This is probably the strangest of the European numbers stations, not the least because of the distinctive interval signal used. The tune itself lasts for 2 minutes, 42 seconds and is played on a violin and pan pipes. It is called Ciocarlia. in Rumanian and is titled "The Skylark" in English. By coincidence, one evening at 2300. I was listening to the BBC's domestic Radio Four. After the programme ended the studio announcer said that the next program was going to be all about traditional Rumanian folk music. 

 Not my cup of tea, I thought, so I headed across the room to switch off the receiver. Before I got to the off switch a piece of music stopped me in my tracks. It was the same tune as used by the Romanian number station. After the song ended, the announcer identified the music and went on to say that it was a very popular melody of Romania and was instantly known to natives of that country. Not surprising perhaps then, that this tune should be chosen for such a clandestine activity.

The next encounter with the station came in a newsletter issued by the DX Club of Radio Budapest. A member from Britain, a Mr. Palmer, had written to the club asking if any of its members could identify a strange Gypsy tune that could be heard on certain frequencies. A few months later a club member from the Soviet Union, a Mr. Skarzhinsky, gave this explanation:

Very unusual station. You have heard a transmission in Romanian which can often be heard in the band up to 10 MHz, on "outside band" frequencies very clearly and distinctly. It broadcasts a Skylark melody which is followed by groups of figures in Romanian. The transmission ends with the word terminat, terminat. There are several similar transmissions, however these usually are not interesting to DXers due to the closed nature of their activities."

Despite what the Soviet contributor said, the majority of these broadcasts do not contain any traffic in 5 figure groups or otherwise. The usual format is that the tune is played twice, which lasts until six minutes past the hour. A male voice in Romanian then says "terminat" three times and the tune is repeated twice again, followed by 'terminat, terminat" again. If traffic is being sent then a taped, real male voice reads but the five figure text in Romanian. These are "unu, doi, trei, patru, cinci, sase, sapte, opt, noua, zero." These sound like: "oonu, doy, trey, patru, sinch, sassay, shaptay, noah, zero." The numbers come after the two Skylark tunes and end again with 'terminat, terminat" repeated three times. It is certain that "live" announcers are used, as different male voices have been noted.

Again, over the years the schedule has changed, so this listing will inevitably contain some non-active frequencies. However, despite a revival after the Romanian revolution in late 1989, the station is non operational.

3885 - 2200
4585 - 2000, 2200
5145 - 2000
5425 - 0000, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300
5835 - 2100
5889 - 1800, 1900, 2000, 2200
6824 - 0400, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2200
6840 - 2100, 2200
7385 - 2000
8170 - 1900, 2000