M2259-00-200-812
System Operation
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Copyright TEL
Encrypted Radio Programming and Service Manual
3
System Operation
Encrypted radios provide increased privacy for conversations by jumbling speech so that only
radios with the right hardware and settings can reconstruct it. The diagram below shows a typical
radio system comprising portable radios, mobile radios, base stations or repeaters and an OTAR
(Over-the-Air Reprogramming) programming station.
Whether or not a radio transmission is encrypted is the user’s choice. When the encryption mode
is selected, the radio sends and receives encrypted calls to and from other radios with compatible
encryption module and settings (keys or codes). However, even when encryption is not selected,
an encryption-enabled radio will always decode encrypted communication from any radio with
compatible modules and settings.
When modules or settings are incompatible, communication is reduced to unintelligible noise.
3.1 Configuration
Both encryption modules and radios have many settings which affect encryption. You will need
to refer to the installation and programming manuals provided with all your encryption hardware.
This manual describes how to connect your hardware for setup, testing and maintenance, but
does not describe how to determine the settings you should use. These should be determined
during system design by technical personnel trained in the relevant Tait and third-party products.
Contact your Authorised Tait Service Centre for further assistance.
3.2 Compatibility
Some combinations of encryption hardware, software, radio versions and configurations,
accessories and programmable features may not be supported. In particular:
