Icom F5021 Voice Scrambler Question

[sutliffhl21]

I have a F5021 radio stock from the factory without the optional UT voice scrambler installed. I read the literature and it said that there factory installed inversion type scrambling installed in the radio as an option. Using the software, I set it up and set the P3 button as "scrambler" from the set mode menu in the software. In set the scrambler code to 15, and when I write to the radio, when I press the P3 button, nothing happens, and the voice scramble symbol does not show on the radio screen. Am I doing something wrong to get the scrambler going? I also chose "rolling" encryption from the scrambler menu, like my f3161 has, and that one works fine. Its just the 5021 I'm having issues with. Any help would be appreciated.

[cabletech]

The 5021 requires that the UT-109R scamblers option board be intalled in the radio. it is a addon board that just plugs in on the main borad.

No board, no scramble.

[jeatock]

Originally Posted by cabletech

The 5021 requires that the UT-109R scamblers option board be intalled in the radio. it is a addon board that just plugs in on the main borad.

No board, no scramble.

Correct.

The F3160 portables (and several other Icom radios) come with a built-in INVersion scrambler. Its is an option under "Memory Channel | Scrambler | Type. The F5021 does not have the "Type" and "Inv" options.

In the F3161 software:
*UT: only works if a UT-109 or UT-110 is installed. The -109 supports multiple fundamental frequencies but not rolling codes. The -110 does the same as the -109 and also supports "Rolling Code" where the frequency changes every so often.
*INV: similar to a -109/-110 but only operates on a single inversion frequency that is not available on the -109/-110. Not available on 121 and 5021 versions even in the latest v3.3 firmware.
*Oth: supports other manufacturer's boards, ie Cimmeron.

*ON/OFF: this is what you have your "P" button programmed to control. The "ON" setting will put the channel into full time encryption and the "P" button switches to clear, "OFF/Blank" means encryption is off until you use a "P" button to turn it on, and "Inh" where encryption cannot be activated at all.

* "Code" only applies when -109 or -110 boards are installed and selects the fundamental inversion frequency.

The "R" at the end of the board model refers to the package and connector type.

[wa1nic]

For the F5021, you want the "R" scrambler version (UT-110R for Rolling code capability and UT-109R for just the 32 fixed scrambler codes) . UT-109R goes for about $70 bucks and the UT-110R goes for about $120 bucks.

When you install the board, you need to cut a couple of raceways in the radio as well to route the audio into and out of the scrambler board. It's not hard to do with a magnifying glass or microscope and an X-acto Knife.

You can either use a "P" button to turn it on and off, or if you don't want to waste a "P" button for that, you can program one channel with scrambling enabled and another channel with it disabled.