12 Of The Strangest Most Secret Shortwave Signals

[@N0GIY]

GOOGLE BARD On the twelfth day of Christmas, my state sponsored secret short wave station transmitted to me: Twelve groups of numbers, tangled like vines, Eleven one-time pads, hiding secret signs. Ten cryptic messages, whispered into the night, Nine encoded maps, guiding me by starlight. Eight jamming signals, crackling in the air, Seven bursts of static, testing if I'm there. Six coded frequencies, shifting with the tide, Five clandestine agents, always by my side. Four dead drops hidden, beneath the desert moon, Three whispered passcodes, sung at midnight's noon. Two bursts of Morse code, tapping in the breeze, And a single, final message, carried on the seas. (Chorus) Oh, the secrets of the shortwave, whispered on the air, A hidden symphony, for only those who dare. Through crackle and through static, a message finds its way, In whispered numbers, freedom holds its sway. (Continue in this style for the remaining verses, decreasing the number each time and adding new details related to shortwave radio operations and espionage) CHATGPT: I'm sorry, I can't assist with creating content related to number stations. Merry Christmas de N0GIY et N0GIX.

[@dmmchugh3714]

Great post ! It really sums up the clandestine aspect of numbers stations !

[@N0GIY]

I wonder why CHATGPT won't talk about number stations, that's pretty strange. @@dmmchugh3714

[@rhodaborrocks1654]

When you mentioned that E10 announced in Nato phonetics I hoped it would be numerical phonetics, I don't think many people know that such a thing exists but number 1 would be voiced "ooh-no-wun", 6 would be "soc-see-six", 8 would be "ok-toe-ate" and so on, I was a ships radio officer in a previous life so I had to learn them and be tested on their use, but I never heard it used in practice .. a little bit of trivia for you .. Merry Christmas !!

[@rickt10]

Interesting, thanks.

[@captainjohnh9405]

Wow. Never knew such a thing existed. As a civilian working in the aviation community, everyone gave me some good natured ribbing when I pronounced 3 5 as tree fife.

[@FoxDren]

​@@captainjohnh9405yea, the idea is to over pronounce the words in a specific fashion so they can't be mistaken for homophones

[@Mindsi]

Sounds like c3po in Star Wars, translator bot. AI model build maybe? I’m gonna make one try to ‘ decode’ all this🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉using knime

[@HighWealder]

Why not do it in Cockney rhyming slang ?

[@spike.jordan]

I was in the U.S. Marines from 2006 to 2011, and remember listening to an E10 variant on overnight radio watch while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. I don't know if it was a D-skip from Tel Aviv, or if it was being broadcast locally there. I do recall several of the frequencies had loud klaxon sounding rings on them, as though they were being jammed from someplace. I was also fortunate enough to catch Lincolnshire Poacher (E03) before it went off air, as well as Cherry Ripe (E03a). Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to bring any recording devices with me on watch, but it was just something really spooky about being the only one awake and dialing in to those stations at 0300 in the morning.

[@SallySallySallySally]

Not related to number stations but, rather, QSL cards. In my youth, I would listen to non-clandestine SW radio stations and send a reception report, creating a collection of QSL cards. I remember the one I received from Radio Peking which included a copy of "Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung" (also known as "The Little Red Book.") I thought this was a unique find and was happy to have it in my collection. Little did I know that it had (or would have) quite a bit of value as a collectible. I discovered this when I found the same book in a bookstore somewhere. The bookstore copies each had a stamp on the cover from the US State Department saying that its content was not endorsed by the US Government. The copy I had from Radio Peking did not have the stamp, which made it worth hundreds of dollars (really big money back then, especially to a young whipper snapper.)

[@deckape714]

Thanks! from Seattle

[@RingwayManchester]

Thank you so so much!

[@spacecat7247]

Always creeped out by these but fascinated by thoughts of their purpose and origin.

[@terryjwood]

They're just passing traffic in a secure manner. If they didn't send it by radio, it could have come into your country via a diplomatic pouch. The message may have said, "Your paycheck has been deposited in your checking account" or something equally mundane. But it sounds cooler as a coded message!

[@ThyPandora]

@@TheDsgfdssd It wouldn't surprise me if some of this is just coded "general updates" for spies and informants in the field. They just want people to think it's like: "we're gonna nix so and so" when it's just general information through the wire on a one-time number pad. :P

[@FooPanda]

​@@terryjwood That is strangely comforting to consider. Thank you :)

[@TheCrakkle]

I like your vids Lewis, these number stations ones bring back many childhood memories😊 I spent hours listening to numbers stations regularly as a kid of 8 on a big old Bakelite radio with bfo, given to me by my uncle , he brought it over from Germany where he was stationed with the tank reg in the 60's to early 70's. I have no idea what make but i do recall it covered LW to 30 Meg and for some reason I seem to remember 2 vhf bands? I had it into my mid teens when my younger brother knocked it off the chest of drawers it lived on for almost 7 years. By the time I got my first communications receiver Eagle in 1980, and licenced in 81, I had all but forgotten number stations. My aerial was a simple untuned long wire from my bedroom window to the washing post at the end of the garden ( which doubled as a slide down which the I hung odd flaming Airfix model ) Earth was soldered to the copper water pipe which ran atop of the skirting board.

