Secure Radio Communications

00:00 - Intro
01:37 - Legality
03:57 - Frequency
07:05 - Analog vs. Digital
10:00 - Encryption
17:00 - Is it worth it?
17:34 - Basic Data Breadcrumbs
18:48 - Low Power
20:43 - Terrain Masking, Directional Antennas
23:57 - Data Burst
27:39 - The Family Factor
30:50 - Conclusion

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DISCLAIMER: This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney.

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[urkince]

Maybe I'm just weird, but at this point in the game, the "entertaining" tactical stuff around plate carriers, rifles, and other coolguy HSLD stuff just isn't all that interesting to me because its simple to understand. The more nuanced stuff like this fascinates me. Comms, camouflage, logistics, intel, opsec, landnav; this stuff gets the old juices flowing, and is way more useful than which trigger or cummerbund to buy. I am super glad that you guys, and others like you are putting this kind of info out there. Keep up the amazing work.

[wintryhard]

Please dont change. I come to this channel to learn the "boring" stuff. You have open my eyes to a lot of things I haven't even thought about. Just an amazing place to learn.

[NonyaDamnbusiness]

DSTAR on a bizarro freq works well for short DPRS (DSTAR APRS) bursts sending AES-256-encrypted text files and short unencrypted digital voice comms. DSTAR never really caught on here in the U.S. despite Icom and Kenwood trying to push it and the chip shortage has really exacerbated things to the point where Kenwood just killed off their entire DSTAR-capable HT line and Icom only has a single HT using it. And since DSTAR uses different encoding from every other digital radio spec like the ubiquitous DMR, C4FM, and now P25 the only thing that can really decode it are other DSTAR amateur radios or special-purpose-built USB decoder boards that no one builds because AMBE chips are hard to get now. And unless the eavesdropping DSTAR radio is modded to work on the same bizarro freq you're using, you're pretty much invisible to the atrocious sad hams that never mod their radios to do this.
While DSTAR is an "open spec" it requires an AMBE chip to decode and thanks to the chip shortage, there's only a single expensive DSTAR HT you can buy now and it's a low quantity. And it takes know-how on how to configure a special USB AMBE breakout board to decode any captured transmissions, something the locals just won't put time or effort into.
For quick-n-dirty use one can use any of the Yaesu System Fusion digital HTs on a bizarro freq using C4FM. The Yaesu FT-70DR is dual-band C4FM digital and only $175 right now and can be modded fairly easily.

But to get really, really down-n-dirty, just use a Raspeberry Pi-powered digital hat powered by a 24000mAh battery pack tethered to a burner smartphone in your backpack or open wifi AP at any coffee shop and have the Pi running MMDVM to connect to an overseas VoIP server running Shark RF's open-sourced Connector Protocol Server via encrypted VPN. Set the HT to super-low-power (like .3 watts) and good luck being found when on the move...unless they know your burner smartphone IMEI and track you that way. Fairly secure world-wide voice comms that way.
Or go full-bore paranoid and start using Icom's super-expensive Voice-over-Satellite HTs they just came out with - that's AES-256 encrypted from the HTs themselves all the way to the server you can set up and install pretty much anywhere on the planet. That takes a LOT of money.

Eventually someone's going to roll their own AES-256 encryption board for digital ham radio HTs/mobiles and then the fun really begins. Right now on my desk sits an AMBE USB board and speaker/mic setup that allows me to talk through DSTAR, DMR, and System Fusion repeaters across the planet using MMDVM I cross-compiled for Windows and doesn't use "the airwaves" at all.
And it can even connect to Shark RF's IP connector protocol server software via VPN. The company that made the hardware stopped making it many years ago so it's kind of security-via-obsolescence. Folks can talk to me via their internet-connected repeaters but they don't know *exactly* where I am thanks to the use of random VPN providers.
So many rabbit holes, so little time.

[Ktmoney]

As a Ham operator, you are spot on with your information. Great video, I hope more people get caught up on the importance of comms. Nice job!

