WEP on 2.4Ghz - Digital Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : Digital : WEP on 2.4Ghz

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WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by KT4WO on May 16, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
If I use WEP on 2.4Ghz to keep non hams out of a "ham" network...am I breaking the rules? Im not using WEP to "obscure(sp)" the meaning, just to limit access. Thoughts?? Just want some opinions. Tnx de Trip - KT4WO kt4wo67@gmail.com

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by AA4PB on May 16, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I suppose there is only one opinion that really counts and that is the FCC. I don't think the FCC has made any kind of offical rulling as yet. The ARRL, in their Digital Handbook, would agree with you that it is not really encryption (in FCC terms) provided you make the key available to any licensed ham that asks for it.

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by W5RKL on May 16, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Breaking what rules? Part 97 of the FCC amateur radio rules and regulations! Where did you get the idea you were violating the rules and what rules do you believe you may be violating? Wireless home networking 2.4Ghz WEP is not controlled by nor does it have anything to do with the FCC's part 97 rules and regulations governing amateur radio! Mike W5RKL

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by AA4PB on May 16, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Mike, 2.4GHz is a shared band. Hams can and do run higher power than the "home networking" equipment. If you do that then you fall under FCC Part 97 rules. Part 97 rules state that you cannot encrypt the signal for the purpose of obscuring the content of the transmission, thus the valid question.

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by W5RKL on May 16, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
The question asked was: "If I use WEP on 2.4Ghz to keep non hams out of a "ham" network...am I breaking the rules? Im not using WEP to "obscure(sp)" the meaning, just to limit access." Normal wireless home computer networking operates in the 2.4Ghz spectrum. It appeared the "ham" network mentioned in the question appeared to be nothing more than a "ham computer network" which prompted me to ask the question what rules he thought he was violating etc. However, if the person was making actual amateur radio "transmissions", regardless of the authorized amateur radio frequency/frequencies, and those transmissions were "encrypted" using a non-authorized "encoding" scheme, then yes, those transmissions would be in violation of part 97 section 113(a)(4) of the FCC rules and regulations governing the amateur radio service. Mike W5RKL

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by KT4WO on May 17, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Mike - W5RKL (It appeared the "ham" network mentioned in the question appeared to be nothing more than a "ham computer network") Not sure what you meant by that..but.. my plans were to use high powered 2.4ghz "wifi" as a backbone. AA4PB-- Yes... and tnx for replying to Mike. I want to use it as a point to point link, but need to keep non-hams out of it. The cost of higher power has really came down in the last year. I see it as you do, as long as the "key" is posted or otherwise accessable to other amateurs. BUT the FCC may not see it that way. Altho I could just do it and no one would ever be the wiser.. I would like to play by the rules. Just needed the input. Trip - KT4WO

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by KT4WO on May 17, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
also---Mike W5RKL Is the DX Packet Cluster not "nothing more than a ham computer network"??? or maybe APRS or SEDAN?? HFLink, etc?? How about Pactor 3?.. one must spend over 1000 bucks to decode it. Heck..I'll give you the key for free!!!.. hihi Trip - KT4WO

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by AA4PB on May 17, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Trip, I think your options are 1) turn on WEP or 2) don't run high power under Part 97. It seems to me that running unlicensed (i.e. non-ham) stations through your high power link would be a worse violation than using WEP. If you do some searching on the ARRL web site you'll find that they appear to agree that WEP is okay so long as the key is made available. I believe there are quite a few stations doing that. The thought being that if the keys are available then its not encryption.

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by KT4WO on May 17, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
AA4PB-- Yes ..I tend to agree.. Its access control. Tnx for the input and maybe see ya on the bands. 73 de Trip - KT4WO

RE: WEP on 2.4Ghz	Reply
by KJ4AUR on May 26, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
At one point the ARRL advocated a standard WEP key/password in both 64 and 128bit for this very reason. Forgive the archive.org link but see below: http://web.archive.org/web/20030717092613/www2.arrl.org/hsmm/index.html http://web.archive.org/web/20030717092613/www2.arrl.org/hsmm/index.html Sounds like a safe bet.

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