Sa 2.01 Falcon III Rpa 2.8.0 With The Prc-117f

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
COMMUNICATION TRAINING CENTER

MARINE CORPS COMMUNICATION-ELECTRONICS SCHOOL
TRAINING COMMAND
BOX 788251
TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA 92278-8251
LESSON PLAN
RF-6550M FALCON III RADIO
PROGRAMMING APPLICATION (RPA)
IR.01.04
Advanced Radio Operators COURSE
M09AROC
09/17/2009
APPROVED BY ______________________ DATE _________________

INTRODUCTION (RPA): (3 MIN)
(ON SLIDE #1)
1. GAIN ATTENTION: As Radio Operators, you will operate

numerous types and variations of radios throughout your
Marine Corps career. In doing so, you will find that each
radio has its own operating capabilities and
characteristics. Your proficiency at operating a radio will
minimize errors due to the fog of war, stress, and enemy
activity. The FALCON III RADIO PROGRAMMIG APPLICATION (RPA)
can assist you in eliminating the human error factor in
programming your radio assets.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(ON SLIDE #2)
2. OVERVIEW. Good Morning/Afternoon class, my name is
______________________________. The purpose of this lesson
is to familiarize Marines with the FALCON III RADIO
PROGRAMMIG APPLICATION (RPA) of the AN/PRC-117F.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Introduce Learning objectives. Open RPA Power Point
Presentation on visual screen.
(ON SLIDE #3)

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES.
a. TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE. Provided planning

documents, equipment and references, install advanced radio
system configurations per the references (0621-inst-2401)
(ON SLIDE #4)

b. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE.
(1) With the aid of reference, provided equipment

and appropriate software, install a RPA onto a computer, per
HARRIS Publication Number 10515-0325-4200 (Users Guide
Falcon III Radio Programming Application).
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(ON SLIDE #5)
(2) With the aid of reference, and provided
equipment, appropriate software, and planning documents,
program a RPA per HARRIS Publication Number 10515-0325-4200
(Users Guide Falcon III Radio Programming Application).
(ON SLIDE #6)

equipment, appropriate software, and planning documents,
save a programmed RPA to a specific location, per HARRIS
Publication Number 10515-0325-4200 (Users Guide Falcon III
Radio Programming Application).
(ON SLIDE #7)

(4) With the aid of reference and provided
equipment, load an AN/PRC-117 with a programmed RPA, per
HARRIS Publication Number 10515-0325-4200 (Users Guide
Falcon III Radio Programming Application).
(ON SLIDE #8)

(5) With the aid of reference and provided
equipment, successfully pass traffic to a distant station
utilizing a AN/PRC-117 over a Line of sight (LOS) frequency
net loaded from an RPA program, per HARRIS Publication
Number 10515-0325-4200 (Users Guide Falcon III Radio
Programming Application).
(ON SLIDE #9)

utilizing a AN/PRC-117 over a SINCGARS frequency hopping net
loaded from an RPA program, per HARRIS Publication Number
10515-0325-4200 (Users Guide Falcon III Radio Programming
Application).
(ON SLIDE #10)

equipment, successfully program a AN/PRC-117 to pass traffic
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on a HPW LOS net loaded from an RPA program, per HARRIS
(ON SLIDE #11)

equipment, successfully program a AN/PRC-117 to pass traffic
on a HPW TACSAT net loaded from an RPA program, per HARRIS
(ON SLIDE #12)

utilizing a AN/PRC-117 over a Voice dedicated TACSAT net
loaded from an RPA program, per HARRIS Publication Number
10515-0325-4200 (Users Guide Falcon III Radio Programming
Application).
(ON SLIDE #13)

utilizing a AN/PRC-117 over a Voice DAMA net loaded from an
RPA program, per HARRIS Publication Number 10515-0325-4200
(Users Guide Falcon III Radio Programming Application).
(ON SLIDE #14)

4. METHOD/MEDIA: This POI will be taught by means of the
lecture method, demonstration/hands-on, and practical
application. I will be using the proxima projector,
computer generated graphics, the AN/PRC-117F with SL-3 Kit,
SKL, and your student handouts.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
At this time brief Instructional Rating Form (IRF) for this
class. Instruct the students who receive an IRF to fill
them out at the conclusion of the class and instruct them to
put comments on the IRF.
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5. EVALUATION: Each student will be evaluated on how to
properly configure the PC & AN/PRC-117F for RPA Operations
by a Performance Evaluation (PE) test on training day 10.
(ON SLIDE #15)

6. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR THE AN/PRC-117F
Refer to Appendix A.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Although there are no safety/cease training instructions for
this portion of the class, explain to the students the
procedures to follow in case of a fire alarm. Refer to the
Antennas, Cables, Power Cords, Appoint the Senior student
to take charge of the accountability and meeting location
incase of evacuation.
(ON SLIDE #16)
TRANSITION: At this time are there any questions on what is

going to be taught, how it will be taught, the learning
objectives, or how you will be evaluated? If there are no
questions, lets begin learning about the FALCON III RADIO
PROGRAMMIG APPLICATION (RPA).
(ON SLIDE #17)
BODY (7:55 MINS)
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Throughout this class the students will follow along and
execute as you explain each function of the RPA. There are
Practical applications for them to execute as the class
progresses.
1. FALCON III RADIO PROGRAMMING APPLICATION. (3 hrs) The

RF-6550M Falcon III Radio Programming Application (RPA) is
used to program the Harris AN/PRC-152(C), AN/PRC-117F, and
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Handheld Very High Frequency
(VHF)/Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios, and to define the
nets in which the radio is used. The application is referred
to as Falcon III RPA throughout this manual.
(ON SLIDE #18)
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a. Characteristics
(1) The Falcon III RPA allows any number of radio

programming plans to be created. A programming plan contains
configuration parameters for multiple stations and nets, and
is stored in the Personal Computer (PC) as a plan file with
the .rnp extension (Radio Network Plan). The program will
also open any existing .mpd or .fpd plan files, but these
must be saved as .rnp files.
(2) Type-1 encryption keys and COMSEC data are loaded

from an external crypto fill device into the radio as
described in the operator manual or quick reference pocket
guide. Crypto information can be loaded before or after the
programming plan is loaded into the radio, since the two
operations are completely independent functions.
(3) Programming a radio is accomplished with a mission

plan file. The RPA uses the .rnp plan file to create station
specific mission plan files. The mission plan file must
include a Digital Signature Standard (DSS) signature prior
to transferring the information to a radio. The DSS
procedure authenticates the file and ensures that it has not
been tampered.
(4) Programming the AN/PRC-117F requires a simple

download of the file from the PC using a serial data cable.
(ON SLIDE #19)
(5) The Falcon III RPA Help system can be accessed by

selecting the Help > Help Topics menu, by pressing the F1
key, or by pressing the Help button on some screens. In
addition, the Falcon III RPA provides Tool tips on selected
display fields that can be viewed by holding the mouse
cursor over the field. The Falcon III RPA Help provides
guidance on all aspects of the program, including the
following key topics. Topics can be found in the Index
listed alphabetically or by using a keyword search.
(a) Quick Start
(b) Falcon III RPA Installation and Startup
(c) Falcon III RPA Display
(d) Creating and Editing Radio Programming Plans
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(e) Programming the AN/PRC-152 and AN/PRC-117G
Radios
(ON SLIDE #20)
TRANSITION: We have just covered a brief overview of RPA,

are there any questions? If not, I have a few questions for
you.
What COMSEC/CRYPTO KEY or KEYS are loaded from the RPA

Program? NONE
What does a Digital Signature Standard (DSS) signature do

for us? Authenticates the file and ensures that it has not
been tampered with.
Now that we have an understanding of what the Falcon III RPA

Program is, lets install it.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
________________
(ON SLIDE #21)
b. FALCON III RPA INSTALLATION AND STARTUP

INSTRUCTOR NOTE
The following topics are included in this section:
System Requirements - Defines the Personal Computer (PC)
hardware needed to install and operate Falcon III RPA.
Installation - Provides instructions for installing the
program on the PC.
Start-up - Explains how to start using the program.
Uninstall - Instructions for removing the program from the
PC.
(1) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS The PC system requirements for

operation of the Falcon III Radio Programming
Application(RPA) applications are described in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1. Falcon III RPA Minimum System Requirements
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(ON SLIDE #22)
(2) Installation
(a) Before beginning Falcon III RPA installation,

ensure that minimum system hardware requirements are met. It
is also recommended that all running applications be shut
down to avoid loss of data.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Any previously installed versions of the Falcon III RPA
software must be uninstalled before the current version is
installed.
(b) To install the Falcon III RPA application:
1 Access the Falcon III RPA software by

downloading it from the Harris Premier website and saving it
to a known location on your computer or from a CD with the
updated RPA into the CD-ROM drive.
2 Open the designated program that contains the

RPA install program and open the PPS_INTROPROGRAM
(ON SLIDE #23)
3 The Installer screen will be displayed as

shown in Figure 2-1. Move the mouse cursor over the Falcon
III RPA button to display the Install choice. Click on
Install to begin the software installation process.
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Figure 2-1. Falcon III RPA Installer Screen
4 Read and accept the license agreement to

continue with software installation. Click Next.
5 If you have 117F RPA installed on the

computer, the Falcon III RPA installation will need to
remove it before proceeding. Selecting YES to the prompt
will safely remove the 117F RPA application.
NOTE:
Falcon III RPA supports all functions of the 117F
RPA. Plan files created and saved in 117F RPA can be
opened in Falcon III RPA for continued use.
6 Follow the on-screen instructions to install

the Falcon III RPA application. Depending on PC
configuration, you may receive an instruction to reboot the
computer during installation.
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7 When Falcon III RPA installation is complete,
the Falcon III RPA icon will be visible on the PC desktop.
(ON SLIDE #24)
(3) NRDI Installation In order to connect to network

capable radios, special drivers are required. The Network
Radio Driver Installer (NRDI) application offers a simple
mechanism for the user of network capable radios to install
the modem driver necessary to establish a Point-to-Point
Protocol (PPP) connection between the radio and the
computer. The NRDI is a separate application included on the
installation CD-ROM and should be installed if using other
applications that require it. NRDI is not required to
configure and program AN/PRC-152 and AN/PRC-117G radios.
(a) The Installer screen will be displayed as shown

in Figure 2-2. Move the mouse cursor over the NDRI button
to display the Install choice. Click on Install to begin the
software installation process.
(b) To exit the installation program, click the X

in the upper right corner.
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Figure 2-2 Falcon III RPA Installer Screen
(ON SLIDE #25)
(4) START-UP After installation of the Falcon III RPA

software is complete, the Falcon III RPA application can be
started by clicking on the Falcon III RPA icon located
on the PC desktop. Alternatively, click Start > Programs >

Harris RF Communications > Falcon III Radio Programming
Application > Falcon III RPA.
(5) UNINSTALL To uninstall the Falcon III RPA

application:
(a) From Windows, click Start > Settings > Control

Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
(b) Select Harris Falcon III Radio Programming

Application.
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(c) Select Remove.
(ON SLIDE #26)
c. FALCON III RPA DISPLAY The main Falcon III Radio

Programming Application (Falcon III RPA) dialog box is shown
in Fig. 3-1.
(1) Version control is critical and the version can be

verified by clicking on Help and about.
(2) The current version of the RPA is associated with

the current FIRMWARE of the radio you plan to program. A
mismatch of RPA and FIRMWARE version can be incompatible.
(3) Refer to the Harris premier website

