More Twin Cities Law Enforcement Locking Down Police Radio Traffic, Stirring Debate

[MTS2000des]

Harris single key AES-256 on the XL-200's is $0.01 per radio. Part number XS-PL9E if you want to look it up.
Motorola AES-256 + ADP is about $381 on the APX-Next. Part number Q629BD, if you want to look that up, also. With better contract pricing, it can probably be had cheaper.

We got ADP for free on our N70s and NEXTs, it was AES-256 and multi-key that added around $388 to each sub. But well worth it.

 

[mmckenna]

We got ADP for free on our N70s and NEXTs, it was AES-256 and multi-key that added around $388 to each sub. But well worth it.

Right. The arguments against encryption that use price as the reason don't work when reality is applied.

 

[MTS2000des]

That was valid in 1998 before P25 was widely adopted, encryption required hardware modules with DES/DES-XL/OFB, and expensive keyfill devices. In 2025, encryption can be as simple as a click of a mouse/check box and as cheap as .1c (L3H charges for ARC-4).

 

[DeoVindice]

They finally have the excuse and the ability to do what they've wanted to do for years. If this were really about data privacy fire and EMS channels would have been encrypted a long time ago. I wouldn't be able to listen to MRCC while sitting in the regions ER to know what the trama team activation is about with details of the persons injuries.

Radio communications are not covered by HIPAA, and fire/EMS radio traffic essentially never includes PII. Location/age/complaint is not PII.

LE traffic commonly includes names in conjunction with addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, and more. Especially where domestic violence may be concerned, none of that should go out over clear air. There are ways it can be handled without encrypting all traffic, but generally at the cost of increased workload.