The Japanese Slot Machine - A Short Wave Radio Oddity

[missexorcist]

Good morning from Japan. This is a signal operated by the Self-Defense Forces and is believed to be used as a trunk line for sending data and critical information to the US military and other allies. I've heard stories of people trying to get an official answer as to what it's used for and who operates it, but never get an answer.

[markcancellara]

listening from the Philippines last year it was very easy to catch the slot machine and like you say at the end of the video it was transmitted on many frequencies simultaneously as well as many different frequencies during the day and night

[jeffreycollins]

My Dad would have loved your channel. He was the one that got me into radio with his JVC boombox, when he first got it we sat around it for hours just going around the shortwave dial. Much Respect!

[warmpondwater]

Who would know listening to ZX Spectrum 64 sounds would become another persons hobby.

[AdamSWL]

This is a very common one to pick up down in VK land.
Is a good indicator of band conditions since it's signal is so consistent.
Great video as always Lewis!

[marsgal]

I live in western Canada and hear this station regularly.

[LunaWuna]

I often use this as a benchmark for antennas since I live in Australia and it comes in pretty strong on some frequencies

[lancebukkake]

wow thank you for this, i live in japan and have a simple Sony ICF-SW22 radio that i listen to every night and i can hear this between the 4.05 and 4.15MHz. I always wondered what this signal was

[RickPMandel]

Thanks for yet another informative video. I should tell you, as much as I enjoy your content, I find the pictures as much to see as your script is to hear. Continued thanks, and once again, good work

[altfactor]

Tune in at the right time, and you win a jackpot, with thousands of dollars in coins coming out of your radio!

[TimWochomurka]

I love knowing what this is because I keep seeing it when playing with online SDRs

[deadreaver]

As always, FANTASTIC video!

I'd love to see you cover decoding some of these digital mode transmissions.

[MattExzy]

This oddity has always been a favourite of mine. 6447kHz, as I read it, always heard very strongly in Australia.

[Radionut]

Thank you Lewis for posting this. I’ve heard the slot machine many many times. It’s quite an oddity that’s for sure

[RogueError]

It honestly has such a good beat. Someone needs to sample it.

[bobsoldrecords]

I haven't heard that, but I frequently hear what used to be NSB from Japan on shortwave. I understand some Japanese, so it's a fun listen, even though it was more fun than it was it was now in the eighties

[SWLSignals-hpvp]

I just heard it today when doing a band scan in the park. I hear it almost everyday in the mornings (1000-1200) UTC. 8588 Khz is the best of three on 8mHz band.

[Mike-James]

When i was stationed in Germany in the 1970s (RAF) They would send high speed messages back to the UK and it sounded something like that.

[goose]

I have actually caught this in the UK before. I was up in the middle of nowhere on the west coast of Scotland with a Tecsun PL880 and about 30ft of wire strung between a tent and a small cliff. It was barely audible, but there! Sometimes I think I can hear it from my QTH in Glasgow with much better antenna and full-size equipment. I might just be kidding myself that I can hear it in the noise though - but now is a good time to try to catch it with the solar conditions we are having

[MCHINE]

I was amazed to hear the exact same signal on My radio that i modified for shortwave just by stringing up a long wire antenna in my room getting it high as possible and I think the conditions were right to pick it up.