This is a copy of The Numbers Racket CD-ROM, which I prepared back in 1998. I am presenting it here, unedited, for historical purposes. Obviously most if not all of the information is 'out of date' today, but think of it as a snapshot of what the Spy Numbers scene was like in the late 1990s.

Like what you see here? Help support my work by taking a look at my software , and buy something of interest :) It's all available for download before purchase, so you can try it out.

Enjoy!


Warrenton Training Center

Warrenton Training Center

The Warrenton Training Center is somehow affilliated with the National Communications System, (NSC). The NSC was created by President Kennedy in 1963, to help coordinate intra-government communications, after the Cuban Missile Crisis. There are 23 Federal agencies that are members of the NSC.

In addition to this purpose, the NSC also appears to be responsible for providing communications for agencies such as the State Department and CIA.

For the State Department, NSC provides communications services for the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service. Today, we would expect that such communications are carried out via modern technologies, such as satellite. However, some HF links still exist, KKN50, for example.

As fas as the CIA is concerned, we can only assume that the communications provided are the Numbers Stations that we have been hearing for so long.

The United States Information Agency is also a member. The USIA runs the Voice Of America. Interestingly, VOA feeders (shortwave links to transmit programming to remote transmitter sites for re-broadcast to listeners) have been noted to sometimes have DTS transmissions on them also!

I find it very curious that the US Postal Service is also a member of the NSC. Was this done for purely political reasons? (ie: USPS didn't want to feel left out) I can't understand why the USPS would be part of an organization who's purpose is to provide rapid and reliable communications in a time of emergency!

The WTC even has their own domain name, and a web page, the URL is "http://WTC.GOV".

There are four known sites of the Warrenton Training Center, named, oddly enough, Site A, Site B, Site C, and Site D.

Some time ago, a supposed list of Warrenton Training Center frequencies came out. Many of the frequencies are used by Numbers Stations, or are close to Numbers Stations frequencies. Take a look at the list, you be the judge.


Some General Observations

I found it interesting that signs were around all four sites, indicating the existance of a buried fiber optic cable (typical warning signs against digging). All the signs were the same. It would be interesting to see what other sites around the area have the same signs.

All sites have the typical chain-linked fencing with the "US Property - No Tresspassing" signs posted.

If you're interested in visiting these sites for yourself, you may want to get a copy of this Map which should make finding them much easier. You'll also want an appropriate roadmap too, that shows the road route numbers.


Site A

Site A appears to be the only site where actual "training" is done. There are numerous buildings, some quite small, scattered throughout the site; many appear to look like former homes. It almost looks like either a resort or very small college campus. The "campus" is heavily wooded, and somewhat hilly. It does look like a very nice place to spend a few weeks learning to be a spook!

No antennas were obvious. My guess would be that a mix of courses are offered here, ranging from the more mundane (for embassy clerks, etc) to special courses for the spook wanna-be, such as morse code training, practice copying numbers station traffic, etc.

Site A is located at the intersection of routes 802 and 744, just southwest of Warrenton, VA.

I found a rather interesting advertisement on the web, offering a rental townhouse, stated to be "ideal for State Department trainees attending the Warrenton Training Center"! The townhouse was located in Warrenton, very close to site A.


Site B

This is offically the headquarters for the Warrenton Training Center. There are two microwave towers, they are the only antennas in view.

Site B is located on route 690, just northwest of Warrenton.


Site C

Otherwise known simply by the name of the nearby town... Remington. This site contains a large number of HF antennas, including several directional antennas. No doubt many of the numbers transmissions we've heard have come from this site.

Site C is located at routes 651 and 654, a few miles southeast of Remington.


Site D

Another large array of antennas. Site D seems to have fewer HF antennas than Site C. It does have several large radomes. There also seems to be more activity at Site D, and the building(s) appear to be larger. Perhaps this is the main facility, and Site C is automated?

There is a very interesting height marker on the side of the route 672 along Site D. It is a yellow sign, showing height up to 5 feet. What's the purpose? I don't think the snow regularly gets that high in that area. Is it to mark the height of a car passing by? No survellance camera was in evidence nearby, pointing at the sign.

Site D is located at routes 669 and 672, just north of State Route 3, around 10 miles east of Culpeper, VA.


Copyright 1997 Chris Smolinski. All Rights Reserved. Last Update: July 20, 1997.

This is a copy of The Numbers Racket CD-ROM, which I prepared back in 1998. I am presenting it here, unedited, for historical purposes. Obviously most if not all of the information is 'out of date' today, but think of it as a snapshot of what the Spy Numbers scene was like in the late 1990s.

Like what you see here? Help support my work by taking a look at my software , and buy something of interest :) It's all available for download before purchase, so you can try it out.