Sealevel Systems (News - Alert) has introduced the ACC-188 USB Synchronous Interface Adapter that enables tactical radios currently utilized by the US Armed Forces to interface to PCs and transmit IP based data.

 

Marc Foster, director of Sales for Sealevel Systems said the product provides a tremendous improvement in the speed and reliability of battlefield communications. By leveraging the high data throughput of the ACC-188 their warfighters will be able to quickly transmit and receive data such as GPS maps, images, coordinates, and IM type communications.

 

According to Foster, the interoperable ACC-188 solution will allow communications among various radio brands and models most commonly used by the defense community. Available with a variety of radio connector options, the ACC-188 is compatible with the most prevalent brands and models: Harris PRC-117 and PRC-150, Motorola LST-5, Raytheon PSC-5D and ARC-231, Rockwell Collins ARC-210, Thales (News - Alert) PRC-148. The ACC-188 can also be utilized by most digital radio sets that have a synchronous serial data port.

 

Foster further explained that the ACC-188 significantly reduces taxpayers’ costs compared to purchasing ultra-expensive proprietary hardware and software from the radio manufacturer. The military will thus be able to provide this technology to their troops in greater numbers than ever before. He emphasized that the ACC-188 is the right product at the right time to support the strategy of enhancing the network capabilities of legacy radios rather than moving to a new platform.

 

The ACC-188 can operate seamlessly with PDA-184, a standard software product developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Because the PDA-184 software (shipped by Sealevel with the ACC-188 as part of the total solution) provides a Graphic User Interface (GUI), war fighters can transmit and receive a variety of data types, including an instant message function and file transmission.

 

Frank Phelps, senior Design Engineer on the project explained that developing a synchronous interface capable of communicating to the host PC over the USB bus presented a tremendous design challenge due to inherent USB latency. He added that, despite the challenge, USB was the ideal interface for the product because it is present on every contemporary desktop and portable PC.