(https://premier.harris.com/rfcomm/) or current MESSAGE
reference software configuration management for tactical
radios.
Figure 3-1. Falcon III RPA Display
(ON SLIDE #27)
d. The Falcon III RPA display includes the following

areas:
Title Bar / Menu Bar / Toolbar /Plan Programming Tabs /
Status Bar
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(1) Title Bar. The Title Bar displays the name of the
currently active Falcon III RPA plan, as shown in Figure 3-
2. The title bar text changes with the opening of different
programming files.
Figure 3-2. Title Bar
(2) Menu Bar. The available Falcon III RPA menu choices
are shown in Figure 3-3 and described in the following
paragraphs.
Figure 3-3. Menu Bar
(3) The Falcon III RPA menu bar provides quick access
to these frequently used commands:
(a) File - opens the File Menu.
(b) View - opens the View Menu, used to toggle the

Toolbar and Status Bar displays.
(c) Radio - opens the Radio Menu.
(d) Tools - opens the Tools Menu
(e) Help - opens the Falcon III RPA Help Menu.
(ON SLIDE #28)
(4) File Menu. The Falcon III RPA File menu, shown in
Figure 3-4, provides standard file management functions.
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Figure 3-4. File Menu
(a) Commands available from the File menu include:
1 New (Ctrl+N) Opens a new RPA Plan Info Window

for creating a new RPA programming plan. It is also
accessible via an icon on the Toolbar.
2 Open (Ctrl+O) Opens the Open dialog box to

access existing RPA plans. Also accessible via an icon on
the Toolbar.
a Select File > Open or click the icon on

the toolbar to display the Open dialog.
b Navigate to and open the desired Falcon

III RPA file (file extension .fpd, .rnp or .mpd). This will
open the file to the Falcon III RPA Plan Info Tab.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
The title bar changes to show the name of the opened file.
Refer to the Plan Info Tab
(b) Continue to create or change the plan

parameters as required. Refer to the following sections:
1 Plan Info Tab
2 Stations Tab
3 Nets Tab
4 Global Radio Configuration Tab
5 Global Network Configuration Tab
6 Select File > Save, or click the icon on the

toolbar to save the changes.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
This will overwrite the old plan. If you want to keep the
old plan, use the File > Save As command and save the
edited file under a new name. All new files must be saved
with the file extension .rnp.
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(c) Sample Plans are provided with the Falcon III
Radio Programming Application (RPA) installation. These are
working plans that can be edited and used as a starting
point to create a new custom plan.
1 Save (Ctrl+S) saves the currently open plan

under its current filename in its current folder accessible
via an icon on the Toolbar.
2 Save As...Opens the Save As dialog box which

allows you to save the current plan under a different name.
A plan can be saved to either the current folder or a
different or new folder.
3 Configure Password...Allows the existing

password for the Falcon III RPA to be changed.
4 Recent Plans List that provides immediate

access of up to four of the most recently opened plan files.
5 Exit- Exits the Falcon III RPA application.
(d) Access to Falcon III RPA can be restricted by

using a password. Valid passwords must contain at least six
alphanumeric characters, and are case-sensitive. System
administrator privileges are required to configure a
password. This menu item is not available if the application
is run by a non-privileged user. Once a password is set, you
will be prompted to enter the password each time Falcon III
RPA loads. Use the dialog box shown in Figure 3-5 to change
an existing password or to enter a new password if none
exists. If you forget your password, you will need to ask
your system administrator to remove and reinstall the RF-
6550M application on the PC.
NOTE:
The RF-6550M RPA password is completely independent from the
radios security password.
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Figure 3-5. Configure Falcon III RPA Password Dialog
(e) To add a password:
1 Select File > Configure Password.
2 Type a password in the New Password field and

press ENT.
3 Type the password a second time into the

Confirm Password field and click OK.
(f) To change an existing password:
2 Type the existing password in the Password

field and press ENT.
3 Type a password in the New Password field and

press ENT.
4 Type the password a second time into the

Confirm Password field and click OK.
(g) To remove an existing password:
2 Type the existing password in the Password

field and press ENT.
3 Check the Remove Password protection check

box and click OK.
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(ON SLIDE #29)
(5) View Menu. The View menu, shown in Figure 3-6,

hides or displays the Toolbar and/or Status Bar.
Figure 3-6. View Menu
(6) Radio Menu
Figure 3-7. Radio Menu
The Radio menu provides access to the following functions
(a) Program Opens the Radio Programming dialog box

to load the information in the current program plan into the
radio. Also accessible via an icon on the Toolbar.
(b) Generate DSS Keys. Opens the DSS Key Generation

dialog box to generate DSS Public and Private key pairs.
(c) Generate Plan Report. Automatically generates

and displays a radio programming plan report. The user will
be prompted to choose drive location to save the report on
the Personal Computer (PC).
(ON SLIDE #30)
(7) Tools Menu. Click on Options to access the menu

choices. The Tools > Options menu provides access to the
following functions:
Figure 3-8. Tools Menu
(a) Options General
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(b) Options - Radio Types
(c) Options - Net Types
(d) Options - Radio Features
(e) Options - Wireless IP
(ON SLIDE #31)
e. CREATING AND EDITING RADIO PROGRAMMING PLANS. This

section outlines the process used to create or edit a radio
programming plan. It is assumed that the system topology
(number of stations, types of nets, etc.) has already been
determined. A typical process for creating a new radio
programming plan is outlined below. When editing an existing
radio programming plan, similar steps are used.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Sample Plans are provided with the Falcon III Radio
Programming Application (RPA) installation. These are
working plans that can be edited and used as a starting
point to create a new custom plan.
(1) PLAN INFO TAB. The Plan Info tab allows the user
to enter optional identification information for the
specific communications plan being created. It is not
necessary that all fields in the Plan Info tab are filled to
generate a valid plan. The Plan Info tab of the Falcon III
RPA dialog is shown in Figure 4-1. This dialog is displayed
when the Falcon III RPA is started.
The information that may be entered on the Plan Info tab

consists of:
(a) Name - The name assigned to a plan when it is

originally saved.
(b) Author - The name of the creator of the plan.
(c) Organization - The name of the group creating

the plan.
(d) Plan Validity Start Date and End Date - The

date range during which the plan is valid.
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(e) These dates are for user information purposes
only, and do not limit usage of the communications plan
past the end date.
(f) Description - A description of the plan

consisting of no more than 256 characters.
Figure 4-1. Plan Info Tab
(ON SLIDE #32)
(2) STATIONS TAB. The Stations dialog lets you define

the stations in the communications plan. See Figure 4-2. You
can also specify the data communications equipment and
addresses for each station, as well as specific Situational
Awareness and GPS settings. To define a station:
(a) Use the pull-down box under Create Station to

select the radio type: AN/PRC-152, AN/PRC-117F, or AN/PRC-
117G.
(b) Click Create. The station will be placed in the

Station Name list box and a default name is assigned. The
icon shown in the Type column is unique for each radio type.
(c) To assign a specific station name, highlight a

station and then fast double click on the Station Name. You
can then edit the Station Name field. Type the name of the
station in the Station Name field. Names must consist of 1
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to 20 uppercase, alphanumeric characters, and must be unique
for each station in the communications plan.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
The Station Name is used to differentiate the defined
stations and is shown on the radios front panel display
when viewing the station after programming.
(ON SLIDE #33)
(d) To enter a description of a station, highlight

the station and then fast double click on the Description
field. The Description field will become editable. Enter a
brief description of the station in the Description field.
The information in this field will appear as the station
description on the radio display after the plan is
installed.
Figure 4-2 Station Name

(e) To delete a station:
1 Highlight the station to be deleted in the
list box.
2 Click the Delete button.
(ON SLIDE #34)
TRANSITION: So far we have installed the RPA on the computer

and programmed 1 station in the RPA. Are there any
questions? I have a question for you. What version of RPA
are we utilizing? Answer: (2.8) If there are no/no further
questions. I will give you additional stations for you to
program in your RPA on your own. If you need any assistance
pleas ask one of the instructors.
(ON SLIDE #35)
PRACTICAL APPLICATION. (20 Min) The purpose of this
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practical application is to program stations in the RPA.
PRACTICE: Using the information provided up to this point,

have the students pair up and perform the programming
procedures to successfully program stations in the RPA. Be
prepared to modify the number of stations to be added to
match the number of systems being programmed in the class.
PROVIDE HELP: Primary and assistant instructors will

observe the students performing the programming and
procedures of the DAGR.
1. Safety Brief: All students will be provided a Computer

with the RPA software they have installed. In the event of
any accident or injury, contact the instructor and they will
access the situation and deem the procedures necessary to
either suspend training. After the situation is deemed safe
again, class will resume.
2. Supervision and Guidance: The instructor will ensure

each student successfully complete the practical
application. The instructor will also ensure there is no
equipment damage or personnel safety concerns during the
practical application. The instructor will also be there to
answer any questions or concerns from the students.
3. Debrief: Ask the students if there are any questions

over the demonstration.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Have Students input the following Stations:
CREATE RE-NAME DESCRIPTION
RADIO001 RT01 (RT1)
RADIO002 RT02 (RT2)
RADIO003 RT03 (RT3)
RADIO004 RT04 (RT4)
RADIO005 RT05 (RT5)
RADIO006 RT06 (RT6)
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RADIO007 RT07 (RT7)
RADIO008 RT08 (RT8)
RADIO009 RT09 (RT9)
RADIO010 RT10 (RT9)
(ON SLIDE #36)

TRANSITION: Great job now you can enter stations into the
RPA. Did anyone have any issues? (Address any issues) If
there are no/no further issues we will continue with
configuring station parameters. After a 10 Min Break
(ON SLIDE #37)
(3) Configure Station Parameters. The AN/PRC-117F

setting does not require a Radio Configuration Tab. Station
settings are configured using the following sub tabs.
Depending on the Radio Type selected, not all sub tabs may
be available. The associated paragraphs define the Station.
(a) Configuration settings that are available for

each radio type.
1 Radio Configuration
2 HPW Address
3 Interfaces
4 Situational Awareness
5 GPS
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
The Configure Station programming parameters are accessed by
highlighting a station name in the Defined Stations list box
(b) Clicking on the Config button shown in Figure

4-3,
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Figure 4-3 Station Configuration Settings
1 At the top of the screen (In figure 4-4), use

the radio buttons to select whether the settings will be for
one particular station or common for all stations of one
radio type.
Figure 4-4 HPW Address
2 HPW Address-
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a When using High Performance Waveform (HPW)
with Wireless Message Terminal (WMT) software, a unique HPW
address is required for each station. The Falcon III RPA
automatically assigns the next available address number to a
station so that every station is different. No user
intervention is normally required; however the user has the
option to assign addresses manually if desired. To assign
HPW addresses, enter a number from 1 to 65534 for this
station. Make sure that the number is not used for any other
stations.
b The HPW address is not programmed into the

radio, but it is used when the communications plan is
imported into other HPW applications.
c For AN/PRC-117F radios, the associated

Wireless IP Address is displayed below the HPW address.
3 Interfaces Tab
a The AN/PRC-117F IP interface parameters

for each station include the PPP IP address, subnet mask,
and port baud rate. IP Routes can be manually defined.
b The subnet mask is a bit field that is

used to segment an IP address into its Host and Subnet
addresses. Subnet masks are paired with the corresponding
Personal Computer (PC) or Radio IP address to yield the Host
address of the PC or Radio. This information should be
supplied by the network administrator.
Figure 4-5
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1. Select the Interfaces tab.
2. Select a previously created station

from the Station: drop-down menu at the top.
3. Click the PPP Interface check box if

the PPP interface is to be used. The default setting is PPP
enabled (check box checked), which is required for HPW
configuration.
4. PPP Parameters
a. Make sure the Enable PPP

Interface box is checked.
b. Enter the IP Address by typing
the new values into the text boxes. The default setting of
10.0.0.1 should be kept for HPW operation.
c. Select the port Baud rate from

the drop-down menu box. The default setting of 115200 should
be kept for HPW operation.
d. The Peer/Wireless IP address is

grayed out and defaulted to a unique wireless IP address.
These values cannot be changed from this page. To modify the
first two octets of the Peer/Wireless IP address, go to the
Global Wireless IP node under the Global Configuration tab.
The last two octets are changed if you change the HPW
address when using SATCOM HPW IP.
5. IP Routing. New wireless IP network

routes may be defined using the IP Routing dialog, which is
accessed by clicking on the IP Routing button on the
Interfaces screen. See Figure 4-5. FIGUER 4-6 WILL THEN
APPEAR.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
The IP Routing dialog is intended for advanced users
only. New routes may override the default routes. Routes
entered on the IP Routing dialog are not checked for
validity.
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Figure 4-6. Interfaces - IP Routing
a. The Routing table uses

background coloring to differentiate between routes as
follows:
(1) White: User defined routes.

