UVB-76, “The Buzzer”
UVB-76 sounds like a harsh, low, foghorn-like buzz repeating about 25 times a minute, day and night, on 4625 kHz. Every so often the buzz stops and a Russian voice reads out code words and numbers.
What does it sound like?
What is it?
A Russian military shortwave channel that has been heard since at least 1982. Hobbyist monitors describe it as a channel marker: the buzz keeps the frequency occupied, and now and then an operator reads a short coded message. Its current call sign is NZhTI, in use since December 30, 2020; the famous “UVB-76” comes from Western listeners mishearing an early call sign.
Why is it famous?
A mysterious sound that almost never stops, from a transmitter nobody officially explains. Every burst of voice messages makes the news. In late August 2026, monitors and the media reported about 25 messages in one day; sources noted there's no evidence linking them to anything else in the news. The messages are in codes whose meaning has never been published, and outside listeners are not known to have read them.
How can I hear it?
Tune 4625 kHz in USB or AM on any shortwave radio with sideband. It's strongest in Europe, and reaches North America at night. You can also listen through a free public web receiver in Europe.
Hear it live
- University of Twente WebSDR (Enschede, the Netherlands) · 4,625 kHz USB
Around the clock, per Priyom. Strongest in Europe. - Northern Utah WebSDR #3 (Northern Utah, USA) · 4,625 kHz USB
Around the clock, per Priyom. It reaches North America mainly at night.
These are free public receivers run by other people; we only link to them. You'll hear the signal only if it's on the air right now and conditions carry it to that receiver, so if it's quiet, try another time. Links last reviewed 2026-09-28.
Easily confused with
- Over-the-horizon radar: much faster: about 25 to 67 sweeps a second, and it moves around
- Power-line buzz: spread across the whole band, not on one frequency