DRM -- if it had a 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' type added to it, could
eliminate numbers stations...
Binary files can be transmitted using only 7 bit ASCII chars, preferably
with a little error correction.
There is a LINUX program that can convert binary files into alphanumeric
telegram format, similar to VENONA.

This would be most true if layered AES + modified (A5/1) or Blowfish + (MD5
+ SH1) encryption and digital signatures were supported in some way.

AES (inner layer) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijndael
A5/1 (outer layer) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A5/1
Blowfish : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowfish_(cipher)

"Max Power" wrote in message
...
DRM -- if it had a 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' type added to it,
could
eliminate numbers stations...
Binary files can be transmitted using only 7 bit ASCII chars, preferably
with a little error correction.

Except for the fact that you have to lug around a laptop computer... which
could easily be stolen or confiscated by the security forces of whatever
country you are in and checked for programs such as the one you mentioned,
let alone the decoded text. All of which would easily compromise the agent.

A shortwave receiver attracts little attention, and a one-time-pad secreted
inside a bar of soap is far more discrete.

As it is, there is plenty of opportunity for agents to monitor digital
signals on HF, but the primary mode of communication is numbers stations.
It would be simple to tell the agent to listen to X kHz at Y time, and send
a quick data burst signal. But then again you have to have a laptop or some
sort of decoder with you, something you don't really want to get caught
with.

Some countries are highly suspicious of all foriegners as it is, and it's
likely that they will be closely watched.


--
Tom Sevart N2UHC
Frontenac, KS
http://www.geocities.com/n2uhc

"Tom Sevart" wrote in message
...

"Max Power" wrote in message
...
DRM -- if it had a 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' type added to it,
could
eliminate numbers stations...
Binary files can be transmitted using only 7 bit ASCII chars, preferably
with a little error correction.

Except for the fact that you have to lug around a laptop computer... which
could easily be stolen or confiscated by the security forces of whatever
country you are in and checked for programs such as the one you mentioned,
let alone the decoded text. All of which would easily compromise the
agent.

A shortwave receiver attracts little attention, and a one-time-pad
secreted
inside a bar of soap is far more discrete.

As it is, there is plenty of opportunity for agents to monitor digital
signals on HF, but the primary mode of communication is numbers stations.
It would be simple to tell the agent to listen to X kHz at Y time, and
send
a quick data burst signal. But then again you have to have a laptop or
some
sort of decoder with you, something you don't really want to get caught
with.

Yep. Just ask Ana Montes!



Some countries are highly suspicious of all foriegners as it is, and it's
likely that they will be closely watched.


--
Tom Sevart N2UHC
Frontenac, KS
http://www.geocities.com/n2uhc

"Max Power" wrote in message
...
DRM -- if it had a 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' type added to it,
could
eliminate numbers stations...


Why bother with DRM? They could transmit ASCII or RTTY or anything else
without piggybacking it on to something else.

The real life spy stories almost always involve minimal technology inorder
to avoid detection. Also, intuitive technology works better when people are
under stress.

Frank Dresser

"Frank Dresser" wrote in message
...

Yep. Just ask Ana Montes!

I had almost forgotten about her. Yes, she was even receiving numbers from
V2 and had the numbers messages and the decrypts on her laptop computer.
The FBI served a search warrant and found it on her hard drive.

http://www.geocities.com/n2uhc/cc/nov01.html

It just goes to show you that even if you do use numbers stations for
communications, don't keep the messages on your hard drive.

--
Tom Sevart N2UHC
Frontenac, KS
http://www.geocities.com/n2uhc

DRM : 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' : possible elemination of numbers
stations as an end product!

One forgets that DRM technology is improving all the time.
In 3 or 4 years a very portable DRM reciver, with a menu system could be
reprogrammed via a smart card.
A smart card or memory card (possibly with with a keypad and display) has
all the crypto power one needs.

-=-=-=-=
Barring that, a USB connector to a modified MP3 player would work just as
well.
You only need a file system that has 2 partitions, one for permanant system
files -- the other for files that can expire!
Modern computer file systems don't support 'file expirey dates' -- but self
expiring file systems can be designed.
A modified Win-NT file system would do, or even better yet -- modify a LINUX
file system.

=-= Message =-=-=
DRM -- if it had a 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' type added to it,
could
eliminate numbers stations...

Binary files can be transmitted using only 7 bit ASCII chars, preferably
with a little error correction.

Except for the fact that you have to lug around a laptop computer... which
could easily be stolen or confiscated by the security forces of whatever
country you are in and checked for programs such as the one you mentioned,
let alone the decoded text. All of which would easily compromise the
agent.

"Max Power" wrote in message
...
DRM : 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' : possible elemination of numbers
stations as an end product!

