Chauvinistic russian propaganda on 1575 and 3940 kHz

Many DXers have already observed regular unlicensed transmissions in russian language started recently on 3940 kHz. The tests were initially heard on other bands, including "radiohooligans'" frequency of 3100 kHz. Content of these broadcasts are mainly sound tracks of anti-European and anti-American propaganda clips mixed with various crap of the Soviet era from nostalgic web-radio stations. The similar content is also being broadcasted on the medium wave frequency of 1575 kHz (1611 kHz in past) for more than 1.5 years at least. MW transmissions on 1575 kHz are even mentioned in MWList frequency base.

There are many speculations in Internet on possible location of the transmitters including Smolensk, Smolensk region, Pskov region and Leningrad region. Some of these wrong versions are probably originated from inaccurate TDoA result obtained by Finnish DXer in March 2020. It is also possible, that other versions were spread deliberately by the persons behind the transmissions.

My numerous TDoA results point on the northern part of Belarus (~50-100 km northward from Minsk) for 1611 kHz used in past and 1575 kHz (with a very good accuracy) and 3940 kHz (not as good accuracy as for MW, but still point on about the same region). Anyone who is able to apply this method correctly can verify my results by himself.

Authorities in russia are very attentive to such regular unlicensed radio operations which go beyond the scope of radio hooligan's routine "allo-allo" QSOs. At present, SW, MW, FM stations of such kind would not broadcast for a long time from the territory of russia not being raided (let's recall collapse of the FM pirate scene in Sankt-Peterburg). The mentioned MW station is regularly active since the beginning of 2020 at least (if not earlier), that's why the above versions about its russian location are nonsence IMHO. Republic of Belarus is more suitable country for such an activity instead, because communication authorities are more careless there. In any case, I guess, this is totally amateur project, supporting general line of the russian chauvinistic politics, however not supervised by officials.

New clandestine broadcaster targeted to Afghanistan

 Regular relays of Afghanistan International TV (AITV) sound can now be received on the frequency of 7600 kHz. The 24/7 broadcasts were launched by Volant Media UK Ltd and targeted to the territory of Afghanistan captured by Taliban troops. 

AOKI frequency base gives Tashkent as TX location, however my tonight's TDoA results point to Gavar or Yerevan transmitter site in Armenia at 21.00 - 22.00 UTC (the station can also use different transmitters in other countries on this frequency at other time slots, though! Additional checks are required):

Station's website: https://afintl.com/

UPDATE: I got the same TDoA result for 7600 kHz at 14.00 - 15.00 UTC:

Utility station on 6022 kHz and QRM to Radio Delta International

 Evening listening of Radio Delta International on 6020 kHz in Eastern Europe is usually accompanied by interference from FSK utility station on the adjacent frequency of 6022 kHz.

From the RDI's reply on my reception report:

"…In the East we have some problems with the strange digital interference on 6022. Hopefully in the future it will disappear, it is not normal that they use this frequency…"

This QRM is not a trouble at all in the case of reception with some SDR, where low and high sidebands of the "filter" can be adjusted independently, and splashes from Chinese high-power transmitters on 6015 and 6025 kHz are much more considerable and annoying. However, this signal makes reception on 6020 kHz uncomfortable or even impossible (depending on its strength) for DXers with simple portable receivers, where rich selection of IF filters is absent.

Protocol of this utility station is identified as CIS-36-50 (also known as BEE-36 or T-600) with 200 Hz shift and 50 Bd rate FSK modulation. It is being widely used by russian navy. Tentative location of the transmitter is Autonomous Republic of Crimea or Sevastopil, occupied and annexed by russia. Results of the TDoA analysis point at the same direction:

From 17.00 till 18.00 UTC 6022 kHz channel is completely blocked by superstrong DRM signal of Radio Romania International on 6025 kHz, and the reason for such a stupid choice of frequency for the utility station is unknown. Anyway, if you hear utility interference on 49 mb, be sure that in 95 per cent of the cases the source of interference is the russian military.

Reception of South African Navy in MFSK-33 mode

 Good propagation conditions on short waves favour reception of distant utility stations located on other continents. One of these stations is using quite interesting multimode format which consists of 50 Bd RTTY with 170 Hz shift, 54.5 Bd FSK and 2200 Hz wide MFSK-33 parts. Such sequence is formed by Saab Grintek MHF-50 MFSK Modem used by utility stations of South African Navy.

Transmissions of the station with tentative call-sign ZSJ near Capetown can be currently heard in Kyiv at night time on the frequency of 6504 kHz. Here are results of reception on 25th of September 2020 at 23.11 UTC:

One can see alternating FSK and MFSK parts of the transmission. The signal mode cannot be confused with other ones due to its unique structure. The sequencies can also be heard on my audio sample of reception on 6504 kHz:

Results of TDoA analysis confirm South African origin of this signal:

RX: Airspy Mini SDR + SpyVerter

Ant: 10 m external random wire

Will russia restart shortwave jamming?

Interesting results of shortwave observations and following discussion started by Token forum member were posted on HFU message board: strange DSB-modulated signals on at least four frequencies: 5708, 9008, 9022 and 9024 kHz were regularly active in April between 0300 and 0500 UTC on weekdays. Sometimes on two frequencies simultaneously.

The audio sounded like looped recording of mixed male and female voice speeches taken from programs of USSR All-Union Radio: short clippings of local and international news concatenated and mixed into the one recording. I just recalled that I have already heard this sound formerly when listened to audio clips posted by American DXers. That was sample from Rimantas Pleikys' website, dedicated to deliberate radio jamming, and described as: "Speech-like signal (USSR 1976-1988, USSR/Poland  1980-1988)". The audio, as it turns out, was identical!

What is the "speech-like signal jamming"? Some people of the older generation in ex-USSR countries are probably remember that phenomenon and well familiar with it. Others can find clear answer in Rimantas Pleikys' article "Radio Jamming in the Soviet Union, Poland and other East European Countries". Rimantas writes that some countries of the Soviet Bloc started to broadcast speech resembling signal since year 1976. This was quite efficient jamming technique, because its sound, composed of male and female announcers speech, is well conformed with typical timbre of the human voice.

Signal strength, simultaneous broadcasts on several frequebcies and regular schedule basis of the strange April transmissions actually argue in favour of its official origin and tell us that it was not a fraud/joke organized by some radio pirates. Moreover, numerous TDoA analysis attempts, carried by American DXers, reveal signal source somewhere near Khabarovsk area (russia).

Thus, deliberate jamming is the leading assumption on purpose of these transmissions for the moment. It was rather test, not actually a real jamming yet, as no other signals were observed on the same frequencies. However, it remains unclear what is the possible target of the jamming, because all russian-language "enemies' voices" have already left shortwave bands since Soviet/post-Soviet era? May be it's a preparation for an assistance to "Chinese comrades" in fight against VOA, RFA, RTI, SOH?

The frequencies selected for the tests allow for conclusions that some NATO utility stations operating on adjacent channels could be potential targets. Some of them are using Link-11 (MIL-STD-6011) standard NATO protocol, but I guess, the speech resembling signal is more suitable for jamming of voice communications.