Do you know how easy it is to eavesdrop analogue crew comms? With a $40 scanner all your crew radio communications could be overheard.
You will use a radio system as part of your communications while working aboard, it is fairly likely you want to know where The Boss is or members of your crew are at any given time. But do you want others to know all your movements?
Analogue radio systems - which usually account for the standard walkie talkies we see commonly used by crew, the security and live event sectors - have served us well for decades. But despite their trusty and functional nature, remain a massive security risk when it is important to keep communications private.
Owners of superyachts certainly come under the category of individuals that are concerned about their privacy, and for this reason, the installation of an analogue crew communication system might turn out to be a risky one. Through an analogue system, speech is transmitted into the air, and anyone can listen to it with inexpensive off-the-shelf scanning equipment.
Luckily, we have reached the digital age of encryption, which means that information sensitive industries have no excuse for getting careless with their location and information.
Thanks to digital mobile radio, security breaches are less of a concern, with a 10 digit AES encryption code acting as a protector for the system, in the same way that WiFi networks are now far more secure than they were a decade ago.
For organisations that wish to have the peace of mind that comes with further security layers, military grade security can be put in place, safeguarding information and preventing it from falling into the wrong hands.
Rather than just an extra security layer, digital presents many more opportunities than analogue when it comes to putting the power in the hands of the organisation that operates the system. From an alarm and monitoring interface to radio-to-radio group calling, there are now possibilities that go way beyond the realms of what analogue could offer, and there are many industries, including yachting, that will be all the better for it.
Analogue radio systems have served us well for years, but we have reached the Digital age and it's time to upgrade our beloved walkie talkies - contact Channel 28 to find out more.