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{{short description|Russian shortwave radio station}} {{short description|Soviet and Russian shortwave radio station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{redirect|The Buzzer|other uses|Buzzer (disambiguation)}} {{redirect|The Buzzer|other uses|Buzzer (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox radio station {{Infobox radio station
| format = Repeated buzzing sound | format = Repeated buzzing sound
| image = UVB-76-detail.png
| airdate = c. 1970s
| caption = A ] of UVB-76, showing the suppressed lower sideband
| former_callsigns = УВБ-76, МДЖБ, ЖУОЗ, АНВФ
| airdate =
| former_callsigns = {{langx|ru|УЗБ-76 (Commonly mistaken to be УВБ-76)|label=none}}, {{langx|ru|МДЖБ|label=none}}, {{langx|ru|ЖУОЗ|label=none}}, {{langx|ru|АНВФ|label=none}}
| former_frequencies = 4625 kHz | former_frequencies = 4625 kHz
| owner = ] | owner = ]
| name = UVB-76 | name = UVB-76
| area = ], ] (Former) | area = ], ] (Former)
| frequency = 4625 kHz ] | frequency = 4625 kHz ]
| language = ] | language = ]
| coordinates = | coordinates =
| sister_stations = ], ] | sister_stations = ], ]
| city = | city =
| embedded = {{Audio sample
}}'''UVB-76''', also known by the nickname "'''The Buzzer'''", is a ] ] that broadcasts on the frequency of 4625 ].<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Buzzer › Priyom.org|url=https://priyom.org/military-stations/russia/the-buzzer|access-date=2021-10-16|website=priyom.org}}</ref>It broadcasts a short, monotonous {{audio|UVB-76_07-08-2010.ogg|buzz tone}}, repeating at a rate of approximately 25 tones per minute, 24 hours per day.<ref name="The Buzzer" /> Sometimes, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place.<ref name="wired">{{cite news |title=Inside the Russian Short Wave Radio Enigma |first=Peter |last=Savodnik |work=] |date=September 27, 2011 |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/09/ff-uvb76/ |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> The start date of broadcasting is disputed. However, it was allegedly reported to start broadcasting in 1982.
| header = none
| file = UVB-76.ogg
| description = A short clip of UVB-76's transmission as recorded in Southern Finland, 860 km (530 mi) away from the station in 2002.
}}
}}

]
'''UVB-76''' ({{langx|ru|УВБ-76}}; {{xref|see {{slink||Name and callsigns}} for other callsigns)}}, also known by the nickname "'''The Buzzer'''", is a ] ] that broadcasts in Upper Side Band mode on the frequency of 4625{{nbs}}].<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Buzzer › Priyom.org|url=https://priyom.org/military-stations/russia/the-buzzer|access-date=2021-10-16|website=priyom.org}}</ref> It broadcasts a short, monotonous {{audio|UVB-76_07-08-2010.ogg|buzz tone}}, repeating at a rate of approximately 25{{nbs}}tones per minute, 24{{nbs}}hours per day.<ref name="The Buzzer" /> Sometimes, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place.<ref name="wired">{{cite magazine |title=Inside the Russian Short Wave Radio Enigma |first=Peter |last=Savodnik |magazine=] |date=September 27, 2011 |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/09/ff-uvb76/ |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=McLellan | first=Allison | date=November 2019 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2311511307/ | title=Decoding Numbers Stations | journal=QST | publisher=American Radio Relay League | volume=103 | issue=11 | pages=70–73 | via=ProQuest | quote=Perhaps the best-known is the Russian UVB-76, a misheard version of its first call sign, UZB-76. Transmitting on 4625 kHz, it was first noticed around the late 1970s, earning the nickname 'the Buzzer' because of its 24-hour droning hum.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date=25 March 2012 | url=https://priyom.org/media/57653/the_buzzer_primer.pdf | title=The Buzzer Primer | work=Priyom.org | page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Harris | first=Shane | date=March 6, 2016 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1782923047/ | title=The Stupidly Simple Spy Messages No Computer Could Decode | journal=The Daily Beast | publisher=The Newsweek–Daily Beast Company | via=ProQuest | quote=For most of its existence, which has been traced back to an original airdate in 1976, it has transmitted a short, high-pitched buzz, every few seconds.}}</ref>


==Name and callsigns== ==Name and callsigns==
]
The station is commonly known as '''The Buzzer'''<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170801-the-ghostly-radio-station-that-no-one-claims-to-run |title=The ghostly radio station that no one claims to run |last=Gorvett |first=Zaria |access-date=November 16, 2020 |date=July 15, 2020 |website=BBC}}</ref> in both ] and ] ({{lang-ru|Жужжалка}}). From the start of broadcasting, the station identified itself as UYB-76 (Russian: УЫБ-76){{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}. From at least 1997 to 2010, the station identified itself as '''UZB-76'''<ref>{{Citation|title=UVB-76 MDZhB (180 08 BROMAL 74 27 99 14)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8CuyDiV1YQ|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 MDZhB (93 882 NAIMINA 74 14 35 74) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJuiurAdWV0 |date=July 5, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> ({{lang-ru|УЗБ-76|link=no}}). The callsign '''UVB-76''' was never used by the station itself, but is rather a mistranscription of UZB-76.<ref name=":0" /> However, the station is still often referred by that name. In the following years of transmission, the main callsign of the station changed regularly.
The station is commonly known as "The Buzzer"<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170801-the-ghostly-radio-station-that-no-one-claims-to-run |title=The ghostly radio station that no one claims to run |last=Gorvett |first=Zaria |access-date=November 16, 2020 |date=July 15, 2020 |website=BBC}}</ref> in both ] and ] ({{langx|ru|Жужжалка|link=no}}). From its first voice transmission in 1997 to 2010, the station identified itself as UZB-76<ref>{{Citation|title=UVB-76 MDZhB (180 08 BROMAL 74 27 99 14)| date=30 June 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8CuyDiV1YQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/Y8CuyDiV1YQ |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 MDZhB (93 882 NAIMINA 74 14 35 74) | website=] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJuiurAdWV0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/IJuiurAdWV0 |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|date=July 5, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ({{langx|ru|УЗБ-76|link=no}}). The ] UVB-76 was never used by the station itself, but is rather a mistranscription of UZB-76.<ref name=":0" /> However, the station is still often referred to by that name. In the following years of transmission, the main callsign of the station changed regularly.
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|+Main callsigns of UVB-76 / The Buzzer |+Main callsigns of UVB-76 ("The Buzzer")
!Callsign !Callsign
!Timespan used
!Used timespan
|- |-
|UZB-76 (УЗБ-76) |UZB-76 ({{langx|ru|УЗБ-76|label=none}})
|1997 – 7 September 2010 |24 December 1997 – 7 September 2010
|- |-
|MDZhB (МДЖБ) |MDZhB ({{langx|ru|МДЖБ|label=none}})
|7 September 2010 – 28 December 2015 |7 September 2010 – 28 December 2015
|- |-
|ZhUOZ (ЖУОЗ) |ZhUOZ ({{langx|ru|ЖУОЗ|label=none}})
|28 December 2015 – 1 March 2019 |28 December 2015 – 1 March 2019
|- |-
|ANVF (АНВФ) |ANVF ({{langx|ru|АНВФ|label=none}})
|1 March 2019 – 30 December 2020 |1 March 2019 – 30 December 2020
|- |-
|NZhTI (НЖТИ) |NZhTI ({{langx|ru|НЖТИ|label=none}})
|30 December 2020 – current day |30 December 2020 – present
|} |}
In addition to these main callsigns, The Buzzer also uses other "side callsigns" which are being used less frequently than the main callsign. Whenever the main callsign changes, all previous side callsigns are also being discarded.<ref name="The Buzzer" /> Instead of being limited to one single callsign, any amount of callsigns can be used in a message. In addition to these main callsigns, The Buzzer also uses other "side callsigns" which are being used less frequently than the main callsign. Whenever the main callsign changes, all previous side callsigns are also discarded.<ref name="The Buzzer" />

==Format==
{{Listen
| filename = UVB-76.ogg
| title = UVB-76 buzzing
| description = A short clip of UVB-76's transmission as heard in Southern Finland, 860 km (530 mi) away from the station in 2002.
}}
{{external media
|video1={{YouTube|wZgmJdqVRAk|UVB-76 in 1976}}{{dubious|date=November 2020}}
|video2={{YouTube|ZWAYHbKPvFw|UVB-76 in 1982}}
|video3={{YouTube|bBGk0mFnug0|UVB-76 in 1989}}
}}
]


