The Remote Control Unit with GPS (RCU) is a remote control device designed to be an active extension of the front panel controls of Thales' AN/PRC-148 radios with the addition of an embedded commercial GPS receiver with an integrated GPS antenna. The GPS receiver facilitates the introduction of Force Tracking capabilities to the radio, key to network-centric operations.
The knob operation and menu structure of the RCU are designed to replicate the front panel of the radio, increasing ease of use and reducing training requirements. Volume and channel control are provided by the use of knobs. As with the radio, the front panel display provides access to all the radio menus. GPS position information is sent automatically to the radio over the asynchronous serial port via the rugged interconnect cable attached to the radio’s side connector.
The RCU is powered from the radio through the side connector supply and ground ports, thus eliminating the need to carry additional batteries. The RCU is designed to conserve power to maintain operational mission life of the radio.
The unit is intended as a body-mounted device and is designed such that it is easy to hold and operate with or without extreme conditions apparel such as cold weather gloves. The RCU allows the soldier to mount the radio in non-obstructive locations such as on his back while maintaining full control of the radio. The versatile RCU mounting features allow for various configurations to support different field deployments.
The RCU supports both the MBITR and the JEM.
