Number stations, or shortwave radio stations, transmit encrypted messages that are written as a series of numbers or letters. Orbiter is a number station archiving device that collects a wide variety of audio recordings of unusual shortwave broadcasts, used by government agencies to communicate with spies and invites people to listen to and decrypt them.

The Orbiter apparatus consists of a modified, black-and-white portable television from the ‘80s. This TV serves as an interface for the exploration of the number station archive, making it possible to visualize the recorded secret messages. The device allows participants to select from among different number stations, to try to decipher the message being sent and to speculate about the meaning and content.