The station transmits using ] with a suppressed lower ] (USB modulation), but it has also used full double-sideband AM (A3E). The signal consists of a buzzing sound that lasts 1.2 seconds, pausing for 1–1.3 seconds, and repeating 21–34 times per minute. Until November 2010, the buzz tones lasted approximately 0.8 seconds each.<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref name="oddities">{{cite web |title=Oddities |url=http://www.cvni.net/radio/e2k/e2k008/e2k08odd.html |last=Boender |first=Ary |date=January 2002 |work=ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter – Issue 8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113081013/http://www.cvni.net/radio/e2k/e2k008/e2k08odd.html |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> One minute before the hour, the repeating tone was previously replaced by a continuous, uninterrupted alternating tone, which continued for one minute until the short repeating buzz resumed, although this stopped occurring in June 2010.<ref name="Russian_HF_beacons">{{cite web |title=Russian HF Beacons |url=http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl032/nsnl32mx.html |date=December 24, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907011137/http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl032/nsnl32mx.html |archive-date=September 7, 2019 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> The station transmits using ] with a suppressed lower ] (USB modulation), but it has also used full double-sideband AM (A3E). The signal consists of a buzzing sound that lasts 1.2 seconds, pausing for 1–1.3 seconds, and repeating 21–34 times per minute. Until November 2010, the buzz tones lasted approximately 0.8 seconds each.<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref name="oddities">{{cite web |title=Oddities |url=http://www.cvni.net/radio/e2k/e2k008/e2k08odd.html |last=Boender |first=Ary |date=January 2002 |work=ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter – Issue 8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113081013/http://www.cvni.net/radio/e2k/e2k008/e2k08odd.html |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> One minute before the hour, the repeating tone was previously replaced by a continuous, uninterrupted alternating tone, which continued for one minute until the short repeating buzz resumed, although this stopped occurring in June 2010.<ref name="Russian_HF_beacons">{{cite web |title=Russian HF Beacons |url=http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl032/nsnl32mx.html |date=December 24, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907011137/http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl032/nsnl32mx.html |archive-date=September 7, 2019 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>


Since the start of broadcasting, The Buzzer broadcast as a repeating two-second pip, changing to a buzzer in the late 1980s/early 1990s.<ref name="Morse_Stations">{{cite web|date=2 August 1976|title=UVB|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZgmJdqVRAk |access-date=December 25, 2020|website=Youtube}}</ref><ref name="Numbers_and_Oddities">{{cite web |title=Numbers & oddities: Column 1 |url=http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl000/nsnl0a.html |last=Boender |first=Ary |year=1995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125075809/http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl000/nsnl0a.html |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> It briefly changed to a higher tone of longer duration (approximately 20 tones per minute) on 16 January 2003, but has since reverted to the previous tone pattern. These buzzes have gotten longer in duration and deeper in pitch over time, and breakdowns have been more frequent, suggesting the possibility of the buzzes being mechanically generated. Since the start of broadcasting, The Buzzer broadcasts as a repeating two-second pip.<ref name="Morse_Stations">{{cite web|date=2 August 1976|title=UVB|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZgmJdqVRAk |access-date=December 25, 2020|website=Youtube}}</ref><ref name="Numbers_and_Oddities">{{cite web |title=Numbers & oddities: Column 1 |url=http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl000/nsnl0a.html |last=Boender |first=Ary |year=1995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125075809/http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl000/nsnl0a.html |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>


===Voice messages=== ===Voice messages===
]
Sometimes the buzzing sound is interrupted and a voice message is broadcast. These messages are usually given in Russian by a live voice, and follow a fixed format.<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.es/tecnologia/misterio-emisiones-radio-secretas-201008260000_noticia.html |title=El misterio de las emisiones de radio secretas |newspaper=] |date=August 26, 2010 |language=es |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.googlesightseeing.com/2009/07/the-buzzer-uvb-76/ |first=Alex |last=Turnbull |title="The Buzzer" (UVB-76) |publisher=Googlesightseeing.com |date=July 21, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> An example of such a message:
The buzzing sound is sometimes interrupted by the broadcast of voice messages. These messages are always given in Russian by a live voice, and follow three fixed formats:<ref name=":0" /><ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.es/tecnologia/misterio-emisiones-radio-secretas-201008260000_noticia.html |title=El misterio de las emisiones de radio secretas |newspaper=] |date=August 26, 2010 |language=es |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.googlesightseeing.com/2009/07/the-buzzer-uvb-76/ |first=Alex |last=Turnbull |title="The Buzzer" (UVB-76) |publisher=Googlesightseeing.com |date=July 21, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>
]


==== Monolith ====
At 21:00 ] on 24 December 1997:
{{external media
Ya UZB-76, Ya UZB-76. 180 08 BROMAL 74 27 99 14. Boris, Roman, Olga, Mikhail, Anna, Leonid. 7 4 2 7 9 9 1 4
|video2={{YouTube|ZWAYHbKPvFw|UVB-76 in 1982}}
Voice messages were thought to be very rare, until 2010 when listeners reported increased activity of the station, spurring on further monitoring and allowing listeners to "catch" more of the messages which would have otherwise gone unnoticed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newitz |first=Annalee |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/theyre-broadcasting-those-russian-numbers-again-5623226 |title=They're broadcasting those Russian numbers again |date=August 27, 2010 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> On 5 June 2010, The Buzzer went silent for approximately 24 hours, resuming the normal buzzing pattern on the morning of 6 June. At 13:35 UTC on 23 August 2010, a voice message was broadcast:
|video3={{YouTube|bBGk0mFnug0|UVB-76 in 1989}}
UZB-76, UZB-76. 93 882 NAIMINA 74 14 35 74. 9 3 8 8 2 Nikolai, Anna, Ivan, Mikhail, Ivan, Nikolai, Anna. 7 4 1 4 3 5 7 4
}}A message in the Monolith format always consists of the following parts:
On 17 October 2016, The Buzzer broadcast at least 18 different messages in less than 24 hours.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=priyom_org |author=Priyom.org |number=788136814246785028 |date=October 17, 2016 |title=Today's extraordinary Russian military channel marker message stats: - Buzzer: 18 - Pip: 20 - Wheel: 21 - 5292: 0}}</ref>


* Callsigns, each of which read out twice in the readout. A callsign always consists of four symbols, each symbol being either a Russian letter or a digit
Apparently, since around the beginning of 2020 and into 2021 more frequent messages have been heard.
* Five digit ID groups (amount of items usually follows the amount of callsigns)
* Message blocks, each consisting of one code word and eight digits


Example of a Monolith message sent on The Buzzer with exactly one callsign, one ID group and one message block (most common type):
Four voice broadcasts could be heard between 13 January and 27 January 2020.<ref>{{cite AV media |type=Radio broadcast |date=January 13, 2020 |time=22:24 UTC |title=Русские Устные Сообщения |via=Soundcloud |url=https://soundcloud.com/user-665415767/russkie-ustnye-soobshcheniya |access-date=November 16, 2020 |language=ru}}<br>{{cite AV media |type=Radio broadcast |date=January 15, 2020 |time=20:26 UTC|title=Русские Устные Сообщения 2 |via=Soundcloud |url=https://soundcloud.com/user-665415767/russkie-ustnye-soobshcheniya |access-date=November 16, 2020 |language=ru}}<br>{{cite AV media |type=Radio broadcast |date=January 16, 2020 |time=09:43 UTC |title=Русские Устные Сообщения 3 |via=Soundcloud |url=https://soundcloud.com/user-665415767/russkie-ustnye-soobshcheniya-3 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |language=ru}}<br>{{cite AV media |type=Radio broadcast |date=January 27, 2020 |time=11:31 UTC |title=Русские Устные Сообщения 4 |via=Soundcloud |url=https://soundcloud.com/user-665415767/russkie-ustnye-soobshcheniya-4 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |language=ru}}</ref>
{{Quote frame|NZhTI NZhTI 34 511 GOLOSOK 80 17 81 54<ref>{{Citation|title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) February 3, 2021 15:25UTC Voice message| date=4 February 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNXwNkZwprU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/eNXwNkZwprU |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}
Monolith messages can however contain any amount of items from each part:
{{Quote frame|87OI 87OI A1JZh A1JZh 217O 217O DOTsU DOTsU MSZh7 MSZh7 02 189 44 871 71 132 13 155 27 420 VYMOKAN'Ye 18 97 35 87<ref>{{Citation|title=UVB-76/The Buzzer(4625Khz) 11th December 2019 Message #10 9:51UTC| date=11 December 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyAnza4htJ4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/QyAnza4htJ4 |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}


