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DDR Stasi WSA-6 →
HF spy radio burst transceiver
- this page is a stub
- wanted item
WSA-1, 1 also known as
Projekt 2210 or Projekt 32210, was a modular solid-state
long-range HF spy radio station for high speed (burst) digital
Agent-to-Base communication, developed in the mid-1970s by the OTS of the
Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS) – better known as
the Stasi – of the former DDR (East-Germany),
and used by the Hauptverwaltung Aufkläurung (HV A).
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The device covers the 3-24 MHz frequency band and produces an output power
of 50 Watt; good for a range of 5000 km. It comprises several modules that
should be interconnected before operation.
As part of the kit, an USG-1 burst encoder was provided,
which can hold up to 100 groups of 5 digits each.
A pre-encypted message is sent as a
'burst' at 500 baud in just 5.5 sec.
In 1980, the set was extended with a modular miniature FLE receiver
for the reception of Base-to-Agent messages in the 3-19.5 MHz band,
for which six frequency plug-ins were provided.
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It is believed that the FLE receiver was only provided in exceptional
cases. In all other cases, the agent was supposed to acquire a
commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) receiver from a local radio store.
The image above was provided by Detlev Vreisleben [3] and shows a complete
kit of which the parts are stowed on a metal plate. Each module is held in place
by an elastic strap. It is believed that this was part of a concealment, such
as the false bottom of a suitcase.
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WSA is the abbreviation of Weitverkehrs-Sende-Anlage
(Long-range transmitter).
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PLEASE HELP —
This page currently acts as a placeholder for future information about the
WSA-1 spy radio set.
Crypto Museum has various incomplete parts of the WSA-1 in its collection [1].
It would be great if we could (partly) restore these items, or if we could find
a complete and operational WSA-1 unit.
Furthermore, we have found items that are attributed to the WSA-1, but that have
not yet been identified.
If you want to contribute, please contact us.
The diagram below shows the basic setup of the WSA-1 agent radio station.
At the top left is the WSA-1, consisting of a power supply unit (PSU),
a transmitter (TX), an antenna tuner and a high-speed (burst) keyer.
The transmitter produces an output power of 50 W, which should be sufficient
for the intended range of 5000 km.
The keyer produces a digital signal in a proprietary Stasi format, 1 and sends
the stored data at a speed of 500 baud.
It can hold up to 100 groups of 5 digits each. This means that a burst
transmission never takes longer than 5.5 seconds.
When used with the Umbrella Antenna (32210-64), the antenna tuner
is dropped as it is already integrated with the antenna. Instead, an extra
low-pass filter (LPF) is used in the antenna path. This setup allows the WSA-1
to be used from within a hotel room, without an outdoor antenna.
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The synchronous data format does not use start- and stop-bits, and is
believed to be similar (or identical) to that of the later WSA-6 radio.
It is also likely that a modified morse code could be used as an alternative.
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At the heart of the radio station is the WSA-1 transmitter shown in the
image on the right. It has a maximum output power of 50W (!), which was
thought to be adequate for a range of 5000 km. At the front are four
selectors for setting the frequency to any of its 4200 channels.
Note:
Although the transmitter is specified to have 4200 channels, the knobs
at the front panel clearly offer just 4000 channels.
At present we don't know how to select the remaining 200 channels (1 MHz).
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This antenna tuner was attached to the right side of the transmitter,
and allowed any of the initially provided antennas (mostly vertical rods
or car antennas) to be tuned.
The tuner should not be used in combination with the later
umbrella antenna, as that antenna already has a built-in tuner.
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This burst encoder was provided for sending messages in morse code at
hight speed, in order to reduce the chance of detection and interception
by means of radio direction finding (RDF).
It can hold messages of up to 100 groups of 5 digits each in its internal memory.
Such messages are usually pre-encrypted, and are sent as a 500 baud 'burst' in
just 5.5. seconds.
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By default, the device was powered from the AC mains network, for which
the PSU shown in the image on the right was provided.
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The WSA-1 could also be powered from a 12V or 24V DC power source,
such as the battery of a car or a truck. In that case, the 12/24V
AC/DC inverter should be used.
No image available at present.
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The miniature modular FLE receiver shown on the right, was supplied as part
of the WSA-1 spy radio station. In most cases it came with six
plug-in units, that cover the frequencies allocated for Base-to-Agent
communication.
