Wrong... Encryption, even if prevent access by non-licensed users, is verboten under Part 97.309(4)(c).
ILLEGAL are: WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -- are encryption methods meant to obscure the meaning of transmissions. The descriptive phrase, "WEP uses the stream cipher <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_cipher> RC4 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC4> for confidentiality <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confidentiality>," says it all concerning this early security measure(3). WPA and WPA2 are later and stronger methods of 802.11 wireless encryption. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy#Encryption_details Despite the publicizing the method and key in your log or on the Web, enabling encryption methods, for whatever so-called reason or reasons given, IS ILLEGAL. The fact that you enabled ENCRYPTION on amateur bands, per regulation, IS ILLEGAL. ... If, indeed, a WiFi network is set up under Part 97 rules, as Rotolo proposed in a previous CQ article, then the encryption he seeks would be used to sequester the entire network by the use of a WEP or WPA encryption system, thus preventing any and all monitoring of the traffic passing over that network. This is the issue that I understood his comment about being "already legal" was aimed at. His stated purpose was, as I recall (and as I understood it), to obviate any intrusion by "non-hams" into the network, and not as a means of obfuscating the traffic over it. This is thin gruel, methinks. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, and the obfuscation occurs regardless of whom it was designed to foil. I think it best to avoid these kinds of issues by avoiding the entire concept. "If DHS wants to encrypt stuff, let DHS do it and leave us out of it." We are not other radio services, the military, or other government forms. Next, please... Kipton Moravec wrote: > > We can use any and all of standard encryption (WEP, WPA etc.) on our 2.4 > GHz routers that we convert to ham use, because the purpose is not to > obscure or hide the meaning of the transmission, but to prevent > non-licensed users access to our Amateur networks with part 15 > equipment. The requirement is that if you do, you have the key or > password written in your log book or published. > > It is similar to encrypting satellite control commands. You are not > encrypting to obscure or hide the meaning of the message but to prevent > unauthorized users from getting access. > > Kip > > On Thu, 2009-02-19 at 17:03 -0500, Mathaeus (Matthew Fonner) wrote: > > Steve and all, > > Working as a nurse, I understand and follow HIPAA. > > I agree with Steve, we would need consent from the protected person ( > > > > > -- > Kipton Moravec AE5IB > "Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest." > --Mark Twain > >