[Arzosoth]

S2 barely touched on this, but there are other forms of encryption that don't rely on technology- One Time Pads (OTP) and coded language. An example, the North Korean Numbers Stations, which occasionally say things like "Homework update for our distant education students: Work problems 72, 86, 97 and 51". The numbers correlate to values on an one time pad, containing explicit instructions (Ex, maybe 51 = " get updated intel package from dead drop"). Coded language is even easier and kids used to do it all the time, example lets say you and your crew agree that saying "We are going to Jimmys for Pizza" means actually that "x location is no longer secure, go to secondary site"; despite the communication being innocuous and even irrelevant to an outsider, those who know now can take action. None of these systems are perfect of course (no system is) but can be helpful if dealing with substandard equipment / limited training / etc.

[murphnturph]

My buddies and I used to "encrypt" our messages over radio when we were younger. We had matching dictionaries and would code individual words with page numbers and the word would be the second number going down the page, separated by a dash. Messages would just be jotted down on paper during xmit and rcv to keep translating easy, short and concise over the waves. We also had universal codes, like an emergency would be a string of ninety nines, an urgent message would be proceeded by a string of zeroes, and a routine transmission would just be five clicks of the ptt to get your attention.

Sure, maybe not great for every situation, but it was just neighborhood fun back then.

[stephenreese]

Deployed to Afghanistan, I struggled with the concept of secure communications. I Squirted my military with encryption keys to ensure “protected” communications but, also operated VHF and UHF radios because they had better range for my troops. This episode helps me to understand what I did not appreciate!

[JamesJohnson-okhn]

i am a 1 year old amature radio operator and I have had quite a difficult time trying to understand why i need to know these other forms of communications ie. dstar ect.. ive always preferred using the old school analog radios., However given the current atmosphere of things I can see why knowing it is actually a good thing. Your method of explanation of the materials has been a TREMENDOUS help for me. So I will soldier on and get ready for my general exams. One other thing, ive always loved radio. since i was a child shortwave put me to sleep at night my parents were involved in military and commercial radio but i never got the bug. It wasnt until a couple of years ago and censorship on media that i decided to buy a cb radio- 11 meter. with ssb. OH MY GOD it was a come to jesus moment . since then ive advanced quickly with 1 of everything..LOL but i especially like the ability to travel the world and not go out of the house. loads of fun.. This topics you have been covering has been great food for thought. I am really enjoying them. Thank you for all the hard work involved in giving us better insights to the world around us..

[skyjumper]

You guys are providing an international public service. Almost like something government's are supposed to do... Thank you.

[jessicaSmash]

I’m a girl who couldn’t hook up my stereo. But I hunkered down and got my tech license. If I can do it, anyone with determination can do it.

[Wayne_VKECS]

Wow incredibly educational video, here in Australia we to suffer from big brother & all our law enforcement & in some areas even fire and medical are all encrypted.

Secure comms has always been front & center of my SHTF plan including using Encryption, keeping Tx's as short as possible & to a minimum, only tx'ing where possible at a predetermined time, not mentioning people or places by name but by an "Aliase" location known only by another or other group members, using split tx's & rx ( tx on 1 freq but rx on another, or tx on 1 band put rx on another band, changing tx & rx freq's anything from every day to every hr, as you mentioned keeping pwr to an absolute minimum & where appropriate & possible using very directional antennas, using data bursts where possible instead of voice & encrypting ( coding ) thoes data bursts so that they dont mran anything to anyone who may intercept these tx's as well astrying to use terrain as your friend.

Some times as the old saying goes the best way to hide is to hide in plain sight where no onewould think to look for you & that might be in a portion of "another band"

Im very lucky im both an amateur ( in Australia) as well as working full time in the comms industry & so have a view to & access to a lot of gear & information that very few others do.

Look forward to further videos, keep up the great vids.

Wayne.

[CLCustom]

Being slightly above average proficiency in the basics puts you lightyears ahead of the vast majority. Comms is HUGE. Great video. I sincerely thank you for your content.

[KSDAY]

This video is remarkably excellent in every way. Very well done.

