{"id":65683,"date":"2026-03-27T08:33:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T12:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=65683"},"modified":"2026-03-27T08:33:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T12:33:43","slug":"a-mystery-signal-and-a-fast-answer-from-udxf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/a-mystery-signal-and-a-fast-answer-from-udxf\/","title":{"rendered":"A Mystery Signal and a Fast Answer from UDXF"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Dan Greenall, who write:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi Thomas<\/p>\n

I still have a tendency to scan the utility frequencies from time to time, much as I did over 50 years ago. Now, though, I can listen in through the various Kiwi SDR receivers scattered around the globe. Having obtained my amateur ticket in 1974, I got a lot of practice copying the CW repeating “markers”, especially those in the maritime bands.<\/p>\n

Recently, on March 20 at 1821 UTC, to be exact, I came across a CW signal repeating the same message over and over on 6839 kHz, while tuning my friend Ken’s Kiwi SDR in Northern Thailand. The text read: VVV Q2M Q2M Q2M de NYZ NYZ<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At first, I thought NYZ might be some kind of U.S. military callsign, but I decided to confer with an expert, Ary Boender, at the UDXF in the Netherlands. My e-mail was sent out at 10:57 am local time, and by 11:02 I had my answer! And not at all what I expected.<\/p>\n

Ary writes:<\/p>\n

This is a Chinese military station, Enigma designator M89.<\/strong><\/em>
\nHere is some info about it https:\/\/www.numbersoddities.nl\/Chinese-military-nets.pdf<\/a><\/strong><\/em>
\nAlso related is: https:\/\/www.numbersoddities.nl\/M89-profile.pdf<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>My thanks to Ary and the UDXF, the Utility DXer’s Forum. This is a very useful site and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Utility DXing. Check it out here:
\nhttps:\/\/www.udxf.nl\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n

73<\/p>\n

Dan Greenall, Ontario, Canada<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who write:\u00a0 Hi Thomas I still have a tendency to scan the utility frequencies from time to time, much as I did over 50 years ago. Now, though, I can listen in through the various Kiwi SDR receivers scattered around the globe. Having obtained my amateur ticket […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,172,43,9589],"tags":[10271,11069,4088,11070,11033],"class_list":["post-65683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-numbers-stations","category-shortwave-radio","category-utility","tag-dan-greenall","tag-m89","tag-numbers-stations","tag-udxf","tag-utility-monitoring"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-h5p","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":59056,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/02\/vis-the-end-of-an-era\/","url_meta":{"origin":65683,"position":0},"title":"VIS: The End of an Era","author":"Thomas","date":"February 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post and SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post: The End of an Era by Dan Greenall Many of us can remember the many radio telephone stations that could be found outside the regular SWBC bands during the 1970\u2019s and 80\u2019s and even\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OTC-Sydney-Australia-reverse-side.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OTC-Sydney-Australia-reverse-side.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OTC-Sydney-Australia-reverse-side.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OTC-Sydney-Australia-reverse-side.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OTC-Sydney-Australia-reverse-side.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OTC-Sydney-Australia-reverse-side.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65411,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/02\/part-three-a-beginners-guide-to-ale\/","url_meta":{"origin":65683,"position":1},"title":"Part Three: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to ALE","author":"Thomas","date":"February 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor\u00a0Don Moore\u2013noted\u00a0author, traveler, and DXer\u2013who shares the following post: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to ALE: Part Three By Don Moore Don\u2019s traveling DX stories can be found in his book Tales of a Vagabond DXer [SWLing Post affiliate link]. If you\u2019ve already read his book and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Digital Modes"","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/UDXFLogSearch_03.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/UDXFLogSearch_03.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/UDXFLogSearch_03.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/UDXFLogSearch_03.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63154,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/ktwr-guam-dan-suggests-you-log-a-piece-of-radio-history-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":65683,"position":2},"title":"KTWR Guam: Dan suggests you log a piece of radio history…today!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas Regarding your recent post on June 5: https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/twr-guam-to-end-broadcasting\/ KTWR, Trans World Radio has recently announced they will be ending their shortwave broadcasts from Agana, Guam by October 31, 2025. However, unlike some stations that have vanished somewhat abruptly,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ktwr-shortwave-antennas.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65072,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/taiwan-on-shortwave-then-and-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":65683,"position":3},"title":"Taiwan on Shortwave \u2013 Then and Now","author":"Thomas","date":"January 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dan Greenall For nearly a half-century, The Voice of Free China broadcast programs via shortwave to a worldwide audience from Taipei, Taiwan. As a relatively new SWL in the early 1970\u2019s, I was always excited to hear English language programs from that part of the world, far away from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voice-of-Free-China-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voice-of-Free-China-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voice-of-Free-China-QSL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voice-of-Free-China-QSL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Voice-of-Free-China-QSL.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65726,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/bbc-interval-signals-then-and-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":65683,"position":4},"title":"BBC Interval Signals \u2013 Then and Now","author":"Thomas","date":"April 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dan Greenall A half century ago, the BBC World Service used a number of different interval signals. \u00a0 A few minutes prior to the start of a broadcast, a recognizable, often repeating tune would be played that would enable listeners to more easily locate the BBC in a crowded\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BBC-Ascension-1970-front.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BBC-Ascension-1970-front.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BBC-Ascension-1970-front.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BBC-Ascension-1970-front.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BBC-Ascension-1970-front.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63579,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/hcjb-quito-ecuador-then-and-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":65683,"position":5},"title":"HCJB Quito, Ecuador – Then and Now","author":"Thomas","date":"August 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: In the 1970s, the powerful signal from radio station HCJB, the Voice of the Andes, in Quito, Ecuador, could be heard with station identifications (similar to this one circa 1971) being given between programs. I am led to believe that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/HCJB-1970-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/HCJB-1970-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/HCJB-1970-QSL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/HCJB-1970-QSL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/HCJB-1970-QSL.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65683"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65686,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65683\/revisions\/65686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}