COMSEC SWITCH POSITIONS AND USES

TM 11-5820-890-10-8

COMSEC SWITCH

The COMSEC switch provides five

settings for control of RT COMSEC

mode. Only the CT position is

normally used in field operations.

Two of the positions require the

operator to pull out on the knob to

move into/ out of these settings.

Figure 5-8. COMSEC Switch

COMSEC SWITCH POSITIONS AND USES

POSITION

PURPOSE

This setting places the radio in plain text (not secure) mode. To prevent

(Plain text)

accidental selection of this position, the operator must pull out on the knob to

enter or leave the setting. The radio must be set to the PT position when using

the CUE feature.

This is the primary COMSEC setting for nets operating in the secure mode. To

make use of this setting, RT must have been loaded with required COMSEC

(Cipher Text)

key or keys. Use of the CT function essentially prevents the enemy from

intercepting your communications.

This setting also provides for secure mode communications and is used when

(Time Delay)

needed to compensate for transmission delays. Seek the help of a

communications specialist if you think you need to use this feature of the

SINCGARS radio.

This setting may be used in some forms of Over-The-Air-Rekey (OTAR)

(Receive Variable)

transmissions, but normal operator procedures do not require its use.

This position may be used to clear the RT of stored COMSEC keys by setting

the switch to Z for 5 seconds. Knob must be pulled out to enter or leave this

(Zero)

position. When turning the radio off by moving to OFF, it is not necessary to

use the COMSEC switch Z setting in order to clear COMSEC keys. (For

RT- 1523E, "Z" clears all data.)

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