Hello! The buzzer has a twofold function. For one it reserves a channel, this one everyone got right. The second reason is evading most, but it's very practical - it is an auto-squelch, selcall for the HF. The receivers equipped to be on standby, scattered all over the military districts, have a re-settable, audio controlled, timered squelch. You don't want to sit and wash your brain off in the noise of the radio, waiting for a Monolith message. The buzzer sound resets the squeltch timer and keeps it closed. When the buzzing stops for a while, the timer times out and the radio switches audio on. This is all to it.
@@cpufreak101 Not really the case. The Buzzer was active in Monolith message back from the 1970s. Just that it wasn't being monitored like it has been in recent years. No different to any other Soviet or Russian command and control broadcast. They all send the same style Monolith codewords using voice or Morse.
@@Tomteeejay NZhTI is still active and it sent few codes here and there in past 2 years you dummies ....sometimes there was morse codes but those were pirates or random alter freq broadcasts
@@jurajokasa834 Why the silly "dummies" remarks? Yes, I am well aware that NZhTI is still active on 4625 Kilohertz USB. Yes, of course there are Morse code nets heard near or on the 4625 Kilohertz frequency. The Russians have very poor frequency management. You'll sometimes hear Russian Navy Northern Fleet ship to shore Morse on 4625.5 Kilohertz CW and you will also hear Russian Air Force air defence broadcast Morse bleeding through from 4628 Kilohertz CW. Other Russian military Morse nets will be heard from time to time bleeding through on the frequency as well as pirates trolling the frequency with Morse. This is nothing new.
I once connected with MIR U8MIR on packet and so am probably in their logs. Never tried for a qsl card but having them reply in packet (just an ack not a person) was fun.
UVB-76 is what got me interested in numbers stations. So cool you are doing a piece on it. All your previous work is why subbed, and have learned things i would not normally look up. great channel mate.
Have you managed to make it down to Hack Green's Secret Nuclear Bunker in Nantwich? They have a bunch of radio stuff from both Russia and the UK, well worth a visit. The staff are super friendly and welcome photography. I'm sure if you asked nicely they'd do you an interview and a little tour if you wanted to make a little video about the place and the history it beholds.
@@RingwayManchester Kelvedon Hatch in Essex also worth a visit. Talking of old computers, DEC/ digital (equipment corporation) hardware is clearly seen too, in these locations, now that IS (and was) a very reliable computer operating system, and some critical services still use it today.
In 1960, when I was in 10th grade, high-school. I phoned the USSR's Intourist for some Russian tourist information, answering their phone with an accent, what do you want. They sent me literature that looked like what you showed the USSR published back in those years.
SW hobbyists use the buzzer signal to see how good the conditions are for them to pick up stations, which is pretty much what the purpose is for it anyway
UVB76 was very active this week (December 2024). I'm glad I came across this explanation, which I didn't see last year and which has the merit of explaining what the Buzzer is. Thanks for your work.
So the exact military purpose of the buzzer is actually pretty well documented on the Russian internet. My Russian is dog shit but the buzzing is in fact a channel marker and the voice messages are in a format IIRC called Monolit and Uzor and they are some form of military instructions that can be decoded in the field by the right operators.
I wouldn't rule out that it could be a form of dead mans grip as well, but not alone, rather that if it goes out and all other means of communication goes out then it basically means that no command is left in Russia.
@@ehsnils Bruh it's just the same thing as the USAF HFGCS that broadcasts the spooky "Skyking skyking do not answer" encoded EAM messages. Same thing, different execution, and with a weirder channel marker.
I find it hard to believe that this myth still has a chance to survive despite the large number of videos on TH-cam of the buzzer dying, or needing to be 'rewound' after it stops working. Some of these break downs sound pretty amusing too.
The reason this myth survives is due to most people on the internet being fucking idiots. Just read the comments and you'll see their idiocy on display.
Myths always survive contrary demonstration, they just incubate among the dumbest, most isolated and illiterate people and wait to regerminate when society’s overall lucidity has lowered enough.
Thank you for taking the time to research this bit of history! I find it very interesting and will have to check it out when I get my HF rig set up again, about a decade ago I spent time monitoring some numbers stations, can’t find my notes as to where on the bands I found a few. Radio China was another broadcaster I listened to, very subtle propaganda, they however get on one’s nerves real fast.
A decent solar storm is going to result in a radio blackout that can last for hours, days and at worst weeks. That type of radio blackout is going to be most and strongest in the short wave radio band but can go up to mobile frequencies (698Mhz and up to 3700Mhz).
