ENIGMA  MACHINE  TO  BE  REACTIVATED  AFTER  60  YEARS

In September 1939 the radio receivers of all radio amateurs were ordered to be confiscated, but many amateurs volunteered to become Voluntary Interceptors (V.I’s) in their own homes. These V.I’s intercepted encrypted Enigma messages transmitted in Morse code which were passed to the code breakers at Bletchley Park.

Accuracy was crucial in order to assist decoding of the message, but many of the intercepted signals were weak or fading and atmospheric conditions were often poor with QRM from loud local stations. Searching through the bands was very painstaking, but it was a task that was carried out with great skill and dedication, providing a most valuable service to the Allies.

As a tribute to the work of the V.I’s sixty years ago the Scarborough Special Events Group will be on the air as GB2HQ from GCHQ Scarborough over the weekend of 7-8th May.  A souvenir QSL card showing an Enigma cipher machine and an HRO receiver will be issued to commemorate the occasion.

Depending on your location, conditions may not be favourable for reception on the day. However, in this respect, listeners will be experiencing the same problems faced by the V.I’s some sixty years ago.

You are invited to take part in a practical demonstration of history brought to life through amateur radio.

GCHQ have provided a working Enigma machine for use by the SSEG and Ofcom have, exceptionally, given permission for transmission of an enciphered Enigma message to be sent in Morse code on the amateur radio bands, for this event only.

The group will be active on SSB, PSK and CW. The CW station will operate around 7015 or 3515 KHz and the Enigma message will be transmitted in Morse code at 1100 UTC on Saturday 7th May, at a speed of 15 wpm. The message will consist of a few five letter groups, which will be repeated at 1300 and 1900 UTC.

GCHQ invite all licensed amateurs and listeners to submit a copy of this Enigma message and will award a certificate for a 100% accurate intercept.

A copy of this message should be sent via club call GØOOO (Scarborough Special Events Group,  9 Green Island, Irton, Scarborough YO12 4RN) and can be enclosed with a QSL card.  The cost of the certificate is £3.00 sterling.  5 Euro's, US $5, or 6 IRC's.  (UK cheques should be made out to "SSEG"). All profits will be donated to GCHQ Scarborough Charities Fund.

ENIGMA EVENT FAQ

Times and estimated Frequencies...

Enigma CW Broadcasts GB2HQ

Saturday 7th May

1100 UTC    7015 KHz

1300 UTC    7015 KHz

1700 UTC    14015 KHz

1800 UTC    14015 KHz

1900 UTC    3515 KHz

Please note all frequencies will be plus or minus dependant on the activity of the day.

In response to  the overwhelming number of messages of interest received, and very

many requests from the UK, Europe and North America, the Enigma message will be

repeated just once on each band on

Sunday 8th May, as follows:-

1100 UTC      7015 KHz   CW

1300 UTC    10115 KHz   CW

1700 UTC    14015 KHz   CW

1900 UTC     3515 KHz    CW

There will be no further transmissions.

ENIGMA LINKS (below)

If you want to add a link to this list please send the link address via the contacts page.

It might take me a few days to add it, but it will eventually get there!