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Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:36 pm
by randymince
I have a question regarding how the encryption is handled between the KVL 3000 and for my specific example a Harris AN/PRC-152.

I know part of the APCO P25 software option available from Harris is the ability of the PRC-152 to accept AES 256 encryption. My question is regarding the key management, I don't have the option on any of the current radios at the site I am supporting so I am trying to get information on it.

I am assuming it follows the standard CKR management with a certain number of CKR's in the PRC-152.

Just curious if anybody has direct hands on experience loading a PRC-152 with an AES-256 key from a KVL 3000 to communicate with a Motorola XTS-5000. With the software option, is there another menu option on the PRC-152 to set a specific CKR to the "channel/preset"?

Any information would be awesome.

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:10 am
by radioinstl
It may be listed as SLN not CKR in the Harris software. CKR is the Motorola name, SLN is the P25 Standard name. In know in the PRC148 software it is listed as SLN

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:34 pm
by Bigfella237
The CKR/SLN is only used to keep track of keys within the radio itself, it's not sent over-the-air at all; it's the KID which is used to identify the key in use to receiving radios.

You can load the same key variable into a dozen different radios using a dozen different CKR/SLN values and so long as the KID is always the same all those radios should be able to decrypt successfully.

I've never used Harris radios but I'd guess the procedure would be similar to Motorola where you assign one particular CKR/SLN to each channel (or personality)?

Andrew

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:16 pm
by nukedude
I have used all of the equipment involved, but used a SKL device to load comsec into the PRC-152's. When loading from an SKL to PRC-152, you select the page on the SKL and then have the channel selected on the PRC-152. And from what I hear from others, the PRC-152A has a slightly different menu as well.

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 2:23 am
by MattSR
randymince wrote:Just curious if anybody has direct hands on experience loading a PRC-152 with an AES-256 key from a KVL 3000 to communicate with a Motorola XTS-5000.
It may seem like a minor point, but the KVL3000 does not support AES256 so you're SOL on that one.

The KVL3000+ does however support it.

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:51 am
by randymince
Just popped back in for a while, and have moved on since the last issue.

I forgot the +, was inferring AES, just typing a bit fast and missed it on the proof reading.

Thanks for the heads up though.

Re: Type III AES encryption and Harris APCO P25 option

Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:06 pm
by MattSR
How did you get on? As long as you have the correct cables and the PRC software lets you program in the correct SLN/CKR, it should just be a matter of plugging it all in and away you go - just keyload as per normal...

Cheers,
Matt