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Gretag
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:
Gretacoder 603 Gretacoder 805

 
Cretacoder 603
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
  

 
Cretacoder 805
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
  
Gretacoder 805

 
Known Gretacoder systems
  • 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] .

  • 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] . 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.

History
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.
 
Known addresses
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:
 
  • 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

References
  1. Ulrich Rimensberger, Datensicherung durch Chiffrierung
    Description of the Gretacoder 515, published at the 5th International Congress for Data Processing in Europe. Vienna, 21-25 March 1977.

  2. Gretacoder Data Systems AG. Gretacoder 650, High-Speed Link Encryptor.
    2-page sales brochure. August 2000.

  3. Gretacoder Data Systems AG. Gretacoder 545, X.25 Data Encryption.
    4-page sales brochure. April 1997.

Further information


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