The Russians are not stupid. They know there are technical problems possible. Perimeter will not retaliate immediately if that signal is lost, but likely after a few days of outage. On the other hand it's possible to send this signal by others at the same frequency. Maybe they send it to keep us busy.
Knowing the guy who served there I can say there are like 3 different complexes hooked to a one antenna field. The most primitive of them transmits the buzz and it's just to prevent anyone else from uzing the frequency, tha one doing that has like a 50s era radio equipment that is extremely scary because of the voltages. Considering the Buzzer is located in the Moscow region, I'd assume it's a radio station for the General Staff's backup command post. Rumors are it is also used (or was used) as a berification tool for time or for radio equipment.
There's an early King Crimson song that has this actual musical structure, though the second note is different from what I hear here... it's played on a mellotron. Since the alternating is a little faster, I think Robert Fripp was going for the old high/low siren sound...
I never bought into the dead hand theory. Nobody's that crazy, not even the Soviets. I always assumed The Buzzer was some sort of "reference tone." The Soviet RADIO magazine graphics are really cool. I hope you'll still share your own antenna images. Thanks.
I'm still with the "channel marker" as the most likely explanation as it's carrying the same "monolith" style messages as the other "weird russian mil channel marker" stations. But agree, not a dead hand switch. Always felt a bit sorry for the folks having to listen to that for a whole working day. Thanks for covering that classic, Lewis & 73!
why are these messages called 'monolith messages'? In the ukranian video game Stalker (about Chernobyl disaster and more relevant, one of the Duga radar installations) there is a faction called the Monolith that receive their instructions from weird antenna contraptions. This must be directly inspired by these real world transmissions.
@@justindunlap1235 it's quite old, but there are many mods to spice it up, although I would suggest playing the originals. Still one of my favs, super gritty. Also check out Generation Zero, set in coldwar Sweden, lotsa bunkers to explore
@@violinfanatickamraz1403 I wanted to say that the only common theme between the Fallout series is the 'post apocalyptic world', but actually, in the aforementioned games there is no world wide apocalypse at all, just affected Zone's. So everything is still very normal/relatable which IMHO contributes to it's immersion.
Propagation test sigs in the US apparently consist of a sig that sweeps constantly. You can hear it for an instant when it passes by the frequency that you are on, but the modern ham rigs with spectrum display reveal it as a blip on the screen drifting from low to high till it is out of the display.
There is a new buzzing noise typically on 40,80 and 11 meter bands. Audio transmission between Aus and USA, via long path. Sensitive words relayed get cut up or “buzzed” out. I hear it all too often.
Transmitters used for ionosphere research are very high-precision, only allowed to drift a few Hz from the nominal frequency. Measuring this one’s deviations may suggest if it is used for this purpose.
Around this time last year, a whole bunch of videos started showing up on YT with pirates broadcasting on 4652kHz in an attempt to jam UVB-76. Troll Face and Never Gonna Give You Up are my favourites. 😂
The whole "Dead Hand" system doesn't work like people think it works, it's not a passive dead-man's switch which always blows up the world any time one of its tripwires goes out. It was designed to protect against a "decapitation strike" where a first strike would wipe out the entire command and control chain, leaving the Soviets unable to arm and launch their nukes. The conditions for detecting such a strike were very specific, because making the system too trigger-happy would be suicide. And the actual launching of those nukes is still a process that involves people, so the Perimetr system can send authorization and commands to the launch posts, but those launch sites are not completely automated and robotized. Which may also have been partly by design: Even the Soviets didn't want to inadvertedly build a Skynet which could launch their nukes without them being able to stop it.
People need to get over the idea that any of the vloggers who chat about numbers stations and other clandesdine stations, should include footage of the actual site. as if any government would just welcome any and all curious persons to come photograph their transmission bases 🤣 love all your work, and enjoy your posts!
I think you are naive to suppose that a retaliatory strike would not be made when "there's no point if everyone's gone". Both the Soviets/Russians and the Americans would most certainly retaliate, even "if everyone's gone". Love your videos, especially the "Numbers Stations" ones. 🍌🙂
@@justindunlap1235 that's why it's called the dead hand. Let's face it most video you are going to see about Russia right now is going to be mental gymnastics and calling their weapons useless or old. Despite the fact that Russia is over 5 years ahead of every country in rocket engineering. They launched 22 satellites last year the year before that was 25.
