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The Media Network Vintage Vault 2024-2025

November 2024 - A message from Jonathan Marks, producer Media Network.  Yes, we're still here although my other work has meant I have little time for shortwave these days. I've started sorting out some off-air archives in the audio-only selections. It's true, radio has a terrible memory. (I'm delighted to learn that the British Vintage Wireless Society is still going strong https://www.bvws.org.uk ) Now you know why I am publishing old editions of Media Network here on this site, as well as some of the off-air recordings of stations I monitored in the 80's and 90's as part of the research for the programme. I'm simply looking for ways to capture more unique stories that I believe need to be told before we all forget. I realise that in 1000 editions of Media Network, we had only just begun the scratch the surface. So at this time of reflection, I'd just like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement as the archive project enters a new phase.   First time visitor? I'm Jonathan Marks. If this is the first time you've visited the vault, then I'm glad you dropped by! There are over 660 editions of Media Network, representing just over half the episodes that we made and broadcast from the Radio Netherlands' studios in Hilversum. I'm pleased to say most survived in excellent studio quality (quite often in stereo). 
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  2. Media Network Number Stations Mystery 1990

Media Network Number Stations Mystery 1990

Mar 28, 2010

In the course of its life as a radio show, Media Network covered the mystery of the numbers stations in between the broadcast bands on several occasions. The first time we devoted most of the programme to the strange voices shouting numbers was on August 2nd 1990. So turn back the clock 20 years and find out what was intriguing international radio listeners before the Internet had any form of mass appeal.

Show Archived Comments

Andy Sennitt
almost fifteen years ago

Mark, when there was breaking news during the day on Thursday, Jonathan used to update the programme. The \'brief mention\' was most probably one of these updates.

Jonathan Marks
almost fifteen years ago

I will post the programme broaadcast one week later. As Andy suggested, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait developed in the course of that Thursday.

Jonathan Marks
almost fifteen years ago

Mike Barraclough of the World DX Club in the UK passed on this message which is very relevant to this vintage edition of Media Network.
4 videos have been uploaded to YouTube showing the actual machine behind all the various East German numbers stations and its operation.

This machine pronounces, in a monotone voice, a string of numbers used by intelligence agencies for one-way shortwave radio communication with their agents in enemy countries.

This machine belongs to a German collector who has a vast collection of various spy-gadgets.

There were many machines of this particular model produced in East-Germany for usage within the DDR itself or other communist bloc nations, like the Soviet Union or Cuba.

In Germany (east or west) this machine was referred to as a \"sprach/morse generator\", which is German for \"speech/morse generator\".

The speed by which this generator pronounces the numbers can be changed which is why sometimes there were seemingly different \"German ladies\" to be heard, where in fact it was the same voice but played at a different speed/pitch.

The printed circuit boards only contains the voice samples of the lady pronouncing numbers in either German or Spanish depending on which board was inserted.

One of the videos shows how a tape can be used that not only contained the actual message intended for the agent but also the number of times this message should be repeated by the machine.

The four videos show the Spanish voice behind the Atencion Numbers Station, the German Voice behind the East German numbers stations, how to operate the machine manually and how to operate the machine with tape.

They can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=PeterStaal01#g/u

Mark
almost fifteen years ago

Almost more interesting to me than the report on numbers stations was the brief mention at the end of Iraq\'s invasion of Kuwait, complete with clip of Kuwaiti appeals on HF from their now-occupied country! Granted it appears the invasion took place right before the program\'s deadline...but it\'s interesting that an event which would ultimately become one of the big stories of the decade was almost an afterthought in that week\'s show.

Steve.
almost fifteen years ago

Ssome people sre never satisfied. Well i enjoyed this episode so thanks for making it available again