ARC-210 VHF/UHF Satellite Radio
The ARC-210 radio is a new addition to the A-10C cockpit and was not present in the earlier entertainment version. This radio can transmit and receiving VHF, UHF and UHF SATCOM frequencies. The radio can use its transceiver to both receive and transmit (RT) on both open single-channel frequencies and over secure electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) channels. Using the radio, it is possible to manually select a frequency or select a frequency as a preset. Possible presets include:
25 open, single-channel presets
5 SATCOM presets
To transmit through the ARC-210 radio, the user will select transmit aft from the mic switch on the HOTAS.
ARC-210 Control Head
LCD Display. Presentation of menu texts
TOD SND button. No function.
TOD RCV Button. No function.
GPS Button. No function.
RT SELECT Button. This button toggles between two receiver-transmitters (RT) on the aircraft. This indication is shown on the Display. Options are RT1 (default) and RT2. Active RT will have no effect in the simulation and can only be set to RT1.
SQL Knob. This is a two-position rotary knob that enables or disables RT squelch.
AM/FM Button. Toggles RT modulation between AM and FM.
MENU Button. Used to set imbedded radio option functions and settings through a series of tiered menus.
OFFSET RCV Button. Pressing this button offsets the current frequency to a new frequency. The amount of offset depends on what range the current frequency is set to. Generally, this will be in 5 kHz steps. However, when in the ATC frequency range of ( ), the offset is in steps of 8.33.
XMIT/RCV SEND button. This button is pressed when programming one of the SATCOM preset channels. It allows the user to set separate send and receive frequencies for the preset channel.
ENTER. No function.
Frequency Selector Knobs. These five knobs are used to manually enter or modify a frequency.
Frequency Mode Dial. This dial has seven positions with the following functions:
ECCM MASTER: Selects possibility to RT on one of the secure channels.
ECCM. Selects possibility to RT on one of the secure channels.
PRST. Allows user to rotate the Channel knob to select preset frequencies.
MAN. Default setting. Allows manual input of frequency using the frequency selector knobs.
MAR. No function
243. Automatically sets the radio to the guard 243.000 MHz frequency.
121 (PULL). Automatically sets the radio to the guard 121.500 MHz frequency.
Preset Channel Dial. This dial may be rotated to cycle through the 41 preset channels when in PRST or CHG PRST mode or the 27 channels when in the ECCM MASTER or ECCM modes.
Operational Mode Dial. This dial has 7 positions with the following functions:
OFF. Default setting. Removes power to the ARC-210 radio. However, the radio will still operate when in the 234 frequency mode selector dial position.
TR+G. Allows the RT to both receive and transmit on the main receiver while doing same on the guard receiver.
TR. Allows the main receiver to RT, but turns off the guard receiver.
ADF. No function
CHG PRST. If a preset channel is selected, the user can manually change it with the frequency selector knobs and save the assigned frequency to that channel.
TEST. No function
ZERO (PULL). No function
Display Brightness. Pressing these two buttons increase or decrease the brightness level of the display.
Function Select Keys. Operating much like a CDU LSK, these buttons can affect what is on the display adjacent to the button.
Radio Start
By moving the Frequency Mode Selector Dial from OFF to any other setting, the radio will start its initialization process.
The LCD Display will first show the POWER UP LOADR page for approximately two seconds. It will then automatically change to the INITIALIZING page.
Power Up Page
The INITIALIZING page will display for approximately four seconds before changing to the selected Frequency Mode and Operational Modes selected.
Initializing Page
ARC-210 Start Up Complete
Remove the KY-58 VOICE indication on the screen.
Menu Pages
Upon pressing the Menu button, the Main Menu page is displayed with the following options, but none will be functional:
HQ MENUS (no function)
COMSEC (no function)
RADIO SETTINGS (no function)
Manual Frequency Selection
Manual frequency selection allows the user to use the frequency selector knobs to manually dial in a VHF/UHF frequency. To do so, the Frequency Mode Dial must first be set to the manual (MAN) position and the Operational Mode Dial must be set to TR or TR+G positions. Additionally, the SQL OFF/ON rotary must be set to ON.
Current Frequency. Located in the bottom right of the display, this is a six-digit numeric (xxx.xxx) that indicates the frequency that the radio is currently tuned to. To change this numeric, the user will use (rotate) the five frequency selector knobs below the display. Each knob can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the numeric value.