@@marshalljulie3676 USA space x has launched an entire satellite network. Thousands of them. Also Russia isn't ahead at all. USA maintains more icbm missiles. And has a complete nuclear triad.
More likely a focusing bandwidth for controlled comms such as home in on signal then go up x amount of bandwidth at a certain time to receive coded transmission, something both east and west have used effectively. Having a stable "zero" point is pretty crucial for covert and non covert communications, couple that with one time pads and you have absolutely unbreakable covert communications from source to recipient and SW means ease of actually receiving without having to wait for a satellite uplink or rely on lesser power frequency ranges. The Soviets were past master at such operations much of which was for its vast illegals network of KGB "sleepers" ensconced within western nations.
Take the following with a teaspoon of salt, as this is all "hear say", I trust some of the sources enough to deem them credible though. Perimeter related. There are two things that I have heard from various sources. I've read on some occasions that Perimeter does monitor the presence of a specific radio station for its "decision" making. It's said to be some popular, state run, radio station in Moscow (frequency band not given, but probably even FM), but certainly not "The Buzzer". The reason that was given was it's intended as a fail safe for the fail safe. If abnormal light and radiation values along with seismic events are present, but that station is still playing music it cant be that bad, right? Even if this component does not exist, people may associate mentioning of the possibility of it with The Buzzer, because both are weird. Secondly and I heard and read this so many times over the years, is that the Soviets (and now Russians) are deadly afraid of Perimeter. It's rarely ever switched on apparently, cause its perceived as being too finnicky and unreliable and cant be trusted long term. So there would be little need for The Buzzer to be transmitting all the time or even 24/7
Yes, this frequency exists for military registration and enlistment offices. So, there are also conscripts on the operators, given that there are a funny videos where they communicated with pirates using a jammer
It may have had a partial function of being a type of propagation beacon, in addition to being a place holder for that frequency. Given that there were a number of these stations operating, each with a unique audio feature (buzzer, goose, bell, whatever) gives me reason to believe that the radio operators in the field with the mobile missile launchers and fixed silos would listen for one. If they heard it, they would send a coded reply as a check-in a few times a day. If they did not hear the buzzer, they would retune to the next and then send that coded reply. The reply send would be based on which signal they received. (Example: BZR for buzzer, GSE for goose, and so on) This would tell the commanders which frequencies were being heard and which weren’t. It would be a wasted effort to send a launch command on a frequency that no one could hear because the atmospherics were acting up.
Afaik this is for mil operations indeed. .But if u as russian soldier hear the buzzer than there is a clear way to communicate among each other near or on the freq. i hear a lot of mill stations due to the russia war near the Buzzer frequency at night mostly AM
I've read about numbers stations over the years, intriguing, worrying and interesting in roughly equal parts. But Deadhand is scary, and Perimeter I've only heard mentioned a couple of times. First time I've seen your channel. You seem to know your stuff.
Just from the audio, it sounds like digital data - the buzz sounds subtly different each time. Looking with a spectrum analysis makes it look like multi frequency on-off keyed data, at a low data rate (75 symbols/sec?? - a guestimate) . Something you could probably decode with 1970's+ military equipment.
On your point about there not being a reason to fire if there is any chain of command left; I think that's the point or at least a part of it, it adds to the deterrenceof being attacked as your adversary will lose regardless of whether they were able to take out your government or military. But as in Dr Strangelove, that theory fails if your adversary doesn't know such a system exists!
If I get this right that the various continuous signal stations could be a form of ionosonde. This form of oonosonde is needed to support over the horizon radar systems by monitoring the ionosphere in real time.
Here’s a funny thought… So it’s a science experiment used to measure changes in the ionosphere, but the details never seem to come out. Just this rumor. So that gives me two speculative notions about it… One is that the specific purpose in observing the ionosphere in some cases is itself not meant to be public knowledge. (Like taking reliability readings on shortwave transmission in general, so you’ve better ideas about when your numbers stations probably aren’t being received clearly.) The other, though, is just misdirection. If there’s a rumor about how Perimeter functions, and it’s an attractive nuisance to conspiracy theorists in nations you feel are a threat, why do anything to dissuade that theory? Maybe even bolster it from time to time when it seems to become less popular. The more easily disproven the better, in a way.
Yeah, I had a hard time believing that it was dead hand transmitter. But the concept of the UVB-76 The Buzzer would make for a fine spy thriller...James Bond on steroids lol. Cheers from the states
This has got to be one of the strangest things I've heard in a long time. And even if it was an ionosphere research experiment, it wouldn't explain why there are sometimes people speaking on the airwaves as this wouldn't really be necessary. Personally, I'd be more tempted to say that it's just a clock synchronizing signal for some sort of device.
