XTS2500 ADP software encryption questions

[shadowman]

gday all, ive noticed panter88 selling these uhf xts2500 and they have ADP software encryption in the flash..i know you program the keys in via the CPS but can anyone confirm that the adp software encryption doesnt need a board or any hardware installed to work properly? or is it exactly what the name states "software encryption" as long as it is in the flash then it will work? thanks for your help guys. cheers

Shadowman

[MattSR]

Yeah it doesn't need hardware. All the crypto is done in the host firmware/processor.

You get what you pay for though - it's not as secure as hardware encryption.

[MTS2000des]

good enough to render consumer scanner radios useless and make attempts to intercept any such transmissions illegal (at least in the USA)

[hiker64012]

Yeah it doesn't need hardware. All the crypto is done in the host firmware/processor.

You get what you pay for though - it's not as secure as hardware encryption.

Any idea how good it sounds secure as compared to open? Wondering as it's software based that it might sound a little better rather than having to go through a board.

[shadowman]

thanks for the replies guys . that info is what i wanted to hear:) i think im going to get one of his cheap xts2500s for a cheap everyday use radio. cheers


Shadowman

[MTS2000des]

just make sure you give it a good alignment. Many of them never got to final stages of order prep so they never got fully QC'ed. Everyone I've had I gave a once over. Other than that, they work fine and are good for NON-CRITICAL use.

[MattSR]

Any idea how good it sounds secure as compared to open? Wondering as it's software based that it might sound a little better rather than having to go through a board.

ALL P25 crypto (hardware or otherwise) does not affect voice quality at whatsoever.

[escomm]

Any idea how good it sounds secure as compared to open? Wondering as it's software based that it might sound a little better rather than having to go through a board.

ALL P25 crypto (hardware or otherwise) does not affect voice quality at whatsoever.

Voice is converted to ones and zeroes not once but twice and then recovered, neither processes are lossless, please explain this assertion.

[MattSR]

Voice is only ever converted from analog to digital once in a P25 radio (Yes even when in encrypted)

In clear mode, the vocoder spits out a raw data stream of 1's and zeros, then has the EC algorithms applied (Golay, Reed-Solomon etc), then the raw data goes through the shaping a nyquist filters and to the RF end of things. Thats only one A to D conversion.

In Encrypted mode, the vocoder spits out a raw data stream of 1's and zeros, which then goes to the crypto board in digital format, comes out of the crypto board in digital format, then goes back to the host firmware for the FEC algorithms to be applied (Golay, Reed-Solomon etc) That's still only one A to D conversion at the start in the vocoder.

The encryption process of digital is completely lossless. P25 crypto modules take digital data in and spit digital data out, theres no conversion in there. Its a bit like encrypting a binary file such as a MS Word document - You don't lose any quality or see characters randomly change when you do that, P25 is the same.

[MattSR]

If you're interested Jeff, heres some references that explain the process well enough for someone to design and build their own P25 radio:-

TIA.102-AAAA Project 25 DES Encryption Protocol
TIA.102-AAAC Conformance Spec for P25 DES Encryption Protocol (It even uses an open source Aussie crypto library for the DES routines!)
TIA.102-AAAD P25 Block encryption protocol

[shadowman]

ok all i got a panter xts2500 with flashcode 5A9081-401307-1 how do i set up the software based ADP? cheers all

[shadowman]

when i go in to service mode with the 5 button presses should it show that the radio has ADP software encryption? or does it only show slots for Modules and if they have something n them? cheers all

[shadowman]

all good. enable secure in software .. and it shows the ADP in the test mode.. and when programed it with a correct key it worked fine. cheers.

[MattSR]

Good work.

FYI - ADP uses the same style of algorithm as MotoTRBO Advanced Privacy so it's roughly as secure.

[RKG]

Yeah it doesn't need hardware. All the crypto is done in the host firmware/processor.

You get what you pay for though - it's not as secure as hardware encryption.

Any idea how good it sounds secure as compared to open? Wondering as it's software based that it might sound a little better rather than having to go through a board.

Invoking ADP encryption has zero impact on audio quality.

You may be thinking about the old days of DVP, where first you had to convert analog voice to digital voice and then encrypt the digits. ADP only works with digital voice in the first place, so whatever effect there is on audio quality is a function the vocoder, not the encryption routine.

[MattSR]

Wheres the "I like this" button