DOSQARS Version 5.0 - STB-TRA-012 (Zip file) RDI-DOS Version 3.1 - STB-TRA-013 Y2K PCPRO Year 2000 Fix STR-RIT-001 (Zip file) TDIC program/sub-directory for RIT version 4 computers only! (Zip file) How to determine if you require an RDI or MX6A i/o board. (PDF format) Additional Technical Support - User Guides, Technical Manuals and STB's.All of the various FAA radar analysis functions (HOST, UNIX, and DOS based) will be redeveloped for Microsoft Windows 3.1 using Object Oriented Programming (OOP) techniques in Borland C++. RIT will interpret and analyze prerecorded radar data files providing graphical and statistical data summaries to assist radar analysts to maintain the various radar sensors in the FAA's inventory.
Conversion programs to convert CD-record (TRACS) File Format to the RDI File Format, a recording driver to enable the MX6A Card to save radar data in either the RDI or the CD-record format are being developed to promote the RDI File Format.
The E-RIT/A can be interchanged with a RIT System PC with the same option capabilities. E-RIT/A is used for radar analysis and report generation from a magneto-optical (MO) drive (E-RIT/A System = RIT System + MO drive). The E-RIT/A will host a CD-ROM drive for use with the EBT System.
COTS software provided for system operation are: MS DOS v6.21, SCSI device drivers and MS Windows v3.1; for management reports: MS Word v6.0 and Pizzaz Plus v4.0 print screen utility for printing any screen image to the printer; and for housekeeping: Back-it v4.0 for system backups and Norton Utilities v8.0 for harddrive maintenance.
The E-RIT/R(ecorder) is a COTS AST 486DX2/66 MHz tower PC with seven (7) available EISA expansion slots, a single 3.5" floppy diskette drive, a 1.0 gigabyte SCSI harddrive, a dual magneto-optical drive tower, a mouse, a super VGA interface and 14" super VGA monitor.
The E-RIT/R will provide the means of capturing all of the radar data products using one or more RDI Systems, storing the data to PC based secondary storage devices (harddrives, LAN based drives, removeable media drives, etc.). COTS software provided for system operation are: MS DOS v6.21, MS Window v3.1, and Norton Utilities v7.0 for housekeeping.
The Radar Data Interface (RDI) System is the heart of the E-RIT/R System capturing all the radar data products and making them available to the PC for real-time analysis or storage. The RDI System is comprised of four hardware components: the RDI Board, the RDI Cable, the RDI Adapter and the RDI Recording software.
The RDI System is designed to be a passive, non-intrusive radar data interface and currently used by the U.S. Air Force at operational sites. Both RIT and E-RIT will use the RDI System for radar analysis recording and playback.
The RDI Board (RDIB)is an intelligent eight port radar data capture card that installs into a PC via the PC's ISA or EISA expansion bus. The RDI Board hosts a Motorola MC68000 microprocessor, 768 Kbytes of onboard RAM, 4 Kbytes of dual ported RAM and an eight serial port VLSI chip. The RDI Board receives and transmits TTL level signals up to 19,200 baud per channel to its single DB44 high density connector.
The RDI Cable (RDIC) is a 50 conductor twisted pair shielded cable with high density DB44 connectors on both ends. The RDI Cable connects the RDI Board with the RDI Adapter Box.
The RDI Adapter (RDIA) hosts RS232 and RS530 transceivers to convert the radar data signals to TTL levels compatible with the RDI Board for each of the eight radar channel interface ports. The RDIA connects to the RDI Board via the RDI Cable and the NAS Modem Rack via the E-RIT Interface Cables.
The RDI Recording Software is a Microsoft Windows application allowing the radar engineer to customize/configure the RDI System configuration. Currently, the RDI Recording software is a hybrid Windows application that allows the user to configure the RDI Boards in Windows then shells out to DOS to actually record the radar data to disk. Efforts are underway to host the entire RDI Recording software as a Windows application. The current version of the RDI Recording software saves the radar data in the RDI File Format.