5:16 I don't think I agree with that. Surely part of a a deterrent is to prevent the other side taking out your chain of command. For a nuclear deterrent to be effective both sides need to know that taking out the other sides chain of command will cause a response.
I think this is a better counterpoint than "it's unreliable". The Soviet Union didn't exactly have the best track record with safety measures, and I've got a 2-ton chunk of corium lying in Room 217/2 to share with anyone who doesn't think so.
Agreed it’s likely not what’s controlling the launch of nuclear weapons, however the ionosphere can be affected by a nuclear blast especially at altitude. Given that maximum yield is delivered when detonated above the surface it’s possible that it’s still a part of perimeter all be it not the key to it.
“Why launch a strike in retaliation? There’s no point if everyone’s gone.” Agreed it’s not likely to be part of the dead hand system, but the point of it is exactly that, no? It guarantees mutual destruction even if you wipe out the Soviet Union. That idea is intended to chill any enemy state into not trying it.
A dead hand, is when you sit on your own hand til it becomes dead, or rather completely numb, then you pretend you are, ahem, shaking a pair of dice?
😂😂😂
classic
also known as the stranger
@@xonox_868 👈🏻 this guy knows
@@imadrifter 🤣
Hello!
The buzzer has a twofold function. For one it reserves a channel, this one everyone got right. The second reason is evading most, but it's very practical - it is an auto-squelch, selcall for the HF. The receivers equipped to be on standby, scattered all over the military districts, have a re-settable, audio controlled, timered squelch. You don't want to sit and wash your brain off in the noise of the radio, waiting for a Monolith message. The buzzer sound resets the squeltch timer and keeps it closed. When the buzzing stops for a while, the timer times out and the radio switches audio on. This is all to it.
I was wondering if you could use it in that capacity, thanks for sharing.
Makes sense, but then why 15 years without a message though?
@@cpufreak101 Not really the case. The Buzzer was active in Monolith message back from the 1970s. Just that it wasn't being monitored like it has been in recent years. No different to any other Soviet or Russian command and control broadcast. They all send the same style Monolith codewords using voice or Morse.
@@Tomteeejay NZhTI is still active and it sent few codes here and there in past 2 years you dummies ....sometimes there was morse codes but those were pirates or random alter freq broadcasts
@@jurajokasa834 Why the silly "dummies" remarks? Yes, I am well aware that NZhTI is still active on 4625 Kilohertz USB. Yes, of course there are Morse code nets heard near or on the 4625 Kilohertz frequency. The Russians have very poor frequency management. You'll sometimes hear Russian Navy Northern Fleet ship to shore Morse on 4625.5 Kilohertz CW and you will also hear Russian Air Force air defence broadcast Morse bleeding through from 4628 Kilohertz CW. Other Russian military Morse nets will be heard from time to time bleeding through on the frequency as well as pirates trolling the frequency with Morse. This is nothing new.
I sent the Buzzer a QSL card to the Russian bureau. I'm still waiting for a response. 🤣
Tell me how that goes 😆
@@robertbruce7686 Our (Czech) numbers station (called OLX) used to send QSL cards. ;-)
Good one!! Lol
I once connected with MIR U8MIR on packet and so am probably in their logs. Never tried for a qsl card but having them reply in packet (just an ack not a person) was fun.
Did you use your real address 😂
UVB-76 is what got me interested in numbers stations. So cool you are doing a piece on it. All your previous work is why subbed, and have learned things i would not normally look up. great channel mate.
That was just noise.......
For me it was The Spanish Lady stations.
Have you managed to make it down to Hack Green's Secret Nuclear Bunker in Nantwich?
They have a bunch of radio stuff from both Russia and the UK, well worth a visit. The staff are super friendly and welcome photography. I'm sure if you asked nicely they'd do you an interview and a little tour if you wanted to make a little video about the place and the history it beholds.
It’s so cool isn’t it. I’ve been twice and I’m overdue a visit!
@@RingwayManchester Kelvedon Hatch in Essex also worth a visit. Talking of old computers, DEC/ digital (equipment corporation) hardware is clearly seen too, in these locations, now that IS (and was) a very reliable computer operating system, and some critical services still use it today.
In 1960, when I was in 10th grade, high-school. I phoned the USSR's Intourist for some Russian tourist information, answering their phone with an accent, what do you want.
