Encryption

[RadioGuy3007]

I have some questions about Encryption channels.

1. Do you think in the future there will be scanners built to listen to encryption but like public safety can choose weather to secure it even more?

2. I have been doing some research on some scanners and I have seen that some frequencies you can stil hear but it sounds like aliens etc. What scanners do this? How can you make it clear?


3. Is this a requirement by the FCC that all public safety services must go digital and encrypted?

4. Do Emergency services have to update their radios? What would happen if they did not?

 

[davewhall29]

I have some questions about Encryption channels.

1. Do you think in the future there will be scanners built to listen to encryption but like public safety can choose weather to secure it even more?

>>>NO, it is against Federal law to intentionally receive an encrypted communication that is not intended for you. The scanner companies will never risk the chance of breaking a Federal law.

2. I have been doing some research on some scanners and I have seen that some frequencies you can stil hear but it sounds like aliens etc. What scanners do this? How can you make it clear?

>>>There are several different scanners out there that make the encryption sound differently. Some make it sound like you have the squelch turned up too far, some sound like R2-D2 from Star Wars. There is no way (legally) to "make it clear" as you have asked.


3. Is this a requirement by the FCC that all public safety services must go digital and encrypted?

>>>No, there is no digital requirement by the FCC. The only requirement is to make the frequencies "narrow band" which in plain English means there is less space between the frequencies, so more frequencies can be used. The is also no FCC requirement that public safety be encrypted. That is a choice each individual agency makes.

4. Do Emergency services have to update their radios? What would happen if they did not?

>>>>Yes, they have to update their radios or face heavy fines from the FCC.

Hope this answers your questions.

 

[AZScanner]

To add to the above:

Answer to question 1. Scanner manufacturers? No. Scanner Hobbyists? Yes. I think the day will come when you will be able to download a program that decodes digital voice *with* encryption, if you happen to know (or find out) what the encryption key is. Why is that, you ask? See below:

Answer to number 3. Not yet, but look for this to happen some day too. I think another 9-11 or publicly embarrassing scandal like some of the stuff that leaked out during the Dorner manhunt will be all it takes to motivate some "safety minded" politician in Washington to make a name for himself and sponsor a bill to mandate this.

I think if people are serious about saving this hobby from extinction then we need to consider the fact that one day all public safety comm's will be encrypted and if we want to keep listening we will need to take matters into our own collective hands. All I'm gonna say on this... for now.

-AZ

 

[gmclam]

2. I have been doing some research on some scanners and I have seen that some frequencies you can stil hear but it sounds like aliens etc.

There are several digital protocols. To date, scanners are only decoding P25 unencrypted. You may be receiving a signal that is digital, not encrypted, but a format the scanner can not decode. It's more complicated than just unencrypted vs encrypted.

3. Is this a requirement by the FCC that all public safety services must go digital and encrypted?

No. There are requirements in some bands to use a narrower channel. The real issue has to do with radio manufacturers. No one is really selling analog radios any more. So if your agency wants replacement parts, to add more channels or more capacity; you're somewhat stuck with having to move to digital. No one "needs" to go encrypted.

4. Do Emergency services have to update their radios? What would happen if they did not?

Some licensees are in situations where they do not need to do a thing. Those that are face fines and/or loss of their licenses if they do not comply.

 

[kayfox]

Yes. I think the day will come when you will be able to download a program that decodes digital voice *with* encryption, if you happen to know (or find out) what the encryption key is.

OP25

 

[AZScanner]

OP25

Hmmm, yes I've heard of that - still somewhat of a mystery to me as to how to get it working though. If you happen to know how to get windoze to run it, shoot me a PM, I'd love to know more...

-AZ

 

[gary123]

OP25 will not decode encryption. neither will DSD (before some one asks).

OP25 will display the P25 package information an ddata that composes the HDU,LDU1,2 and TDU. OP25 does not decode P25 audio. For the serious monitoring/service person OP25 is an esential tool, there is nothing else that does what it does.

DMR does almost the same stuff for TRBO format.

 

[kayfox]

OP25 will not decode encryption.

My bad, its an unmerged patch to add it, tho I had thought I was in Trunk when I found it, info here:
OP25 - SpenchWiki

I will probably end up updating this to merge into r306, as I need DES-OFB and DES-XL, the latter of which will have to be written from scratch.