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← STK Phone STU-II SAVILLE
Secure crypto telephone
- wanted item
TCE-500 is a secure narrow-band telephone set for use on standard
analogue networks (PSTN), developed by
Thales Norway
(previously: Thomson CSF, Alcatel and STK)
in 1993.
The TCE-500 and the TCE-500B are approved by
NATO
for all level
of classification and have a built-in modem.
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The image on the right shows a typical Thomson TCE-500 unit, which resembles
an ordinary telephone set. A Crypto Ignition Key (CIK), which is used for
the protection of data and keys, is inserted at the rear right.
A nice sample of this telephone is on display at the NCM (USA). 1
For speech encoding, the TCE-500 uses CELP at 7200bps and LPC-10 at 2400bps.
As it uses the SAVILLE encription algorithm
[2],
it is backwards compatible with the American
STU-II, the later
Motorola STU-II/B
and the Philips Spendex 40.
Keys are normally loaded from an external KDC 2 on a per-call basis,
but can also be loaded with a key fill device
or manually via the keypad [2].
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A civil version of the TCE-500 is known as the TCE-520. Although both models
look identical, the TCE-520 is not compatible with the American
STU-II and is not NATO-approved.
The TCE-500 can be used in combination with the TCE-550 Key Distribution
Center (KDC). For the civil version (TCE-520), the TCE-560 KDC was available.
We currently have no further information about the TCE-500.
If you have any additional information — or better: a spare unit — please contact us.
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NCM = National Cryptographic Museum, the NSA's museum at Fort Meade.
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KDC = Key Distribution Center.
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The TCE-500 was developed when the former
STK assets were owned by
Alcatel. Early TCE-500 units therefore carry the Alcatel logo. Alcatel was
eventually taken over by Thomson CSF, which later was renamed to
Thales.
It is therefore possible to find TCE-500 units under different names:
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- 2 or 4 line full-duplex operation
- DTMF or pulse-dialling
- CELP speech encoding 7200 pbs (auto fallback to 4800/2400 bps)
- LPC-10 speech encoding
- Data V.24, 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600 baud
- Tempest: ASMG-720
- Compatibility: STU-II and compatible devices
- PSU: 20-250V (auto-range), AC/DC, 8W (operation), 4W (standby)
- Dimensions: 110 x 308 x 248 mm
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- SAVILLE
- Alcatel proprietary
- Customer specific
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The TCE-500 is interoperable with the following devices:
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Any links shown in red are currently unavailable.
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© Crypto Museum. Last changed: Saturday, 24 February 2018 - 20:55 CET.
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