12 Of The Strangest Most Secret Shortwave Signals

[NGIY]

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.

[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.

[rhodaborrocks]

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 !!

[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.)

[spacecat]

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

[josephschembri]

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.

[JeffCowan]

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

[therunt]

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!

[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.

[nofider]

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

[Bucharestguidedtours]

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

[tylaranderson]

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.

[thisandthat]

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

[philsharp]

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

[jumpit]

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-matic]

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

[pomonabill]

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

[jond]

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

[lostjackets]

Merry Christmas to you too Lewis. Love your work!

[MrBreadman]

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.