On 11 May 2020, two messages were heard, one at 13:11 UTC and a second one at 15:22 UTC.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) May 11th 2020 13:11UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC1ui8QpRE4 |date=May 11, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) May 11th 2020 15:22UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWV79TrC13U |date=May 11, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> {{Quote frame|MTA3 OTQ2O Tg1NzM3 Mzk1ODE0NCAtP iAuLi0uIC 4tLi4gLi0g Li4uI C4uLi4g Li0uLi AuLiAtL S4gLi4uLiAt<ref name="auto1">{{Citation|title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) Feb. 6th 2020 12:16UTC Voice message #6| date=6 February 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syfuL1JR4xk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/syfuL1JR4xk |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}


{{Quote frame|87OI 87OI 25 184 GOLOVChATYJ 31 10 33 40 VYeKShA 31 10 33 40<ref name="auto1"/>}}
On 14 May 2020, another two messages were broadcast, one at 8:00 UTC and another one at around 10:00 UTC.<ref>{{cite web |title=14.05.2020 {{!}} УВБ-76 UVB-76 Все сообщения All messages |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFGw2A9dItk |date=May 15, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>


==== Uzor ====
On 17 June 2020, two messages were heard, one at 11:39 UTC and a second one at 11:47 UTC:<ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) June 17th 2020 11:39UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObBRgkoTXYw |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) June 17th 2020 11:47UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaYC4winnL8 |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>
A message in the Uzor format always consists of the following parts:
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 10 269 KYeDROKYeKS 99 57 53 14.


* Callsigns, each of which read out twice in the readout
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 74 701 KON'YuNKTURA 57 55 86 97 VDYeLYVAN'Ye 06 71 29 59.
* Message blocks, each consisting of one code word and four digits
On 18 June 2020, one message was heard at 10:12 UTC:<ref>{{cite web |date=June 18, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) June 18th 2020 10:12UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2gJ3tiwzdg&t=18s |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>
ANVF ANVF 17 042 DAMPOLYaD 75 79 69 56;
ANVF ANVF 17 042 DAMPOLYaD 75 79 69 56.
On 1 July 2020, one message was heard at 12:31 UTC:<ref>{{cite web |date=July 1, 2020 |title= Voice Message; 1. July 2020, 12:31 UTC |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx2is0lPqkI&pp=wgIECgIIAQ%3D%3D |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 217O 217O 88 498 79 789 KAINOGON 52 47 37 68;
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 217O 217O 88 498 79 789 KAINOGON 52 47 37 68.
On 8 July 2020, from 07:40 UTC to 14:40 UTC, the buzzer broadcast 13 different messages.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 8, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) July 8th 2020 Voice messages |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H38ZYLWssCI |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>


Example of such a message:
On 30 July 2020, three messages were heard, one at 11:20 UTC, a second one at 12:16 UTC and the third message at 13:14 UTC:<ref>{{cite web |date=July 30, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) July 30th 2020 11:20UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RnEGovw9dI |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 30, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) July 30th 2020 12:16UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUKLMz21ZCc |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 30, 2020 |title=The Buzzer/UVB-76(4625Khz) July 30th 2020 13:14UTC Voice message |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHXCeBbFn7s |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>
{{Quote frame|MDZhB MDZhB TsYeNTIM 61 51<ref>{{Citation|title=UVB-76 MDZhB (CENTIM 61 51)| date=26 January 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VileGw9SBh4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/VileGw9SBh4 |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}
ANVF ANVF 18 844 BRYZGALKA 94 96 27 09 ATOLLOVYJ 60 76 53 11;
Nowadays, Uzor messages are rarely sent on The Buzzer.
ANVF ANVF 18 844 BRYZGALKA 94 96 27 09 ATOLLOVYJ 60 76 53 11.


==== Komanda ====
ANVF ANVF 54 400 BAULOBYK 53 57 71 19;
Komanda is the most uncommon type of voice message. Since it has not been heard for years, messages of this type are most likely not being sent on The Buzzer anymore. They consist of a ] (read out twice), a codephrase ({{langx|ru|ОБЪЯВЛЕНА КОМАНДА|OB'YaVLYeNA KOMANDA|command announced|links=no}}), and a following number.
ANVF ANVF 54 400 BAULOBYK 53 57 71 19.


Example of such a message:
ANVF ANVF 77 253 BUKVOYeD 40 68 55 47;
{{Quote frame|MDZhB MDZhB OB'YaVLYeNA KOMANDA 135<ref>{{Citation|title=UVB-76 MDZhB (OB'YaVLENA KOMANDA 135)| date=9 July 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPR0zDxRcrY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/EPR0zDxRcrY |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-10-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}
ANVF ANVF 77 253 BUKVOYeD 40 68 55 47.
On 3 August 2020, one message was heard at 12:45 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 3rd 2020 12:45UTC Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCSzeQTtluM|website=August 3rd 2020 12:45UTC Voice message}}</ref>
ANVF ANVF 61 691 KOLOMER 92 80 07 74;
ANVF ANVF 61 691 KOLOMER 92 80 07 74.
On 6 August 2020, one message was heard at 11:43 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 6th 2020 11:43UTC Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnRvVbHmGbU&t=3s|website=August 6th 2020 11:43UTC Voice message}}</ref>
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 217O 217O 34 050 41 065 KARTING 82 17 24 19;
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 217O 217O 34 050 41 065 KARTING 82 17 24 19.
On 9 August 2020, one message was heard at 10:45 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 9th 2020 10:45UTC Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFiS9mmYpeM|website=August 9th 2020 10:45UTC Voice message}}</ref>
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 217O 217O 58 930 78 148 ZABORChIK 84 48 55 97;
VZhTsKh VZhTsKh 217O 217O 58 930 78 148 ZABORChIK 84 48 55 97.
On 11 August 2020, two messages were heard at 03:22 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 11th 2020 03:22UTC Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKzgzcLPNao|website=August 11th 2020 03:22UTC Voice message}}</ref>
ANVF ANVF 11 234 LAGOKYuRI 69 69 10 18;
ANVF ANVF 11 234 LAGOKYuRI 69 69 10 18.


===Unusual transmissions===
ANVF ANVF 52 135 KORZhOBAYaN 54 05 29 46;
Distant conversations and other background noises have frequently been heard behind the buzzer; this suggests that the buzzing tones are not generated internally, but are produced by a device placed near a live and constantly open ]. Because of the occasional fluctuating pitch of the buzzing tones, it is supposed that the tones are generated by a ] as used in a ]. It is also possible that a microphone may have been turned on accidentally.<ref>, Technet.cz, August 27, 2010 ()</ref> One such occasion was on 3 November 2001, when a conversation in Russian was heard:<ref name="oddities"/>
ANVF ANVF 52 135 KORZhOBAYaN 54 05 29 46.
On 12 August 2020, one message was heard at 02:17 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 12th 2020 02:17UTC Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94x4XZ5yFrA|website=August 12th 2020 02:17UTC Voice message}}</ref>
87O1 87O1 217O 217O 19 611 61 649 BOYeKOKLYeJ 83 62 80 06;
87O1 87O1 217O 217O 19 611 61 649 BOYeKOKLYeJ 83 62 80 06.
On 14 August 2020, from 02:11 UTC to 08:12 UTC, the buzzer broadcast 13 different messages.<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 14th 2020 Voice messages|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csz0NZwiQ0E&t=897s|website=August 14th 2020 Voice messages}}</ref>


{{Quote frame| {{langx|ru|label=none|Я – 143. Не получаю генератор... идёт такая работа от аппаратной.}} ({{ISO 639 name|en}}: I am 143. Not receiving the generator ... that stuff comes from hardware room.<ref name=gizmodo2016>{{cite web |url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/07/the-unexplained-signals-of-russian-station-uvb-76/ |title=The Unexplained Signals Of Russian Station UVB-76 |date=2016-07-18 |website=Gizmodo Australia |access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>) }}
On 21 August 2020, a very long message with 16 callsigns was heard at 17:25 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 21th 2020 17:25UTC Very long Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWCC-gZbMhQ|website=August 21th 2020 17:25UTC Very long Voice message}}</ref>
'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 69 536 32 000 24 664 75 363 81 077 90 617 42 765 89 276 80 984 65 798 07 393 98 234 13 379 16 021 27 767 66 461 68 580 GNYeTOTOR 73 21 86 73; 'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 69 536 32 000 24 664 75 363 81 077 90 617 42 765 89 276 80 984 65 798 07 393 98 234 13 379 16 021 27 767 66 461 68 580 GNYeTOTOR 73 21 86 73.


