Since at least 1992, a shortwave radio station that broadcasts on 4624 kHz has been emitting a monotonous, grinding buzz sound at the rate of about 25 buzzes per minute. On rare occasions, the pitch and amplitude of the sound changes and occasionally, it is interrupted by a male voice speaking in Russian. The man recites lists of numbers, names and sometimes spells out words. Shortwave radio fans and the Internet have grabbed a hold of this phenomenon and nicknamed it The Buzzer. Reports claim that the station only broadcasted a series of beeps prior to 1992. The official name of the station is not known. Up until September 2010, the station identified itself with UVB-76. Then, in September 2010, the station presumably relocated and started using MDZhB (Mikhail, Dimitri, Zhenya, Boris). The purpose of The Buzzer has never been verified by the Russian government or broadcast officials. Some speculate that it is used by the Russian military for communications, while others suggest that it is used to study the ionosphere. The voice messages are the most cryptic part of UVB-76. Occasionally, the sound is interrupted and a voice speaks in code. For example, on 21 February 2006 at 7:57 a.m. a man interrupted the buzz to state UVB-76. UVB-76. 75-59-75-59. 39-52-53-58. 5-5-2-5. Konstantin-1-9-0-9-0-8-9-8-Tatiana-Oksana-Anna-Elena-Pavel-Schuka Either this is the worst game of bingo ever or the Russians are up to something. Another interesting message occurred on 18 March 2014, one day after Crimea voted to join the Russian Federation. The following message was heard: T-E-R-R-A-K-O-T-A. Mikhail Dimitri Zhenya Boris. Mikhail Dimitri Zhenya Boris. 81 26 T-E-R-R-A-K-O-T-A. Maybe thats the colour of the new drapes for Crimea.