One forgets that DRM technology is improving all the time.
In 3 or 4 years a very portable DRM reciver, with a menu system could be
reprogrammed via a smart card.
A smart card or memory card (possibly with with a keypad and display) has
all the crypto power one needs.

But the problem is, what happens when you are searched by the foreign
intelligence agency and they find this thing, with all its crypto software?
Or what happens when they search your apartment or hotel room while you are
out and find it?

The beauty about numbers stations is that a shortwave receiver has no crypto
software in it. And it alone is not incriminating.

--
Tom Sevart N2UHC
Frontenac, KS
http://www.geocities.com/n2uhc

"Max Power" wrote in message
...
DRM : 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' : possible elemination of numbers
stations as an end product!

One forgets that DRM technology is improving all the time.
In 3 or 4 years a very portable DRM reciver, with a menu system could be
reprogrammed via a smart card.
A smart card or memory card (possibly with with a keypad and display) has
all the crypto power one needs.

-=-=-=-=
Barring that, a USB connector to a modified MP3 player would work just as
well.
You only need a file system that has 2 partitions, one for permanant
system
files -- the other for files that can expire!
Modern computer file systems don't support 'file expirey dates' -- but
self
expiring file systems can be designed.
A modified Win-NT file system would do, or even better yet -- modify a
LINUX
file system.



A one time pad, written on water soluable paper, is no farther than a trip
down the drain or a dunk in a cup of coffee from being gone forever. I
suspect real spys want to stay as far as possible from spy gadgets.

Anyway, there's plenty of encrypted diplomatic and military traffic right
now on RTTY. RTTY can be easily decoded by SWLs, right now. What does DRM
add to the picture?

Frank Dresser

I believe in the KISS principal for product design.

Transmission:
A heavily error corrected 7 bit ASCII subchannel (possibly using 8--14
modulation, with 2 ECC bits) is not hard to implement in software. Turbo
Codes or Viterbi Codes could be used at a later date, if the 2 layer EEC
(DRM + NUMBERS)layered EEC does not work well beyond 4 hops. Plain vanilla
DRM EEC allows DRM data to be error free within a range of 10,000 kms. A 2
layer EEC scheme for data could extend this to 12,000...14,000 kms. I would
assume a data rate no more than 120 baud, 60 baud nominal.

Data layer:
The hidden 'numbers' would just becomes a new DRM packet type. The packet
type is never published, and the packets are merely slipped into the
regional SW transmissions of that country's SW broadcaster. [From relay
stations under its direct control.]

Decoding:
There would need to be some parsing rules for the encrypted data stream to
allow for unit addressing (like pagers have), hard crypto (algorithms
swithable over time) and digital signatures for verification. XML could help
overcome a lot of compatibility issues over time. XML solutions already
exist for the character transmission level of this communications network.
Don't reinvent the wheel!

Decoder:
The decoding issues could be handled by PDA with 'add on' software, like a
fake DRM -- PDA audio converter.
Smart cards are a possibility here too.

Reception:
The DRM receiver would then need only support raw DRM bitstream output.
Using USB, not a challenge -- and not conspicuous either.

Overall:
There would still be 2 pieces of equipment, up from just 1 -- the SW
receiver.
The agent would be expected to remember a unique series of codewords to get
the unit to go into decoder mode, and initialise to decode their messages.
No 'one time pads' would need to be carried. The software would need to be
updated seasonally, to keep its security code fresh. One time pads could be
used as an add in option in the software. Self erasing software can be
written!

Users:
Admittedly, I would only recommend this for usage in Latin America,
Sub-Saharan Africa (populated regions) and Europe.
The concept is still usable in Asia, but not initially.

There is no perfect solution -- station chiefs and section / region
coordinators would test the software 1st.
If the mass of software and hardware finally jells into a workable
transmission system, great.
If it only becomes useable as a fallback transmission system, all is not
lost either.

DRM's waveforms have origins in NATO HF modem research, so the use of DRM
that I am suggesting is not even novel or innovative.


DRM : 7 bit ASCII teletype 'subchannel' : possible elemination of numbers
stations as an end product!

One forgets that DRM technology is improving all the time.
In 3 or 4 years a very portable DRM reciver, with a menu system could be
reprogrammed via a smart card.
A smart card or memory card (possibly with with a keypad and display) has
all the crypto power one needs.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A one time pad, written on water soluable paper, is no farther than a trip
down the drain or a dunk in a cup of coffee from being gone forever. I
suspect real spys want to stay as far as possible from spy gadgets.

Anyway, there's plenty of encrypted diplomatic and military traffic right
now on RTTY. RTTY can be easily decoded by SWLs, right now. What does
DRM
add to the picture?

Frank Dresser