These can be edited and removed.
(2) Yellow: Routes that will

not be programmed into the radio because they are derived
routes and for information only.
b. The AN/PRC-117F can use a maximum

of 64 routes for each station. These routes can be entered
on the table and saved in the communications plan, but they
will not be programmed into the radio.
6. After the parameters are set, click

Apply and then OK to keep the settings.
(ON SLIDE #38)
(4) SAVE FILE
(a) First time use the FILE tab and Save As
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FIGURE 4-7 File Save
(b) Subsequent Saves, use the Disk Icon on the

Tools Menu.
FIGURE 4-8 File Save ICON
(ON SLIDE #39)
TRANSITION: So far we have discussed how to install the PRA

Program and NDRI Drivers, how to program Stations into the
RPA and some of the configuration setting for the stations.
Are there any questions? If there are no/no further
questions, lets create and program a Net.
(ON SLIDE #40)
f. Creating a Net
(1) From RPA MAIN SCREEN select the NETS TAB:
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Figure 4-10 CREATING NET
(2) Select a Net Type from the pull-down list. Choices

are:
(a) Fixed Frequency/LOS
(b) HAVEQUICK
(c) SINCGARS
(d) Dedicated SATCOM
(e) HPW
(f) STC
(g) DAMA
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(h) Maritime
(i) Beacon
(j) P25
(k) ANW 2
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Not all Net Types are available for all radio types. For
example, DAMA is only available for AN/PRC-117F radios.
(3) Click Create. The net name will be placed in the

Nets list box. As new nets are included, they will be added
at the bottom of the list.
(4) To type in a name for the network, highlight the

row and then fast double click in the Net Name text box.
Network names must be 1 to 9 alphanumeric characters.
(5) Assign a unique Net #(00 - 99) to the net. The Net
number is automatically incremented every time a new net is
added, however, you can manually assign a number if desired
(net numbers cannot be duplicated). The Net #will correspond
to the System Preset number that you select on the radios
front panel keypad using the PRE +/- buttons.
(6) Type in a brief description of the net in the

Description field, using no more than 25 characters. This is
optional information, and not necessary for a valid plan.
(7) Use the up/down Order arrows on the right to move

the highlighted net. This feature can be used to group types
of nets together. For example, to move all the SINCGARS nets
to the beginning of the list for quick access.
(8) The net list can also be sorted by Net #, Net Name
(alphabetically), or Type by clicking on the column heading.
The sorting feature does not change Net ID numbers.
(9) The Add All Stations to New Nets box is checked by

default to automatically include all stations in the net. If
you do not want all stations added, uncheck the box and add
stations as described in Step 9 below.
A-29
(10) Specify which stations are to be members of the
network you are defining by first highlighting the Net Name
in the list box, and then add stations to the net by
checking the box next to each station name.
(11) Define additional net parameters for each radio

net by double clicking on the net name, which opens the
Net Properties dialog. Alternately, use the ... button on
the right to access the Net Properties page for the
highlighted net.
(12) The Net Type for a particular net cannot be

changed once it is created. If it is necessary to change it,
the net will need to be removed and re-added. Use the X
button on the right to delete the highlighted net from the
list box.
(ON SLIDE #41)
g. NETWORK PROPERTIES
The Network Properties dialog box allows you to set up the
operating parameters for a selected radio net. Highlight Net
to assign properties to. Figure 4-11.
Figure 4-11
(ON SLIDE #42)
(1) The Net Properties dialog box is accessed by

clicking the Details (...) button on the Nets Tab.
A-30
Figure 4-12 NET PROPERTIES
(2) The properties that can be chosen depend on which

Net Type was selected Figure 4-12. A menu tree consisting of
these five categories will be seen on the left pane:
(a) General
(b) COMSEC
(c) Data/Voice (Traffic)
(d) Squelch
(e) Advanced
(3) The corresponding settings for each category are

shown on the right pane. Starting at the General category,
enter the required information, and then click the Next
button to proceed down the list. Some menu selections will
change the subsequent menu choices; therefore, it is
important to always fill the information top to bottom. When
a change is made in the Net Properties area, a confirmation
screen similar to the one in Figure 4-13 will be displayed.
Click YES to apply the change and continue. Selecting NO
A-31
will revert the edited field to its previous value and not
apply the change.
(ON SLIDE #43)
(4) There is also an option for the user to not view

this screen again. This is useful for expert users. Placing
a check in the box and selecting YES will prevent the
warning dialog from popping up. If the program is restarted,
the warning messages will show up again unless the box is
re-checked.
Figure 4-13 Net Details Confirmation Screen
(5) The Network Properties dialog configures all the

following Net Types. Only one type will appear at a time,
and that is dependent on which Net Type was selected on the
Nets main page.
(a) Fixed Frequency Net Properties
(b) Maritime Net Properties
(c) Dedicated SATCOM Net Properties
(d) HPW Net Properties
(e) SINCGARS Net Properties
(f) HAVEQUICK Net Properties
(g) Beacon Properties
(h) DAMA Net Properties
A-32
(6) Fixed Frequency Net Properties Fixed Frequency nets
are used for basic Line-Of-Sight (LOS) communications. There
are five configuration menu categories:
(a) Fixed Frequency/LOS General
(b) Fixed Frequency/LOS COMSEC
(c) Fixed Frequency/LOS - Data/Voice
(d) Fixed Frequency/LOS Squelch
(e) Fixed Frequency/LOS Advanced
(7) Starting with General, edit the items appropriate

for the communications plan. When done, click the Next
button and fill in the COMSEC category. Proceed through all
five categories in the same manner, and click Finish when
done.
(ON SLIDE #44)
h. Fixed Frequency/LOS
(1) General
See Figure 4-12 and Refer to Help files 4-4. The General
category sets the basic net frequencies. In the General
Parameters section of the dialog, enter the appropriate
information as follows.
Table 4-1. Fixed Frequency/LOS General
A-33
Figure 4-14 Fixed Net - General Dialog
(ON SLIDE #45)
(2) COMSEC
See Figure 4-14 and Refer to Help files 4-2. The COMSEC
category sets the encryption type for the net. The choices
for a Fixed/LOS net are as follows.
Table 4-2. Fixed Frequency/LOS - COMSEC
Table 4-2. Fixed Frequency/LOS COMSEC (Continued)
A-34
(ON SLIDE #46)
(3) VINSON as described in table 4-2
(ON SLIDE #47)
(4) KG-84 as described in table 4-2
(ON SLIDE #48)
(5) NONE as described in table 4-2
(ON SLIDE #49)
(6) Data/Voice FM VINSON
(ON SLIDE #50)
i. Fixed Frequency/LOS - Data/Voice

See Figure 4-16 and Refer to Help files 4-3. The Data/Voice
category sets the traffic type and modulation parameters for
the net. The choices for a LOS/Fixed net are as follows.
A-35
Figure 4-16 Fixed Net - Data/Voice Dialog
Table 4-3. Fixed Frequency/LOS - Data/Voice
A-36
Table 4-3. Fixed Frequency/LOS - Data/Voice (Continued)
j. AM VINSON Above 90MHz
(ON SLIDE #51)
k. KG-84 DATA ONLY 90MHz and above HPW,FM,TCM,AM
(ON SLIDE #52)
l. KYV-5 ANALOG DATA BOX UNCHECKED
(ON SLIDE #53)
m. NONE
(ON SLIDE #54)
n. Activate / Deactivate Squelch
A-37
A-38
Table 4-3. Fixed Frequency/LOS - Data/Voice (Continued)
Table 4-4. Data Inversion Settings
A-39
(ON SLIDE #55) Activate / Deactivate Squelch FM
o. Fixed Frequency/LOS Squelch

See Figure 4-17 and Refer to Help files 4-5. Select the
squelch type to be used for the net with the down arrow:
digital, analog tone, analog noise, Continuous Tone Coded
Squelch System (CTCSS), and Continuous Digital Coded Squelch
System (CDCSS). All radios on a net must be set for the same
squelch type to ensure successful communications.
Table 4-5. Fixed Frequency/LOS Squelch
A-40
Table 4-5. Fixed Frequency/LOS Squelch (Continued)
A-41
Figure 4-17 Fixed Net - Squelch Dialog
(1) CTCSS / CDCSS SQUELCH
(ON SLIDE #56)
(2) NOISE
(ON SLIDE #57)
(3) Digital Squelch.
(ON SLIDE #58)
(4) ANALOG SQUELCH
(ON SLIDE #59)
(5) For LOS there are no advanced options. Put the

Cursor on Apply or Finish Net displays PROPERTIES
(ON SLIDE #60)
(6) Place your cursor over the net to display the

properties of that net.
A-42
(ON SLIDE #61)
TRANSITION: We have covered the network properties for the

Fixed Frequency Line of sight. Are there any Questions? If
there are no/no further questions lets move into a Practical
Application.
(ON SLIDE #61) Practical Exercise
p. Fixed Frequency/LOS Advanced

The Advanced category is not used for LOS nets.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Have students perform PRACTICAL APPLICATION outlined below.
Stations RT01 through RT10 All other entries

default
(ON SLIDE #62)
q. Save File
(1) Subsequent Saves, use the Disk Icon on the Tools

Menu.
A-43
FIGURE 4-8 File save ICON
(ON SLIDE #63)
TRANSITION: We have successfully initiated loading and saved

our RPA are there any questions thus far? If there are no/no
further questions, Name two things you can input to the PLAN
INFO.
Name - Author Organization Start/End Dates Description
Do you need to configure the stations when programming for
the PRC-117F? NO!
(ON SLIDE #64)
Thus far we have gone over how to Program the RPA/NDRI into
the computer and defining a Stations Now lets talk about our
plan report.
(ON SLIDE #65)
Take a Break 10 Min
(ON SLIDE #66)
INSTRUCTOR NOTE:
This is the intro slide for the Generate Plan report
(ON SLIDE #67)
r. GENERATE PLAN REPORT (XX

MIN) The Generate Plan Report function, located under the
Radio menu (Fig. 5-1), creates a report that shows details
of each station and each network in the current plan.
(1) Select Radio and Generate Plan report.
A-44
FIGURE 5-1 Generate Plan Report
(ON SLIDE #68)
(2) The report includes all plan defined information.

