Methods of automatically populating a secure group list in a key variable loader and of providing keys to a secure group are presented. After a user selects a secure group and encryption algorithm using inputs of the loader, the loader provides a group identifier and corresponding key for the group. The group identifier, encryption algorithm, and key are transmitted to a portable communication device over a physical connection between the two while a device identifier of the communication device is transmitted concurrently to the loader. The key variable loader automatically populates a stored list of subscribers of the group with the device identifier. When it is desired to transmit a new key to all of or fewer than all of the subscribers, one of the subscribers is connected with the loader and used to wirelessly transmit a new key to the remaining subscribers.