How Spies Communicate Using Shortwave Numbers Stations

Numbers stations are a mysterious phenomenon of shortwave radio dating back to the Cold War. The radio signals are secret messages sent by intelligence agencies to undercover spies all over the world, but no government has ever acknowledged their existence. Anyone with a shortwave radio can hear the messages, but one-time pad encryption means they’re impossible to understand. The Recount dives into this fascinating mystery to understand where numbers stations come from and why this lo-fi technology is still being used by spies and intelligence operatives all over the world, including in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
#shortwaveradio #numberstations #technology
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[@КГБКолДжорджКостанца]

it's mysterious but also intriguing, many of these stations lived through the Vietnam War and Cold War

[@Carriesaglock]

The Numbers Station with John Cusack, great movie. Now it all makes sense.

[@Maximillion666]

I remember using my Grandpa's shortwave as a kid in the 80's. I remember hearing some cool stations like radio Moscow's English channel. I remember hearing weird signals like the number stations once and awhile.

[@-Mark_F]

Great vid! I have been an SWL since the 70's and It was really cool seeing and hearing Chris Smolinksi for the first time! My favorite numbers station was the Counting Station E05. Thank you for posting!

[@weirdhousewivesclub]

I've been learning about number stations here and there as my husband is a ham radio operator (I'm not one myself, I find things about it interesting but it's not my hobby personally) and it just goes to show that, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Sometimes the old, tried and true methods are the best!

[@morsz7544]

3:39 Blud really called Ciocarlia the mad violinist.

[@richardmerriam7044]

I did some research on numbers stations after hearing the first one back in the 1990's. Unbreakable code.

[@Povilaz]

Very interesting. Love hunting for them even today. There are still new ones having one off transmissions, last one I found (which wasn't documented) was a month ago. Cool video!

[@NormDeMoss]

Lovely video! I discovered numbers stations in high school years ago, but I adore having found a recent video that brings everything together and lets me learn some new stuff! (Also, the production value is fabulous!)

[@myriaddsystems]

Superb commentary. World-class presentation!

[@TheMaghorn]

This didn't come out until long after this video was posted, but the Yosemite Sam broadcast's origin was revealed last year through a channel called Ringway Manchester, and the reality was that it wasn't intended to be a clandestine broadcast. It was a dummy payload for an experimental broadcasting system, as revealed by the technician who was assigned to create it. The tech said he didn't have any security clearance, so it probably wasn't for the government. It's one of the few shortwave anomalies where we have a definite answer.

[@Canarywharfdebz]

My favourite is definitely E11, nicknamed Oblique from Warsaw.

[@UZI9MMAUTO]

The great thing is today's world. Analog radio stick kicks butt above other tech like on grid communications.

[@thevintageaudiolife]

I still hear some number stations from around the world on my shortwave receivers.

[@joeblow8593]

Good intro on the numbers stations..

[@markhaus]

I don’t know why they freak me out so much. Maybe because I managed to stumble on to one on my shortwave radio as a kid and it stuck with me. But even today with my HAM radio license they creep me out when I come across one

[@thomasnativo6491]

Ive only herd UVB-76 in the United States and it scared me and it terrified me when the TV screen went gray for hour plus the Voice with UVB-76 gives me Nightmares with Chills with Russian Messages interrupting it was Mocking my Tv too much for Severe Weather conditions such as Tornado Warnings and Flash flood warnings plus EAS repeated over and over again it was Spooky me all night along plus it happened again in New York state while I was camping in the Trailer

[@somejackball]

picked one up recently on a Tecsun radio, and saw this stuff in a movie too, not too long ago, can't remember which on though

[@myriaddsystems]

I just had to subscribe

[@billxx188]

I went through military Intel school back in 1990. I was trained to intercept the Morse Code version of numbers stations. I went to school for about a year and a half, listening to Morse code for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. I became pretty efficient at it. we would also learn how to traingulate the transmitter, as well as 'radio fingerprinting' to get the fingerprint of the target to see if it was a new transmitter or one already on file. I primarily listened to ship to shore communications. nothing exciting or covert about it. rather boring. No experience with actual numbers stations to be honest I have always found numbers stations fascinating. your video was very informative and entertaining. thank you!

[@a12i71]

What's the fucking point of mentioning all that if you don't know shit about number stations?

[@robertgunter5361]

What frequency can you hear them?

[@alexblue6991]

I wonder what information that they receive and send

[@adlerpaul]

Any number stations use Morse code? Thanks for the informative KZbin.

[@temasongu]

Yes, there are some that do. Russia has at least three, and there's a relatively new one in France.

[@RonKris]

Could you do a video on Vocal Fry and why some women use it?

[@davegreg]

Yep, the woman on this video was REALLY irritating with that ridiculous growl at the end of every sentence!

[@sethgravley6995]

How could a woman know anything about number stations I don't believe her at all her father husband or neighbor has coerced her to do this😂

[@akbarshoed]

Hopefully we'll send so many weapons to Ukraine that Russia will level the country. We're so Clever.

[@guilhermeschitzamaral8627]

⥊ He called it War. I call it War. Paris 2015 Boom Boom Brain Invaders Electric Havana Syndrome Pandemics on me 33 colors, numbers, blocks They are here on me. Porto Alegre, Brazil Av. Capivari, 413/402 Guilherme is my name. 001: Uniqueness 0: Good 1: Ethics 2: Problem-Solution 3: Materials 4: Black ⥊