Astro Digital Sabers

JerryS · Post by **JerryS** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:58 pm

I have some ads3's and I need to know how to get the digital encryption to work.

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:07 pm

Well thats a pretty vague question. Many more specifics about the radios should be told. But if you are looking for encryption you need secure modules and a keyloader to keyload them.

Jason

JerryS · Post by **JerryS** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:38 pm

KB9KST wrote:Well that's a pretty vague question. Many more specifics about the radios should be told. But if you are looking for encryption you need secure modules and a keyloader to keyload them.

Jason

I new it had something to do with the keyloader. The radios have the modules installed and when I turn the switch on it tells me "key fail". The problem that I am having is that some times when I transmit it tells me "key fail" then I change the Chanel and change it back and it works. sorry for being vague the first time

jmr061 · Post by **jmr061** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:45 pm

It it says key fail then the radio has lost the code and it should never work until key loaded again.

If it works sometimes and then not I would say you have a hardware issue.

Jason

compuman81 · Post by **compuman81** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:25 pm

you need to get a keyloader and load new keys in it.

each radio should have the same key, and you should verify that each radio has the same type of module, des, des-xl, des-ofb, dvp, etc. different types of modules can't communicate with one another. Another thing is check your configuration in each of the radio's codeplugs to make sure the secure section is all configured correctly and your switches are configured to allow secure/clear or you have some personalities strapped.

compuman81 · Post by **compuman81** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:27 pm

another thing to be noted is that you will get a key fail if you have a personality strapped secure and the radio can't start txing in secure mode for whatever reason, no key, bad hardware etc.

however, you get INVALID KEY when you're trying to transmit secure in the wrong type of mode, i.e. when the radio has an OFB module in it and you key down in secure on an analog channel.

JerryS · Post by **JerryS** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:49 pm

compuman81 wrote:you need to get a keyloader and load new keys in it.

Is the keyloader a radio looking device? were does one get one besides fleebay? Come to think of it do I really need the encryption installed? How would I go about removing the module so I don't have any problems and stop it from telling me "key fail"? The radios are only used from time to time in the mountains for training and car to car when we are traveling to the site. It is not like I need secured comms for any reason. I am looking into getting some regular saber 3's so I would need the astros to talk to the sabers. It would be nice if two of the radios were encrypted for command to talk but not necessary, I guess I could get the local radio shop to do that and would be cheper then buying a keyloader I would rather spend that money on more radios. Boy looking back at this post I guess the question now is how do I fix the radios so that the encryption is disabled and that the radios work?

compuman81 · Post by **compuman81** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:57 pm

yes, it looks like a radio. read batdude's encryption primer :

http://members.aol.com/batlabsdotcom/encryption.pdf

There are some pictures of keyloaders at the bottom I think.

They can be acquired here in the For sale forum or at hamfests. they're on ebay tool.

JerryS · Post by **JerryS** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:20 pm

JerryS wrote:
compuman81 wrote:you need to get a keyloader and load new keys in it.
Is the keyloader a radio looking device? were does one get one besides fleebay? Come to think of it do I really need the encryption installed? How would I go about removing the module so I don't have any problems and stop it from telling me "key fail"? The radios are only used from time to time in the mountains for training and car to car when we are traveling to the site. It is not like I need secured comms for any reason. I am looking into getting some regular saber 3's so I would need the astros to talk to the sabers. It would be nice if two of the radios were encrypted for command to talk but not necessary, I guess I could get the local radio shop to do that and would be cheper then buying a keyloader I would rather spend that money on more radios. Boy looking back at this post I guess the question now is how do I fix the radios so that the encryption is disabled and that the radios work?

bump

compuman81 · Post by **compuman81** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:25 pm

All you have to do is reprogram the radios with the CPS and uncheck the Secure equipped checkbox. This makes the radio completely IGNORE the secure hardware. I don't even know if the secure emc version will show in the service mode if you don't have that checkbox checked. That's basically it. Send me your secure boards too, if yoo don't want them, lol. If you're not planning on using the secure feature, have your local shop remove the modules or do it yourself, however its not necessary whatsoever.