[Spooks] Cuban tutorial

[mslaten]

Hi List:

    Thought I would give a short tutorial for the newer members on how
logging of calls on V2a or M8a family of numbers stations can help in
traffic analysis of the stations.  Here are my Cuban logs for today March
19, 2005:

UTC:1000-, Freq:3025, M8a, ID 35112 77821 61113
UTC:1100-, Freq:4478, M8a, ID 35112 77821 61113 (rpt of 1000z on 3025m)

UTC:1000-, Freq:9323, M8a, ID 23371 64843 23143
UTC:1100-, Freq:10344, M8a, ID 23371 64843 23143 (rpt of 1000z on 9323m)

UTC:1100-, Freq:8136, M8a, ID 28482 37121 47091
UTC:1200-, Freq:9152, M8a, ID 28482 37121 47091 (rpt of 1100z on 8136m)

UTC:1200-, Freq:6933, M8a, ID 10191 42525 41625
UTC:1300-, Freq:7890, M8a, ID 10191 42525 41625 (rpt of 1200z on 6933m)

    Please note how logging the calls clearly shows the relationship between
the first and second broadcast.  Also, if you study the calls on a regular
basis, you will clearly see that the last digit in each 5-digit call will
advance by one.  EX: 35112 77821 61113 which was copied today, may be 35113
77822 xxxx1 tomorrow.  The last number currently is being assumed as the
number of days the message was broadcast.  Normally this 5-digit number
changes after the 3rd day, but as you can see by the 1200z and 1300z
broadcast,  40625 is an exception to the rule.  This message may have been
broadcast 5 days in a row.  Recently, I have seen the 2200z and 2300z M8a
broadcast go as high as 9 days!  But 3 will be what is encounter the
majority of the time.
    As far as the message formats with both V2a and M8a, they consist of 150
5-digit groups.  Three messages are normally sent with one being intended
for each of the three addressees in the callup.  And a further curiousity is
that the first and second group are repeated again as the 149th and 150th
groups.  This is probably some sort of indicator for the encoding/decoding
of the messages.
    Hope this is of interest to the group.  If you would like me to include
more numbers info, let me know.  There is a lot more on the air than just
the Cuban numbers.
    The numbers are fun to monitor.  It is exciting when you can find a new
one, or find one that has been elusive.  Finding out a new characteristic
about them is also satisfying.  It's a lot like putting together a jig-saw
puzzle.  Discovering a new piece that fits in hopes that someday the whole
puzzle will be completed.
    Have fun with the hobby!

73's
Mark