Current Frequency Modulation. This indication will display either FM or AM. This can be toggled by pressing the AM/FM button on the control head. Note that the selection of AM or FM option depends on the frequency selected.
Current Receiver-Transmitter. Static text with No function. This will always be set to RT1.
Extended Range Indication. No function, this field will be blank.
Security Option. For secure communications, the middle LSK next to this field can be pressed to cycle through security types. The selected security type is displayed left justified in the center of the display. This will only display PT VOICE.
Previous Frequency. When the radio is first powered on, this field in the top center of the display will indicate ( - - -.- - -). However, after five seconds, the last frequency used by the radio will be displayed here. Anytime a new frequency is selected (manually or as a preset), the previous frequency will be displayed here. The radio can be set to this previous frequency by pressing the PREV LSK.
Preset Channel Selection
In addition to manually selecting frequencies, the user can store up 30 selectable, preset channels, each with an assigned frequency. To do so, the Frequency Mode Dial must first be set to the preset (PRST) position and the Operational Mode Dial must be set to TR or TR+G. Additionally, the SQL OFF/ON rotary must be set to ON.
Once these conditions are met, the user may rotate the Channel Dial (clockwise to increase channel number and counterclockwise to decrease) to select the desired channel (and associated frequency).
Much like the manual frequency selection display, the preset display has many of the same functions:
Current Frequency
Current Frequency Modulation
Security Option
Current Receiver-Transmitter
The functions perform as they do in manual frequency selection mode. However, one new element is the current channel indication (1–30). This indication is located below the current receiver-transmitter indication.
Guard Channels Selection
There are two ways to select the emergency guard channels. However, if either case, the Operational Mode Selector must be set to TR or TR+G.
Option 1: Tune the radio to 243.000 either manually or set as a preset.
Option 2: Set the Frequency Mode Selector dial to either 121 (PULL) or 243 positions. This will automatically set the radio to 121.500 (VHF) or 243.000 (UHF) respectively.
When one of the two guard channels are selected, a UHF GUARD or a VHF GUARD indication is displayed left justified at the top of the display (depending on frequency selected).
Setting Preset Channels 1–25
As stated earlier, the user can select from 30 preset channels, each assigned a unique frequency. Channels 1–25 can be assigned to VHF and UHF single frequency operation (26–30 are for UHF SATCOM).
Note that channels are selected by rotating the Channel Selector Dial.
Before loading a preset frequency for a channel, set the SQL OFF/ON rotary knob to ON.
To load a frequency to a preset channel:
Set the Operational Mode selector dial to the CHG PRST position
Set the Frequency Mode selector dial to the PRST position
Use the Channel Selector dial to select the preset channel (1–25) to edit
Use the five Frequency Selector knobs to select the desired frequency to set to the current preset channel.
Press the top LSK button next to the LOAD indication on the display. This will save the assignment of the set frequency to the current preset channel.
In addition to the unique LOAD indication on the display, there are several other common elements:
Current Frequency
Current Frequency Modulation
Security Option
Current Receiver-Transmitter
Current preset channel
These elements perform as indicated earlier.
Setting Preset Channels 26–30
Preset channels 26-30 are reserved for UHF SATCOM operations. The process of setting a SATCOM preset channel is different than the process described for channels 1-25.
Before loading a preset frequency for a channel, set the SQL OFF/ON rotary knob to ON.
To load a frequency to a 26-30 preset channel:
Set the Operational Mode dial to the CHG PRST position.
Set the Frequency Mode dial to the PRST position
Use the Channel Selector dial to select the preset channel (26 – 30) to edit.
From the ARC-210 control head, press the XMIT/RCV SEND button to toggle between entering the transmitting frequency for the selected preset channel and the receiving one. This is indicated by either an XMT or RCV indication above the current frequency numeric.
Use the five Frequency Selector knobs to select the desired frequency to set to the current preset channel.
Press the top LSK button next to the LOAD indication on the display. This will save the assignment of the set frequency to the current preset channel.
In addition to the unique LOAD and XMT/RCV indications on the display, there are several other common elements:
Current Frequency
Current Frequency Modulation
Security Option
Current Receiver-Transmitter
Current preset channel
Previous frequency
These elements perform as indicated earlier.
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