DS-101 is described in the EKMS 603 standard, but unfortunately this
standard is not publicly available. It is known however, that DS-101 is
an asynchronous serial protocol running at 64 kb/s.
It is also known that it uses the HDLC protocol.
The physical interface is specified as RS-485, but RS-232D
versions are known to exist as well, which is useful when PCs are
involved.
In most cases, devices that support newer DS101 – with an anynchronous
RS485/RS232 interface – still support the older synchronous interface
and are therefore backward compatible with DS102.
Unlike the DS-102 standard
— which can only transfer cryptographic keys
and frequency hopping tables — DS-101 can differentiate between various
key and data types by using data tagging. As a result, DS-101 can also
be used for distributing firmware and cryptographic algorithm updates.
PLEASE HELP —
At present, not much is known about DS-101, EKMS-603 and the underlying
data structure. You can help us to expand this page by providing additional
information about transfer devices that use DS-101, supported radios,
supported encryption devices, and the underlying data structures and
protocols.
For connection between the FILL unit, and a radio or encryption device,
most devices used a standard
U-229 connector.
In many cases, this connector is shared with the audio functions
of a military radio,
for example for the connection of a handset.
This connector has 5 or 6 spring-loaded contacts, and is available
in a male and female variant, as shown in the diagram below.
Although each variant has its own specific type number, they are often
referred to as U-229/U, or simply U-229, after the female 5-pin cable
part. The table below shows the pinout of this connector for the DS-101
standard. On encryption devices this connector is commonly used exclusively
for the FILL function, but on radio sets it is often shared with the
audio functions.
Any links shown in red are currently unavailable.
If you like the information on this website, why not make a donation?
Crypto Museum. Created: Sunday 11 February 2018. Last changed: Tuesday, 17 March 2026 - 08:17 CET.