They sent me literature that looked like what you showed the USSR published back in those years.
Thanks Lewis for going back in time and taking such good photos of the Soviet system.
Another excellent video!!
SW hobbyists use the buzzer signal to see how good the conditions are for them to pick up stations, which is pretty much what the purpose is for it anyway
UVB76 was very active this week (December 2024). I'm glad I came across this explanation, which I didn't see last year and which has the merit of explaining what the Buzzer is. Thanks for your work.
So the exact military purpose of the buzzer is actually pretty well documented on the Russian internet. My Russian is dog shit but the buzzing is in fact a channel marker and the voice messages are in a format IIRC called Monolit and Uzor and they are some form of military instructions that can be decoded in the field by the right operators.
I wouldn't rule out that it could be a form of dead mans grip as well, but not alone, rather that if it goes out and all other means of communication goes out then it basically means that no command is left in Russia.
@@ehsnils Bruh it's just the same thing as the USAF HFGCS that broadcasts the spooky "Skyking skyking do not answer" encoded EAM messages. Same thing, different execution, and with a weirder channel marker.
Loved the 1960's artwork on the magazines! Great vid , thanks!
Love the buzzer great video Lewis not as strong as it used to be but still a main part of our shortwave stable x
Ah, UVB-76. My morning alarm sound. Love the scanned background images.
I find it hard to believe that this myth still has a chance to survive despite the large number of videos on TH-cam of the buzzer dying, or needing to be 'rewound' after it stops working. Some of these break downs sound pretty amusing too.
The reason this myth survives is due to most people on the internet being fucking idiots. Just read the comments and you'll see their idiocy on display.
Myths always survive contrary demonstration, they just incubate among the dumbest, most isolated and illiterate people and wait to regerminate when society’s overall lucidity has lowered enough.
Thank you for taking the time to research this bit of history! I find it very interesting and will have to check it out when I get my HF rig set up again, about a decade ago I spent time monitoring some numbers stations, can’t find my notes as to where on the bands I found a few. Radio China was another broadcaster I listened to, very subtle propaganda, they however get on one’s nerves real fast.
Another fascinating video, and great that you tracked down those mazing old Soviet radio magazines!
Nice, sensible, informative video and delightfully illustrated!
That buzzer station reminded me instantly of the baseline to Warm Leatherette by The Normal.
You're getting bloody good at this... I loved it. I knew some of this but you filled in one or two gaps.
Tuned into this station several times on my shortwave radios - Thanks for posting !
Fabulous artwork. Super video. I happened across "The Pip" the other evening and the Goose a few weeks back.
A decent solar storm is going to result in a radio blackout that can last for hours, days and at worst weeks. That type of radio blackout is going to be most and strongest in the short wave radio band but can go up to mobile frequencies (698Mhz and up to 3700Mhz).
...were still waiting buddy.
@@kenosabi A solar storm that strong doesn't hit us every month, buddy. Keep waiting.
@@kenosabi We're all set up for tomorrow, 75% chance of M and 35% chance of X
The Russians are not stupid. They know there are technical problems possible. Perimeter will not retaliate immediately if that signal is lost, but likely after a few days of outage. On the other hand it's possible to send this signal by others at the same frequency. Maybe they send it to keep us busy.
Knowing the guy who served there I can say there are like 3 different complexes hooked to a one antenna field. The most primitive of them transmits the buzz and it's just to prevent anyone else from uzing the frequency, tha one doing that has like a 50s era radio equipment that is extremely scary because of the voltages. Considering the Buzzer is located in the Moscow region, I'd assume it's a radio station for the General Staff's backup command post. Rumors are it is also used (or was used) as a berification tool for time or for radio equipment.
There's an early King Crimson song that has this actual musical structure, though the second note is different from what I hear here... it's played on a mellotron. Since the alternating is a little faster, I think Robert Fripp was going for the old high/low siren sound...
I never bought into the dead hand theory. Nobody's that crazy, not even the Soviets. I always assumed The Buzzer was some sort of "reference tone." The Soviet RADIO magazine graphics are really cool. I hope you'll still share your own antenna images. Thanks.
It is very likely that it existed only on paper.
