The way I've been looking at this is on D*STAR or any other digital mode the information is nothing but ones and zeros. If you encrypt the data for specific needs then the data itself may not be readable but the ones and zeros are still available.
I do believe that the FCC needs to clarify some information to better reflect information handling for security needs. On the other hand if I use a device that encrypts and it is available to anyone is that a problem? For instance password protecting an excel sheet... Lot's to ponder here. Yes. I believe that there are times where you should be able to Encrypt the data you are sending. A perfect example is during an SNS Activation where I need to keep track of turn by turn data for the supply truck, shelter statuses, etc.. I don't want every Tom, Dick, and Harry to know this information. Also, public safety systems do fail (they are so expensive and complex) that they have problems. We may be last line infrastructure but, we need the ability to support everyone. Eric M. Gildersleeve ~ KD7CAO -----Original Message----- From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Barry A. Wilson Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 12:29 AM To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Encryption on Amateur Frequencies I think Chuck has made some rather relevant comments on topic without getting into all the emotional issues of what one thinks is or isn't in the Rules. I think he has a firm grip on the topic. I too personally feel that we need to address these issues especially with the capabilities of our D-STAR Technology. Having an ID-1 with internet connectivity could easily compromise an operator if a hyperlink routes to an HTTPS: site. Or what if we set up an amateur radio backup link for local hospitals and an e-mail is sent via OUTLOOK with a .zip attachment or someone request us to relay a file that is password protected. Does that not contain encrypted information somewhere in the message even if the general message content is readable. Yes these are grey areas left to interpretation and I feel much like Chuck that we need to address these What if's before they are needed during actual emergencies. I think the FCC respondent was in his own fantasy world when he said you simply need to grab a commercial / public safety radio to complete the communications. I think Chuck is well aware many of these systems go down during actual emergencies so they aren't available. Evidently this FCC Representative has never been in a disaster area. If you haven't worked emergency communications then you have never really seen the need Chuck is addressing. The last NDMS Exercise we held here in Colorado had a lot of amateur radio participation. A local hospital here in Denver suffered an actual loss of their internet connectivity during the day of the exercise and was unable to enter patient data from incoming casualty patients because they couldn't access the States https: database. If they had had access to an ID-1 and internet connectivity they still couldn't perform their mission directly with amateur radio as a back up with the system accessing an https: internet site since that would be using Encryption on amateur Frequencies. Yes information was passed after the fact but had this been an actually incident with mass casualties having the ability to use amateur radio would have ideally completed the data link during the emergency. Just as a further note, there has been difficulties with other exercises because the participants are not familiar with the operation of the States 800MHz system so it has never worked as anticipated during the exercises and the always fall back on the amateurs to relay their information. There are also area communities which operate on non compatible systems like EDACS and DTRS so they often have trouble linking the systems to communicate between the two. This is the real world! Barry KA0BBQ From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Charles Scott Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2009 1:43 PM To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Encryption on Amateur Frequencies Chuck - N8DNX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Please TRIM your replies or set your email program not to include the original message in reply unless needed for clarity. ThanksYahoo! Groups Links __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3731 (20090101) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 3733 (20090102) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com
