The reason for the "no codes/ciphers" rules are simple: This is a radio 
service of good will, openness, and sharing. If you're encrypting, you 
are making it private for your use only - contrary to the spirit of the 
service. In many countries, people have to buy licenses to transmit. 
Hams get a lot of spectrum for free - in return for the benefits they 
provide to society - specifically the aforementioned good will, public 
service emergency communications, and training of communications operations.

In the USA, this is the first thing spelled out in Part 97 of the FCC's 
rules (the Amateur Radio Service rules) - the reasons why the service 
exists. I bet it's that way in other countries, too.

If you want to encrypt things and have communications for your personal 
use, I would recommend the ISM band. I suspect you will also be 
'broadcasting' (making one-way transmissions) which is prohibited in the 
ham bands with a few exceptions.

Joe M.

Russell McMahon wrote:
>>> That's all fine and dandy, but that still doesn't justify why one
>>> can't encrypt. It's a radio frequency, it's not like you're stealing
>>> someone's code and selling it.
> 
> If it's encrypted, that may be exactly what you ARE doing :-).
> Or anything else commercial.
> Being able to look over your shoulder is part of the tradeoff.
> 
> In exchange for the freedoms there are the checks and balances.
> The rules of engagement are very very time honoured and very very well
> thrashed out.
> You don't have to like them but it's a certainty that you won't change them.
> There are many many many people who would like a slice of the amateur
> bands and bits and pieces have been lost along the way. Rocking the
> boar is not going to help the retention of the bands for future use
> so, along with the government you'd be fighting the amateurs who know
> that by making too much noise they will make their lot worse not
> better.
> The tradeoff is, as variously noted, exceptional freedom to do one's
> own thing compared to what is allowed in other quarters. Some very
> advanced stuff indeed is done by amateurs, even nowadays.
> 
>  R
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