HandsetCrypt

Handset with integrated encryption for standard HF-Radios

Over the air radio communication is easily interceptable and today, almost any one can eaves drop radio communication with simple, publicly available tools.

Especially military and other governmental organizations depend in their work on confidential and authentic communications. Insufficient security for information over the air can cause severe damage to safety, threaten lives and affect economy. Therefore, it is essential to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access or any manipulation.

Solution

The Sirrix.HandsetCrypt provides a highgrade digital voice cipher system, especially designed as an universal handset for HF/SBB radios, using robust multi-carrier modem technology. The Sirrix.Handset-Crypt enables optimal connections even under poor radio conditions. Even with very low transmission speeds, the handset delivers excellent audio quality and speaker recognition in realtime. Due to the narrowband voice coding and robust multi-carrier modem, there is no reduction in radio range compared to normal clear voice operation of the radio.

The whole sophisticated electronic is integrated into a ruggedized aluminium handset.

Features

The Sirrix.HandsetCrypt integrates strong digital, AES-based, end-to-end encryption to almost every legacy analog HF/SBB radio systems.

The Sirrix.HandsetCrypt can be very easily deployed: It just replaces the usual radio handset and is connected through the standard handset connector of the HF radio. Different connector types can easily be adjusted, to be compatible with almost every HF radio. Only the signals for ptt, microphone and speaker are necessary.

The crypto handset supports multiple user-groups with up to 256 different keys. The late entry function allows new group members to join already established and deployed groups within a short time. A tamper protection function protects the key material and includes a automatic erasement, e.g., if the included li-ion battery falls below a certain threshold or in critical situations.

The keys are loaded from the key management console directly into the cryptohandset.

Sirrix.HandsetCrypt includes modern AES-based or customer-specific and self synchronized cryptography. Received rx voice and transmitted tx voice are independent and use different keys. Integrating the encryption into the handset adds different advantages. For instance, the crypto-device is independent from the radio and can be personally carried and protected easily. The advantage there by is that an authorized person can use several radios with his personal Sirrix.HandsetCrypt.

The Sirrix.HandsetCrypt allows encrypted transmission of digital voice via complex analog radio systems. It has been optimized for HF/SSB radios and works efficiently with an available bandwidth between 300Hz to 2900Hz. It achieves a speech data rate of 2400 bps, providing a very good audio quality. The coding delay of approximately 100 ms is excellent and eases the speech recognition substantially.

The Sirrix HandsetCrypt offers with its fully digital operation also a clear-override service.

Volume control, on/off, key-selection, and PTT-buttons are included in the handset and enable an easy usage.