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Many of these systems are using the amateur radio service bands. Often 5GHz for video, 2.3-2.4GHz for control and telemetry and less frequently 1.2GHz, 900MHz
by cnnsucks 9y ago
Many of these systems are using the amateur radio service bands. Often 5GHz for video, 2.3-2.4GHz for control and telemetry and less frequently 1.2GHz, 900MHz and 70cm are also used. The FCC doesn't allow encrypted traffic on amateur bands except for specific cases such as satellite telecommand. I suppose that has discouraged adoption of cryptography.
What are commercial operators doing? Another limitation of Amateur bands is that they can't be used for commercial purposes, so licensed commercial drone operators must be using commercial bands where cryptography is permitted. Don't know myself; haven't looked into it.
- monkmartinez 9y ago> Another limitation of Amateur bands is that they can't be used for commercial purposes, so licensed commercial drone operators must be using commercial bands where cryptography is permitted. I don't think so. I think we can agree that many, many commercial operators use DJI. There are also lots of amateurs using DJI. Both use the same firmware. There is no option for me to encrypt or unencrypt my Phantom which I could easily use commercially if I had my FAA Part 107.
- cnnsucks 9y agoI see. So they're operating in the ISM portion of 2.4 and 5GHz. In that case they can encrypt. So the original question seems a good one; why haven't they yet?
- bradyd 9y agoMy understanding is that there is an exemption in amateur radio for model aircraft control signals that allows encryption [1]. [1] https://www.govregs.com/regulations/title47_chapterI_part97_subpartC_section97.215 https://www.govregs.com/regulations/title47_chapterI_part97_...
- zkms 9y ago> The FCC doesn't allow encrypted traffic on amateur bands Would traffic that is not encrypted but is instead authenticated (with a MAC tag or AEAD'd) be allowed? What are the exact FCC rules and laws at work?