Do Mines use Encryption?

[LetsGoRailfanning]

I am asking do mines use encryption.
Because of blasting ops.

 

[mass-man]

OK, I’ll bite...what does encryption have to do with blasting ops?

 

[KK4JUG]

If they use encryption, it's not because of the explosives. RF is RF, encryption or not.

 

[chrismol1]

OK, I’ll bite...what does encryption have to do with blasting ops?

They don't want anyone knowing where the gold nuggets are located!

For real tho, I'd imagine if any operation used encryption it'd be for radical environmentalists

 

[lwvmobile]

I'm guessing the ground rumbling and the sound of the explosion wouldn't be enough to give away the location of the operation, nor the large hills and holes, or the constant trucks in and out of the quarry.

 

[ofd8001]

I'm not sure much would be gained with encryption.

The magazines storing explosives have to be identified with signs, etc., so there is no secrecy where they are.

Before each shot is fired, they have to sound a siren or air whistle to let nearby people know its about to happen. (So they know to get under shelter.) Then the public knowing when a shot will happen saves a lot of calls to 911 saying "I just heard a big explosion!!!".

Then there is the notion of radios are supposed to be off during blasting operations, especially if they are doing electrical initiation. A transmission could be enough to make a blasting cap do its thing.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

When Mel Fisher was searching for shipwrecks in Florida he went to the effort to install radios with DVP encryption in his boats.

 

[lwvmobile]

When Mel Fisher was searching for shipwrecks in Florida he went to the effort to install radios with DVP encryption in his boats.

Maybe he was searching for some Colombian Bam Bam on the side.

 

[KK4JUG]

I'm not sure much would be gained with encryption.

Then there is the notion of radios are supposed to be off during blasting operations, especially if they are doing electrical initiation. A transmission could be enough to make a blasting cap do its thing.

It's a rare occurrence but it's possible. I used to teach various bomb-related classes to LEOs and others and I used a Motorola portable (HT-1000, I think) and a lone fluorescent light to show the effects of RF. Simply keying the portable near the light would activate it showing that RF can affect some things in closes proximity.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Maybe he was searching for some Colombian Bam Bam on the side.

Could be. I was reading his license application at the time and the application had some details about his justification for the encryption. Generally the FCC only cares that the radios are certified. Maybe Motorola had some concern and had him write the letter. There was concern about encryption being diverted to Cuba, and yes at the time the Columbians were big time in Miami.

 

[KK4JUG]

Did it occur to anyone that he might have been legit?

 

[Cognomen]

Fisher used encryption for the same reason everyone uses it. So the competition/general public couldn't listen in and figure out the location of the treasure.

To answer the original question, a mine close to me uses DMR in the clear.