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Hagelin Yugo EMU HC-5000 series →
Electronic Message Unit · CRYPTOMATIC
HC-5205 was an Electronic Message Unit (EMU)
with built-in encryption,
developed by Crypto AG
in Zug (Switzerland) around 1988.
The device was used for sending secure text-based messages via HF, VHF
and UHF radio links.
The one shown here is a custom variant of the HC-5200/5250, and was
produced especially for the Yugoslav 1 armed forces.
It has an adapted keyboard and is compatible with the other members
of the Cryptomatic 5000 series,
such as the HC-5300/5350.
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The device measures 22 x 11 x 3.5 cm and is similar in size and operation
to other EMU-type devices,
like the Nokia Parsa
and the TST-3010.
It is connected between the handset and the radio and is powered
by a standard 9V block battery that is located in a
special compartment at the bottom of the unit.
The cryptographic capabilities of the HC-5205 are implemented in software
and are controlled by the internal Hitachi HD63B09EP controller, that is
mounted on a removable controller board.
This way the device was easily adapted for other languages.
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The HC-5000 series was the successor to the highly successful
Cryptomatic HC-500 series.
It offers a newly developed
encryption algorithm that provides automatic
resynchronisation and full traffic flow security.
Two types of cryptographic keys are used: a fixed internal
customer-specific structure key (10100)
and a separate message key of
2·1028 that can be entered on the keyboard.
Keys can also be entered with a KDD-5000 key filler.
According to [1] the total variety is 10156.
The Crypto AG/Hagelin HC-5205 and its parent the HC-5200/5250
are rather unknown devices and very little information about them
exists in the public domain today (September 2015).
Any further information about its use, especially the era in which is
was used, a user manual, a brochure, a leaflet, or information about the
HC-5000 series in general, would
be appreciated.
Around 1992, the enclosure of the HC-5200 was (re)used for the
KED-3400 key entry device.
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Following the Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001), the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia was dissoluted into the separate republics of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia.
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The image below shows the control panel of the HC-5205 after opening
the protective top lid. 1 The rectangular unit consists of a keypad with
68 rubber buttons, an LCD screen
with 2 lines of 40 characters each, and a
small buzzer that is located to the right of the LCD and the logo.
The keyboard is divided into three sections. A row of 5 function keys is
mounted directly under the LCD screen. They are
context-sensitive and their
functions will be displayed on the LCD. At the far right are the control keys,
with the one in the upper right corner being used to turn it ON.
The largest part is taken by the Latin keyboard that has
language-specific keys towards the right.
The HC-5205 is connected to the radio via the
sockets at the left side.
The version shown here is equipped with two NF10 sockets and
a conversion cable
was supplied to convert them to the 6-pin
Clansman standard.
The device was connected between the radio and a suitable handset.
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The hinges and the top lid are not present on the original HC-5200/5250
device. They are likely to be a customer-specific part of the HC-5205.
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The HC-5205 is housed in a sturdy aluminium die-cast enclosure.
The interior can be accessed via the
bottom panel
that also holds a compartment
for the (standard) 9V block battery.
After removing 8 screws from the bottom side,
the entire bottom panel (with battery) can be
removed.
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The device is extremely well constructed and consists of several high-quality
printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are sandwiched together. The bottom PCB
is the keyboard and acts as a carrier for the other PCBs. The image on the
right shows the analogue board with the audio interfaces.
The diagram below shows how the PCB are stacked inside the unit.
At the top right is the power board (PSU) that provides the necessary voltages
for the various pieces of electronics. The empty area at the bottom left
is normally occupied by the 9V battery compartment.
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The PCB at the top left (marked here with a CAG 1 label) is the
processor board
that contains the (language-dependant) firmware and the encryption
algorithm. It is mounted upside down and is provided as a plug-in
card that can easily be swapped for another one in case of an update.
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CAG is probably the abbreviation of Crypto AG, the manufacturer
of the unit.
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The pinout of the NF10 sockets is currently unknown.
The diagram below shows the pinout of the NF10 socket
when looking into the socket from the left side of the device.
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HC-5200/5250 Hand-held encrypted message terminal (like the HC-5205) HC-5300/5350 Portable ciphering terminal (briefcase version) HC-5500 Desktop variant - Workstation (based on Siemens T-1285)
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- Jane's Military Communications, Cryptomatic HC-5200/5250
Ninth edition, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0856-X. p. 504.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Saturday 12 September 2015. Last changed: Sunday, 14 June 2020 - 13:18 CET.
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