Astro Spectra Plus Secure Question

[4n6inv]

This one borders the fence on the P25 Radios Forum and the Encryption Forum, so I'm just flipping a coin.

I have an Astro Spectra Plus with a correct UCM and a screwed up keyloader. Problem is; the SO uses OFB around 50% of the time. Some officers use it all of the time. And; I can't take the county KVL3000 Plus home to load my console.

I'd always seen "Proper Code Detect" somewhere in secure options and usually had it disabled so I'd know when we changed keys and could zip by and blow the new keys into my vehicle(s).

Evidently; with the AS+, Proper Code Detect is only functional in analog. So; my annoyance is this: I can't get my crippled T3011DX to load the keys properly, and we're in P25 mode. So; I have to listen to 50% annoying gibberish 50% of the time. Does anyone know of a software switch that pertains to Astro mode that would silence the annoying non-decrypted audio?

Thanks in advance.

 

[motorola_otaku]

I would start by asking what goober tech allowed the cops to select encryption on/off, but that is a question probably best left for the Lounge. (NOTE: if you are the responsible goober and had to bow to political pressure to do it the wrong way I am right there with you.)

If they happen to be transmitting a conventional talkgroup ID you can set the RX Unmute Rule for that conventional personality to "Selective Squelch." That will restrict unmute to proper NAC, TGID, and key ID. If they don't transmit a TGID I think you might be boned.

 

[4n6inv]

It's a conventional P25 VHF single channel system. Our sheriff is quite a bit more knowledgeable about technical matters regarding radios. He's very prudent about policing the "secure" issue and changes the keys about every six months. Although, most of the radio traffic that's in secure is not of a sensitive nature. It seems to be used arbitrarily. I know of one officer in particular who only uses secure for his radio traffic. The sheriff is more than happy to "share" his keys with my T3011xX keyloader, as we've been friends since I moved here (I lost a bet with God) in 2006 in exchange for my helping with radio issues. But; he's not foolish enough to let me borrow his KVL300+ to take home and load from his. He keeps it in his safe when not in use.

All of the radios have an Astro ID that is broadcast during the radio traffic, and I have been able to affiliate it with the officers name in in my Astro Call List, to show the name, even though we don't use "Call".

I'm not sure if that will help; but I'll give it a try when I get home tonight.

Thanks for the information! I hope it works. Drives me nuts, otherwise.

 

[4n6inv]

OK. I programmed it for Selective Squelch. But; it honked at me when I did. I had to enable a TGID to make the error go away.

I'm receiving audio, so it didn't hose me down completely, but I'll have to wait a while to see if it kills the noise. There's not an abundance of traffic on a weeknight out here in the sticks.

I replaced a few more questionable components on my T3011DX, but it's still just as hosed. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. Powers up, takes his key share, indicates a successful key load on my AS+, but won't decrypt the secure. But won't try to load any legacy stuff. FAIL every time. Bazaar.

Thanks, again.

 

[4n6inv]

OK. I programmed it for Selective Squelch. But; it honked at me when I did. I had to enable a TGID to make the error go away.

I'm receiving audio, so it didn't hose me down completely, but I'll have to wait a while to see if it kills the noise. There's not an abundance of traffic on a weeknight out here in the sticks.

I replaced a few more questionable components on my T3011DX, but it's still just as hosed. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. Powers up, takes his key share, indicates a successful key load on my AS+, but won't decrypt the secure. But won't try to load any legacy stuff. FAIL every time. Bazaar.

OK, motorola_otaku; you win the double bonus in "Thanks!" Not only does it work, but everything else (except secure) is working perfectly as well. No more gibberish - although; I have to admit that it's WEIRD hearing one side of a conversation and not the other. As I said before; some just use it arbitrarily. When we REALLY need to use secure; we key up and say" XXX to XXX "In Secure" - meaning; we actually need to keep this off the scanners.

Double Thanks - NO; Triple! I'd have never found that in a million years.

Thanks, again.

 

[cyrus]

I'm pretty sure every conventional channel sends a default NAC of 1 whether the conventional talkgroup option is turned on or not.