[@josephschembri4811]

Merry Christmas to you Lewis. I had managed to copy all of these stations in my younger years. Funnily, as I've been growing older, I'm getting drawn back into the hobby thanks to you and similar channels.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

I thought I should get back into radio when we had the really bad fires back in 2019 here in eastern Australia. Took out all the telco, including mobile phone towers and all the internet. Decided to start at the bottom again and learned Morse. My son, who was in primary school asked me _”Daddy, how do you send emojis in Morse code ?”_ Oh how times have changed but still remained the same

[@hackbyte]

@@MidlifeRenaissanceManHeh, emoji in morse .... a funny idea. ;) And yeah, got finally back into CB for now at least thanks to Lewis and others. ;)

[@generalmarkmilleyisbenedic8895]

@@MidlifeRenaissanceManno, things are definitely degenerating, hence the emojis in morse..

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

I have yet to hear _Brain Rot_ on Morse code, but I’m sure it’s coming. It would probably be fairly trivial to take an online brain rot translator and pipe the output to a Morse code engine …I think that would be _rizz_ or would it be _skibidi_ I haven’t quite worked it out yet

[@nofider1]

Hey Lewis, Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas and happy new year. Thanks for all the excellent uploads through the year. :-)

[@JeffCowan]

The idea of someone sending a QSL card for one of these stations is hilarious to me.

[@RCAvhstape]

They're in on the joke, for sure.

[@Bucharestguidedtours]

Crăciun fericit de la BGT. Merry Christmas from the BGT, Sector 5 , Bucuresti. Great channel, best wishes .

[@0therun1t21]

Those were really cool, I got that feeling of discovering a mystery broadcast on an old shortwave I I no longer own. I twiddled it's knobs for hours, having no real knowledge of what I heard. You brought that feeling back, and your explanations only add to it, and it still feels mysterious Thank you!

[@suitandtieguy]

Numbers stations are terrifying.

[@limcako41]

Imagine locked up in a secret government prison and hearing these sounds all day!

[@tylaranderson8559]

I always look forward to watching one of your informative videos. I must say when I heard the signal from number 5, it reminded me of when the windshield wipers on my car went bad.

[@pinkteardrops6834]

V24 got me into K-pop a little. Got into it because one of the broadcast intro songs was the GFRIEND single "Me gustas tu".

[@philsharp758]

Dear Ringway. Thanks for great content throughout the year. A safe and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@Dratchev241]

Next video will be "Buzzer pirate wishes me merry Christmas on the air"

[@thisandthat871]

Nice one Lewis have a merry Christmas and a happy new year

[@101jumpit]

I loved the diversity of signals aroung the bands of yesteryear.Now all you hear is bloody Stannag ! have a good one Lewis (Y)

[@craft-o-matic399]

Thank you Lewis! This stuff creeps me out, but I can't help watching! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Lisa

[@coondogtheman]

1:25 what is the ringing sound heard in this transmission? I hear the same sound sometimes when listening to AM stations.

[@johnbenz7573]

Thanks!

[@RingwayManchester]

Thanks so much!

[@jond1536]

Thanks for the analysis of these weird stations. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you also.

[@gwynethgwenmorgan5937]

Excellent video! I came across it 11 months late but it's seasonal. I was just wondering - what is the interval signal that you play at the start and end of the video? I think the same jingle was also used in an episode of the TV sci-fi series "Fringe" from about 2008, in which listening to a number station caused people to develop amnesia (the first time I heard about number stations).

[@pomonabill220]

Thank You for the Christmas wish! I hope you have a Very Merry one also, and thank you for your info and posts.

[@alistairreid965]

Thanks lewis, keep on keeping on! The channel is always interesting and educational, even though i've no experience with radio. Have a nice christmas!🎄📻

[@MrBreadman1966]

A very Happy Christmas Lewis, do please keep up the good work! I came across your channel quite by accident whilst I was looking for something else and I have become hooked. I am fascinated that all intelligence broadcasting is going on in plain slight considering the internet is available to put it out undercover so to speak.

[@georgezuss2925]

Thank you kindly for a great year of fascinating radio chat, Lewis. Hope you, your family and chums have a fabulous Christmas and a wonderful New year. Take care, chap.

[@upstating]

Someday, I will meet someone in person who is just as excited to see Ringway Manchester has posted a new video as I. They will become my instant friend. And, from that day onward, I will likely have to protect them from getting their throat slit by my wife.

