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Gretag,
or Gretacoder Data Systems
was a manufacturer of cryptographic equipment, based in Regensdorf
near Zürich (Switzerland).
It was led by Dr. Edgar Gretener who was not only a direct competitor
of Boris Hagelin, but also worked with him
in a number of projects. The company operated world-wide and had
once over 2500 people on its payroll.
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Over the years, Gretag produced a range of
commercial, industrial and military cipher machines.
The company changed hands several times
and was finally dissolved in 2004 when it was owned by SafeNet.
Many of its patents were taken over by Omnisec,
who are still in business today.
 More about Gretag
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Gretag equipment on this website
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Gretag's cipher machines are known under different names and numbers.
Generally speaking, the numbering was never changed, but different
prefixes and brand names were used.
The name Gretacoder was sometimes abbreviated as 'GC'
or 'TC' (for: Tele-Crypto, or Teleprinter Crypto).
E.g.: the military 812 telex encryption unit
is known as Gretacoder 812,
GC-812 and
TC-812.
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Gretacoder 524 was a line encryptor for synchronous (RS-232) serial links,
developed in the early 1990s when Gretag was part of AT&T. It supports
continuous data encryption at rates up to 64 kb/s and was available with
various interfaces and (software) options.
More information
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This 19" rackmount system, consisted of two units.
One for either side of the communication link.
It was used to encypher and decypher multiplexed
data streams over satellite links.
More information
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Gretacoder 605 was a line encryptor for synchronous (RS-422) serial links,
developed in the mid-1990s when Gretag was part of IRE (Now: SafeNet).
It supports continuous data encryption at rates up to 2048 kb/s and was
available with various interfaces and options.
More information
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Gretacoder 805 (portable)
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The Gretacoder 805 was a small portable electronic cipher machine
that was fitted inside a standard Samsonite briefcase, together with
a small thermal printer.
More information
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As the Gretacoder 805 had a hightly modular design,
a variety of different configurations were possible.
For the office, a large desktop version could be created,
complete with a papertape reader/puncher ans shown here.
More information
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Below is a non-exhaustive overview of the various Gretag
encryption devices we've encountered so far. Initially all machines
were built under the Gretag brand. Later the name was changed
to Gretacoder, which was sometimes abbreviated as 'GC'.
In the overview below, 'GC' stands for Gretacoder, whilst 'TC'
probably stands for 'Tele Crypto' or 'Teleprinter Crypto'.
If you know any model that is not listed here, please
let us know.
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- Gretag TC-53
Electro-mechanical cipher machine for use with teletype equipment. 1950s.
- Gretag TC-58
Electro-mechanical cipher machine with cipher wheels, that was used in
combination with the Gretag KFF teleprinter. The complete unit was known
as the KFF-58.
- Gretag TC-61
Later version of the TC-58, with the only difference
being the addition of a random number generator on the front panel.
The latter was used for the generation of message keys.
- Gretacoder 101
Voice scrambler for secure telephone traffic.
Based on the principle of speech inversion. Built around 1973.
- SC-101
Speech scrambler, similar to the Gretacoder 101.
Also built in 1973.
- SC-201
Speech encryption device, built in 1976.
Gretacoder 202/index.htm
Speech encryption device, built in 1977.
Gretacoder 210-210/index.htm
Voice encryption device. Built around 1980.
- Gretacoder 505 / SP300 GCA
Teleprinter cipher system. Compatible with
the Gretacoder 805.
- Gretacoder 515
Continuous block cipher system, for use on digital data networks.
Intended for use by banks, large corporations and public services.
The built-in V.24 modem supports all data speeds up to 20 kbit/sec.
Allows the connection of asynchronous terminals and teletype equipment
(CCITT alphabet #5), synchronous terminals and computers, both in
half duplex and full duplex. Developed for SWIFT around 1974 and
introduced in 1977 [1].
- Gretacoder 517
Data encryptor. Built around 1979.
- Gretacoder 518
Link encryptor. Further details currently unknown.
- Gretacoder 524
X.21 Data encryption system for corporate networks, with a maximum data
transfer speed of 64 kb/s, using synchronous RS-232 protocols.
- TC-534
Early speech encryption system, developed around 1964,
consisting of two large (military) cases. Built around the first
digital circuit blocks. Later redesigned with TTL logic.
- Gretacoder 545
X.25 Data Encryption system
[3]
for corporate data networks. April 1997.
- Gretacoder 549
X.25 On-line Network Security Center (NSC) [3].
Secure host system for communication with Gretacoder 545 nodes
in corporate networks. April 1998.
- Gretacoder 555
Frame Relay Encryptor with a high level of security.
- Gretacoder 601
Military-grade continuous block cipher system, for use on high-speed multiplexed
data networks. Suitable for the transmission of computer, fax and voice data
over (satellite) networks. The civil version is known as
GC-603.
- Gretacoder 603
Continuous block cipher system, for use on high-speed multiplexed
data networks. Suitable for the transmission of computer, fax and voice data
over satellite networks. Civil version of the GC-601.
- Gretacoder 605
V.35 Data encryption systems for corporate networks, with a maximum data
transfer speed of 2048 kb/s, using synchronous RS-422 protocols.
It is backwards compatible with the Gretacoder 524.
- Gretacoder 650
High-speed Link Encryptor in 19" rack mount, providing full-duplex synchronous
link encryption with data rates of 34 and 45 MBits/sec (E3 and T3).
Can be used in protocol-transparent mode (continuous encryption) or in
protocol-dependent mode (framed encryption)
[2]
. August 2000.
- Gretag TC-800
Off-line electronic cipher machine, developed in 1969.
Probably a prototype of the later TC-803.
- Gretag TC-803
Semi-portable off-line electronic cipher machine in samsonite briefcase,
with separate 5-level paper tape reader/puncher.
- Gretacoder 805 (portable version)
Modular electronic cipher machine for the encryption of short
written messages. It was available in a portable version
and in a desktop version,
and a large number of options were available.
- Gretacoder 805 (desktop version)
Desktop version of the above.
- Gretag TC-812
Military grade data encryption unit for use with teleprinter
signals (telex). Developed around 1969.
- Gretacoder 905
Pocket electronic text encryptor with a LED array and a few
buttons. Compatible with the Gretacoder 805
and with the later Gretacoder 906.
Built around 1974.
- Gretacoder 906
Pocket electronic text encryption device with full keyboard and
LCD screen. Compatible withe the Gretacoder 805
series and
with the earlier Gretacoder 905.
- Gretacoder 915
Off-line authenticator for banks. Developed in 1975.
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