[grawlixyootu]

You missed NVIS and how polarization can be used to mask RF. However, I applaud how you covered directional antennas. Directional antennas are hands down the best way to protect emissions. Even within that realm, there are ways to further hide RF emissions.

Emission control is key...

[spacecowboy]

I honeslty appreciate the pragmatic and "boring" tone of your content. Because the day-to-day of any operation is not "entertaining" but 100% necessary to understand and to plan for. I cant fathom why more people don't subscribe. Creative thinking, plans, and strategies can make any SHTF operators more effective. Or just the average man who wants to be left alone. Keep up the great work.

[marcothehammer]

I'm 64 now and I'm more interested in Ham radio now than ever.
I remember my dad telling me how helpful Ham radio can be in times of emergency.
He was born in 1909, lived through the depression and served in the U.S.N.R., stationed at Dutch Harbor, Alaska during WW2.
I also remember the strict requirements for a Ham from when I was a kid; you had to build your own radio set!
We might as well get set for the new normal, because the good old days are really over for good.

[experiment]

Really good video. Good reminder about the "family factor" as you put it. If you want to keep in touch with Granny and pop-pop when cell service is down, your radios better be easy to use and your comms plan better be printed in 18pt font.

[Jack-bull]

Great Channel, great content. The "boring" stuff is often the most important. Please keep the grret content coming. Your dedication does not go unnoticed or unappreciated

[dtl]

1. What you communicate
2. Who you communicate to
3. Who might be listening?

What frequency do you use?
* By operating on bands & frequencies less people use you increase your op-sec
1. VHF/UHF - Most common band
2. HF radio - less common with the general populace, very common with HAMS, very long range
3. 6m, 8m, 1.25 bands - less common HAM bands
4. 700/800/900 MHz - far way from traditional VHF/UHF bands, but becoming more popular.
5. Oddbal frequencies - e.g hiding within bands

Analog vs Digital
* Analog signals - can not be encrypted & this relates to the vast majority of hobby & amateur use. Analog radios are the most common type of radios.
* Digital signals - digital radios are more expensive, need a licence & are hard to build repeaters for

Op-sec & Encryption
1. "Privacy tones" - do NOT use these (CTCSS codes, PL tones). You can still be heard by others even though you can't hear them!
2. Digital modes - digital modes can't be heard on analog radios, but analog radios can be heard by both analog & digital radios. Thus, the people who can listen to you on a digital radios is far less than those on analog radios.
3. Trunked - are not encrypted but use complex digital modes making it very hard for civilians to hear even if they are using a digital radio. Often favoured by police departments.
3. Proprietary encryption - Not easy to verify as it's usually closed source (e.g. 128 bit, 40 bit).
4. AES-256 - The Gold standard, not crackable.

I'm starting my journey into amateur radio purely for SHTF purposes. As such I don't intend to outlay a lot of money (initially) into this endeavour. Also, no-one else in my family has any experience in comms so I need something easy to use. As such, I have decided upon a set of Bofeng UV-5R radios with Abree 24" antennas & the larger 3800 mA batteries.

I think the only thing I can do during SHTF on my UV-5R is to use the minimum required power, use short transmission, stay away from "Privacy tones" & use more obscure frequencies. I don't want to invest in a digital radio.

[joeglennaz]

I live in Phoenix and I had a police scanner when I was 13. I listen to that thing daily and loved it. Also listening to air traffic from sky harbor until I was about 30. That’s when Phoenix PD switched to digital. I bought a digital scanner and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to program it, so I paid someone to program it. Then I could never understand the conversations you said, in this video that they’re clear it was yak exact opposite for me they were garbled communication. Also, with the analog, every precinct had a channel and then there was a specific channel for emergency traffic channel 1. Are they called it chase so when a Thon went out on the precinct channel, they would have everyone switch to channel 1 that was going to be on the emergency traffic call and I would switch to one and follow it from there. I could hear all sides of the conversation. All that ended with the digital scanner. I paid $700 for that thing never once was able to follow a conversation and ended up selling it for $400 on eBay later. I’m so disappointed I tried to find someone to help me with it. No one seems to know anything about it.