See Figure 5-1 for a partial sample plan report. A full
report can consist of several pages, depending on the number
of stations, networks, and other features included.
(3) Once a plan report is generated, the program will

prompt you to save the file. Browse to the location you
want, and click OK to save.
Figure 5-2. Sample Radio Programming Plan Report (Partial

Shown)
(ON SLIDE #69)
A-45
Figure 5-1. Sample Radio Programming Plan Report (Partial
Shown)
(ON SLIDE #70)
TRANSITION: Are there any questions on how to generate a

Plan Report?
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Have students perform PRACTICAL APPLICATION outlined below.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION. (20 MIN) The class should be broken

down to provide optimum student to equipment ratio. Not more
than 2 students to 1 computer. 2 instructors should walk
around through the class providing assistance as the
students generate their Plan Report. Guidance to the
students will be projected on the screen allowing them to
accomplish this provided they have been maintaining the
programming as discussed during the class. The purpose of
this practical application is for the students to show they
have the ability to generate a Plan Report
PRACTICE: Generate a Plan Report using the Icon or through

the RADIO Menu options. Once Generated, use the up/down
arrow keys on your computer to review the: Station Summary,
Station Details, Net Summary, Net Details, You have 10
minutes to accomplish this.
PROVIDE-HELP:
1. Safety Brief: Watch your step there are power cords
through out the room
2. Supervision and Guidance: Instructors observe the class

by moving about the room as they execute this Practical
A-46
application. Provide assistance where needed and answer any
questions pertaining to this practical application.
3. Debrief: Ask for Student feedback. Summarize the

feedback to support the purpose of generating the Plan
Report.
(ON SLIDE #71)
TRANSITION: This far we have done some basic programming and

generated a report that depicts in detail what we have
programmed. Now lets go through the process of insuring the
information is transferred fully without errors. Its called
DSS Signing.
____________________________________________________________
____
____________________________________________________________
____
____________________________________________________________
____
(ON SLIDE #72)
s. DSS SIGNING.
(1) To ensure data authenticity and integrity of any

mission plan file uploaded to the Falcon III radio, the
files must be digitally signed using the DSS Signature.
After the radio verifies the signed mission plan file, it
will be accepted only if the file is confirmed to be
authentic and has not been tampered with from its original
form.
(2) The DSS Signature procedure uses a public/private

key pair. The communication plan file must be DSS signed
before the radio will accept the mission plan file data.
Falcon III RPA can either use the default public/private DSS
key pair that is provided with the application
(recommended), or generate a custom pair of DSS keys. Refer
to Paragraph 5.1.4 for custom DSS key generation.
(ON SLIDE #73)
A-47
(3) DSS Key Generation In most cases, the mission plan
file transfer will use the default DSS signature keys that
are provided with Falcon III RPA. However, the Falcon III
RPA also provides the option to generate custom DSS key
pairs for mission file authentication. See Figure 5-2. To
generate a Public and Private DSS key pair:
(a) Start the Falcon III RPA application.

(b) Select Radio > Generate DSS Keys... to open
the dialog box.
(c) Open the desired communications plan file.
(d) Enter a name for the key pair in the Key File
Base Name field. This will be the saved filename and include
the .pky and .sky file extensions for Public and Private
keys, respectively. The filename must be no more that eight
alphanumeric characters in length.
(e) Enter the location on the computers hard

drive where you want to save the keys.
(f) Use the Overwrite check box if you want to

remove the old key and keep the same key name. If unchecked
and the file name already exists, a popup will appear that
tells you the file cannot be saved when Generate is
selected.
(g) Click the Generate button to create the keys.

Two keys will be saved in your target directory. The files
will be saved as <Key File Base Name>Public.pky and <Key
File Base Name> Private.sky.
For example, in the figure below, the filenames will be

Mission1Public.pky and Mission1Private.sky. Click OK to
close the screen.
(h) To use the new custom key set, the Public Key
will need to be loaded to a crypto device (such as AN/CYZ-
10), and then from the crypto device, into the radio. Refer
to Falcon III Mission Planning and Programming Users Guide
(10515-0307-4200) for instructions on performing this
operation. The matching Private Key must be selected in the
Program Radio dialog before transferring the mission plan to
the radio.
A-48
Figure 5-2 DSS Key Generation
(ON SLIDE #74)
TRANSITION:
Now that we understand how to Generate a Plan Report and DSS

Key Generation, lets move on to Program the AN/PRC-117F with
the PRA.
(ON SLIDE #75)
2. BASIC RADIO AND PC SET-UP and Programming the Radio (55

Min)
a. Radio
(1) Press PGM on the KDU
(2) Select PORTS > REMOTE > INTERFACE
(a) AIC PORT (J6 / J9)
(b) DATA (J3)
(3) PROTOCOL to RS-232
(4) ASYNC RATE to 9600
(5) DATA BITS to 8
(6) PARITY to NONE
A-49
(7) STOP BITS to 1
(8) FLOW CONTROL to NONE
(9) ASYNC ECHO to OFF
(ON SLIDE #77)
(10) LOAD COMSEC
(a) VINSON TEK 01
(b) KG-84 TEK 01
(c) SATELLITE TSK 01
(ON SLIDE #78)
b. COMPUTER SETUP
(1) The following steps allow you to VERIFY or

activate required programs.
(a) Access CONTROL PANEL
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS
(c) COMPONENT SERVICES
(d) SERVICES
1 Set REMOTE ACCESS CONNECTION MANAGER to

AUTOMATIC
2 Set REMOTE ACCESS AUTOMATIC CONNECTION

MANAGER to AUTOMATIC
(2) Reset or Reload NRDI
(ON SLIDE #79)
c. PROGRAMMING THE AN/PRC-117F RADIO With RPA (XX

MIN)
(1) The Program>Radio dialog is used to load station-

specific information from the radio programming plan into
each radio. With the radio connected, configuration
A-50
parameters from the plan can be loaded into radio memory.
The 117F RPA encompasses programming for a wide variety of
radio features. Depending on the AN/PRC-117F hardware and
firmware versions, the radio may not be equipped to accept
all features. If this is the case, the 117F RPA will program
all features that are allowed by the radio, and report if
there is anything that was not programmed. Programming
status notifications, errors, and warnings will appear in
the Status box which can be viewed and copied to another
document for record keeping purposes.
(2) Communications Security (COMSEC)/Transmission

Security (TRANSEC) information must be loaded into the radio
separately using a Type 1 fill device. Crypto fills can be
loaded before or after the 117F RPA programming plan is
loaded. Refer to the AN/PRC-117F Operation Manual for crypto
fill procedures.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
It is recommended to verify that radio port settings
(baud rate, etc.) match between the AN/PRC-117F and the
Falcon III RPA prior to beginning radio programming.
(3) Programming the Radio
(a) Connect the interface cable from the PC to the

AN/PRC- 117F.
(b) If the (10513-0730) interface cable is used,

connect to J3 on the radio.
(c) If the (10513-0740) interface cable is used,

connect to J6 on the radio.
(d) Start the Falcon III RPA application.
(e) Select the desired communications plan file.

(ON SLIDE #80)
1 Select File > Open or click on the

toolbar to display the Open dialog box.
(ON SLIDE #81)
2 Select Radio > Program (Fig. 5-3) on the

toolbar to open the Program Radio dialog.
A-51
Figure 7-1 Program Radio
(ON SLIDE #82)
3 Select the Radio Type as AN/PRC-117F from the

drop-down list, and the Station Name list will be displayed,
as shown in Figure 7-2.
Figure 7-2 Program Radio Dialog

(ON SLIDE #83)
4 Choose the station to be programmed, and the

setup screen shown in Figure 7-3 will be displayed.
A-52
Figure 7-3. Program 117F Radio Setup
5 The Radio Type and Station Name that were

selected are shown at the top of the window. These may be
changed by the user.
6 Use the drop down boxes
a select the correct PC communication (COM)

Port settings to match the radio port settings.
b Select the Baud Rate (Must match the
Radio)
(ON SLIDE #84)
c Select PARITY NONE (Even or Odd)
d Select BITS, 8 (5-8)
e Select STOP BITS 1 (2) MUST MATCH RADIO
(ON SLIDE #85)
7 Program Radio Plan, Check box to load the

configuration data for the selected plan into the radio.
8 Set Radio TOD to PC local time Check box to

load the PC time into the radio. (Normally not check)
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
For some nets such as HaveQuick, PC time cannot be used for
setting Time Of Day (TOD). HaveQuick TOD must be set in the
AN/PRC-117F radio every time it is powered up. Refer to the
A-53
AN/PRC-117F Operation Manual (10515-0109-4100) or Quick
Reference Guide (10515-0109-4000) for this procedure.
(ON SLIDE #86)
(f) Select PROGRAM through the RADIO Menu

or the Radio Icon
1 Verify AN/PRC-117F
2 Select YOUR Radio (RT01 through RT10)
3 Verify
a COM 1
b Baud of 9600
c Parity of NONE
d Bits at 8
e Stop Bit at 1
f Program Radio Plan Checked
g Radio TOD to PC Time NOT Checked
4 Press the Program Key to program your radio
5 Click the Program button to begin loading the

data into the radio.
a The Programming Progress bar will

indicate the status of the data transfer. If
necessary, you can use the Abort button to stop the process.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Pressing the Abort button once will wait for the radio to
return to the normal state before aborting. Pressing the
Abort button twice will abort programming and return RPA
control to the user immediately, however, it may be
necessary to power cycle the radio to return it to a normal
state.
b The file transfer status may be viewed

in the Status field on the right of the screen. See Figure
A-54
7-4. Click the View Log... button and a pop-up screen
will be displayed with further details.
Figure 7-4. AN/PRC-117F Programming Status Log
c Click Close to return to the previous

window.
(ON SLIDE #87)
TRANSITION: We have covered the process of programming a

Radio Plan and loading a radio are there any questions? If
there are no/no further questions we will now move to the
Practical Application.
(ON SLIDE #88) - Practical Exercise
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Have students perform PRACTICAL APPLICATION outlined below

than 2 students to 1 computer or 1 radio. 2 instructors
A-55
should walk around through the class providing assistance as
the students program their assigned radio. Guidance to the
accomplish this task. The purpose of this practical
application is for the students to show they have the
ability to program a radio with the RAP
PRACTICE: Load the communications Plan displayed on the

screen into the computers Radio Program Application (RPA).
load the radio using the Computer and RPA.
The following steps will assist: Select PROGRAM through the

RADIO Menu or the Radio Icon Verify AN/PRC-117F, Select YOUR
Radio (RT01 through RT10), Verify COM 1, Baud of 9600,
Parity of NONE, Bits at 8 Stop Bit at 1, Program Radio Plan
Checked, Radio TOD to PC Time NOT Checked, Press the Program
Key to program your radio
Perform a Communications Check on the Preset as instructed
PROVIDE-HELP:
1. Safety Brief: Watch for cords cables and Antennas

3. Debrief: Ask for Student feedback. Summarize the

feedback to support the purpose of generating the Plan
Report
(ON SLIDE #89)
TRANSITION: During this period of instruction we covered

Creating a programming plan by establishing stations and
radio nets, Completing the programming plan (IP settings,
Global settings, etc.), Connecting the radio to the PC for
programming Program the radio. Are there any Questions? If
there are no/no further questions then lets move to some
more advanced capabilities. Starting with HPW
(ON SLIDE #90)
3. AN/PRC-117F HPW (4:00 hrs)
A-56
a. From RPA MAIN SCREEN select STATION TAB>Highlight
desired Station> and select CONFIGURE.
(ON SLIDE #91)
b. When using High Performance Waveform with Wireless

Message Terminal software, a unique HPW address is required
for each station. The Falcon III RPA automatically assigns
the next available address number to a station so that every
station is different. No user intervention is normally
required; however the user has the option to assign
addresses manually if desired. See Figure 5-11. To assign
HPW addresses manually, enter a number from 1 to 65534 for
this station. If the number is already in use, the RPA will
display a warning and require that the number be changed
before continuing.
(1) The HPW address is not programmed into the radio,

but it is used when the communications plan is imported into
other HPW applications.
(2) For AN/PRC-117F radios, the associated Wireless IP