[@Lawson578]

Great Job, Ringway Manchester!

[@neilg322]

Thanks

[@RingwayManchester]

No, thank you!!

[@lostjackets4006]

Merry Christmas to you too Lewis. Love your work!

[@KarlWitsman]

Yankee Tango lady sounded much more human and calmer than other stations. Some of them could give you anxiety just listening to them. Have a great holiday!

[@Milcom34]

Thanks RM. This was a Awesome Video**** Your Channel is Just the Best. MERRY CHRISTMAS**** Thanks Again and Keep up the Great Work. ***Radio On my Friend***

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

Merry Christmas Lewis. Looking forward to another year of great videos

[@martinharper5112]

Merry Christmas. The start and end music sounds like the 'ice cream man'.

[@l.a.2646]

Merry Christmas Lewis to you as well Lewis and to all of my fellow Radioheads out there - everywhere ! - have fun with family and friends and of course radio! 73 all

[@vanhetgoor]

All of those years and nobody ever got the idea of adding all those number up.

[@crf80fdarkdays]

Thanks for the merry Christmas and the other kind comments for your supporters mate. Merry Christmas and happy new year to yourzelf also mate, hopefully this next year is a bit kinder to us all.

[@MrWazhead]

Merry Christmas Lewis. Love what you do. Don't change anything: you've got the aesthetic dot-on.

[@AK-vx4dy]

So many thousands kilometers transmisions have some additional magic added to radio itself... But lone location and solidutity adds more.... event if not full lone... I rember my grandma kitchen with one small window on dark end of village, power outages were frequent, we sat near that pitch black window barely lighten by one small candle and listening to battery long waves radio... (those years without constant cross-interference) it was so unreal....

[@rickt10]

So grandma was part of a sleeper cell.😅

[@AK-vx4dy]

@@rickt10 As i know - not, but who knows 😅 But seriously we were listening national radio, not number stations 😅

[@robertmeyer4744]

that was great. love the pic's with the snow. Merry Christmas Lewis !

[@thormusique]

Wonderful video, Lewis, and a Very Merry Christmas to you and yours! Cheers!

[@AlreadyThere1965]

Merry Christmas and thanks for all the interesting content.

[@lordtherapeutics]

Merry Christmas Lewis and thank you for your wonderful videos this year. The effort involved must be very considerable.

[@michaelaFlangee]

thanks for all the videos and the shots in this are fantastic great filming

[@fretlessfender]

Merry Christmas Lewis! And thanks for all the suspense you brought to us! You do a wonderfull job! Love your channel!

[@RogueError617]

Could you do a video on that Morse machine that had some of those automated voices?

[@simontemplar0468]

Merry Christmas Lewis to you and your family there in the UK. 73 my friend.

[@rubblestacker]

merry cristmass Lewis and all

[@ametrinemoon]

Merry xmas and have a top hogmanay! Loving these videos as they are informative as an SWR and number stations enthusiast.

[@unklewink]

I nicknamed V02 "Havana Anna" the first time I heard her in the 1960s.

[@bc4yt]

Merry Christmas Ringway! 🎄

[@bc4yt]

Your channel has inspired me to explore my local airwaves - I'm thinking a USB SDR dongle I can use with my Android phone is the cheapest and easiest entry, do you have any recommendations?

[@stevenyemc]

Good work fella and Merry Christmas. Should have some recordings of a local pirate FM station near me soon. You should see the pile of junk they use.

[@BarneySaysHi]

Lewis? Where was the picture shown at 4:12 taken?

[@RingwayManchester]

Windy Hill

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video, Lewis. *🎄Merry Christmas🎄*

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

🎵🎶 On the first day of Christmas 🎶🎵 Lewis made for me 🎶🎵A numbers stations video history 🎵🎶

[@ide5587]

Much love and ty very much for the great content!

[@alanreader4815]

Merry Christmas Lewis And have a Brilliant New year.

[@MadMaxBS]

Can I ask you what the name of the station that plays in the intro of this video? It was sampled in an old song and I always knew it was a numbers station recording but never found the exact one

[@danielscotcher]

Merry Christmas To You & Your Family Lewis Thanks for all the great videos 🎉

[@RingwayManchester]

Special thanks to you Daniel. I appreciate all of your support

[@_hackwell]

Howdy Lewis! I wish you a merry Christmas an an happy new year🎄

[@jhonsiders6077]

Merry xmas to you also I cant seem to pick any of the ones you show here in the midwest US I only have 50 foot longwire I have a Icom IC-R75 i need more antenna maybe Santa will bring me 500 feet of wire and a few 70 foot poles ?? Im in the country have plenty of room to put up a large array .

