3 ms·

This is cool, but since all forms of encryption are prohibited on amateur radio frequencies, not the most practical.

• tlrobinson 12y ago
  (FYI, I believe encryption is forbidden, but digital signatures are ok)
  • a-priori 12y ago
    The rules vary by country. In the US, the FCC has prohibited amateur stations from using encryption intended to 'obscure the meaning' of a transmission. It's a grey area whether you're permitted to encrypt something for other purposes. This permits digital signatures, since they do not obscure anything. In Canada, the Radiocommunication Regulations only permit amateur stations to 'use a code or cipher that is not secret'. That prohibits any form of encryption unless you publish all keys involved in the transmission. By my reading of it, it also seems to prohibit creating a digital signature, since such a signature could be considered a code that is based on a key that is not public (otherwise anyone could forge your signature). I'm not sure if there's any official rulings on this.
• morganvachon 12y ago
  Encryption isn't necessary or even wanted in an emergency situation, which is when something like this comes into play. I've been a licensed amateur operator for 16 years, and during relays and training events we've always gone by the maxim that the most informative, clearest, and shortest message possible is the best in an emergency. Bringing amateur radio text messaging into the modern age is never going to be easy or 100% practical, but it can be done, and I think it would be great if it makes any headway.
• VLM 12y ago
  I didn't see anything in the article suggesting encryption.