Address is displayed in addition to the HPW address. This
applies to Simplified Wireless IP mode only.
Figure 8-1 HPW Address - AN/PRC-117F
A-57
(ON SLIDE #92)
c. AN/PRC-117F Interfaces
(1) The AN/PRC-117F IP interface parameters for each

station include the PPP IP address, subnet mask, and port
baud rate. See Figure 8-1. Normally is left on default
settings.
(2) IP Routes can be manually defined, as described in

Paragraph 5.4.2 The subnet mask is a bit field that is used
to segment an IP address into its Host and Subnet addresses.
Subnet masks are paired with the corresponding PC or radio
IP address to yield the Host address of the PC or radio.
This information should be supplied by the network
administrator.
(3) When sending IP data, the programmer must ensure

that there are no IP collisions between each stations
Wireless Internet Protocol address and each stations PPP IP
address. Also, the PPP IP address must be on the same subnet
in order to pass IP data.
A-58
Figure 8-2 Interfaces - AN/PRC-117F
(4) To set interface parameters:
(a) Check the PPP Interface box if the PPP

interface is to be used. The default setting is PPP enabled,
which is required for HPW configuration. Figure 8-2.
(b) Enter the IP Address by typing the new values

into the text boxes. The default setting is calculated based
on the current Wireless IP, as defined on the Global Radio
Config page.
(c) Select the port Baud rate from the drop-down

menu box. The default setting is 115200.
(d) The Peer/Wireless IP Address is grayed out and

defaulted to a unique wireless IP address. These values
cannot be changed from this page. To modify the first two
octets of the Peer/Wireless IP address, go to the AN/PRC-
117F Global Wireless IP node under the Global Configuration
A-59
tab. The last two octets are changed if you change the HPW
address when using HPW IP (this is only true when using
simplified IP; the octets can be changed manually when not
using simplified IP).
(ON SLIDE #93)
(e) AN/PRC-117F IP Routing New wireless IP network

routes may be defined using the IP Routing dialog, which is
accessed by clicking on the IP Routing button on the
Interfaces screen. See Figure 8-3.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
The IP Routing dialog is intended for advanced users only.
New routes may override the default routes. Routes entered
on the IP Routing dialog are not checked for validity.
Figure 8-3 Interfaces - IP Routing

(f) The Routing table uses background coloring to
differentiate between routes as follows:
1 White: White is for Wireless routes and

derived routes. These can be edited and removed.
2 Yellow: Yellow is for PPP routes and routes

that exceed the maximum. The AN/PRC-117F can accept a
maximum of 64 routes for each station. If more than 64
routes are added, these routes can be entered on the table
and saved in the communications plan, but they will not be
programmed into the radio.
A-60
(ON SLIDE #94)
(g) HPW Net Properties
1 High Performance Waveform is a data-only mode

for communications over SATCOM channels with greatly
increased data throughput designed to provide fast, reliable
messaging and file transfer capability between two or more
computers on a radio network. It combines features of both
MIL-STD-188-181B and MIL-STD-188-184 to permit error-free
data communications at high Over-The-Air burst data rates.
HPW is normally used for SATCOM nets, but if the net
consists of only AN/PRC-117F and/or AN/PRC-117G radios,
Fixed Frequency/LOS may also be selected.
2 HPW also supports wireless IP data. These

messages are sent through a standard email client using a
PPP connection that the user has configured to work with
Harris WMT software. Refer to Harris RF-6760W-HPW Users
Guide (10515-0320-4200) for configuration of the software
package. Refer to the radios operation manual for HPW mode.
a From RPA Main Screen, select NET TAB >

Highlight Desired NET > select Properties.
b There are five configuration menu

categories:
1. HPW General
2. HPW COMSEC
3. HPW - Data/Voice
4. HPW Squelch
5. HPW Advanced
c Starting with General, fill in the items

appropriate for the communications plan. When done, click
the Next button and fill in the COMSEC category. Proceed
through all five categories in the same manner and click
Finish when done.
(ON SLIDE #95)
A-61
(h) HPW General
See Figure 8-4 and refer to Help Files. The General category
sets the basic net frequencies.
Figure 8-4. HPW Net - General Dialog
(ON SLIDE #96)
(i) HPW COMSEC

See Figure 8-5 and Refer to Help files. The COMSEC category
sets the encryption type for the net.
Table 8-2 HPW HPW Net - COMSEC
A-62
Figure 8-5. HPW Net - COMSEC Dialog
(ON SLIDE #97)
(j) HPW - Data/Voice

See Figure 8-6 and refer Help files. Data/Voice menu choices
consist of Baud Rate/Channel Type and HPW TRANSEC ID number.
Figure 8-6. HPW Net - Data/Voice Dialog
(ON SLIDE #98)
(k) HPW Squelch The Squelch category is not used

for HPW configuration.
A-63
(l) HPW Advanced The Advanced category is used
to enable IP networking in HPW mode. This is only available
for AN/PRC-117F homogeneous nets. See Figure 8-7. Check the
box to enable IP networking in HPW mode for AN/PRC-117F
radios. Once enabled, a default gateway may be selected from
the pull down box, if needed.
Figure 8-7. HPW Net - Advanced Dialog

(ON SLIDE #99)
Practical Exercise
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Have Students perform Practical Exercise as shown below.
Station RT01 - HPW Address 1 Station RT06 - HPW Address

6
7
8
9
Station RT05 - HPW Address 5 Station RT010- HPW Address
10
A-64
All other Entries are DEFAULT
TRANSITION: Now that we have added additional nets in to our

program Lets save them. Remember Save and Save OFTEN!!!
(ON SLIDE #100)
d. Save File, use the Disk Icon on the Tools Menu.
(ON SLIDE #101)
e. Radio Connecting Cables
(ON SLIDE #102)
f. Select the appropriate Radio to load it with the file

you just saved.
(ON SLIDE #103)

ability to program a radio with the RAP
PRACTICE: Load the communications Plan displayed on the

screen into the computers Radio Program Application (RPA).
load the radio using the Computer and RPA.

A-65
PROVIDE-HELP:

(ON SLIDE #104)
TRANSITION. Now you have loaded the radio utilizing the RPA
is there any questions over the RPA or on anything that has
been covered thus far? If there are no/no further questions
at this time I have questions for you. What Tab do you
select to Program a Radio? Radio or Radio ICON. The PRC-117
10513-0740-A006 Programming Cable is connected to what Port
on the Radio J-3. Now we will take a 10 Minute Break.
(ON SLIDE #105)
BREAK!!!
(ON SLIDE #106)
SATCOM
(ON SLIDE # 107)
g. Dedicated SATCOM Net Properties
(1) Dedicated SATCOM nets are supported using MIL-STD-

188-181B modulation for Dedicated SATCOM voice and data
operation. Encrypted voice and data communications are
supported in wideband 25 kHz and narrowband 5 kHz channels.
SATCOM mode is compatible with VINSON KY-57 (wideband 25
kHz), ANDVT KY-99/99A, and KG-84C cryptographic equipment.
Refer to the radios operation manual for further details.
(a) Select the Dedicated SATCOM under Create Net.
A-66
(b) Select Create.
(c) Select Details.
(ON SLIDE # 108)
(2) There are five menu categories in the RF-6550M

program for configuring Satellite nets:
(a) STC General
(b) STC COMSEC
(c) STC - Data/Voice
(d) STC Squelch
(e) STC Advanced
(3) Starting with General, fill in the items

Finish when done.
(4) Dedicated SATCOM General

See Figure 9-1 and Refer to Help files 9-1. The General
category sets the basic net frequencies.
(ON SLIDE # 109)
(a) FREQUENCY CODE
1 This is a drop down Menu that allows you to

select the appropriate frequency code assigned for that
specific net.
2 No frequency code assigned, Enter Frequency

code 999, this will allow you to manually load specific
frequencies
A-67
Figure 9-1. SATCOM Net - General Dialog
(ON SLIDE # 110)
(5) Dedicated SATCOM COMSEC
(a) The COMSEC category sets the encryption type

for the net. The choices for a SATCOM net are as follows.
Select the TEK and slot number (01 - 25) to be used. Crypto
Sync mode must also be selected.
1 NONE NOT ALLOWED
2 VINSON WB 16K
3 FASCINATOR WB 12K above 90 MHz (Fixed Freq

or SATCOM)
4 Uses VINSON Keys
5 KG-84 DATA ONLY (Same)
A-68
Figure 9-2. STC Net - COMSEC Dialog
(ON SLIDE # 111)
(b) ANDVT - 2.4K NB/WB SATCOM
1 TRAINING FRAMES Number of XMTS before

re-establishing handshake 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60 Higher
slower; Higher better in bad weather
2 PREAMBLE
a Standard
b Enhanced (improved sync)
(ON SLIDE #112)
(6) Dedicated SATCOM - Data/Voice See Figure 9-3.

Data/Voice menu choices will vary based on the COMSEC mode
selected and type of SATCOM channel (either 25 kHz Wideband
(WB) or 5 kHz Narrowband (NB). Refer to Help files 5-7 and
Table 5-8 for MIL-STD-188-181B data rate options.
A-69
(a) Select whether traffic will be VOICE, DATA, or
DATA/VOICE. Available selections will depend on the crypto
mode and baud rate.
(b) A SATCOM net using VINSON crypto can be

configured for either AUTO ON ADF (using J1 AUDIO/DATA/FILL
connector) or AUTO ON DATA (using J3 DATA/RETRANSMIT
Connector), depending on which front panel connector is used
to attach the data cable. When data and voice operations are
expected on a given LOS fixed frequency net preset, it is
advisable to make separate net presets for voice and data
operation, and then switch between the nets with the PRE +
or - button. If Voice Priority Over Data is to be used, the
Info Type must be set to AUTO ON DATA.
1 If Fascinator COMSEC was previously

selected, VOICE will be the only selection along with FSK
modulation.
(ON SLIDE # 113)
2 If KG-84 COMSEC is selected, the selection

will be for DATA operation with modulation of SBPSK, and
with Tx / Rx frequency of 90 MHz or above. The data baud
rate choices are adjusted depending on which modulation
option is chosen.
3 If NONE is selected under COMSEC, there is no

Info Type selection.
(ON SLIDE # 114)
4 If ANDVT COMSEC is selected, the programming

will be for DATA/VOICE operation with modulation of SBPSK.
A-70
Figure 9-3 SATCOM Data/Voice 181B
(ON SLIDE # 115)
5 Dedicated SATCOM Squelch See Figure 9-4.

