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Author Topic: Secure radio comms  (Read 1155 times)

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Offline Mark 79

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Re: Secure radio comms
« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2022, 08:39:58 PM »
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    • Quote from: SkyRoam on January 26, 2022, 08:31:52 PM
    Good to know that info about AMRRON. Thanks. Only a few members up here in the Northern Wastes.

    Was thinking of eventually trying D-STAR. Using DMR.



    Baofengs are fine and good. Mark makes a valid point. Any radio with transmit capability, not dependent on Government/Big Tech infrastructure, is an advantage. I have a CB in my truck.
    D-STAR (for as long as we have it) is really spectacular. Using ICOMs I've talked to hams in Japan, Greece, and Australia and it's like talking face-to-face, far better than cell reception.
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #16 on: January 26, 2022, 08:44:15 PM »
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    • Quote from: bodeens on January 26, 2022, 08:33:48 PM
    Biggest problem with modding Yaesus is hurting your waterproofing.  Fantastic company though, although I have some Baofengs I own more Yaesu :)

    Using Raspberry Pis or Android phones is fine for encryption stuff, there's apps on the F-Droid repository for CW and you can just drag and drop encrypted comms to that and it just uses your headphone jack to interface with your radio. You can even use other messengers like Smoke and set up peer to peer filesharing etc. Smoke is great because it requires 0 infrastructure, it is designed to be used without internet so it's good for radio. I think a lot of preppers underthink how much p2p filesharing is going to change the game in any kind of situation where encrypted radio comms are normalized.

    I can highly recommend HackRF with PortaPacks, this SDR setup is a gamechanger is affordable and has some great programs built in :)
    With what kind of throughput? It is an agony waiting for even small files or low res images by digital modes… and then error correction demands a re-send… pretty frustrating when band conditions are unfavorable.
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #17 on: January 26, 2022, 08:46:33 PM »
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    • Quote from: bodeens on January 26, 2022, 08:37:01 PM
    HackRF PortaPack with the Chaos/Mayhem firmware is still sold on ebay too.
    I'm not at all familiar with the product. Please elaborate.
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    Offline bodeens

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #18 on: January 26, 2022, 08:58:55 PM »
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    • Quote from: Mark 79 on January 26, 2022, 08:46:33 PM
    I'm not at all familiar with the product. Please elaborate.
    It's a very high portability SDR. It also has logging abilities, some basic apps like replay capture/attack etc. I have very big hands but it fits comfortably in my hands and easily can be stashed in a pack. It has a "play dead" function in case it is confiscated and requires a specific button sequence you set to unlock then :)

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/284505179326
    Is an example of a preassembled kit.

    It's been made infamous by...

    I love how the news says they cost 20k USD to discourage you :)
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    Offline SkyRoam

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #19 on: January 26, 2022, 09:05:45 PM »
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    • Quote from: Mark 79 on January 26, 2022, 08:44:15 PM
    With what kind of throughput? It is an agony waiting for even small files or low res images by digital modes… and then error correction demands a re-send… pretty frustrating when band conditions are unfavorable.
    True. Images/graphics problematic on noisy HF, but that is why I think focus should be on transmitting simple text/numbers, i.e. much smaller files, or simple one-line messages. Make transmissions short and to the point, especially where everything is surveilled, in the prepping context. 300 baud data modes on HF is then not so bad after all.

    Radio today is more so visual than audible, panadapters with flashy GUIs vs. knobs with a small frequency displays. Personally, I'm not so much enamored with a rich multi-media experience when it comes to radio. With recent marriage of radio and the internet, the medium of transmission is more so "artificial" underground cables and not the "natural" atmosphere. We've come full circle so to speak, from the early days of telegraphic wires. When radio was first invented, was it not called the "Wireless"....
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    Offline bodeens

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #20 on: January 26, 2022, 09:11:35 PM »
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    • Quote from: Mark 79 on January 26, 2022, 08:44:15 PM
    With what kind of throughput? It is an agony waiting for even small files or low res images by digital modes… and then error correction demands a re-send… pretty frustrating when band conditions are unfavorable.
    HF I agree, it's near impossible to send anything of a reasonable size. Small BW images like simple maps in particular I am thinking of.
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    Regard all of my posts as unfounded slander, heresy, theologically specious etc
    I accept Church teaching on Implicit Baptism of Desire.
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    NO is a good Mass.
    Not an ironic sig.

    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #21 on: January 26, 2022, 10:20:55 PM »
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    • Quote from: bodeens on January 26, 2022, 08:58:55 PM
    It's a very high portability SDR.
    Thank you.
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #22 on: January 26, 2022, 10:24:16 PM »
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    • Quote from: SkyRoam on January 26, 2022, 09:05:45 PM
    …panadapters with flashy GUIs vs. knobs with a small frequency displays…

    Yes. My ICOM 7300's waterfall display ruined me.

    I waited for the ICOM 9700 only to be disappointed. It cannot be jailbroken because it doesn't even have sections for non-ham bands :-(

    In view of the microchip supply problems I won't hold my breath that any manufacturer will bring a suitable unit to market.
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    Offline SkyRoam

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #23 on: January 26, 2022, 11:23:47 PM »
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    • ...In view of the microchip supply problems I won't hold my breath that any manufacturer will bring a suitable unit to market.

    Without microchips, it could be that we will be forced to go back to using boat anchor's like this:

    https://youtu.be/j1S6-FDRmlA?t=79

    Built like tanks...Was listening to two American hams rag chewing on HF a few years ago: One said his son was in the military, and he told his father that the military was searching and collecting such radios for a possible WROL/SHTF future scenario. Quite sure he was serious. But who knows?
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #24 on: January 26, 2022, 11:41:23 PM »
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    • When I see such radios at swap meets, the prices commanded are astonishing.
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    Offline Quo vadis Domine

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #25 on: January 27, 2022, 03:32:09 AM »
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    • Quote from: Mark 79 on January 26, 2022, 08:36:21 PM
    The FCC advisory was issued September 24, 2018, but sales of "non-compliant" (jailbroken) radios continued for quite a while. I think the first "compliant" Baofeng I saw personally was in 2020.
    Thank you.
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #26 on: January 27, 2022, 01:49:31 PM »
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Secure radio comms
    « Reply #27 on: January 27, 2022, 03:27:38 PM »
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    • If you find a used Baofeng at a hamfest swap meet, it is easy to check whether or not it is compliant.

    Tune to any of the FRS or GMRS frequencies (see linked chart).
    Set it to the lowest legal power (see linked chart).
    Click the PTT (Press To Talk) button.
    If you see that you can transmit, it is jailbroken.
    If you cannot transmit, it is FCC compliant).

    If it is an online sale, you don't have the test option. You'd have to trust the seller.
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