Scanning Encrypted When Authorized

[joeyperillo]

I have a fire company issued APX 6000 that legally decodes encrypted talk groups. Is there a scanner or talk group receiver (besides a pager such as Unication) that will decode these xmissions as receive only at home when the APX is locked in the car?

 

[SA_tx_88116]

I have a fire company issued APX 6000 that legally decodes encrypted talk groups. Is there a scanner or talk group receiver (besides a pager such as Unication) that will decode these xmissions as receive only at home when the APX is locked in the car?

I’m not a professional but sadly as far as I know there is no scanner legally capable of decoding encrypted transmissions.

 

[joeyperillo]

I’m not a professional but sadly as far as I know there is no scanner legally capable of decoding encrypted transmissions.

Thanks - I thought there might be a professional receiver out there....

 

[Moto_user]

I have a fire company issued APX 6000 that legally decodes encrypted talk groups. Is there a scanner or talk group receiver (besides a pager such as Unication) that will decode these xmissions as receive only at home when the APX is locked in the car?

None of the commercially available scanners will decode AES encryption.

 

[joeyperillo]

None of the commercially available scanners will decode AES encryption.

Yes, I was wondering about a professional, authorized receiver. Reckon I'll ask the radio techs...though this is where I find the best RF brains!

 

[Moto_user]

Yes, I was wondering about a professional, authorized receiver. Reckon I'll ask the radio techs...though this is where I find the best RF brains!

Yeah, your only option would be to buy a cheaper professional transceiver to use. I'm assuming its AES 256 encryption but you'd want to confirm that before you spend the money, to make sure you're buying a radio that's capable.

 

[a417]

Yes, I was wondering about a professional, authorized receiver. Reckon I'll ask the radio techs...though this is where I find the best RF brains!

Yes, the professional authorized reciever that is currently locked in your car.

They don't want you to listen on hardware they don't control. That radio is theirs, they let you use it. They control it, you only have it at their good graces.

 

[joeyperillo]

Yeah, your only option would be to buy a cheaper professional transceiver to use. I'm assuming its AES 256 encryption but you'd want to confirm that before you spend the money, to make sure you're buying a radio that's capable.

Thanks very much. I'll ask the techs if the county has any outdated but capable transceivers they might sell....thanks again.

 

[a417]

Thanks very much. I'll ask the techs if the county has any outdated but capable transceivers they might sell....thanks again.

They likely won't.

As soon as we write off radios, they are gone off the system for ever. We have positive control for a reason.

 

[mmckenna]

Yes, the professional authorized reciever that is currently locked in your car.

They don't want you to listen on hardware they don't control. That radio is theirs, they let you use it. They control it, you only have it at their good graces.

I was just typing essentially the same thing.
Unication Pager or a Professional radio that is authorized on your system and has the keys loaded in.

Buying your own radio is an option, but getting them to add encryption keys will be an entirely different challenge. They don't want keys in radios they don't control, that completely blows the purpose of encryption. And they will not give you keys.

 

[joeyperillo]

Yes, the professional authorized reciever that is currently locked in your car.

They don't want you to listen on hardware they don't control. That radio is theirs, they let you use it. They control it, you only have it at their good graces.

Understood. I just wondered if such animals existed....

 

[joeyperillo]

I was just typing essentially the same thing.
Unication Pager or a Professional radio that is authorized on your system and has the keys loaded in.

Buying your own radio is an option, but getting them to add encryption keys will be an entirely different challenge. They don't want keys in radios they don't control, that completely blows the purpose of encryption. And they will not give you keys.

Good point to consider, thanks. Of course I would ask the county techs if they would do it first after getting permission from the local police chief....neither of which is assumed....

 

[trentbob]

Hi Joey, I knew of your attempts to be promoted to FP status, congratulations, I'm just curious, do they give you access to PD zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3 and Zone 8? Or are you just restricted to Zone 5?

 

[joeyperillo]

See your Email, Bob!

 

[jtwalker]

So you ask if such a thing exists then put caveat “other than Unication” which is the answer to your query.

🤣

 

[joeyperillo]

So you ask if such a thing exists then put caveat “other than Unication” which is the answer to your query.

🤣

By which I simply meant that was the only brand I was aware of, wondered if there were others. I appreciate your response.

 

[MUTNAV]

You could always ask the techs and system manager that when they are ready to get rid of an old radio, if they could change it to receive only, leave the key in, and let you sign it out (basically get issued another older radio, that they wont have to maintain, and that has limits)... or a second new radio that they can recall whenever needed.....

Just an idea...
Thanks
Joel

 

[FFPM571]

"Locked in the car" Wouldn't you want to bring the radio in the house? and no system manager is going to give you an old radio.. Let you buy your own and put a key in... consider yourself lucky you have a department issued radio...

 

[iMONITOR]

Yes, the professional authorized reciever that is currently locked in your car.

They don't want you to listen on hardware they don't control. That radio is theirs, they let you use it. They control it, you only have it at their good graces.

+1 on this!

If you already have a "fire company issued APX 6000 that legally decodes encrypted talk groups", why would you keep it locked up in your vehicle instead of taking it in your house and you'd have everything you want?

 

[a417]

You could always ask the techs and system manager that when they are ready to get rid of an old radio, if they could change it to receive only, leave the key in, and let you sign it out (basically get issued another older radio, that they wont have to maintain, and that has limits)... or a second new radio that they can recall whenever needed.....

Just an idea...
Thanks
Joel

Knowing the radio room involved, they likely won't.