Chris Smolinski, a longtime numbers monitor in Maryland, has recently produced a CD-ROM called "The Numbers Racket." This CD-ROM is all about (what else?) numbers stations, and features over ten hours of recordings. It is arranged as a website that contains text that describes station with message formats, frequencies used, schedules, background information, and more. Chris has been listening to numbers stations since about 1980 after reading about them in Harry Helm's book How to Tune the Secret Shortwave Spectrum. The CD is the result of Chris' desire to write a book about numbers stations. Since numbers stations are auditory in nature, it made more sense to put the information together in a media that supports audio recordings. This has been made possible by the advent of computers and the internet. All files are in HTML format and are easily viewed with any internet browser whether using a Windows or Macintosh operating system.

When you first pop the CD into your drive, it automatically looks for your internet browser. Once it's started, you see a welcome screen with a bit if introductory text about numbers stations in general. One click on the words "Join the Numbers Racket" at the bottom of the screen and you access the wealth of information contained on the disk.

The main menu is divided into three main parts. The first is "The Basics", which contains an introduction and explanation of numbers stations. Click on "Why Numbers Stations?" and you see a page that contains a very good explanation of why numbers stations are used by intelligence agencies in the first place, when other modes of communications are available. Click on "How Are Messages Sent?" and you will see a page that has a basic explanation of cryptography and the one-time pad system. Also, for the beginner, is a page on how to find numbers stations on the HF bands. A list of ENIGMA classifications, station families, and a list of stations that transmit in Morse code are also included.

The second part is dedicated to the stations themselves. This will probably be the most interesting part of the CD as it contains background information, current frequencies & schedules, and recordings of each station. Click on the button at the bottom of each page and you can listen to the station while you read about it.

The third part of the menu is devoted to information about the Warrenton Training Center which is a possible site of numbers transmissions, a quick language guide to numbers in several different languages, related bibliography, and other sources of information on numbers stations. You will also read about some parodies of numbers stations as broadcast by various pirate radio operators. The recording of the "Attention 69" station has to be heard to be believed!

Chris also included some information about the late Havana Moon, also known as William T. Godbey, a well-known numbers monitor and author of Uno, Dos, Cuatro. There is a short biography and a couple of pictures of Mr. Godbey.

Overall, "The Numbers Racket" is an excellent source of information both for the beginning and the veteran numbers monitor. It is especially good for those just starting to listen to numbers stations as it not only lists formats of different stations, but also has recordings to identify what stations they might hear on the air. It is also an excellent reference source as it contains frequencies and schedules. The CD-ROM with its website format makes for a better reference source than just a book or recordings as it combines the two. All the frequency & schedule information is current as of date of production.

"The Numbers Racket" may be ordered directly from Chris Smolinski for $20 US funds which includes shipping & handling within the US, or $22 outside the US. Chris' address is:

Chris Smolinski
4708 Trail Court
Westminster, MD 21158 USA

You can also order by credit card from Chris' website at http://www.access.digex.net/~cps/numbers.html. If you're serious about listening to numbers stations, you won't be disappointed.

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