Another absolutely brilliant informative show
Really love cold war spy stuff v interesting
Thanks Lewis really good stuff
I'm still with the "channel marker" as the most likely explanation as it's carrying the same "monolith" style messages as the other "weird russian mil channel marker" stations. But agree, not a dead hand switch. Always felt a bit sorry for the folks having to listen to that for a whole working day. Thanks for covering that classic, Lewis & 73!
why are these messages called 'monolith messages'? In the ukranian video game Stalker (about Chernobyl disaster and more relevant, one of the Duga radar installations) there is a faction called the Monolith that receive their instructions from weird antenna contraptions. This must be directly inspired by these real world transmissions.
@@danosdotnl that game sounds interesting I'm going to have to check it out.
@@justindunlap1235 it's quite old, but there are many mods to spice it up, although I would suggest playing the originals. Still one of my favs, super gritty. Also check out Generation Zero, set in coldwar Sweden, lotsa bunkers to explore
@@danosdotnlsounds like the Fallout series here in the USA
@@violinfanatickamraz1403 I wanted to say that the only common theme between the Fallout series is the 'post apocalyptic world', but actually, in the aforementioned games there is no world wide apocalypse at all, just affected Zone's. So everything is still very normal/relatable which IMHO contributes to it's immersion.
Propagation test sigs in the US apparently consist of a sig that sweeps constantly. You can hear it for an instant when it passes by the frequency that you are on, but the modern ham rigs with spectrum display reveal it as a blip on the screen drifting from low to high till it is out of the display.
There is a new buzzing noise typically on 40,80 and 11 meter bands. Audio transmission between Aus and USA, via long path. Sensitive words relayed get cut up or “buzzed” out. I hear it all too often.
Transmitters used for ionosphere research are very high-precision, only allowed to drift a few Hz from the nominal frequency. Measuring this one’s deviations may suggest if it is used for this purpose.
I remember finding a document about how the frequency used for UVB-76 is actually a ionosphere measuring frequency.
Around this time last year, a whole bunch of videos started showing up on YT with pirates broadcasting on 4652kHz in an attempt to jam UVB-76. Troll Face and Never Gonna Give You Up are my favourites. 😂
I love the way it sounds, like impending doom.
Im obsessed with the buzzer ❤
Once again Lewis thanks very much , always interesting. Keep up the great work, much appreciated.
Much appreciated
Quality Lewis.
Awesome video!!! I have been listening to alot of number stations and radio anomaly... so this peaked my interest, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
The whole "Dead Hand" system doesn't work like people think it works, it's not a passive dead-man's switch which always blows up the world any time one of its tripwires goes out. It was designed to protect against a "decapitation strike" where a first strike would wipe out the entire command and control chain, leaving the Soviets unable to arm and launch their nukes. The conditions for detecting such a strike were very specific, because making the system too trigger-happy would be suicide.
And the actual launching of those nukes is still a process that involves people, so the Perimetr system can send authorization and commands to the launch posts, but those launch sites are not completely automated and robotized. Which may also have been partly by design: Even the Soviets didn't want to inadvertedly build a Skynet which could launch their nukes without them being able to stop it.
Always looking for number stations. Amazing content.
Cheers Lewis another Great Video👍
Glad you enjoyed it
"There is no point if everyone is gone", sure there is, it's the definition of mutual distruction. But no, the buzzer is not part of this system.
Superb photos and sound commentary!
That signal sounds like the build-up to a sick drum'n'bass drop.
People need to get over the idea that any of the vloggers who chat about numbers stations and other clandesdine stations, should include footage of the actual site. as if any government would just welcome any and all curious persons to come photograph their transmission bases 🤣 love all your work, and enjoy your posts!
I think you are naive to suppose that a retaliatory strike would not be made when "there's no point if everyone's gone". Both the Soviets/Russians and the Americans would most certainly retaliate, even "if everyone's gone".
Love your videos, especially the "Numbers Stations" ones.
🍌🙂
Isn't that kinda the point of submarines and underground missile silos. Then even if everyone in the country dies, there's still someone to retaliate.
@@justindunlap1235 that's why it's called the dead hand. Let's face it most video you are going to see about Russia right now is going to be mental gymnastics and calling their weapons useless or old. Despite the fact that Russia is over 5 years ahead of every country in rocket engineering. They launched 22 satellites last year the year before that was 25.
@@marshalljulie3676 USA space x has launched an entire satellite network. Thousands of them. Also Russia isn't ahead at all. USA maintains more icbm missiles. And has a complete nuclear triad.
@@marshalljulie3676russia 5 years ahead? Of the 80's?
@@Mediamarked the 70s 🤣
The idea that the mere absence of a radio signal would trigger armageddon is just silly. Thanks for your sensible explanation.
