PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md., 12 May 2013. U.S. Navy radio communications experts needed a special radio adapter to upgrade U.S. Marine Corps AN/PRC networking radios to send and receive Internet Protocol (IP) data such as GPS maps, images, coordinates, and IM-type communications. They found their solution from Sealevel Systems Inc. in Liberty, S.C.
Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., have announced their intention to award a sole-source contract to Sealevel Systems for the company's ACC-188 USB synchronous serial radio adapter to upgrade fielded Harris and Thales AN/PRC tactical radios to send and receive battlefield data.
There is no known authorized alternate manufacturer, distributor, or reseller to prove the ACC-188 serial radio adapter, Navy officials say. The amount of the contract has yet to be negotiated.
The Sealevel cables operate with standard PDA-184 software developed by and available from DISA which is currently installed on fielded radios. Sealevel Systems, furthermore, has been found to meet all of the projects specification, Navy officials say.
Communications such as the Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-152A wideband networking handheld radio; the Harris AN/PRC-117G Falcon III wideband tactical radio; the Thales AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio; and the Thales AN/PRC-148 family of radios are software-defined communications systems that meet specifications of the Pentagon's Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS).
These kinds of radios are for Marine Corps and Army infantry for voice and data communications, battlefield networking, and sending data like maps, photos, video, and GPS coordinates.
The Sealevel Systems ACC-188 USB synchronous serial radio adapter and DISA software upgrades tactical radios to send and receive IP data such as GPS maps, images, coordinates, and IM-type communications.
The ACC-188 operates with standard PDA-184 software developed by and available from DISA. The PDA-184 software provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables radio users to transmit and receive a variety of data types at relatively high speeds, Sealevel officials say.
The ACC-188 enables interoperability among various radio brands and models, such as the Harris and Thales PRC radios. The ACC-188 is compatible with radios with synchronous communications ports using MIL-STD-188-184.
Other radios able to use the ACC-188 include the Raytheon AN/PSC-5D and ARC-231; the Rockwell Collins ARC-210; and Motorola LST-5B and LST-5C, Sealevel officials say. The PDA-184 software is government-developed, government-owned by DISA.
The DISA PDA-184 software implements the MIL-STD-188-184 data waveform; facilitates high-speed data throughput; provides an easy-to-use Java-based GUI; and runs in Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit), XP (32-bit) or 2000.
The ACC-188 cable and integrated assembly includes a printed circuit board packaged as a bump in the cable that provides a rugged, shielded product designed to withstand the effects of harsh environments.
One end of the cable has a standard type-A USB connector to connect to computers and peripherals, while the other end has a connector specific to each brand or model of tactical radio.
For more information contact Sealevel Systems online at www.sealevel.com, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.
