Encryption in Amateur Radio: There are several Canadian Amateurs who are experimenting with encryption. Much of this experimentation uses some of the digital voice modes. Not all digital voice systems can be adapted to use encryption, but some can.

The Radiocommunication Regulations allow Amateurs to use encryption, but only if the codes they use are “published in the public domain”.  Secret keys or obscurely published keys are simply not allowed.

Our regulator – Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) – has agreed that an open webpage on the RAC website would meet this regulatory requirement. As a result, Radio Amateurs of Canada has created an open webpage (www.rac.ca/encryption) to allow Canadian Amateurs to publish their encryption keys.

RAC has made this page available to all Amateurs – members and non-members alike.

If you are experimenting with encryption, please fill in the form at the bottom of the encryption webpage to report the details of your experiments. The content will be reviewed by RAC volunteer Ted Reinhardt, VE3EDE.

If you have questions about the regulations, please contact RAC’s Regulatory Affairs Officer Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, at regulatory@rac.ca

If you have questions about the requirements of RAC’s Encryption Registry, please contact Ted Reinhardt, VE3EDE, at encryption@rac.ca