The Squelch category sets the squelch type for the radio
net. That is determined by the Radio type and Crypto type.
6 Dedicated SATCOM Advanced

The only properties to configure in the SATCOM Advanced is
CTI. This allows connection to Harris Tactical Network
Interface Hub (RF-6010) via the PPP port And this is only
available if Vinson is selected for CRYPTO.
(ON SLIDE # 116)
(c) GLOBAL NETWORK CONFIGURATION.
1 This is not normally used. Once you select

Global Network Configurations you can go to the SATCOM
options.
(ON SLIDE # 117)
A-71
a SATCOM frequency codes are fixed and
predefined for Codes 1 through 247, however, Codes 248 and
249 are user configurable for the frequency range shown on
the screen. If using these codes, enter an uplink and
downlink frequency in the range defined on the Global
Waveform Configuration screen.
b Custom Frequency Codes. SATCOM frequency

codes are typically used as defined in MIL-STD-188-181B and
shown in Table B.3. However, a custom code table can be
defined in the programming plan to be used with DAMA Rev. A
configuration. This feature is available for AN/PRC-117F
radios only.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Whenever a custom table is included in a plan, it will be
programmed into the radio, regardless of settings. The radio
always includes the default 181B table. The radio user must
then select which table will be enabled through the KDU.
(ON SLIDE # 118)

c To create a custom frequency code:
1. At the bottom of the dialog page,

define the new code by first entering an ID number from 1 to
247.
2. Enter an uplink and downlink

frequency, and specify if this is to be a 25 kHz channel or
5 kHz channel. ID numbers 1-8 are receive-only channels,
therefore, only the downlink frequency is selectable.
3. Check the button titled Use Custom

Frequency Code Defined Below.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
This will prohibit the MIL-STD-188-181B table settings. All
SATCOM codes will need to be defined in the Custom Table.
4. Click the Add button to include the

settings in the Custom Satellite Frequency Code Table.
5. If a custom frequency code table has

already been created and saved in another programming plan,
it can be imported into this plan. Click the Import button
A-72
and browse to the plan file location. Select the file and
the frequency code table data will be copied to this plan.
(ON SLIDE #119)
TRANSITION. We have covered the Dedicated SATCOM

capabilities of this RPA are there any questions? IF there
is NO/NO FURTHER questions. Well take a 10 minute break
before moving to the HPW SATCOM capabilities.
(ON SLIDE #120)
h. HPW Net Properties
(1) HPW SATCOM is a data-only mode for communications

over SATCOM channels with greatly increased data throughput
designed to provide fast, reliable messaging and file
transfer capability between two or more computers on a radio
network. It combines features of both MILSTD- 188-181B and
MIL-STD-188-184 to permit error-free data communications at
high Over-The-Air (OTA) burst data rates. HPW also supports
IP data.
(2) These messages are sent through a standard email

client using a PPP connection that the user has configured
to work with Harris WMT software. Refer to Harris RF-6760W-
HPW Users Guide (10515-0320-4200) for configuration of the
software package. Refer to radios operation manual for
operation in HPW mode.
(3) HPW is normally set for SATCOM nets, but if the

net consists of only AN/PRC-117F radios, Fixed Frequency/LOS
may also be selected.
(4) Select HPW under the Create Net then Highlight the
HPW Net and select Details (you can also double click on the
net to access it.)
(5) There are five configuration menu categories:
(a) HPW General
(b) HPW COMSEC
(c) HPW - Data/Voice
A-73
(d) HPW Squelch
(e) HPW Advanced
(6) Starting with General, fill in the items

Finish when done.
(ON SLIDE #121)
(a) HPW General The General category sets the

basic net frequencies.
1 select SATCOM or Fixed Frequency/LOS
2 Select Frequency code (If SATCOM was

selected)
3 Load Frequencies (Downlink and Uplink)
4 Set TX Power and VAU Power
(b) HPW COMSEC The COMSEC category sets the

encryption type for the net. The HPW net is fixed as KG-84.
Use the pull-down box to select the KG-84 TEK number (01 -
25) to be used. Crypto Sync is fixed as Redundant Mode 1.
(ON SLIDE #122)
(c) HPW -Data/Voice Data/Voice menu choices consist

of Baud Rate/Channel Type and HPW TRANSEC ID number.
1 Baud Rate/Channel Type - Select whether the

HPW satellite channel should be UFO, NB or WB.
2 HPW TRANSEC ID - Choose the TSK number to be

used as the HPW TRANSEC ID.
(d) HPW Squelch The Squelch category is not used

for HPW configuration.
(e) HPW Advanced The Advanced category is not

used for HPW configuration.
(ON SLIDE #123)
A-74
TRANSITION. Are there any questions on programming HPW nets?
If there are no/no further questions? We will be covering
the SINCGARS portion of the RPA after the Break. Take a 10
Minute break.
(ON SLIDE #124)
i. SINCGARS Net Properties Single Channel Ground and

Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) nets operate in FM
frequency hopping mode from 30.0000 MHz to 87.9750 MHz.
SINCGARS net presets require SINCGARS Frequency Hopping Fill
data loaded separately from a Type-1 COMSEC device. VINSON
COMSEC fill data will also need to be loaded: manual fill
uses Mode 1, auto fill uses Mode 2/3. Refer to the radios
operation manual for COMSEC loading procedures and fill
device information.
(1) Select SINCGARS from the dropdown menu under

Create Net
(2) Select Create
(a) Rename the net as needed
(b) Put a description for the net as required
(c) Configure net membership as needed.
(ON SLIDE #125)
(3) SINCGARS net Details.
(a) There are five configuration menu categories:
1 SINCGARS General
2 SINCGARS COMSEC
3 SINCGARS - Data/Voice
4 SINCGARS Squelch
5 SINCGARS Advanced
6 Starting with General, fill in the items

A-75
Finish when done.
(b) SINCGARS General The General category sets the

basic net frequencies. Configure the General category as
follows.
1 Receive Only can be checked if required
2 Hopset COMPARTMENT Identifies the compartment

the radio will associate to that specific channel.
3 Late Net Entry can be checked if necessary
4 Power level can be configured as required.
(ON SLIDE #126)
(c) SINCGARS COMSEC. The COMSEC category sets the

encryption type for the net.
1 Crypto Mode - SINCGARS operates using VINSON

secure voice for all CT operations. The crypto mode is fixed
for VINSON.
2 TEK ID - Select a TEK ID number of 01 - 25

for CT operations.
3 Analog Data - For AN/PRC-117F, the Analog

Data box should be checked when using devices that contain
their own modem to transmit and receive data as an analog
signal. For normal voice, the Analog Data box is unchecked
(default setting).
(ON SLIDE # 127)
(d) SINCGARS - Data/Voice The Data/Voice category

configures the radio port settings and Baud rate.
1 Info Type
a Auto on ADF
b Auto on Data
2 Baud Rate These settings change depending on

crypto type selected.
A-76
3 Voice Mode is not selectable
(ON SLIDE # 128)
4 Data Mode SYNC or ASYNC
(e) SINCGARS Squelch is not used for SINCGARS

nets.
(f) SINCGARS Advanced The only properties to

configure in the SINCGARS Advanced is CTI. This allows
connection to Harris Tactical Network Interface Hub (RF-
6010) via the PPP port and this is only available if Vinson
is selected for CRYPTO.
(ON SLIDE # 129)
(4) Global Network Config-SINCGARS

(ON SLIDE # 130)
(a) General
1 Frequency Hopping Voice Priority
a Receive. Sets your radio to receive first
b Transmit. Sets your radio to be able to

transmit even when the net is busy
2 ERF Coldstart Frequency This is where you

will put your manual frequency.
(ON SLIDE # 131)
(b) CUE Freq and Master
1 Cue Frequency
2 Cue Squelch type. None, Tone or Noise
3 Master. Identifies if this radio is the

master station or not.
4 Cue Notify is turned on by selecting this

setting.
A-77
(ON SLIDE #132)
TRANSITION. Does anyone have questions on the SINCGARS

portion of this RPA? If there are no/no further questions,
we will cover an OVERVIEW on the HAVEQUICK programming on
this RPA.
(ON SLIDE #133)
j. HAVEQUICK Net Properties HAVEQUICK operates in the

225.000000 MHz -399.975000 MHz frequency range Ultra High
Frequency (UHF) using Frequency Hopping (FH) for anti-jam
capability. All HAVEQUICK operations require a valid Time of
Day (TOD) and Word of Day (WOD). The TOD and WOD settings
apply to all HAVEQUICK net presets in the radio.
(1) Select HAVEQUICK from the dropdown menu under

Create Net
(2) Select Create
(c) Configure net membership as needed.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
For HAVEQUICK nets, TOD variance must be less than one
second net wide, and must be set in the radio every time it
is powered up. Refer to the radios operation manual or
quick reference guide for this procedure.
(3) Select Details
(ON SLIDE #134)
(a) Net NumberHQ I- SWOD
1 A00.000 to A00.400 = TNet (SWOD Elements

actual Frequencies) MUST HAVE ALL 6 ELEMENTS
2 A00.500 to A99.900 = HQ I Frequency Hopping

(SWOD = TSK)
(b) Net Number HQ II - MWOD
A-78
1 A00.025 to A01.525 = HQ II NATO FMT Net
Frequency Management Training (FMT) Separate List of 16
Frequency
2 A01.625 to A99.925 = HQ II NATO
3 A00.050 to A01.550 = HQ II NON-NATO

Active by date, Frequency Hopping (MWOD = TSK)
(ON SLIDE# 135)
(c) There are five configuration menu categories:
1 HAVEQUICK General
2 HAVEQUICK COMSEC
3 HAVEQUICK - Data/Voice
4 HAVEQUICK Squelch
5 HAVEQUICK Advanced
(d) Starting with General, fill in the items

Finish when done.
1 HAVEQUICK General
a Input the HQ Net Number
b Select Receive Only if necessary
c Select appropriate Power for the TX and

VAU
2 HAVEQUICK COMSEC The COMSEC category sets the

encryption parameters for the net.
a Crypto Mode - Choose from the following:
1. None - Choose None for PT operation

with external interfaced encryption devices. PT operations
should only be used in agreement with local directives.
A-79
2. VINSON - HAVEQUICK operates normally
using VINSON KY-57 secure voice. Select VINSON for CT
operations.
3. TEK ID - Select a TEK ##of 01 - 25

for CT operations.
3 HAVEQUICK - Data/Voice The Data/Voice

category configures port settings of the radio. The bit rate
is fixed at 16 kbps for HAVEQUICK due to VINSON crypto
settings.
(ON SLIDE # 136)
4 HAVEQUICK Squelch HAVEQUICK allows digital

and analog noise squelch choices.
5 HAVEQUICK Advanced The Advanced category is

not used for HAVEQUICK nets.
6 Select Apply then Finish.
(ON SLIDE #137)
(e) Global Network Config-HAVEQUICK. (Not normally

used)
(ON SLIDE #138)
1 Guard Frequency
a Input the Guard Frequency
b Select the Squelch Level
(ON SLIDE #139)
2 FMT
a Load the FMT information in accordance

with the communications plan.
(ON SLIDE #140)
3 Word Of Day
A-80
a Input the SWOD or MWOD as necessary
(ON SLIDE #141)
TRANSITION. Does anyone have questions on the Havequick

portion of this RPA? If there are no/no further questions,
we will cover the MARITIME programming on this RPA.
(ON SLIDE #142)
k. Maritime.
(1) Select MARITIME Fixed Frequency from the dropdown

menu under Create Net
(2) Select Create
(3) Configure net membership as needed.
(ON SLIDE #143)
(4) The Maritime category of the Global Waveform

Configuration tab is used to define shore stations. Select
the shore stations by checking the appropriate station
boxes. Unchecked stations will automatically be considered
ship stations.
(5) The Nets Tab Select the MARITIME net
(6) MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY net Details.
(ON SLIDE #144)
(a) There are five configuration menu categories:
1 MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY General
2 MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY COMSEC
3 MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY - Data/Voice
4 MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY Squelch
A-81
5 MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY Advanced
6 Starting with General, fill in the items

Finish when done.
(b) MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY General The General

category sets the basic net frequencies. Configure the
General category as follows.
1 Channel Tables
a US
b International
2 Channel Number to determine the appropriate

frequency.
3 Power level can be configured as required.
(ON SLIDE #145)
(c) MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY COMSEC. The COMSEC

category sets the encryption type for the net.
1 None
(d) MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY - Data/Voice The

Data/Voice category configures the radio port settings and
Baud rate.
1 FM Deviation is 5, 6.5 and 8
(e) MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY Squelch is not used

for MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY nets.
(f) MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY Advanced is not used

for MARITIME FIXED FREQUENCY nets.
(ON SLIDE# 146)
(g) Select the Global Network Config.
(ON SLIDE# 147)
A-82
1 Checked Stations = SHORE Stations
2 Maritime Communications Ship to Shore
3 Some Channels have different Rx/Tx

