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The Daily Insight

How do I listen to The Buzzer?

Author

Sarah Oconnor

Updated on April 28, 2026

Tune the dial to 4625 kHz and you’ll hear a repetitive buzzing noise. This obnoxious station goes by the call sign UVB-76, but shortwave aficionados call it The Buzzer. The Buzzer has been blaring that tone since the early 1980s.

What station is The Buzzer on?

“The Buzzer”, known among Russian listeners as “Жужжалка” (Zhuzhzhalka; English: Hummer), is a Russian military commandment network serving the Western Military District. It broadcasts around the clock on 4625 kHz. While no other traffic is being sent, the station emits its signature channel marker.

Is short wave radio dead?

Answer: Absolutely! Regular shortwave radio listeners already know the answer to this question. Sure, the landscape of the shortwaves is changing, but it’s such a vast landscape that, even with a few major players dropping out, there is still so much to hear and appreciate.

Are there any numbers stations still transmitting?

Experts are confident that numbers stations do still exist, even if there are fewer of them. “In the same way spy tricks such as pretending to feed ducks around a pond might still exist, numbers stations still exist too,” says Al Bolton, a radio amateur.

What is the frequency of a buzzer?

A buzzer or beeper is an audio signaling device. It generates sound in a frequency range of 1 to 7 kHz as an audio indication. In this frequency range, the hearing threshold is maximum.

How old is uvb76?

The radio signal that occupies 4625 kHz has reportedly been broadcasting since the late 1970s. The earliest known recording of it is dated 1982. Ever since curious owners of shortwave radios first discovered the signal, it has broadcast a repeating buzzing noise.

Does anyone still use shortwave radio?

Shortwave is used not just by international radio stations or radio amateurs but is also essential for aviation, marine, diplomatic and emergency purposes. But the BBC kept shortwave for its large audiences in Africa and part of Asia.

What frequency is the buzzer radio station?

UVB-76, also known by the nickname ” The Buzzer “, is a shortwave radio station that broadcasts on the frequencies 4625 and 4810 kHz. Between 1978 and August 12, 2021, the station broadcasted a short, monotonous buzz tone (help·info), repeating at a rate of approximately 25 tones per minute, 24 hours per day.

How do you listen to the buzzer?

Anyone can listen to the Buzzer, simply by tuning a radio to the frequency 4625 kHz (Credit: iStock) In fact, no-one does. “There’s absolutely no information in the signal,” says David Stupples, an expert in signals intelligence from City University, London.

When did the buzzer start broadcasting in Russia?

Sometimes, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place. The start date of broadcasting is disputed. However, it was allegedly reported to start broadcasting sometime in the 1970s. The station is commonly known as the Buzzer in both English and Russian ( Russian: Жужжалка ).

What time of day does the buzzer transmit?

The buzzer transmits continuously through the day, however due to the propagation issues in Western Europe and especially in Northern America, it is problematic to receive during daylight time. Sometimes the marker drops and a live voice message is read.