More likely a focusing bandwidth for controlled comms such as home in on signal then go up x amount of bandwidth at a certain time to receive coded transmission, something both east and west have used effectively. Having a stable "zero" point is pretty crucial for covert and non covert communications, couple that with one time pads and you have absolutely unbreakable covert communications from source to recipient and SW means ease of actually receiving without having to wait for a satellite uplink or rely on lesser power frequency ranges. The Soviets were past master at such operations much of which was for its vast illegals network of KGB "sleepers" ensconced within western nations.
here first, also nice video. The Buzzer still has its infamous reputation, and probably will for a long time.
Great soviet art and pictures brings alive this story.
Take the following with a teaspoon of salt, as this is all "hear say", I trust some of the sources enough to deem them credible though. Perimeter related. There are two things that I have heard from various sources. I've read on some occasions that Perimeter does monitor the presence of a specific radio station for its "decision" making. It's said to be some popular, state run, radio station in Moscow (frequency band not given, but probably even FM), but certainly not "The Buzzer". The reason that was given was it's intended as a fail safe for the fail safe. If abnormal light and radiation values along with seismic events are present, but that station is still playing music it cant be that bad, right?
Even if this component does not exist, people may associate mentioning of the possibility of it with The Buzzer, because both are weird.
Secondly and I heard and read this so many times over the years, is that the Soviets (and now Russians) are deadly afraid of Perimeter. It's rarely ever switched on apparently, cause its perceived as being too finnicky and unreliable and cant be trusted long term. So there would be little need for The Buzzer to be transmitting all the time or even 24/7
Yes, this frequency exists for military registration and enlistment offices. So, there are also conscripts on the operators, given that there are a funny videos where they communicated with pirates using a jammer
IIRC Perimeter wasn't a thing until the 80s and The Buzzer predates that by a fair amount, right? If so the timeline doesn't check out, either.
It may have had a partial function of being a type of propagation beacon, in addition to being a place holder for that frequency. Given that there were a number of these stations operating, each with a unique audio feature (buzzer, goose, bell, whatever) gives me reason to believe that the radio operators in the field with the mobile missile launchers and fixed silos would listen for one. If they heard it, they would send a coded reply as a check-in a few times a day. If they did not hear the buzzer, they would retune to the next and then send that coded reply. The reply send would be based on which signal they received. (Example: BZR for buzzer, GSE for goose, and so on) This would tell the commanders which frequencies were being heard and which weren’t. It would be a wasted effort to send a launch command on a frequency that no one could hear because the atmospherics were acting up.
Afaik this is for mil operations indeed. .But if u as russian soldier hear the buzzer than there is a clear way to communicate among each other near or on the freq. i hear a lot of mill stations due to the russia war near the Buzzer frequency at night mostly AM
Sounds like the intro to a hardcore techno track.
the numbers station sounds like 8-bit Nine Inch Nails. I kinda like it. :P
I love how crude the buzzer was
Was? Has it stopped?
It still is ....4625khz....247...
I’ve heard it Central Oregon as recently as summer 2021 off an EFHW sloper. On a hill mind, but not a great hill.
I've read about numbers stations over the years, intriguing, worrying and interesting in roughly equal parts. But Deadhand is scary, and Perimeter I've only heard mentioned a couple of times. First time I've seen your channel. You seem to know your stuff.
There's nothing to "worry" about.
Fascinating as always. I also really enjoyed those images.
Glad you enjoyed it. How cool are those pics?!
@@RingwayManchester Very - I love stuff like that!
@@RingwayManchester Very cool, comrade!
The Buzzer may not be a dead hand switch, but that would make a good plot for a James Bond film.
Great video and really interesting images. 🙏
Just from the audio, it sounds like digital data - the buzz sounds subtly different each time. Looking with a spectrum analysis makes it look like multi frequency on-off keyed data, at a low data rate (75 symbols/sec?? - a guestimate) . Something you could probably decode with 1970's+ military equipment.
I once visited about three transmitters in the Moscow region.
Where did you find the scans for this video? They are incredibly cool while also being unsettling. I would love to see more.
yes, a little sinister, but beautiful and compelling
Perimeter is supposed to activate even when there is no chain of command. That's the whole point.
You have to admit, it makes a great story. 😁 Sounds like a James Bond script or something.
wow i wondered what this was.heard it many years ago in australia. Thanks to others in the comments too. the skyking us version sounds interesting.
Those magazine covers were amazing.
