RCP8 Architecture

RCP8 is based on a standard PCI architecture running a Linux operating system. The hardware chassis is constructed with redundant power supplies, captive quick release fasteners, PCI card guides, and security hold-down bar.

A standard system contains the following components:

• Vaisala I/O-62 general purpose I/O board.
• Vaisala RCP8 connector panel (connects to I/O-62).

Depending on the application, other standard commercial PCI cards may be added for additional I/O capability such as the following:

• Dual port 1Gb Ethernet adapter for additional network I/O (for example, a backup network).
• RS-232/RS-422 serial cards for serial angles, remote TTY control, and similar.

The front of the unit also contains a DVD drive for backup, software installation, and maintenance.

RCP8 is configured locally using a keyboard, mouse and monitor, or remotely over the network.

The configuration menus are TTY text-based menus for configuring the antenna servos, host computer interface, and programmable control logics. The TTY menus also provide status and monitoring for diagnostic purposes and during the antenna stabilization process.

Pin assignments to the connector panel are made in the softplane.conf file.