In September 2010, several unusual broadcasts were observed; these included portions of the buzzer being replaced with excerpts from Tchaikovsky's '']''.<ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 MDZhB Swan Lake |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zjt1NIq-UI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/8Zjt1NIq-UI |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|via=YouTube |date=14 July 2014 |publisher=UVB-76 Activity Channel}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
On 22 August 2020, four messages were heard, one at 04:04 UTC, a second one at 10:12 UTC, a third message at 13:07 UTC and a last one at 15:05 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 22nd 2020 Voice messages|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXxqwSuj7p4&t|website=August 22nd 2020 Voice messages}}</ref>
VZhTsKh 54 733 KORMOZONT 25 32 86 50;
VZhTsKh 54 733 KORMOZONT 25 32 86 50.


On 11 November 2010, intermittent phone conversations were transmitted and were recorded by a listener (at 14:00 UTC) for a period of approximately 30 minutes. These conversations are available online, and seem to be in Russian.<ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 2010-11-11 14.00 UTC |url=http://soundcloud.com/danix111/uvb-76-2010-11-11-14-00-utc |access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Translation by a Reddit user |date=17 December 2012 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/150k0d/requesting_a_russian_for_this_please |access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref> The phone calls mentioned the "brigade operative officer on duty", the communication codes "Debut", ''"Nadezhda"'' (Russian for "hope", or could refer to a common female given name), ''"Sudak"'' (an alternate name for the ], and also ] in ]) and ''"Vulkan"'' (volcano). The buzzing tone can also be heard very faintly in the background of these calls, further suggesting the buzzing is generated externally. The female voice says:
'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 2GYeTs 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 97 079 72 005 88 147 07 542 53 273 10 004 68 520 00 169 66 800 45 344 93 229 13 776 40 817 98 387 12 217 99 994 06 523 DUDOChNIK 85 29 05 64;
'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 2GYeTs 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 97 079 72 005 88 147 07 542 53 273 10 004 68 520 00 169 66 800 45 344 93 229 13 776 40 817 98 387 12 217 99 994 06 523 DUDOChNIK 85 29 05 64.


{{Quote frame| {{langx|ru|label=none|Офицер дежурного узла связи "Дебют", прапорщик Успенская. Получила контрольный звонок от Надежды... поняла.}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Recording of the phone calls on UVB76 |url=https://soundcloud.com/danix111/uvb-76-2010-11-11-14-00-utc |date=11 November 2010 |publisher=] |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> ({{ISO 639 name|en}}: "Officer of the duty station 'Debut', ensign Uspenskaya. Received a test call from Nadezhda... understood.")}}
'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 2GYeTs 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 16 532 60 735 53 207 40 835 15 923 30 347 55 255 04 470 85 804 11 939 04 194 66 007 50 830 05 109 40 791 41 063 24 537 IKROMYeT 62 77 18 81;
'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 2GYeTs 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 16 532 60 735 53 207 40 835 15 923 30 347 55 255 04 470 85 804 11 939 04 194 66 007 50 830 05 109 40 791 41 063 24 537 IKROMYeT 62 77 18 81.


On 17 July 2015, the station broadcast what appeared to be a ] signal in lieu of the buzzer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Buzzer has changed sound? |date=17 July 2015 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/shortwave/comments/3dkgrw/the_buzzer_has_changed_sound/ |publisher=reddit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 (The Buzzer) appears to be sending out a RTTY-like signal right now. Anyone care to decode it? |date=17 July 2015 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/3dnva6/uvb76_the_buzzer_appears_to_be_sending_out_a/ |publisher=reddit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= UVB76 with RTTY |publisher=] |date=4 April 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbTQDAQrcKQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/wbTQDAQrcKQ |archive-date=2021-12-17 |url-status=live|access-date=3 January 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 2GYeTs 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 34 532 25 876 72 427 86 875 51 023 84 399 70 719 31 228 14 904 00 193 04 311 15 069 05 852 38 785 39 223 85 666 01 562 GUL'BIShchYe 15 69 48 42; 'M4T 5PTsB LNTM ZhD9S MSZh7 28YA YeDGShch 2GYeTs 7U8T KhIZhJ OMP4 58Shch1 53AJ AMVS 34ShchK V'TD YeIYJ 34 532 25 876 72 427 86 875 51 023 84 399 70 719 31 228 14 904 00 193 04 311 15 069 05 852 38 785 39 223 85 666 01 562 GUL'BIShchYe 15 69 48 42;
On 23 August 2020, one message was heard at 16:28 UTC:<ref>{{Cite web|title=August 24th 2020 16:28UTC Voice message|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNnPPQU9c-c&feature=em-comments|website=August 24th 2020 16:28UTC Voice message}}</ref>
ANVF ANVF 217O 217O 83 466 95 436 KUMOZhBAN 64 79 23 75;
ANVF ANVF 217O 217O 83 466 95 436 KUMOZhBAN 64 79 23 75.


On 15 May 2020, broadcasts from unknown French speaking persons were heard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strange Voices heard on UVB-76, On 15th May 2020 |publisher=] |date=11 April 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egfLSIhku9s |access-date=2024-04-06}}</ref>
Frequent voice messages continued through the remainder of 2020 and through 2021.
]
In January 2022, various signals with ]-encoded images, visible through a ], were broadcast on the same frequency.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=JuEdWa |date=12 January 2022 |title=Possible pirate on top of UVB-76 The Buzzer! - January / 11 / 2022 (RARE!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7eLJdecSj0 |access-date=19 January 2022}}</ref> There have also been reports of various songs airing on the station's frequency, many of which were connected to ]s such as the 2012 ] song "]";<ref name="Vice">{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Janus |last2=Cox |first2=Joseph |title=Pirates Spammed an Infamous Soviet Short-wave Radio Station with Memes |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vbjj/pirates-spammed-an-infamous-soviet-short-wave-radio-station-with-memes-uvb-76 |access-date=20 January 2022 |work=Vice |date=20 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=mussyu226 |date=16 January 2022 |title=UVB-76でカンナムスタイル流れてて笑うwww |url=https://twitter.com/mussyu226/status/1482428767264198656 |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> a '']'' article attributed these broadcasts to ] hijacking and spamming the frequency. The nationality of the pirates has also come into question by ''Vice'' in relation to the ] and ].<ref name="Vice" />


On very rare occasions have there been any external civilian communications—unless authorised by the ]—with UVB-76, given its status as a military radio. The most recent event occurred under irregular circumstances. During the night of 4 May 2024 at 21:38 ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKrNyPnTucQ|title=UVB-76 operator talking with a pirate|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=5 July 2024|via=YouTube}}</ref> an unknown Russian-speaking pirate infiltrated the frequency and attempted to contact the station whilst the buzzer was not active, if not on standby; the pirate then subsequently asked a series of questions to the station:
===Unusual transmissions===
Distant conversations and other background noises have frequently been heard behind the buzzer, suggesting that the buzzing tones are not generated internally, but are transmitted from a device placed behind a live and constantly open microphone. Because of the occasional fluctuating pitch of the buzzing tones, it is supposed that the tones are generated by a ] as used in a ]. It is also possible that a microphone may have been turned on accidentally.<ref>, Technet.cz, August 27, 2010 ()</ref>
One such occasion was on 3 November 2001, when a conversation in Russian was heard:<ref name="oddities"/>


{{Quote frame| {{langx|ru|label=none|italic=unset|Unknown pirate: Могу шутку рассказать?... Один звонок – «да», два – «нет». ({{ISO 639 name|en}}: Can I tell a joke? One buzz for "yes", two for "no".)
Я – 143. Не получаю генератор... ...идёт такая работа от аппаратной.


UVB-76 operator: ''Two clear buzzes.''
:(English: "I am 143. Not receiving the generator (oscillator)... ...that stuff comes from hardware room.")<ref name=gizmodo2016>{{cite web |url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/07/the-unexplained-signals-of-russian-station-uvb-76/ |title=The Unexplained Signals Of Russian Station UVB-76 |date=2016-07-18 |website=Gizmodo Australia |access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>


Unknown pirate: За что?? Но можно ли включить музыку? ({{ISO 639 name|en}}: What for? But can I turn on the music?)
Below is a log of unusual signals and other anomalies which listeners to UVB-76 have captured;


UVB-76 operator: ''Two clear buzzes.''
In September 2010, several unusual broadcasts were observed; these included portions of the buzzer being replaced with extracts from Tchaikovsky's '']'', and in one instance, a sound that resembled that of a woman ].<ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 |url=http://www.evansmedia.org/mysteriyes/2017/8/16/uvb-76 |website=Evan's Media |access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 MDZhB Swan Lake |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zjt1NIq-UI |website=YouTube |publisher=UVB-76 Activity Channel}}</ref>


Unknown pirate: Почему? А за такие вопросы вам ничего не будет? ({{ISO 639 name|en}}: Why? Is it okay for you to answer my questions?)
On 11 November 2010, intermittent phone conversations were transmitted and were recorded by a listener (at 14:00 UTC) for a period of approximately 30 minutes. These conversations are available online, and seem to be in Russian.<ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 2010-11-11 14.00 UTC |url=http://soundcloud.com/danix111/uvb-76-2010-11-11-14-00-utc |access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Translation by a Reddit user |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/150k0d/requesting_a_russian_for_this_please |access-date=3 August 2014}}</ref> The phone calls mentioned the "brigade operative officer on duty", the communication codes "Debut", ''"Nadezhda"'' (Russian for "hope", both a noun and a female name), ''"Sudak"'' (an alternate name for the ], and also ] in ]) and ''"Vulkan"'' (volcano). The female voice says:


''UVB-76 buzzer starts.''
Офицер дежурного узла связи "Дебют", прапорщик Успенская. Получила контрольный звонок от Надежды... ...поняла.<ref>{{cite web |title=Recording of the phone calls on UVB76 |url=https://soundcloud.com/danix111/uvb-76-2010-11-11-14-00-utc |date=11 November 2010 |website=Soundcloud |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>


Unknown pirate: Ну блин! ({{ISO 639 name|en}}: Well, damn!)}}}}
:(English: "Officer of the duty station "Debut", ensign Uspenskaya. Received a test call from Nadezhda ... ... understood.")


