[MRCA] Regency pallet progress

[Ray Fantini]

Not that I am short of projects but this one is now number one on the runway right now. Some time back I saw a Regency Team Network pallet but it was missing the radio, a AN/GRC-215 transceiver. Did not think of it much at the time but a option to buy one has recently come up. So one thing leads to another and the other day went and rescued the pallet from where it was in long term storage. I spent the last couple days unloading it from the truck, getting it into the workshop and cleaning up the twenty years of dust and dirt that were the result of it being in storage. Think the intent was it was supposed to go to salvage and destroyed after the removal of all the security equipment, the KG-84 and KY-65 also someone pulled the RN Modem and of course the radio itself.  So what I am left with is the radio adapter, I/O unit, power amplifier, reference unit and power supply.

After lots of cleaning and checking to see what if anything else is missing am now at the point of trying out the I/O unit. For some reason yet to be determined I have no display yet, the I/O unit comes up, beeps and shows no alarms but no display yet. According to the manual I should be seeing the “ENSURE ALL EQUIPMENT IS POWERED – ON AT THIS TIME” message and be able to proceed to the BIT test but with no display that’s hard to do. Can look into the processor and see all the cards will go red when the reset is pushed and then see them go to normal after they come on line but no love from the display. I don’t know if you have to have the radio installed to get to the bit test or see a display or not but there is a huge plug that goes to the front of the radio and with no radio cannot say. Somehow assume that the I/O unit would do something being a I have worked with other flaming arrow and secure hardware and most of the time the I/O system is independent. Can see the reference system coming up and on line at least generating its 10 MHz time base and know if I disconnect the communications cable that hits that along with everything else the I/O unit goes into fault. So that’s where I am now and intend to make additional work on the I/O unit this weekend’s project.

If anyone has any ideas please let me know, also will be on the look out for a GRC-215 R/T unit to stuff in the pallet.

According to the book once the I/O unit is up and running it can be used to select frequency, power and mode from the touch screen, without the RN Modem don’t think will be doing any data stuff but maybe if I can make more headway can eventually adapt a RTTY modem?


Ray F/KA3EKH


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