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Gretag,
or Gretacoder Data Systems
was a manufacturer of crypto equipment, based in Regensdorf, Switzerland.
It was led by Dr. Edgar Gretener who was not only a direct competitor
of Boris Hagelin, but also co-operated with him
in a number of projects. Over the years, Gretag produced a range of
commercial, industrial and military cipher machines.
 History of Gretag
Gretacoder cipher machines on this website:
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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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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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- Gretacoder 101
Voice scrambler for secure telephone traffic.
Based on the principle of speech inversion.
- 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. Introduced in 1977
[1]
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- Gretag TC-53
Electro-mechanical cipher machine for use with teletype equipment. 1950s.
- Gretacoder 505 / SP300 GCA
Teleprinter cipher system. Compatible with
the Gretacoder 805.
- 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]
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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 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.
- 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-803
Semi-portable electronic cipher machine in samsonite briefcase, with separate
5-level paper tape reader/puncher.
- Gretacoder 805
Portable electronic cipher machine for the encryption of
short written messages.
- Gretacoder 905
Pocket version of the Gretacoder 805.
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Gretag AG started life around 1943, when its founder, Dr. Edgar Gretener
established Dr. Edgar Gretener AG in Zürich (Switzerland). Gretener
was one of the inventors of the famous Eidophor large
screen video projector that was marketed by his company.
He would later become famous for a series of hi-tech cipher machines
and for his colour image processing equipment for the printing business.
In 1946, the company name was changed to Gretag AG when the company
started development of cryptographic equipment.
During the 1950s, an advanced wheel-based electro-mechanical cipher
machine, called TC-53 was developed for the Swiss Army.
For many years, the company traded as Gretag AG and produced a wide
range of cipher machines, ranging from electro-mechanical devices to
advanced fully-electronic on-line crypto equipment.
In the early 1990s, the crypto part of the company was split-off and
continued as Gretag Data Systems AG.
In October 1995, the name was changed into Gretacoder Data Systems AG.
Many new cipher machines were produced during this period and all
products would carry the Gretacoder name.
In 2002 the company was taken over by an American share holder and the
name was changed once more into SafeNet Data Systems AG.
Despite the fact that the new owner injected significant new capital,
the company did not survice. Finally, late 2004, the Board of Directors
announced immediate liquidation of the company.
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Gretag, or Gretacoder Data Systems AG, is no longer in business and their
activities have not been taken over by any other company. Support for old
Gretag equipment is therefore non-existent. The last known address is:
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- Dr. Edgar Gretener AG (1943)
Zürich-Altstetten
- Gretag AG (1946)
- Gretacoder Data Systems AG (1995)
- SafeNet Data Systems AG (2002-2004)
Althartstrasse 150
8105 Regendorf
Switzerland
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