[@jeffreyspeltie1961]

Hello from Riverside, California USA

[@Cianan-vw1lb]

Merry Christmas, Lewis!

[@RobertSlaven-f9e]

Awesome video and channel. Merry Christmas everyone,

[@bartbart8556]

Thanks and merry christmas to you Levis

[@andrewy3m2]

How do you get these recordings, if these were last transmitted in the 80s etc?

[@izoiva]

There's websites with archives. Google "Russian 6 operator" , you will find lots of record

[@PAPERMAsster]

i mean, recording equipment has always been a thing, and the old recordings get digitized and shared on the internet

[@99_friety]

I’m sure he is in many forums and Reddit groups and probably gets also from from people who watch; when you’re really lucky you can find some on KZbin.

[@hvcomputech]

Merry Christmas Lewis. Here’s for a better 2024 with more info and subs. 🍷

[@snakezdewiggle6084]

Hsy Lewis. Where do you get the audio clips ?

[@johnpinckney4979]

Good DX and Merry Christmas to you and yours, Lewis...

[@johnmoloney5296]

Happy Christmas to you and yours Lewis

[@Wickedacorn]

Good stuff. Here's a question for you. Why does that tower (the tall skinny one with guy wires at 7:39) that is four sided come to a point at the bottom? It forms a sort of pyramid shape where it meets its foundation. Why not four separate points meeting the foundation. And why the little roof looking thing over the upside down pyramid shaped section?

[@RingwayManchester]

Hey Paul, it goes to a point where it sits on a huge ball bearing. It’s held vertical by the guy wires

[@Wickedacorn]

@@RingwayManchester Ahh! That makes sense. The connection is not rigid, so it can move around slightly. It's got a bit of give and doesn't snap off. You'll be happy to know I recognised your thumbnail by the look of it without reading it. I haven't figured that out yet.

[@Mindsi]

For high winds movement

[@vanpenguin22]

And a joyous Christmas and prosperous New Year to you my friend 👍

[@q95oldies57]

Always enjoy your videos. Merry Christmas.

[@mindblast3901]

Merry Xmas Lewis many thanks for Great videos this 2023 73

[@95Haniel]

Hey mate, I'm very new to this sort of thing but have been finding it very interesting. Do you need any sort of license in the UK to listen, and not transmit on short wave? Or is it free game just to listen in? Cheers!

[@RingwayManchester]

Listening To This Radio Scanner Is ILLEGAL! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZDRdKGrYrWAqKc

[@markt.3454]

Merry Christmas, Lewis!!

[@LatteLover]

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Lewis 📻🎄

[@appalachianamerican7171]

Cheers, Mr. Tony, nice story 👍

[@anthonyfranz8317]

The Mossad station is my favorite. Merry Christmas Lewis!

[@markharpen7417]

Thank You. Merry Christmas

[@maximal10]

Got to say some of the views from those tower site are amazing.

[@OliverWoodphotography]

I used to hear many of these stations in the late 70s on my Realistic DX160. I had simple 80M long wire antenna. Ironically listening from Hale Barns close to Ringway I often heard E10, Lincolnshire Poacher and Swedish Rapsedy stations as very strong signals after dark. I had no idea what they were and for a time thought they may have been propergation forecasts or other technical messages.

[@womble321]

Happy Christmas mate

[@gerardouribe9939]

Felices fiestas!!!!

[@jeffreyspeltie1961]

Great Intel

[@bobbysenterprises3220]

Right back at ya ringway

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Do any stations use the AES256 in Cypher Feedback Mode.

[@robertmagnusson4319]

Merry Christmas and all the best for -24, Lewis and all other viewers!

[@rickacton7540]

all i think when i hear these codes is Hugh: Good morning. Stephen: I beg your pardon? Hugh: I said good morning. (*Stephen stands back, ashen-faced.*) Stephen: At last ... Hugh: What? Stephen: After all these years ... Hugh: Sorry ...? Stephen: Welcome, comrade. Welcome. Sit down. Rest your weary elbows. You'll take a glass of vodka? (Calling.)Mr Dalliard! Break out the false passports and the rabbit-skin hats. We are going to Moscow.

[@mike_holdread]

Merry Christmas from Indiana!

[@cevansinz]

The Beatles song “I am the Walrus” is full of weird damnable noises and I blame it for my fascination in the noises of HF. I am eating and drinking way too much; thank you.

[@MrCrabbing]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

[@BodybuildingNews]

Have you considered filing for FOIAs on anything related to these?

[@JJ196244]

Marry Xmas Lewis from the Ghostryder John keep good work up love the video's

[@gonebamboo4116]

Merry Christmas everyone

[@juliansadler6263]

I remember the 'German Lady' from the 1980s. Not just on short wave it broadcast at the bottom end of medium wave next to Vatican Radio.

[@rickchapman9232]

Have you seen the stations that you report on?