter)
Do you need an operator licence for your ICOM, since it can transmit?
You don't need a license to LISTEN or monitor on any radio or transciever, you need a license to TRANSMIT.
@@rawcado Thank you!
here in east europe i can just pop down to my local numbers station and listen in live, no equipment necessary! silly brits and their fancy radios...
ALIENS !!!!
I'll use WebSDR or KiwiSDR to hear how well I'm being detected with good setups rather than solely rely on beacons or WSPRmap. Plus it's free.
Mistake, SSB has carrier supressed.
Is a SDR worth it?
Yes, but don't get a cheapo one. I recommend (and use) the RSPdx with SDRplay - was about £200 but well worth it - covers from VLF up to GHz bands.
A £10 SDR with a £15 upconverter will work just fine.
@@paulsengupta971 for beginners that is true. I also started with a Nooelec Nesdr and a Ham It Up. For the antenna I used a Youloop together with a LaNA HF.
It worked but you had to play a bit around with the gain settings to get good results.
nowadays I use the SDRPlay RSP1a and the MLA-30+ . I prefer loop antennas because you can use it in noisy environments (just turn the loop around to null out the interference :) )
Pacman is on air
nic e knowing u
What do you know about number stations
What do you mean
@@RingwayManchester I'm clueless about numbers stations
@@mehchocolate1257 Google is your friend.
@@janetwinslow2039 fuckin Google 😂😂😂😂
@@mehchocolate1257 Edit he has a playlist on them
The 7300 is NOT recommended unless you ARE a licensed ham radio operator.
Be like me and purchase Clansman PRC 320, solves alot of problems being mobile.
OKAY IM DUMB, BUT IM LEARNING.. SO YOU ALL THREE OF THOSE HOOKED UP TOGETHER OR SEPARATE?
Separate
KiwiSDR...
Oops, the SSB description is a little off, "One of the side bands is transmitted along with the carrier", No, only the the sideband is transmitted - No carrier is transmitted. That is why it's called 'SINGLE Side Band'
Also, the Icom IC-7300 is a full blown amateur/ham radio, in many places you can get into trouble with the authorities if you don't have an appropriate license, especially if you hit the Tx button. Yes you could just leave the microphone in it's box and never transmit, however your kind of wasting half the radio.
Kiwi sdr
I’ve been using Priyom to learn about numbers stations for years!
could you just use a USB sdr and strap an antenna to it? if you can avoid software blocks and get a good sdr, you can get massively large spectrum of frequencies from like 0khz to 300+ mhz. @saveitforparts uses them lots!
A nice collection there lewis.commrade