Frequencies
4 Designating SHIP or SHORE allows the Radio to

set the correct frequencies
(ON SLIDE# 148)
TRANSITION. Does anyone have questions on the MARITIME FIXED

FREQUENCY portion of this RPA? If there are no/no further
questions, we will cover the DAMA programming on this RPA.
(ON SLIDE# 149)
l. DAMA Net Properties Demand Assigned Multiple Access

(DAMA) UHF SATCOM is an AN/PRC-117F feature that uses an
automated channel controller to set up a timing frame on a
SATCOM channel for controlling access according to demand
for service through forward and return orderwires.
(1) Select DAMA from the dropdown menu under Create

Net
(2) Select Create
(a) Change the net # it has to be 00-09. the DAMA

presets are different from the net prsets.
(b) Rename the net as needed
(c) Put a description for the net as required
(3) Configure net membership as needed.
(4) Select Stations
(ON SLIDE #150)
(5) Perform the following for each DAMA Station.
(ON SLIDE #151)
A-83
(6) Select the Station and CONFIG.
(7) Select the Dama TAB
(8) Set the Terminal Base Address
(9) OK exits this screen.
(ON SLIDE# 152)
(10) Defaults access the screen to allow you to verify

or modify the Call Duration, 25kHzAC Mode Paging address and
the Dedicated DASA setting for this station.
(ON SLIDE# 153)
(11) Select Nets/DAMA Net/Details
(ON SLIDE# 154)
(12) There are five configuration menu categories:
(a) DAMA General
(b) DAMA COMSEC
(c) DAMA - Data/Voice
(d) DAMA Squelch
(e) DAMA Advanced
(f) Starting with General, fill in the items

Finish when done.
(13) DAMA General DAMA SATCOM programming for the

AN/PRC-117F will configure all the parameters necessary for
5 kHz, 25 kHz AC, and 25 kHz DC DAMA operation. The General
category contains all the parameters necessary for
configuration, acquisition, and communication to the
satellite. Some DAMA settings (such as Ephemeris) are not
selectable through the Falcon III RPA and these settings
must be changed manually (if necessary) through the radios
front panel controls.
A-84
(a) Frequency Code. Enter Frequency Code of 001 to
247 which defines uplink and downlink frequencies. Refer to
Help files B-3 for a listing of UHF SATCOM channels and
their frequencies. These channels are the same used in
dedicated SATCOM operation. Non-standard, or Non-US DAMA
Systems must use the RF-6550M RPA software to configure a
custom DAMA Frequency Code table that can then be downloaded
to the AN/PRC-117F.
(b) Configuration Code USMC uses (60) unless

otherwise directed.
(c) NETWORK GUARD (Guard channels/ addresses) The

Network Guard is an address that the terminal expects to
receive services for. Network addresses are most commonly
placed here along with addresses of multiple users sharing a
single terminal for operations. Do not place Terminal Base
Addresses (TBAs) in the Network Guard box, use only network
address in the 50000 to 65535 range.
(d) Transmit Capability (FULL or EMCON) Choose

FULL for normal operations. If the tactical situation
requires transmission suppression, select Emission Control
(EMCON) to keep from emitting signals. An additional factor
to consider when using EMCON is that pre-assigned login is
required. This precludes the need to range and log in.
(Ranging is still tied to active/passive setting.) SILENT is
available in 5 kHz DAMA and only permits the AN/PRC-117F to
transmit when the operator chooses to initiate a service
request or accept a service assignment. Further control of
transmit signals requires using passive ranging
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Pre-assigned login for EMCON is only available for 5 kHz
while in EMCON.
(e) Power (Selectable)
(ON SLIDE# 155)
(14) DAMA- COMSEC This page allows the planner to

configure the COMSEC Crypto Mode for the DAMA port. Use the
pull down menu to select the proper crypto type.
(a) Crypto Mode:
A-85
1 ANDVT - Use for voice or data operation
across the UHF range of 225.000000 MHz to 511.999999 MHz.
a ANDVT Training Frames - Sets the length

of Training Frames Sequence for KY-99 compatibility. The
Training Frames represent the number of Redundant data
transmissions the radio needs to transmit before re-
establishing the handshake. If ANDVT is selected, choose the
number of training frames (6, 9, 12,15, 20, 30 or 60) from
the pull down menu.
b ANDVT Preamble - If ANDVT is selected, the

ANDVT preamble is displayed.
c ANDVT Auto Switch - Checking the box

allows the radio to automatically switch
between LPC and MELP digital voice, based on which type
is received.
d TEK ID - Select a Traffic Encryption Key

number of 01 - 25 for CT operations.
(ON SLIDE #156)
2 NONE - Select this choice to configure the

radio for PT operation. NONE must also be used in
conjunction with the function switch set to PT. Any time the
function switch is returned to CT, the COMSEC default
setting is changed to VINSON and TEK 01 Traffic
Encryption Key.
3 KG-84 - Use for data operation only.
a Synchronization - If KG-84 is selected,

set the transmission synchronization mode to match the
operating characteristics of the distant end.
Synchronization mismatches will result in no communications.
These are the four KG-84 transmission synchronization modes:
1. REDUNDANT MODE 1 (Required for HPW)
2. REDUNDANT MODE 2
3. NON-REDUNDANT MODE 3
4. NON-REDUNDANT MODE 4
A-86
4 VINSON - Use for voice or data across the
entire operational range of 225.000000 MHz to 511.999999
MHz. Data rate for VINSON is 16 kbps only. Compatible with
other embedded or standalone KY-57 VINSON or KY-99A devices.
(ON SLIDE #157)
5 DAMA- DATA/Voice (Traffic) If ANDVT is

selected for COMSEC, available choices are LPC
and MELP. Both choices are methods of digitizing voice
signals. MELP can be used to provide more recognizable
speech and works well in poor signal strengths.
6 DAMA Data Mode - Select SYNC or ASYNC from

the drop down list. By selecting SYNC, the AN/PRC-117F
defaults to the following settings
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
If data is selected as ASYNC, data port configuration will
need to match the specific parameters of the device. This
type of device must also have its data rate match the port
speed.
7 DASA Opt Number - Select the DASA Option

Number from the pull-down box that matches the current
operation.
(ON SLIDE #158)
8 DAMA-TRANSEC The DAMA TRANSEC TSK secures the

DAMA Engineering Orderwire (EOW) between the AN/PRC-117F
DAMA terminal and the channel controller. The DAMA TRANSEC
keys are loaded to the AN/PRC-117F at the LD position of the
function switch under the menu item SATELLITE. After
loading, they are assigned to common positions numbered 0 -
7 to match locations used by the channel controller. Select
NONE if a TSK is not required for the position. If the
AN/PRC-117F displays a network state of ERROR, then check
loading and programming of these keys. If the AN/PRC-117F
will not connect to the network, suspect that the wrong TSK
is being used.
9 HPW TRANSEC Key - If KG-84 is selected, set

the TRANSEC Key number. This is used for HPW Mode in DASA
operations.
(ON SLIDE #159)
A-87
10 DAMA-ADVANCE Additional Network Guards and
Port Configurations Information Port Config
Name/Number/Description.
11 Select Apply and Finish this DAMA Programming
(ON SLIDE #160)
TRANSITION. Are there any questions on the RPA DAMA

Programming? If there are no/no further questions, we will
cover the RPA Scanning programming procedures after this 10
Min Break.
(ON SLIDE #161)
m. SCANNING
(1) Scanning is setup in the Global Network Config Tab

under the VULOS folder.
(ON SLIDE #162)
(2) Scan List- Scan List allows the user to select

which nets are to be automatically scanned for radio traffic
in the VULOS Scan List (P25 Scan Lists are configured
separately). Scan able nets can be chosen from the available
nets list using the check box. Hold Time and Hang Time can
also be set from the Scan List dialog, and Priority Nets can
be assigned. A net must have certain parameters programmed
to be eligible for scanning. For AN/PRC-117F, scan able
networks are Fixed Frequency, Maritime, or SATCOM, with
Crypto type of NONE, VINSON, Digital Squelch OFF, no TCM
modulation, and Analog Squelch type must not be set to NONE.
For AN/PRC-152 and AN/PRC-117G, scan able nets are Fixed
Frequency, Maritime, or SATCOM, with Crypto type of NONE or
VINSON, and Info Type of VOICE.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Maritime Nets may be scanned in the VULOS Scan List.
(a) Station - Lists all stations in the plan that

can be included in scan able networks.
(b) Copy To - A convenience feature that may be

used to copy the Scan List and other scan configuration
A-88
items (priorities, times) from one station to another. This
will take the information from the station selected in the
left drop down box, and copy it to the station selected on
the right. If ALL is selected, the information from the
station on the left will be copied to all stations in the
right hand list.
(c) Station Properties
1 Scan List Nets - Shows the list of nets

available that can be added to the Scan List. Currently only
Fixed Frequency, Maritime and SATCOM nets are scan able. The
Scan List will automatically adjust to only show scan able
nets. Click the check box adjacent to a net to include it in
the list of nets to be scanned.
2 Priority TX Net - The net on which the radio

transmits if the PTT button is pressed when the radio is
actively scanning. The Priority TX Net is selected from the
Scan List by choosing from the pull-down list.
3 Priority RX Net - The designated priority

receive net, which will be sampled every other net during
scan. The Priority RX Net is selected from the Scan List by
choosing from the pull-down list.
4 Hold Time - The length of time (in seconds)

the radio dwells on a net before returning to scan, even
with a signal is present. Hold time can be set to Infinite
which will stop the scan at the first net it detects with
traffic until it is manually restarted, or it can be set for
a user selected time of up to 99 seconds.
5 Hang Time - The length of time (in seconds)

the radio dwells on a net after a signal ends before
returning to scan. Default setting is three seconds.
6 Set the Priority TX Net or Priority RX Net

perform the following:
a Select the nets in the Scan List to be

scanned before setting the Priority Net.
b Choose a net from the pull-down list

adjacent to the Priority TX Net field to designate the
selected net as the Priority TX Net, or choose a net from
the pull-down list adjacent to the Priority RX Net field to
A-89
designate the selected net as the Priority RX Net. The
selected net name will display in the Priority TX Net or
Priority RX Net field.
(ON SLIDE# 163)
TRANSITION. Are there any questions on the Scan Programming?

