SARNEG (SAR Numeric Encryption

Easily encrypt and decrypt coordinates using a SARNEG of your choice.

Easily encrypt and decrypt coordinates using a SARNEG of your choice.

The Search and Rescue Numerical Encryption Grid or SARNEG is a means of encrypting map grid coordinates, and other numerical portions of a message, when that message must be sent over non-secure means. Usually this means that an isolated person is communicating his or her location to a rescue team over an unencrypted radio, but the SARNEG can be used to encrypt numbers in other types of communications as well.

To use SARNEG you first agree upon a ten-letter word with no repeating letters. A couple of examples of such words include: AFTERSHOCK and BLACKHORSE. You could also choose to use a combination of two words, such as COMBATHELP. The word or words are simply a mnemonic to aid in remembering a sequence of ten letters.

To use SARNEG write the numbers 0-9, and directly below those numbers write your key word. Substitute the letters of the key word for the numbers in the grid coordinates of your location. For example, if you are located at 56°29'54.8"N 84°59'21.9"E (Decimal 56.498552, 84.989404) in Tomsk, Russia you could send your location as SARNEG: SHRKCSST CRKCKRAR (although why you would need search and rescue in the City of Tomsk remains a question).

SARNEG need not only be used for search and rescue. Maybe you are operating personal radios (i.e. Amateur Band (HAM), RHA68 / PMR446 / GMRS-FRS) with family or friends and want to keep locations, dates, times, telephone numbers, and the like private, from others who might be monitoring the channel. SARNEG will let you do this.

Similar to the challenge and password, the SARNEG keyword is designated prior to each mission.