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From: mae%vygr@Sun.COM (Mike Ekberg, Sun {Graphics Sub-Division})
Newsgroups: sci.crypt
Subject: more on kl-43
Message-ID: <19968@sun.uucp>
Date: Thu, 28-May-87 19:02:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.19968
Posted: Thu May 28 19:02:21 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 30-May-87 09:40:10 EDT
Sender: news@sun.uucp
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Lines: 31
Keywords: crypt machine tape code NSA

A while back I posted a question on what is a KL-43. The only response
was somebody who looked up the device in a catalog of NSA devices. 
I postulate three reasons for lack of responses:

	1. Bored, ie. not another *DUMB* question. Let's talk about
		*REAL* stuff, etc.
	2. Huh?, ie. I dunno...
	3. AHA!, ie. I know but can't tell you because you once 
		subscribed to Mother Jones, etc.

Well, anyway, after listening to more of the Iran/Contra hearings I 
think I can answer part of my own question.

The Kl-43 seems to be a small, portable encrytion device that enables
a group of people to communicate over telephone lines. It looks 
something like a lap-top computer. It seems to have a port for an
optional printer. 

The encryption I suspect uses one-time 'pads' generated by the NSA
for a group of machines. The 'pads' are actually something that looks
like a cassette tape. Each pad is good for one day.

Further questions:

	1. Are the cassettes really cassette tapes?
	2. Are they really one-time pads?
	3. What is the user interface, do you type in the clear text
		and it appears on the receivers terminal?
	4. What are the gut's of the thing, Z-80? DES chips? modem?

mike	- Sun uSystems, MStop 5-40