Expensive decoder

[ka3jjz]

I saw this on the UDXF Yahoo group in a thread discussing STANAG decoding...

Krypto500

It looks pretty impressive until you look at the price - or better yet, if you have a weak heart, don't look

Remember you have been warned

They must need all that money to avoid copyright infringements from DC comics, hi. 73 Mike

 

[Fast1eddie]

Just ordered mine!!!

 

[sadatoni]

Think they might be off a decimal point?

 

[brandon]

Obviously these companies (Krypto500, Hoka, Wavecomm, etc.) are not targeting the hobbyist market.

 

[SCPD]

The funny thing is that even with this software you still won't be able to decrypt anything worthwhile...

 

[Token]

The funny thing is that even with this software you still won't be able to decrypt anything worthwhile...

Sure you can, but of course it depends on what you call "worthwhile".

True, if the information is encrypted (in addition to the selected modulation technique) you will not end up with clear text of exactly what was sent. However, very often headers are in the clear, so that even encrypted you can tell who is sending. Also, with such software you can correctly identify the specifics of most modes of operation even when you cannot decode it (that is the "analysis" part) and IDing the mode goes a long way towards identifying the user. IDing a user can be an indicator of if you should pay attention to that frequency or not.

But a surprising amount of data is passed that is not encrypted. And it is not uncommon for accidental transmissions in the clear from interesting sources.

If you can afford this type of software it is very interesting to use, but as someone else said it is not really aimed at the hobbyist.

T!
Mohave Desert, California, USA

 

[rma0100]

It does not list MOTOTRBO. I sent them a message.

 

[rexgame]

I like the list of receivers it can control- Rockwell Collins, Rhode & Schwarz, Marconi Selenia, Harris, Racal, TCI, Cubic...

For a low low rate of $7,400 plus the cost of a used Racal (say around $2,500) you too can decode HF to your hearts content. You're on your own for VHF/UHF

 

[IanWraith]

You have to remember that when selling decoders to Governments companies like this one will have have to cover costs they just don't have when selling to hobbyists.

For starters the decoder *might* be covered by arms export regulations so you need to have all your paperwork sorted out and probably take legal advice. Next Governments don't just like to buy a decoder and a manual and thats that. Instead they want the manufacturer to provide a training package for their staff on how to use it. That means flying some staff out to you to be trained (and entertained) or flying someone out to the customer to provide the training. In some countries the staff you are asked to train won't know their arse from their elbow so that won't be a quick job.

There are a few companies out there that buy hobbyist level decoders and then sell them on at a fair mark up so governments providing the paperwork and the training I mentioned.