Other instances of deliberate hijackings to make contact are widely unreported; however, there was another incident a day prior to the above event on 3 May 2024, whereas an unknown pirate—possibly the aforementioned—attempted to subject the buzzer to interference, whereby they were met with immediate retaliation from the on-duty operator who began preventative measures against the signal incursion; The UVB-76 operator combined three individual transmitters, with one above, one below and the other centre 4625 kHz transmitting MS-5 burst, along with CIS-12 modern audio as well as tones in several states, summarising together a highly dense spectral pattern with the upper-side band. Numerous noticeable transitions were witnessed over the 4625 kHz selected spectrogram section, as the operators frantically fought against the pirates. The incident occurred for around half an hour, until the operators ceased their tactics after the pirate abandoned attempts, as the buzzer was then reactivated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92byUcrh1MU|title=Russian Buzzer UVB-76 Operator Goes Ballistic Fighting Pirates &#124; Signal Phantom|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=5 July 2024|via=YouTube}}</ref>
On 17 July 2015, the station broadcast what appeared to be a ] signal in lieu of the buzzer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Buzzer has changed sound? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/shortwave/comments/3dkgrw/the_buzzer_has_changed_sound/ |publisher=reddit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UVB-76 (The Buzzer) appears to be sending out a RTTY-like signal right now. Anyone care to decode it? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/3dnva6/uvb76_the_buzzer_appears_to_be_sending_out_a/ |publisher=reddit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= UVB76 with RTTY |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbTQDAQrcKQ |access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>


==Location and function== ==Location and function==
{{Original research section|date=January 2022}}
The purpose of the station has not been confirmed by government or broadcast officials. However, Rimantas Pleikys, a former Minister of Communications and Informatics of the Republic of ], has written that the purpose of the voice messages is to confirm that operators at receiving stations are alert.<ref name="Russian_HF_beacons"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Single letter markers – posts from the SPOOKS and WUN listservers |url=http://dxworld.com/markers.html |year=2000 |access-date=2008-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125051007/http://dxworld.com/markers.html |archive-date=2007-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Pleikys |first=Rimantas |title=Jamming |publisher=Rimantas Pleikys |year=1998 |location=Vilnius, Lithuania |url=http://www.oldradio.lt/jamming/jamminge.htm}}</ref> Other explanations are that the broadcast is constantly being listened to by ]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioscanner.ru/forum/topic12415-4.html |title=Военная "Жужжалка" на частоте 4625 кГц. "Buzzer" UVB-76. – Страница 4 |publisher=Radioscanner.ru |access-date=2012-10-09}}</ref>
], ], the former site of the transmitter for UVB-76]]

The purpose of the station has not been confirmed by government or broadcast officials. However, Rimantas Pleikys, a former Minister of Communications and Informatics of the ], has written that the purpose of the voice messages is to confirm that operators at receiving stations are alert.<ref name="Russian_HF_beacons"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Single letter markers – posts from the SPOOKS and WUN listservers |url=http://dxworld.com/markers.html |year=2000 |access-date=2008-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125051007/http://dxworld.com/markers.html |archive-date=2007-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Pleikys |first=Rimantas |title=Jamming |publisher=Rimantas Pleikys |year=1998 |location=Vilnius, Lithuania |url=http://www.oldradio.lt/jamming/jamminge.htm}}</ref> Another explanation is that the broadcast is constantly being listened to by ]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioscanner.ru/forum/topic12415-4.html |title=Военная "Жужжалка" на частоте 4625 кГц. "Buzzer" UVB-76. – Страница 4 |publisher=Radioscanner.ru |access-date=2012-10-09}}</ref>


There is speculation published in the ''Russian Journal of Earth Sciences'' which describes an observatory measuring changes in the ] by broadcasting a signal at 4625&nbsp;kHz, the same as the Buzzer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Information-measuring complex and database of mid-latitude Borok Geophysical Observatory |url=http://elpub.wdcb.ru/journals/rjes/v10/2007ES000227/0.shtml |year=2008 |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref> There is speculation published in the '']'' which describes an observatory measuring changes in the ] by broadcasting a signal at 4,625&nbsp;kHz, the same broadcast frequency as the Buzzer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Information-measuring complex and database of mid-latitude Borok Geophysical Observatory |url=http://elpub.wdcb.ru/journals/rjes/v10/2007ES000227/0.shtml |year=2008 |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref>


The most likely purpose is that the voice messages are some sort of Russian/Soviet ]. The station being a ] for intelligence agencies such as the ] or the former ] of the ] is extremely unlikely due to the fact that messages occur at random, unpredictable times, while numbers stations use a fixed schedule which changes rarely. In addition to that, the non-changing frequency of 4625 kHz and the low transmitter power are unsuitable for reliable communication from Russia to Europe, where spies would be stationed. The most likely purpose is that the voice messages are some sort of Russian/Soviet ]. The station being a ] for intelligence agencies such as the ] or the former ] of the ] is extremely unlikely as messages occur at seemingly random, unpredictable times, while numbers stations use a fixed schedule which rarely changes. In addition to that, the non-changing frequency of 4,625{{nbs}}kHz and the low transmitter power are unsuitable for reliable communication from Russia to Europe, where spies would be stationed.{{Original research inline|date=January 2022}}


The buzzing functions as a "channel marker" used to keep the frequency occupied, thereby making it unattractive for other potential users.<ref name="The Buzzer">{{cite web |url=http://www.numbers-stations.com/the-buzzer |title=The Buzzer |date=October 2014 |access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> The signature sound could be used for tuning to the signal on an old analogue receiver. The modulation is suitable to be detected by an electromechanical frequency detector, similar to a ]. This can be used to activate the ] on a receiver. Due to the varying emission properties on shortwave bands, using a level-based squelch is unreliable. This also allows a signal loss to be detected, causing an alarm to sound on the receiver. The buzzing functions as a "channel marker" used to keep the frequency occupied, thereby making it unattractive for other potential users.<ref name="The Buzzer">{{cite web |url=http://www.numbers-stations.com/the-buzzer |title=The Buzzer |date=October 2014 |access-date=October 1, 2014 |archive-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212192700/http://www.numbers-stations.com/the-buzzer |url-status=dead }}</ref> The signature sound could be used for tuning to the signal on an old analogue receiver. The modulation is suitable to be detected by an electromechanical frequency detector, similar to a ]. This can be used to activate the ] on a receiver. Due to the varying emission properties on shortwave bands, using a level-based squelch is unreliable. This also allows a signal loss to be detected, causing an alarm to sound on the receiver.


