The Squeaky Wheel Explained

The Squeaky Wheel
Country:Russia
Frequency: (day)
 (night)
Airdate:2000
Format:Repeated squeaks, occasional voice messages in Russian
Affiliations:Russian Armed Forces (unconfirmed)
Sister Stations:The Buzzer, The Pip

The Squeaky Wheel (a nickname given by radio listeners) is a utility shortwave radio station that broadcasts a distinctive sound. From around 2000 until 2008 the station's attention tone was a high-pitched two tone signal that vaguely resembled a squeaky wheel. From 2008 the channel marker changed to two different tones in a short sequence repeated with a short silent gap. In 2023 the marker was changed to a low-tone pip marker.

The frequencies are 5367 kHz (day) and 3363.5 kHz (night).[1] [2] Several times voice messages in Russian military format have been reported. The exact transmitter site is unknown, but is thought to be near Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The signal strength is weak in Central Europe and the signal sometimes even disappears for days in the noise.

Other frequencies observed are 3650 kHz, 3815 kHz, 5474 kHz, 5641 kHz[3] and 4201 kHz

The Enigma designation is S32[2] [4] with S indicating Slavic language. However, from 2000 to 2005 it was designated XSW when voice on the station was unknown.[5]

References

  1. Boender. Ary. 3 August 2006. Numbers and Oddities. Spooks. 107. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080520010117/http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl107/nsnl107vm.html. 20 May 2008.
  2. Web site: Squeaky Wheel. www.numbers-stations.com. 25 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141026053847/http://www.numbers-stations.com/squeaky-wheel. 26 October 2014.
  3. Web site: Mystery Signals of Shortwave. Rogers. B. November 2008. 20 June 2014.
  4. Web site: MX. 28 July 2011. Numbers and Oddities. 2. 18 June 2014.
  5. Web site: The Squeaky Wheel. Priyom.org Number Stations Research. 20 June 2014.

External links

59.7381°N 30.2703°W