5 ms·

One Time Pad Encryption Over Radio

15 points by w8rbt 10y ago

krupan 10y ago
I immediately thought of numbers stations when I read this title. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station Not quite as mysterious and intriguing, but still pretty cool.
gravypod 10y ago
I would very very very much suggest that no one transmits text from this over radio. At least in the USA, I'm nearly 100% sure that this is in violation of the Part 97 rules. If any unknowing HAM transmits anything from this, they are in for a world oh hurt.
- sseagull 10y ago
  Correct. 97.113 Prohibited Transmissions (a)(4) ... messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, except as otherwise provided herein... With one exception being telecommand of a space station (and possibly model craft). Source: http://www.arrl.org/part-97-amateur-radio http://www.arrl.org/part-97-amateur-radio (and the PDF linked there)
  - gravypod 10y ago
    Yes. This is what I was remembering. I'm a member of the HAM radio club in college, NJIT. We wanted to do a few projects that were stunted due to this arcane law.
    - csirac2 10y ago
      I think we "outsider" engineers forget (or miss the point on) why amateur radio enjoys the spectrum privileges it does: education, technical investigations, research... things that further the art and community. There's a large contingent of hams just listening. Encrypted meaningless noise on the air would be a "selfish" waste of spectrum incompatible with the neighbourly spirit espoused by most amateur radio organizations and hams themselves, not to mention damaging to the self-policing they're supposed to do. I alsl expect it wouldn't be "allowed" to persist as a hobby in its current form in many parts of the world if you added the threat of casual encrypted communications, beyond the reach of CALEA-type intercept capabilities into the mix.
    - aidenn0 10y ago
      The law is probably necessary for HAMs to be self policing.
      - gravypod 10y ago
        From the vibe I get from our club adviser, it seems like a "they'll find you if you do it for long enough" situation. I wouldn't want to tempt fate and do it. It's the same as if you have a noisy transmitter.

15 points by w8rbt 10y ago

I immediately thought of numbers stations when I read this title. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station Not quite as mysterious and intriguing, but still pretty cool.

gravypod 10y ago

I would very very very much suggest that no one transmits text from this over radio. At least in the USA, I'm nearly 100% sure that this is in violation of the Part 97 rules. If any unknowing HAM transmits anything from this, they are in for a world oh hurt.

sseagull 10y ago
Correct. 97.113 Prohibited Transmissions (a)(4) ... messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning, except as otherwise provided herein... With one exception being telecommand of a space station (and possibly model craft). Source: http://www.arrl.org/part-97-amateur-radio http://www.arrl.org/part-97-amateur-radio (and the PDF linked there)
- gravypod 10y ago
  Yes. This is what I was remembering. I'm a member of the HAM radio club in college, NJIT. We wanted to do a few projects that were stunted due to this arcane law.
  - csirac2 10y ago
    I think we "outsider" engineers forget (or miss the point on) why amateur radio enjoys the spectrum privileges it does: education, technical investigations, research... things that further the art and community. There's a large contingent of hams just listening. Encrypted meaningless noise on the air would be a "selfish" waste of spectrum incompatible with the neighbourly spirit espoused by most amateur radio organizations and hams themselves, not to mention damaging to the self-policing they're supposed to do. I alsl expect it wouldn't be "allowed" to persist as a hobby in its current form in many parts of the world if you added the threat of casual encrypted communications, beyond the reach of CALEA-type intercept capabilities into the mix.
  - aidenn0 10y ago
    The law is probably necessary for HAMs to be self policing.
    - gravypod 10y ago
      From the vibe I get from our club adviser, it seems like a "they'll find you if you do it for long enough" situation. I wouldn't want to tempt fate and do it. It's the same as if you have a noisy transmitter.