Another theory, described in a ] article, states that the tower is connected to the Russian 'Perimeter' missile system, and emits a “]” signal that will trigger a nuclear ] if the signal is interrupted as a result of a nuclear attack against Russia.<ref name="auto" /> This theory is also very unlikely, due to The Buzzer stopping / breaking down regularly, potentially triggering the Dead Hand by mistake. Another theory, described in a ] article, states that the tower is connected to the ], and emits a "dead hand" signal that will trigger a nuclear ] if the signal is interrupted as a result of a nuclear attack against Russia.<ref name="auto" /> This theory is also very unlikely, given that The Buzzer stops / breaks down regularly.<ref name=gizmodo2016/>


There are two other Russian stations that follow a similar format, nicknamed "]" and "]". Like the Buzzer, these stations transmit a signature sound that is repeated constantly, but is occasionally interrupted to relay coded voice messages.<ref name="The Buzzer"/> There are two other Russian stations that follow a similar format, nicknamed "]" and "]". Like the Buzzer, these stations transmit a signature sound that is repeated constantly, but is occasionally interrupted to relay coded voice messages.<ref name="The Buzzer"/>


The former transmitter was located near ], ],<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref>{{cite magazine | last=Geere | first=Duncan | title=Mysterious Russian 'Buzzer' radio broadcast changes | url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/25/russian-numbers-station-broadcast-changes | magazine=WIRED.CO.UK | date=August 2010 | access-date=2010-09-12}}</ref> at {{Coord|56|5|0|N|37|6|37|E|}} which is about halfway between ] and ] and {{convert|10|km|mi}} ] of ], near the village of Lozhki. The location and callsign were unknown until the first known voice broadcast of 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=El misterioso zumbido de la estación de radio UVB-76 |url=http://www.elreservado.es/news/view/261-correos-rebotados-internet-comic/895-el-misterioso-zumbido-de-la-estacion-de-radio-uvb-76 |trans-title=The mysterious buzz of the UVB-76 radio station |newspaper=El Reservado |date=January 24, 2011 |access-date=January 31, 2011 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127110111/http://www.elreservado.es/news/view/261-correos-rebotados-internet-comic/895-el-misterioso-zumbido-de-la-estacion-de-radio-uvb-76 |archive-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In September 2010, the station's transmitter was moved to the nearby city of ], near the village of Kerro Massiv. This may have been due to a reorganization of the Russian military. Prior to 9 August 2015, the station is not transmitted from the Kerro Massiv transmitter site ("Irtysh") anymore, possibly due to a reorganization of the Russian military for the particular area which may cause the frequency to be used only in the Moscow Military District. At present, The Buzzer appears to be broadcast only from the 69th Communication Hub in ], Moscow.<ref name=wired/> In 2011, a group of ] claimed to have explored the buildings at ] to find an abandoned military base and, in it, a radio log record confirming the operation of a transmitter at 4625&nbsp;kHz.{{Better source needed|date=February 2020}}<ref>{{cite web |author=wasd |url=http://blog.kwasd.ru/небольшой-фотоотчет-с-увб-76-the-buzzer-жужжалк/ |title=kwasd's blog " Небольшой фотоотчет с УВБ-76 ("The Buzzer", "Жужжалка") |publisher=Blog.kwasd.ru |access-date=2012-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910123245/http://blog.kwasd.ru/%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%82-%D1%81-%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B1-76-the-buzzer-%D0%B6%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BA/ |archive-date=September 10, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.numbers-stations.com/media/sample-uvb76-logbook.pdf|title=Sample Buzzer Logbook|date=2014-09-22|access-date=2016-07-03}}</ref> The former transmitter was located near ], ],<ref name="The Buzzer"/><ref>{{cite magazine | last=Geere | first=Duncan | title=Mysterious Russian 'Buzzer' radio broadcast changes | url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/25/russian-numbers-station-broadcast-changes | magazine=WIRED.CO.UK | date=August 2010 | access-date=2010-09-12 | archive-date=17 September 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917152150/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/25/russian-numbers-station-broadcast-changes | url-status=dead }}</ref> at {{Coord|56|5|0|N|37|6|37|E|}} which is about halfway between ] and ] and {{convert|10|km|mi}} ] of ], near the village of Lozhki. The location and callsign were unknown until the first known voice broadcast of 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=El misterioso zumbido de la estación de radio UVB-76 |url=http://www.elreservado.es/news/view/261-correos-rebotados-internet-comic/895-el-misterioso-zumbido-de-la-estacion-de-radio-uvb-76 |trans-title=The mysterious buzz of the UVB-76 radio station |newspaper=El Reservado |date=January 24, 2011 |access-date=January 31, 2011 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127110111/http://www.elreservado.es/news/view/261-correos-rebotados-internet-comic/895-el-misterioso-zumbido-de-la-estacion-de-radio-uvb-76 |archive-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In September 2010, the station's transmitter was moved to the nearby city of ], near the village of Kerro Massiv. This may have been due to a reorganization of the Russian military. Prior to 9 August 2015, the station is not transmitted from the Kerro Massiv transmitter site ("Irtysh") anymore, possibly due to a reorganization of the Russian military for the particular area which may cause the frequency to be used only in the Moscow Military District. At present, The Buzzer appears to be broadcast only from the 69th Communication Hub in ], Moscow.<ref name=wired/> In 2011, a group of ] claimed to have explored the buildings at ] to find an abandoned military base and, in it, a radio log record confirming the operation of a transmitter at 4.625&nbsp;kHz.{{Better source needed|date=February 2020}}<ref>{{cite web |author=wasd |url=http://blog.kwasd.ru/небольшой-фотоотчет-с-увб-76-the-buzzer-жужжалк/ |title=kwasd's blog " Небольшой фотоотчет с УВБ-76 ("The Buzzer", "Жужжалка") |publisher=Blog.kwasd.ru |access-date=2012-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910123245/http://blog.kwasd.ru/%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%82-%D1%81-%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B1-76-the-buzzer-%D0%B6%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BA/ |archive-date=September 10, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.numbers-stations.com/media/sample-uvb76-logbook.pdf|title=Sample Buzzer Logbook|date=2014-09-22|access-date=2016-07-03}}</ref>


== Other callsigns == == Other callsigns ==
Besides the main callsign, there have been transmissions containing different callsigns such as:
Besides the main callsign, there have been transmissions containing different callsigns such as: '''LNR4''' (Russian: ЛНР4), '''87OI''' (Russian: 87ОИ), '''VM62''' (Russian: ВМ62), '''A1JZh''' (Russian: А1ЙЖ), '''MSZh7''' (Russian: МСЖ7), '''OMP4''' (Russian: ОМП4), '''7U8T''' (Russian: 7У8Т), '''VLHN''' (Russian: ВЛХН), '''217O''' (Russian: 217О), '''ANVF''' (Russian: АНВФ), '''VZhCH''' (Russian: ВЖЦХ), '''LNRCh''' (Russian: ЛНРЧ), '''VShchCH''' (Russian: ВЩЦХ), '''34ShchK''' (Russian: 34ЩК), '''YeDGShch''' (Russian: ЕДГЩ), '''58Shch1''' (Russian: 58Щ1), '''LNR4''' (Russian: ЛНР4), '''5Ye27''' (Russian: 5Е27), '''M4Z2''' (Russian: М7З2), '''<nowiki/>'M4T''' (Russian: ЬМ4Т), '''5PTsB''' (Russian: 5ПЦБ), '''LNTM''' (Russian: ЛНТМ), '''ZhD9S''' (Russian: ЖД9С), '''28YA''' (Russian: 28ЫА), '''KhIZhJ''' (Russian: ХИЖЙ), '''53AJ''' (Russian: 53АЙ), '''AMVS''' (Russian: АМВС), '''V'TD''' (Russian: ВЬТД), '''YeIYJ''' (Russian: ЕИЫЙ).
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* LNR4 ({{langx|ru|ЛНР4|link=no}})
* 87OI ({{langx|ru|87ОИ|link=no}})
* VM62 ({{langx|ru|ВМ62|link=no}})
* A1JZh ({{langx|ru|А1ЙЖ|link=no}})
* MSZh7 ({{langx|ru|МСЖ7|link=no}})
* OMP4 ({{langx|ru|ОМП4|link=no}})
* 7U8T ({{langx|ru|7У8Т|link=no}})
* VLHN ({{langx|ru|ВЛХН|link=no}})
* 217O ({{langx|ru|217О|link=no}})
* ANVF ({{langx|ru|АНВФ|link=no}})
* VZhCH ({{langx|ru|ВЖЦХ|link=no}})
* LNRCh ({{langx|ru|ЛНРЧ|link=no}})
* VShchCH ({{langx|ru|ВЩЦХ|link=no}})
* 34ShchK ({{langx|ru|34ЩК|link=no}})
* YeDGShch ({{langx|ru|ЕДГЩ|link=no}})
* 58Shch1 ({{langx|ru|58Щ1|link=no}})
* 5Ye27 ({{langx|ru|5Е27|link=no}})
* M4Z2 ({{langx|ru|М4З2|link=no}})
* <nowiki/>'M4T ({{langx|ru|ЬМ4Т|link=no}})
* 5PTsB ({{langx|ru|5ПЦБ|link=no}})
* LNTM ({{langx|ru|ЛНТМ|link=no}})
* ZhD9S ({{langx|ru|ЖД9С|link=no}})
* 28YA ({{langx|ru|28ЫА|link=no}})
* KhIZhJ ({{langx|ru|ХИЖЙ|link=no}})
* 53AJ ({{langx|ru|53АЙ|link=no}})
* AMVS ({{langx|ru|АМВС|link=no}})
* V'TD ({{langx|ru|ВЬТД|link=no}})
* YeIYJ ({{langx|ru|ЕИЫЙ|link=no}})
* ODVR ({{langx|ru|ОДВР|link=no}})
* TsZhAP ({{langx|ru|ЦЖАП|link=no}})
* ULVN ({{langx|ru|УЛВН|link=no}})
* ULVN YeFUG ({{langx|ru|УЛВН ЯФУГ|link=no}})
* VKhVS ({{langx|ru|ВХВС|link=no}})
{{div col end}}