Each ARTCC has been delivered an E-RIT System Rack which will be used to install the E-RIT/R PC. The rack is a industry standard 19 inch equipment rack manufactured by MarkHon, Inc., Wabash, Indiana, (219-563-2161) with an overall footprint of: 74.5"h x 22.0"w x 25.5"d. For specific information regarding the rack's construction refer to the data sheet included in this document.
The E-RIT System Interface Cables are designed to connect the NAS Modem Rack (the data source) with the E-RIT/RDI Adapter Boxes. The E-RIT Interface Cables are five conductor non-twisted pair shielded plenum rated cables designed to be installed under the floor at each site. The cables have standard DB25 male connectors on each end.
Each site was delivered the requisite number of E-RIT Interface Cables that were custom fabricated (varying lengths) for that site in accordance with the site questionnaire responses received by AOS-500. Each interface cable is designed to carry one channel of data from the NAS Modem Splitter Rack's J6 connector to the E-RIT/Recorder. AOS-520 suggests that each cable should be marked with radar sensor channel identifying labels at each end.
AOS-520 has recently been informed that some site user's are currently using the NAS Modem Splitter's J6 connector for local purposes, AOS-500 only supports the E-RIT RDI System to interface with the J6 connector.
Each shipment will include a detailed shipping document which will list every component included in the shipment. This list will list the serial number and value for each item.
Site users will use their own local bar codes and retain full ownership and custodianship over each system once it arrives at their facility. Barcoding should be limited to the main components that have serial numbers; e.g., the CPUs, printers, magneto-optical drives, monitors, etc. Items such as the mouse and keyboard need not be bar coded
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The CD-record file format is a very rigid and static file format that does not provide for expansion and flexibility. Frequently, various civilian and military organizations require specific groups of data blocks in the CD-record header for comments or special information. These set aside areas are frequently overwritten by legacy software. As new radar sensors and radar messages are required by radar analysts, the CD-record standardization is modified, further exacerbating the legacy software compatibility problem.
AOS has, in conjunction with the Air Force, developed and established a new radar data file format designated, the Radar Data Interface (RDI) File Format. The RDI File Format provides more dynamic and flexible data storage capabilities for post analysis functions. Conversion programs to convert legacy file formats to the RDI format are currently under development at AOS and the Air Force. An RDI recording driver (DOS and Windows) for use with the MX6A Card is under development to promote the RDI standard
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The EBT Project's objective is to host on-line, all pertinent technical documentation on compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) media. A Microsoft Windows compatible hypertext viewer (SGML compliant) will be used to view the information (text and graphical) on-line allowing the user to perform text based searches for specific topics, making notes/remarks electronically, viewing schematics and printing hardcopies when necessary.
The EBT Project will start with the Mode-S System technical documentation manuals and handbooks as the pilot system. All pertinent Mode-S technical documentation, schematics, diagrams, figures, tables and checklists will be hosted on CD-ROM media with hypertext links. As the EBT Project evolves, AOS will be establishing electronic media and hypertext development methodologies and techniques for long term documentation configuration management and maintenance.
These documents will be available to site personnel via the EBT hypertext viewing system, Dynatext, included with each CD-ROM delivery. Ad-hoc searches via a full-text search engine will be available by subject, by topic, or by document for review of technical details while on-line or can be printed in hardcopy format. The hardware platform designated to host the EBT System is the RIT System.
Each RIT System will host a CD-ROM drive and a super VGA monitor to view the hypertext documents. A black and white 11"x17" bubblejet printer will provide hardcopy output capability for text as well as graphical schematic diagrams.
Several of the field installed RIT Systems require an upgrade to meet the minimum EBT configuration. The upgrade as it pertains to the RIT System is referred to as the RIT System EBT Upgrade.
Each E-RIT/A System will host a CD-ROM drive and a super VGA monitor to view the hypertext documents. A black and white 11"x17" bubblejet printer will provide hardcopy output capability for text as well as graphical schematic diagrams. The RIT System EBT Upgrade will be included with the E-RIT System deployment.
updated 3/19/02