➤ More information
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Umbrella antenna
32210-64
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Crypto Museum has various incomplete parts of the WSA-1 in its collection [1].
It would be great if we could (partly) restore these items, or if we could find
a complete and operational WSA-1 unit. This is an ongoing long-term restoration project
of which the results will be posted on this page.
If you want to contribute, please contact us.
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Device Modular spy radio station Purpose High-speed Agent-to-Base (burst) communication Model WSA 1 Organisation MfS (Stasi), HV A Developer OTS Project 2210, 32210 Country East-Germany (DDR, GDR) Development 1973-1975 Production 1975 ~ Frequency 3-24 MHz Resolution 5 kHz (4200 steps) Waveform A1 (CW) Range 5000 km Output 50W (tuning: 4W) Impedance 50Ω Speed 500 baud Format Proprietary (Stasi) Memory 100 groups (of 5 digits each) Power 24V DC Quantity 400 ~
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- Transmitter WSA-1
- Antenna tuner
- Mains AC PSU, or 12V/24V DC inverter
- Wire and rod antenna
- 24V battery (in container)
- FLE receiver
- USG-1 burst keyer
- Accessories
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- WSA-1
- Projekt 2210
- Project 32210
- Gerät 2210 (Device 2210)
- Gerät 32210 (Device 32210)
- Funksendestelle 32210
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All devices are marked with a 3-digit serial number, of which the first digit
probably identifies the series. The 100 and 200 series are housed in black
encosures, whilst the 300 and 400 series are housed in blue enclosures.
So far, we've only seen devices that had been reconstructed from disassembled
parts. Many of these parts are badly corroded, probably as a result of storage
in an underground cache, or dumping in a waste bin.
Below is a list of serial numbers we have seen.
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Assuming that the serial numbers started at 101, this list seems to confirm the
total production quantity of ~ 400 units (101-499).
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Document provided by BStU (*4) via Detlev Vreisleben [3].
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- Immo Hahn, WSA-1 surplus parts - THANKS !
June 2025.
- Louis Meulstee, WSA 1
Wireless for the Warrier - Volume 4. Supplement Chapter 58.
Version 1.01, April 2016.
- Detlev Vreisleben, WSA-1 documentation and backgrounds
Crypto Museum 22 March 2025.
- Bundesbeauftragte für die Stasi-Unterlagen (BStU) 1
Federal Commissioner for the Stasi-Records.
- Detlev Vreisleben, Images of WSA-1 parts from collection of BfV
Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, Köln, 2006.
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Full name: Bundesbeauftragte für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes
der ehemaligen Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
(DDR) —
Federal Commissioner for the Records of the
State Security Service
of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) —
officially abbreviated BStU.
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Any links shown in red are currently unavailable.
If you like the information on this website, why not make a donation?
© Crypto Museum. Created: Saturday 05 July 2025. Last changed: Sunday, 16 August 2026 - 10:08 CET.
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![Complete WSA-1 spy radio station, ready to be deployed as part of a concealment. Click to enlarge. Photograph kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [3].](img/wsa1_compl_large.jpg)
![Transmitter with antenna tuner, PSU and burst encoder. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/010/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/010")
![Transmitter with antenna tuner. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/004/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/004")
![WSA-1 Transmitter. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/005/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/005")
![WSA-1 Antenna tuner. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/011/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/011")
![WSA-1 Antenna tuner. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/006/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/006")
![Burst encoder. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/008/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/008")
![Mains AC power supply unit. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/012/thumbnail.jpg "image # 304380/012")
![Complete WSA-1 set in concealment. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [3].](img/WSA1_compl_thumb.jpg "image # wsa1_compl_large.jpg")
![Transmitter with antenna tuner, PSU and burst encoder. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/010/full.jpg)
![Transmitter with antenna tuner. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/004/full.jpg)
![WSA-1 Transmitter. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/005/full.jpg)
![WSA-1 Antenna tuner. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/011/full.jpg)
![WSA-1 Antenna tuner. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/006/full.jpg)
![Burst encoder. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/008/full.jpg)
![Mains AC power supply unit. Image kindly provided by Detlev Vreisleben [5].](img/304380/012/full.jpg)