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Radio}} {{Portal|Radio}}
* ] (the "Russian Woodpecker") * ] (the "Russian Woodpecker")
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
Line 191: Line 202:
==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|UVB-76}} {{Commons category|UVB-76}}
* *
*
* ]'s , 2000-05-26: * ]'s , 2000-05-26:
* at the * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907011142/http://qrg.globaltuners.com/details.php?id=19667 |date=7 September 2019 }} at the {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330214029/http://qrg.globaltuners.com/ |date=30 March 2013 }}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417024039/http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2011/11/features/enigma?page=all |date=17 April 2016 }}
* – Live Internet Streaming site, 900&nbsp;km NW from station.
* , 15th July 2020, By Zaria Gorvett, BBC.
*
*


{{DEFAULTSORT:Uvb-76}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Uvb-76}}
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] ]
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Live stream from Wedsdr Live stream from WebSDR

Latest revision as of 01:34, 13 January 2025

Soviet and Russian shortwave radio station

"The Buzzer" redirects here. For other uses, see Buzzer (disambiguation).
UVB-76
A spectrogram of UVB-76, showing the suppressed lower sideband
Broadcast areaRussia, Soviet Union (Former)
Frequency4625 kHz shortwave
Programming
Language(s)Russian
FormatRepeated buzzing sound
Ownership
OwnerRussian Armed Forces
Sister stationsThe Pip, The Squeaky Wheel
History
Former call signsУЗБ-76 (Commonly mistaken to be УВБ-76), МДЖБ, ЖУОЗ, АНВФ
Former frequencies4625 kHz
Links
A short clip of UVB-76's transmission as recorded in Southern Finland, 860 km (530 mi) away from the station in 2002.
UVB-76 - "The Buzzer", recorded on 24 March 2022

UVB-76 (Russian: УВБ-76; see § Name and callsigns for other callsigns), also known by the nickname "The Buzzer", is a shortwave radio station that broadcasts in Upper Side Band mode on the frequency of 4625 kHz. It broadcasts a short, monotonous buzz tone, repeating at a rate of approximately 25 tones per minute, 24 hours per day. Sometimes, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place.

Name and callsigns

UVB-76 - "The Buzzer", recorded on 10 August 2022

The station is commonly known as "The Buzzer" in both English and Russian (Russian: Жужжалка). From its first voice transmission in 1997 to 2010, the station identified itself as UZB-76 (Russian: УЗБ-76). The callsign UVB-76 was never used by the station itself, but is rather a mistranscription of UZB-76. However, the station is still often referred to by that name. In the following years of transmission, the main callsign of the station changed regularly.

Main callsigns of UVB-76 ("The Buzzer")
Callsign Timespan used
UZB-76 (УЗБ-76) 24 December 1997 – 7 September 2010
MDZhB (МДЖБ) 7 September 2010 – 28 December 2015
ZhUOZ (ЖУОЗ) 28 December 2015 – 1 March 2019
ANVF (АНВФ) 1 March 2019 – 30 December 2020
NZhTI (НЖТИ) 30 December 2020 – present

In addition to these main callsigns, The Buzzer also uses other "side callsigns" which are being used less frequently than the main callsign. Whenever the main callsign changes, all previous side callsigns are also discarded.

The station transmits using AM with a suppressed lower sideband (USB modulation), but it has also used full double-sideband AM (A3E). The signal consists of a buzzing sound that lasts 1.2 seconds, pausing for 1–1.3 seconds, and repeating 21–34 times per minute. Until November 2010, the buzz tones lasted approximately 0.8 seconds each. One minute before the hour, the repeating tone was previously replaced by a continuous, uninterrupted alternating tone, which continued for one minute until the short repeating buzz resumed, although this stopped occurring in June 2010.

Since the start of broadcasting, The Buzzer broadcasts as a repeating two-second pip.

Voice messages

UVB-76 - "The Buzzer" with a voice message, recorded on 24 January 2013

The buzzing sound is sometimes interrupted by the broadcast of voice messages. These messages are always given in Russian by a live voice, and follow three fixed formats:

UVB-76 - "The Buzzer", recorded on 3 August 2023

Monolith

video icon UVB-76 in 1982 on YouTube
video icon UVB-76 in 1989 on YouTube

A message in the Monolith format always consists of the following parts:

  • Callsigns, each of which read out twice in the readout. A callsign always consists of four symbols, each symbol being either a Russian letter or a digit
  • Five digit ID groups (amount of items usually follows the amount of callsigns)
  • Message blocks, each consisting of one code word and eight digits

Example of a Monolith message sent on The Buzzer with exactly one callsign, one ID group and one message block (most common type):

NZhTI NZhTI 34 511 GOLOSOK 80 17 81 54

Monolith messages can however contain any amount of items from each part:

87OI 87OI A1JZh A1JZh 217O 217O DOTsU DOTsU MSZh7 MSZh7 02 189 44 871 71 132 13 155 27 420 VYMOKAN'Ye 18 97 35 87
MTA3 OTQ2O Tg1NzM3 Mzk1ODE0NCAtP iAuLi0uIC 4tLi4gLi0g Li4uI C4uLi4g Li0uLi AuLiAtL S4gLi4uLiAt
87OI 87OI 25 184 GOLOVChATYJ 31 10 33 40 VYeKShA 31 10 33 40

Uzor

A message in the Uzor format always consists of the following parts:

  • Callsigns, each of which read out twice in the readout
  • Message blocks, each consisting of one code word and four digits

Example of such a message:

MDZhB MDZhB TsYeNTIM 61 51

Nowadays, Uzor messages are rarely sent on The Buzzer.

Komanda

Komanda is the most uncommon type of voice message. Since it has not been heard for years, messages of this type are most likely not being sent on The Buzzer anymore. They consist of a callsign (read out twice), a codephrase (Russian: ОБЪЯВЛЕНА КОМАНДА, romanized: OB'YaVLYeNA KOMANDA, lit. 'command announced'), and a following number.

Example of such a message:

MDZhB MDZhB OB'YaVLYeNA KOMANDA 135

Unusual transmissions

Distant conversations and other background noises have frequently been heard behind the buzzer; this suggests that the buzzing tones are not generated internally, but are produced by a device placed near a live and constantly open microphone. Because of the occasional fluctuating pitch of the buzzing tones, it is supposed that the tones are generated by a tonewheel as used in a Hammond organ. It is also possible that a microphone may have been turned on accidentally. One such occasion was on 3 November 2001, when a conversation in Russian was heard:

Я – 143. Не получаю генератор... идёт такая работа от аппаратной. (English: I am 143. Not receiving the generator ... that stuff comes from hardware room.)

In September 2010, several unusual broadcasts were observed; these included portions of the buzzer being replaced with excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

On 11 November 2010, intermittent phone conversations were transmitted and were recorded by a listener (at 14:00 UTC) for a period of approximately 30 minutes. These conversations are available online, and seem to be in Russian. The phone calls mentioned the "brigade operative officer on duty", the communication codes "Debut", "Nadezhda" (Russian for "hope", or could refer to a common female given name), "Sudak" (an alternate name for the Zander, and also a town in Crimea) and "Vulkan" (volcano). The buzzing tone can also be heard very faintly in the background of these calls, further suggesting the buzzing is generated externally. The female voice says:

Офицер дежурного узла связи "Дебют", прапорщик Успенская. Получила контрольный звонок от Надежды... поняла. (English: "Officer of the duty station 'Debut', ensign Uspenskaya. Received a test call from Nadezhda... understood.")

On 17 July 2015, the station broadcast what appeared to be a RTTY signal in lieu of the buzzer.

On 15 May 2020, broadcasts from unknown French speaking persons were heard.

