I/O connector panel

The I/O connector panel is a rack-mounted unit that provides an interface between RCP8 and radar hardware, such as the transmitter and other sub units of the radar system for analog and digital controls and statuses.

The panel is connected to a RCP8 I/O PCI card in the radar server computer with a 62-pin cable.

Signals used by the weather radar systems include, for example:

• TTL inputs/outputs and external relay driver outputs for miscellaneous control and status.
• +/- 10 V analog inputs to monitor, for example, power supply voltages.
• serial interfaces
• triggers
• relays
• analog synchro inputs
• parallel angle inputs and outputs

Configuration

The I/O configuration defines which RCP8 software variable is assigned for each input or output. The variables are further configured for display in graphical user interfaces, such as the Bitex utility, the Antenna utility, or the IRIS radar Status Menu.

Configuration is mostly done in a text file in the radar server computer configuration directory (/etc/vaisala/irisrda/softplane.conf). Some configurations are also made in the RCP8 setups through the Antx utility.