 

[4n6inv]

In Texas - at least everywhere that I know of, use the three digit county code as their NAC. So, ours is unique. All of the agencies in our county use the same NAC code on their channels. Simplifies things. It was the TGID that I was worried about, because I programmed the radios, and never associated a Talkgroup ID. Don't really need it with 26 officers. So, I just set it to 1, and held my breath. Fortunately, before I finished the post, I heard radio traffic in the clear, so I knew I wasn't completely hosed. Then I heard one side of a conversation, a pause, and then an answer - which would seem to indicate that it blocked the secure noise from breaking squelch. That happened several times. Looks good, so far.

Oddly enough; Officer Poser - who was the one that I mentioned using secure all of the time has come through in the clear for a couple of transmissions. Maybe he figured out what that funky circle with the slash through it was for. Nah...

Thanks for the information. One more tid-bit of knowledge to add to my 1KB brain cell. They've really changed the CPS - along with the firmware features - since I programmed their radios. That was around CPS Rev. 11. Yeah; it's been a while.

 

[4n6inv]

*UPDATE* Made it all night without the gerbils in my consolette. Cool beans. Thanks.

You 'da man!

 

[motorola_otaku]

If you are responsible for this particular agency's programming it would behoove you to program their entire fleet for Selective Squelch and enable a default TGID of 1. Then you can use the repeater with your own TGID and key and no one will be the wiser. At least, no one who understands the Busy light anyway.

What I meant by my previous comment was, it's considered good practice nowadays to strap a channel secure when secure comms are needed and take the decision out of the hands of Officer Bumplefart. If not you inevitably end up with someone blurting out something embarrassing or damaging in the clear when they think they're secure. Even programming the same channel in twice with one strapped clear, the other strapped secure, and different channel tags is a wiser option because it forces the user to think and be cognitive of what mode they're in.

 

[4n6inv]

All very good points. Except; I'd NEVER try to pull anything over on David! He notices when one particle of dust is moved. And; he knows a heck of a lot about radios and programming. In fact, the reason that I haven't redone their programming is that he does most of it himself, now. He opened an MOL account and has all of the CPS for all of his radios, repeater, and consoles. And; he experiments quite often, after much research. I don't think anyone would believe how smart he is. He even has a SmartRIB to flash the remaining Astro Spectras that he has. Incredible guy.

As far as the secure issue; we have a simplex channel with a unique NAC that's strapped secure, but only three people and myself have it. All of the radios are single key capable, except for his, two others and myself. We have a second key just for that channel that strapped to it. Yeah; he's that smart.

I agree about the select secure, but I've yet to hear anyone divulge anything in the clear. If it's sensitive; we give the preamble "XXX to XXX In Secure". You've already initiated the call in secure, so no one knows what's being said, except for the officers, and they know to switch to secure. Some, however, just leave it there, or forget about it and that's annoying when I'm listening to my consolette. OFB is so clear, that when I'm in my car, I have to look at the display to see if they're in secure. Either that, or the previously mentioned preamble.

God; I hope I can get my keyloader fixed, or see my pimp so I can afford another KVL3000+. Divorces are hell on finances and toys.

 

[MattSR]

You mean you have a KVL3000+ already and you need another one?

damn!

 

[4n6inv]

I wish! I USED to have a KVL3000+ several years ago, but had to sell it to pay attorney fees in a nasty divorce (along with my XTS5000, Service Monitor, and lots of other toys). Now; I have a pitiful T3011BX upgraded to a DX - but not working.

 

[motorola_otaku]

A "tech tone" on the repeater doesn't necessarily need to be used for nefarious purposes. Sometimes you just need to test things without bothering the rest of the users.

 

[4n6inv]

True fact. Didn't think of it that way... Another good point taken.

I have my fingers in my ears waiting on something to go wrong with the repeater. It's a 10 year old Quantar, but has been kept in an excellent climate controlled environment. I PM it once a year, and it still looks like new. I have concerns about a 10 year old repeater - even though it sees fairly light use.