Is it possible that an APCO25 transmission can sound "encrypted" when in actuality it is not encrypted, because of a prgramming error? I have been trying to monitor a conventional APCO25 channel with an XTS5000, but SOME of the transmissions are garbled, suggesting encryption, while others are in the clear.
A local commercial radio enthusiast assures me that this particular channel is NOT encrypted, and that he is able to regularly receive ALL transmissions on this frequency in the clear using a Motorola radio. His assertion is that it is a programming error on my part.
I have the CPS and have been playing with the settings but can't seem to receive it entirely in the clear. Has anyone else come across this phenomenon? Is there a parameter in the CPS relating to Astro that I am missing? Or am I to assume that this knowledegable individual is incorrect and the channel is in fact encrypted on selected transmissions. A third party inferrred that my problem was with P25 "encoding" and NOT "encryption" and that this frequency was monitorable in the clear with the right equipment. He did not elaborate. I assume an XTS5000 and CPS are the right equipment for Astro P25 conventional transmissions.
Is there anyway I can differentiate an "encoding" issue from encryption? Also, why would only certain transmissions be encdoded or encrypted? How can I confirm that this channel is, in fact, encrypted?
I would greatly appreciate any insight into this