Encryption Implementation on MARCS-IP?

[fyrfyter33]

That's true. I was addressing when an individual or group seem to disappear. Most specialty group are encrypted.

Those are the only ones encrypted around here. Everything else is open.

 

[Jphila20]

On a side note, Dispatch can see if someone is encrypted on their CAD system.

 

[wa8pyr]

Can individual users (deputy, police officer, paramedic, etc.) unilaterally decide to use encryption on any talkgroup at any time, or can users only choose to encrypt on some talkgroups? Alternatively, if individual users have no control over encryption itself on any talkgroup, is it correct to presume that the choice by a user to encrypt communications dictates that they use one or more talkgroups previously established as encrypted only?

Are there agency penalties for using encryption? In other words, encryption must certainly create additional burdens for the MARCS-IP system. Are agencies using encryption assessed a cost or penalty of some type for this additional drain on system resources, or are agencies free to use encryption as much as they’d like, with no penalty or restrictions?

Encryption on MARCS is strictly up to each agency. While it can be set up to enable individual users to turn it on/off, that can cause problems. So, most agencies set a particular talkgroup to be always encrypted (called "strapping") in order to issues.

However, if it's set up so the user can turn it on/off at will, it can be used on any talkgroup in the radio if the radio is set up that way. That alone can cause major problems if someone enables it on an interoperability talkgroup that is specifically designated as non-encrypted.

Encryption, as others have noted, doesn't cause any issues for or drain upon the system itself. There are no additional user fees or costs other than the additional cost to purchase the encryption feature in the radio.

 

[jrl44430]

Encryption on MARCS is strictly up to each agency.

My department is not dispatched from the main 911 center. They have their own dispatch center located the the police station. I was told they had to follow the countys plan to encrypt.