As I stated earlier, it’s a portal jammer to lock UFOs in their dimension. Check UFO sighting count after UVB-76 downtime 😅.
It can be part of the perimeter, just not the way people have thought it is
Nothing ever fails to fail
If a Deadhand system exists then the means of setting it into motion have probably changed over time, to better evade countermeasures.
“Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost, if you keep it a secret!”
They are trying to broadcast "Kickstart My Heart" but that's all they can play without being sued.
On your point about there not being a reason to fire if there is any chain of command left; I think that's the point or at least a part of it, it adds to the deterrenceof being attacked as your adversary will lose regardless of whether they were able to take out your government or military.
But as in Dr Strangelove, that theory fails if your adversary doesn't know such a system exists!
The large vertical antennas in array was long-range surface radar!
I still won't forgive you for not going all the way to Russia to film the actual broadcasting site. lol.
I’ll try next time!!
If I get this right that the various continuous signal stations could be a form of ionosonde. This form of oonosonde is needed to support over the horizon radar systems by monitoring the ionosphere in real time.
Like your choice of Soviet radio and electronics hobby magazine covers on slide show.
Thanks!
I've never heard the expression "Out more than the gas" and I found no useful info on the google. Is there an etymology?
Here’s a funny thought… So it’s a science experiment used to measure changes in the ionosphere, but the details never seem to come out. Just this rumor.
So that gives me two speculative notions about it…
One is that the specific purpose in observing the ionosphere in some cases is itself not meant to be public knowledge. (Like taking reliability readings on shortwave transmission in general, so you’ve better ideas about when your numbers stations probably aren’t being received clearly.)
The other, though, is just misdirection. If there’s a rumor about how Perimeter functions, and it’s an attractive nuisance to conspiracy theorists in nations you feel are a threat, why do anything to dissuade that theory? Maybe even bolster it from time to time when it seems to become less popular. The more easily disproven the better, in a way.
Can’t believe Lewis is unwilling to take the short hop over to Russia to get some drone shots.
Total lack of commitment to the channel.😂
I know! 😂
The buzzer sound is there only for people in interest to know they got good reading
Establishes link for another frequency which could be a direct link to nuclear sub fleet?
It doesn’t make sense because even VLF
is unreliable for contacting subs. 6mhz would be even worse.
Yeah, I had a hard time believing that it was dead hand transmitter. But the concept of the UVB-76 The Buzzer would make for a fine spy thriller...James Bond on steroids lol. Cheers from the states
This has got to be one of the strangest things I've heard in a long time.
And even if it was an ionosphere research experiment, it wouldn't explain why there are sometimes people speaking on the airwaves as this wouldn't really be necessary.
Personally, I'd be more tempted to say that it's just a clock synchronizing signal for some sort of device.
Hi Lewis, many thanks I can sleep well tonight , haha.
It has also appeared in recent times a new alternative Buzzer in 4612 USB
Amazing images. They’re mock ups or a drawing of real things that existed?
Is there a site to find the scans of РАДИО via pdf?
Very interesting and intriguing
sounds like the start of a drum and bass tune!!!
Great background pictures.
Glad you enjoyed them
5:16 I don't think I agree with that. Surely part of a a deterrent is to prevent the other side taking out your chain of command. For a nuclear deterrent to be effective both sides need to know that taking out the other sides chain of command will cause a response.
that's interesting.. there's a similar (albeit faster) version of this around 5262 (amongst others
So if it were a dead hand signal, as the enemy, you'd just have to set up fake transmitters and the dead hand system wouldn't trigger?
I think this is a better counterpoint than "it's unreliable". The Soviet Union didn't exactly have the best track record with safety measures, and I've got a 2-ton chunk of corium lying in Room 217/2 to share with anyone who doesn't think so.
@@DJstarrfish yeah, I mean, the new confinement structure was build for a reason :/
Of course not! It's stopped before, and we're still here!
Agreed it’s likely not what’s controlling the launch of nuclear weapons, however the ionosphere can be affected by a nuclear blast especially at altitude. Given that maximum yield is delivered when detonated above the surface it’s possible that it’s still a part of perimeter all be it not the key to it.
“Why launch a strike in retaliation? There’s no point if everyone’s gone.”
Agreed it’s not likely to be part of the dead hand system, but the point of it is exactly that, no? It guarantees mutual destruction even if you wipe out the Soviet Union. That idea is intended to chill any enemy state into not trying it.
What if it was set up as a low effort way just to make possible attackers waste resources worrying about it?