the Encryption boards are programmed with Asto software, then fitted into the XTS3000 motorola radios.
Decode the 4 digit code from 421 Mhz and enter this code
each day the 4 digit code must be changed
Asto software comes from radio workshops or from motorola[as long as your a dealer]
Is this legal - Don't know

[This message has been edited by proff (edited 02-28-2007).]

Are you saying that the decryption code is broadcast over the air? Seems kind of... insecure.

When I was doing radio we used DVP (and later DES) encryption. There was a portable "keyloader" that had to be used to manually load the encrypt/decrypt code into each radio, before it went out on the street. The radios were MX300s, if I remember correctly. I can only imagine how far the technology has advanced in 15 years. (The most advanced base/repeater I had any experience with was the MSF5000, or the PURC digital FSK paging transmitters. Probably obsolete by now.)

Are your radio systems trunked? Or do they use conventional repeaters? Still use analog modulation? What kind of bandwidth? (Narrowband UHF FM was just beginning to take hold when I left.)

Is anyone doing "iden" technology down there? Iden is the technology that Nextel and a couple of others use, here.
I believe it's CDMA. The cool thing about it is that it's already, essentially, encrypted. Anyone listening in with a scanner will just hear data that sounds like squelch noise.
Wreaks absolute havoc on adjacent channels, though.

You mean police don't use CB's anymore?

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: You mean police don't use CB's anymore?

Negatory.

(Admit it. What kind of an answer did you expect? )

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 03-01-2007).]

quote Are you saying that the decryption code is broadcast over the air? Seems kind of... insecure.

Negative, but those encryption seeds that are changed daily will be the secret to how the system works. An unencrypted handshake code will be sent over the air, another unencrypted "Handshake received, go ahead" code will be sent back, only if the result of the encryption algorithm applied to the seed matches, then the encrypted vocal communication channel is opened. The radios are "charged" with the encryption code before the officer goes out on patrol. The encryption seeds are kept securely at headquarters. And good luck finding the algorithm. The way the algorithm works, combined with current computing capabilities, it would take approximately 3 hours to crack the encryption. By the time you crack it, the code, not the seed, will have changed. So unless you have the specific hardware used by the officers, as well as the initial seed value, you're not listening in. It's much like how many secure packets work in terms of internet security. (RSA encryption, etc.) But cracking these systems are much harder than looking at encrypted internet packets because it's hardware-level encryption.

Sooo... police scanners don't work for police anymore?

quote Originally posted by Ravant: The radios are "charged" with the encryption code before the officer goes out on patrol. The encryption seeds are kept securely at headquarters. And good luck finding the algorithm.

Okay. That's more like how I imagined it (or thought I remembered it, from my experience in the business.)
Knew there had to be more to it. Motorola uses some slick technology.

quote Originally posted by ryan.hess: You mean police don't use CB's anymore?

They still do around here, at least some places Kinda fun to listen in (not really, that was sarcasm, I mean what are you gonna hear "Margaret the Hughes boy is drunk again, call Bob and have him put the sheep up.")

Wheaton uses cell phones cause the radios wont reach to the local sheriffs station, and Butterfield bless their little Hillbilly hearts have fully embraced C.B. radio for all it technological wonder, though they do have the traditional radios in the car, they just usually don't work.

Brad