A short clip of hijackers playing Drugs by Sonic Mine over the buzzer, recorded on 29 July 2024

In January 2022, various signals with spectrogram-encoded images, visible through a spectrum analyzer, were broadcast on the same frequency. There have also been reports of various songs airing on the station's frequency, many of which were connected to internet memes such as the 2012 K-pop song "Gangnam Style"; a Vice article attributed these broadcasts to pirates hijacking and spamming the frequency. The nationality of the pirates has also come into question by Vice in relation to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis and Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On very rare occasions have there been any external civilian communications—unless authorised by the Russian defence ministry—with UVB-76, given its status as a military radio. The most recent event occurred under irregular circumstances. During the night of 4 May 2024 at 21:38 (MSK), an unknown Russian-speaking pirate infiltrated the frequency and attempted to contact the station whilst the buzzer was not active, if not on standby; the pirate then subsequently asked a series of questions to the station:

Unknown pirate: Могу шутку рассказать?... Один звонок – «да», два – «нет». (English: Can I tell a joke? One buzz for "yes", two for "no".)

UVB-76 operator: Two clear buzzes.

Unknown pirate: За что?? Но можно ли включить музыку? (English: What for? But can I turn on the music?)

UVB-76 operator: Two clear buzzes.

Unknown pirate: Почему? А за такие вопросы вам ничего не будет? (English: Why? Is it okay for you to answer my questions?)

UVB-76 buzzer starts.

Unknown pirate: Ну блин! (English: Well, damn!)

Other instances of deliberate hijackings to make contact are widely unreported; however, there was another incident a day prior to the above event on 3 May 2024, whereas an unknown pirate—possibly the aforementioned—attempted to subject the buzzer to interference, whereby they were met with immediate retaliation from the on-duty operator who began preventative measures against the signal incursion; The UVB-76 operator combined three individual transmitters, with one above, one below and the other centre 4625 kHz transmitting MS-5 burst, along with CIS-12 modern audio as well as tones in several states, summarising together a highly dense spectral pattern with the upper-side band. Numerous noticeable transitions were witnessed over the 4625 kHz selected spectrogram section, as the operators frantically fought against the pirates. The incident occurred for around half an hour, until the operators ceased their tactics after the pirate abandoned attempts, as the buzzer was then reactivated.

Location and function

This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (January 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
1984 aerial photograph of Povarovo, Russia, the former site of the transmitter for UVB-76

The purpose of the station has not been confirmed by government or broadcast officials. However, Rimantas Pleikys, a former Minister of Communications and Informatics of the Republic of Lithuania, has written that the purpose of the voice messages is to confirm that operators at receiving stations are alert. Another explanation is that the broadcast is constantly being listened to by military commissariats.

There is speculation published in the Russian Journal of Earth Sciences which describes an observatory measuring changes in the ionosphere by broadcasting a signal at 4,625 kHz, the same broadcast frequency as the Buzzer.

The most likely purpose is that the voice messages are some sort of Russian/Soviet military communications. The station being a numbers station for intelligence agencies such as the FSB or the former KGB of the Soviet Union is extremely unlikely as messages occur at seemingly random, unpredictable times, while numbers stations use a fixed schedule which rarely changes. In addition to that, the non-changing frequency of 4,625 kHz and the low transmitter power are unsuitable for reliable communication from Russia to Europe, where spies would be stationed.

The buzzing functions as a "channel marker" used to keep the frequency occupied, thereby making it unattractive for other potential users. The signature sound could be used for tuning to the signal on an old analogue receiver. The modulation is suitable to be detected by an electromechanical frequency detector, similar to a tuning fork. This can be used to activate the squelch on a receiver. Due to the varying emission properties on shortwave bands, using a level-based squelch is unreliable. This also allows a signal loss to be detected, causing an alarm to sound on the receiver.

Another theory, described in a BBC article, states that the tower is connected to the Russian 'Perimeter' missile system, and emits a "dead hand" signal that will trigger a nuclear retaliatory response if the signal is interrupted as a result of a nuclear attack against Russia. This theory is also very unlikely, given that The Buzzer stops / breaks down regularly.

There are two other Russian stations that follow a similar format, nicknamed "The Pip" and "The Squeaky Wheel". Like the Buzzer, these stations transmit a signature sound that is repeated constantly, but is occasionally interrupted to relay coded voice messages.

The former transmitter was located near Povarovo, Russia, at 56°5′0″N 37°6′37″E / 56.08333°N 37.11028°E / 56.08333; 37.11028 which is about halfway between Zelenograd and Solnechnogorsk and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Moscow, near the village of Lozhki. The location and callsign were unknown until the first known voice broadcast of 1997. In September 2010, the station's transmitter was moved to the nearby city of Saint Petersburg, near the village of Kerro Massiv. This may have been due to a reorganization of the Russian military. Prior to 9 August 2015, the station is not transmitted from the Kerro Massiv transmitter site ("Irtysh") anymore, possibly due to a reorganization of the Russian military for the particular area which may cause the frequency to be used only in the Moscow Military District. At present, The Buzzer appears to be broadcast only from the 69th Communication Hub in Naro Fominsk, Moscow. In 2011, a group of urban explorers claimed to have explored the buildings at Povarovo to find an abandoned military base and, in it, a radio log record confirming the operation of a transmitter at 4.625 kHz.

Other callsigns

Besides the main callsign, there have been transmissions containing different callsigns such as:

  • LNR4 (Russian: ЛНР4)
  • 87OI (Russian: 87ОИ)
  • VM62 (Russian: ВМ62)
  • A1JZh (Russian: А1ЙЖ)
  • MSZh7 (Russian: МСЖ7)
  • OMP4 (Russian: ОМП4)
  • 7U8T (Russian: 7У8Т)
  • VLHN (Russian: ВЛХН)
  • 217O (Russian: 217О)
  • ANVF (Russian: АНВФ)
  • VZhCH (Russian: ВЖЦХ)
  • LNRCh (Russian: ЛНРЧ)
  • VShchCH (Russian: ВЩЦХ)
  • 34ShchK (Russian: 34ЩК)
  • YeDGShch (Russian: ЕДГЩ)
  • 58Shch1 (Russian: 58Щ1)
  • 5Ye27 (Russian: 5Е27)
  • M4Z2 (Russian: М4З2)
  • 'M4T (Russian: ЬМ4Т)
  • 5PTsB (Russian: 5ПЦБ)
  • LNTM (Russian: ЛНТМ)
  • ZhD9S (Russian: ЖД9С)
  • 28YA (Russian: 28ЫА)
  • KhIZhJ (Russian: ХИЖЙ)
  • 53AJ (Russian: 53АЙ)
  • AMVS (Russian: АМВС)
  • V'TD (Russian: ВЬТД)
  • YeIYJ (Russian: ЕИЫЙ)
  • ODVR (Russian: ОДВР)
  • TsZhAP (Russian: ЦЖАП)
  • ULVN (Russian: УЛВН)
  • ULVN YeFUG (Russian: УЛВН ЯФУГ)
  • VKhVS (Russian: ВХВС)

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Buzzer". October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  2. ^ "The Buzzer › Priyom.org". priyom.org. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ Savodnik, Peter (27 September 2011). "Inside the Russian Short Wave Radio Enigma". Wired. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. McLellan, Allison (November 2019). "Decoding Numbers Stations". QST. 103 (11). American Radio Relay League: 70–73 – via ProQuest. Perhaps the best-known is the Russian UVB-76, a misheard version of its first call sign, UZB-76. Transmitting on 4625 kHz, it was first noticed around the late 1970s, earning the nickname 'the Buzzer' because of its 24-hour droning hum.
  5. "The Buzzer Primer" (PDF). Priyom.org. 25 March 2012. p. 1.
  6. Harris, Shane (6 March 2016). "The Stupidly Simple Spy Messages No Computer Could Decode". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek–Daily Beast Company – via ProQuest. For most of its existence, which has been traced back to an original airdate in 1976, it has transmitted a short, high-pitched buzz, every few seconds.
  7. ^ Gorvett, Zaria (15 July 2020). "The ghostly radio station that no one claims to run". BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  8. UVB-76 MDZhB [24.12.1997] [21:58 UTC] (180 08 BROMAL 74 27 99 14), 30 June 2014, archived from the original on 17 December 2021, retrieved 20 October 2021
  9. "UVB-76 MDZhB [23.08.2010] [13:35] (93 882 NAIMINA 74 14 35 74)". YouTube. 5 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  10. ^ Boender, Ary (January 2002). "Oddities". ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter – Issue 8. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Russian HF Beacons". 24 December 2000. Archived from the original on 7 September 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  12. "UVB". Youtube. 2 August 1976. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  13. Boender, Ary (1995). "Numbers & oddities: Column 1". Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. "El misterio de las emisiones de radio secretas". ABC (in Spanish). 26 August 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
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Further reading

  • Handler, Stephen (December 2013). "Is Russia's Buzzer a Doorbell to Doomsday?". Popular Communications. 32 (4): 31–33. ISSN 0733-3315.

External links

Live stream from WebSDR WebSDR in KO04SD.

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