If there are no/no further questions, we will cover the
Situation Awareness programming procedures.
(ON SLIDE# 164)
n. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. To set the Situational

Awareness settings for an AN/PRC-117F:
(1) Click the Config... button on the Stations tab to

open the Station Config dialog, and then select the
Situational Awareness tab.
(ON SLIDE# 165)
Figure 11-1. Situational Awareness - AN/PRC-117F
(2) COMBAT ID.
(a) USE Default Combat ID
(b) Specify Combat ID
(3) Position Reporting
A-90
(a) Report on each Voice Transmission, position
report will be transmitted whenever the Push-to-Talk (PTT)
is keyed.
(b) Report on Change in time, enter a time in

minutes that will be used as the interval between report
transmissions.
(c) Report on Change in distance, enter a distance

in meters. A position report will be transmitted whenever
the GPS location exceeds the programmed distance from the
previously reported location.
(ON SLIDE# 166)
(d) Forward report to: dropdown list, according to

the type of network in use. The only available selection is
1 Local Terminal (PPP Peer).
2 Custom IP
(e) Packet Type: dropdown list, The only available

selection is
1 Harris
2 SINCGARS
(f) Report Local Information needs to be checked:

Includes base station SA data in the report.
(4) Click Apply and then OK to finish.
(ON SLIDE #167)
TRANSITION. Are there any questions on the Situational

Awareness Programming? If there are no/no further questions,
we will cover the Beacon programming procedures.
(ON SLIDE #168)
o. Beacon Mode - The Beacon category of the Global Radio

Configuration tab is used to define the transmit
characteristics of Beacon operation. To make changes to the
default settings, check the Configure Beacon Settings box
and proceed to edit the selections below.
A-91
(ON SLIDE #169)
(1) TX Frequency - Enter the beacon transmit frequency

in MHz.
(2) Modulation Mode - Choose whether the beacon will

transmit using AM or FM.
(3) TX Power - Select the Beacon transmit power from

the pull-down box. Be aware that a higher power level will
shorten battery life.
(4) VAU TX Power - If the AN/PRC-117F is installed in a

Vehicle Adapter Unit, select the Beacon transmit power level
for the VAU.
(ON SLIDE #170)
TRANSITION. Are there any questions on the Beacon

Programming? If there are no/no further questions, we will
cover the Global Radio Config Tab General Configurations.
(ON SLIDE #171)
INSTRUCTOR NOTE
Save and Save Often
p. Global Radio Config
(ON SLIDE #172)
(1) General Configuration
(a) For AN/PRC-117F radios, The General Config

category for AN/PRC-117F radios consists of the following
miscellaneous settings. All boxes are checked for the
default settings.
1 FM Transmit Tone - When this box is checked,

the AN/PRC- 117F transmits a 150 Hz squelch tone whenever
the PTT key is pressed in a LOS fixed frequency net preset
using FM modulation. Ensure FM transmit tone is set to ON
when operating with other types of FM radios requiring tone
squelch, or if CTCSS/CDCSS is being used.
A-92
2 Voice Priority Over Data - When this box is
checked, it allows the operator to key the handset while
the radio is transmitting data and immediately (less than
two seconds) switch to voice mode. Keying the handset drops
the data transmission immediately. After the handset unkeys,
data transmission may or may not resume, depending upon the
type of data, mode of operation, and connected data device.
When connector J3 is used for data, the net DATA/VOICE
setting must be AUTO ON DATA.
3 Simultaneous Rx Voice/Data - When

Simultaneous Receive Voice and Data box is checked, the
radio will output received data to both the handset and J3
Data connector. This ensures the operator can hear voice
while the radio is still receiving data. This feature can be
used on any VINSON net, or SATCOM Wideband in CT mode (no
NB,DAMA, or ANDVT).
(ON SLIDE #173)
4 Use CTS-In - Used to interface to synchronous

data devices. The default setting is normally adequate for
use with most MIL-STD-184 devices and the Harris Synchronous
Data card.
5 ANDVT Fade Priority - ANDVT fade occurs when

voice is being received and the modem drops sync without
receiving an active End Of Message flag. The fade period is
approximately four seconds. In order for the crypto to
maintain sync through the fade, the modem must think the
channel is busy, which would normally not allow the user to
key the radio. This menu permits the user to choose whether
or not to allow radio keying during a fade. If the box is
checked, the user may key the radio during the fade period.
(ON SLIDE #174)
6 CTCSS/CDCSS Priority - With normal

CTCSS/CDCSS operation, the AN/PRC-117F will no transmit if
the channel is busy. Checking this box to allow transmit
even if the channel is busy.
7 Tx Clock Source - Used to interface to

synchronous data devices. The default setting is normally
adequate for use with most MIL-STD-184 devices and the
Harris Synchronous Data card. If desired, select the
transmit clock source for the synchronous data:
A-93
a Internal - Uses internal clock for
synchronization.
b External - Uses external clock for

synchronization.
c Internal on CTS - Radio uses internal

clock, however, the clock signal is gated by the CTS signal.
The clock line on the DTE device is low until a CTS is
received.
(ON SLIDE #175)
8 Data Inversion - If necessary, set the data

inversion as needed for interoperability with systems
other than the AN/PRC-117F.
(ON SLIDE #176)
(2) GPS Information - AN/PRC-117F. Use the GPS

Information dialog to configure GPS operating parameters.
This is an optional setting and only required when GPS
devices are to be used.
(a) GPS Type - Use the drop-down menu to choose one
of the following types:
1 PLGR/DAGR AN/PRC-117F requires a separate

Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (such as the AN/PSN-11
PLGR) or a Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (such as the
AN/PSN-13 DAGR), which must be connected to the radio.
2 NMEA , AN/PRC-117F requires a commercial GPS

device to be connected externally. Choose the format of the
position display:
a LATITUDE/LONGITUDE DM (Latitude/Longitude
Degrees/Minutes)
b LATITUDE/LONGITUDE DMS
(Latitude/Longitude Degrees/Minutes/Seconds)
c UNIVERSAL TRANSVERSE MERCATOR (UTM

format)
d MILITARY GRID REFERENCE SYSTEM (based on

three ellipsoids)
A-94
(ON SLIDE #177)
(3) Exclusion Band. To define an exclusion band:
(a) Select Exclusion Bands for the desired radio

type in the left pane.
1 Click the Add button.
2 Enter the Start Frequency (the lower end of

the exclusion band) in MHz,
3 End Frequency (the upper end of the exclusion

band) in MHz. You can limit the exclusion band to a single
frequency by entering the same value for the Start and End
frequencies.
(b) Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 for any additional

exclusion bands (maximum of 10 for AN/PRC-117F, maximum of
99 for AN/PRC-152 or AN/PRC-117G).
(c) The exclusion band information will be stored

when you save the plan. When setting exclusion bands, it is
important to note the following:
1 If a line in the listing has a red

background, this indicates that the exclusion band covers
the entire allowable frequency spectrum. Hold the cursor
over the row and a tool tip will be displayed to explain the
color.
2 If a line in the listing is backlit in

orange, this indicates there are networks with conflicting
frequencies. Hold the cursor over the row and a tool tip
will be displayed to explain the color.
3 If a line in the listing is backlit in

yellow, this indicates that there are two or more exclusion
bands with overlapping frequencies. Hold the cursor over the
row and a tool tip will be displayed to explain the color.
4 Exclusion Bands are not applied to Beacon

Nets, SINCGARS Frequency Hopping Nets, and HAVEQUICK
Frequency Hopping Nets. All frequencies in these types of
net presets will be active, even though the plan may contain
A-95
an exclusion band with some or all of the preset
frequencies.
5 Exclusion Bands do apply to SINCGARS Single

Channel operation and HAVEQUICK INIT mode.
(d) Delete an Exclusion Band To delete an exclusion

band:
1 On the Exclusion Bands menu, highlight the
band you wish to delete.
2 Click Delete.
3 Repeat for any additional exclusion bands

that you wish to delete.
(ON SLIDE #178)
(e) COPY an Exclusion Band. Copies the information

you have already programmed in a different radio. Use the
dropdown menu to select the radio you programmed previously.
(ON SLIDE #179)
(4) Preset Net Lock. Preset Net Lock is used for

AN/PRC-117F radios.
(a) When enabled, the feature will:
1 Block all front panel configuration changes

for a range of radio networks.
2 Disable the ability to change COMSEC, POWER,

and LOUT parameters in the Options menu.
3 Enable security.
(b) Enable Preset Net Locking - Check the box to

activate the net lock feature.
(c) Security Password - Enter a password to allow

access to the net lock function. Password must be at least
eight alphanumeric characters. The Preset Net Lock password
is different from the RPA password configured in the File
menu.
A-96
(d) Re-enter Password - Enter the Preset Net Lock
password again for confirmation.
(e) Preset lock start number - Select the lower

end of the range of presets to be locked.
(f) Preset lock end number - Select the upper end

of the range of presets to be locked.
(ON SLIDE #180)
q. Global Wireless IP.
(1) The AN/PRC-117F offers a wireless IP capability

that allows system operators to use IP-based PC software
applications over the radio. The radio can be fully
integrated into a local or wide-area network using the
radios PPP interface. When configured for IP data transfer,
the radio will deliver IP data packets to a remote radio
station based on the routing information programmed. Radio
packet processing uses conglomeration and compression of
individual IP data packets to improve the efficiency of the
data transfer. Any application that uses the IP protocol is
allowed, however, latency and bandwidth considerations will
make some applications impractical. Wireless IP can be used
in HPW nets. These settings are only required when using the
wireless IP capabilities of the radio.
(ON SLIDE #181)
(2) Simplified IP Configuration - This box is checked

by default, and should only be unchecked by advanced users
with specific needs.
(3) Global Wireless Subnet - Enter the wireless IP

subnet that will be used for all net communications.
(4) Subnet Mask - If the Simplified IP Configuration

box is checked, the subnet mask is grayed out and fixed to
ensure unique IP addressing. If the Simplified IP
Configuration box is unchecked, the third Subnet Mask octet
can be modified to allow additional address selections.
(ON SLIDE #182)
(5) Telephony. The Telephony menu is provided for

AN/PRC-117F users to allow a timeout to be set for telephony
A-97
call inactivity. To set an inactivity timeout, click on the
check box and enter the timeout period in seconds. The
available range is 10 to 1800 seconds and the default
timeout is 120 seconds.
(ON SLIDE #183)

ability to program a radio with the RPA
PRACTICE: Starting with a new Radio Program Application

(RPA), Load the communications Plan displayed on the screen
into the computers RPA. Load the radio using the Computer,
SKL and RPA.

PROVIDE-HELP:

TRANSITION Now that we have programmed the radios with

little to no assistance are there any questions? If there
are no/no further questions. We will move to our SUMMERY
4. SUMMERY: (2 MIN)
Today we have covered the Radio Programming Application as
A-98
it pertains to the AN/PRC-117F. As you can see, this program
can be developed by a single unit and disseminate to
subordinate commands and allow for you to employ this asset
and give us much more capabilities as well as eliminates
lots of room for error. Saving TIME!!!
REFERENCE(S):
Harris Operations Manual for the AN/PRC-117F Revision J.
Harris AN/PRC-117F Quick Reference Guide Revision E
A-99

Sa 2.01 Falcon III Rpa 2.8.0 With The Prc-117f

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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

COMMUNICATION TRAINING CENTER

Advanced Radio Operators COURSE

APPROVED BY ______________________ DATE _________________

1. GAIN ATTENTION: As Radio Operators, you will operate

(ON SLIDE #3)

a. TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE. Provided planning

(ON SLIDE #4)

(1) With the aid of reference, provided equipment

(ON SLIDE #6)

(ON SLIDE #7)

(ON SLIDE #8)

(ON SLIDE #9)

(ON SLIDE #10)

(ON SLIDE #11)

(ON SLIDE #12)

(ON SLIDE #13)

(ON SLIDE #14)

(ON SLIDE #15)

(ON SLIDE #16)

TRANSITION: At this time are there any questions on what is

(ON SLIDE #17)

BODY (7:55 MINS)

1. FALCON III RADIO PROGRAMMING APPLICATION. (3 hrs) The

(ON SLIDE #18)

(1) The Falcon III RPA allows any number of radio

(2) Type-1 encryption keys and COMSEC data are loaded

(3) Programming a radio is accomplished with a mission

(4) Programming the AN/PRC-117F requires a simple

(ON SLIDE #19)

(5) The Falcon III RPA Help system can be accessed by

(a) Quick Start

(b) Falcon III RPA Installation and Startup

(c) Falcon III RPA Display

(d) Creating and Editing Radio Programming Plans

(ON SLIDE #20)

TRANSITION: We have just covered a brief overview of RPA,

What COMSEC/CRYPTO KEY or KEYS are loaded from the RPA

What does a Digital Signature Standard (DSS) signature do

Now that we have an understanding of what the Falcon III RPA

(ON SLIDE #21)

b. FALCON III RPA INSTALLATION AND STARTUP

(1) SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS The PC system requirements for

(a) Before beginning Falcon III RPA installation,

(b) To install the Falcon III RPA application:

1 Access the Falcon III RPA software by

2 Open the designated program that contains the

(ON SLIDE #23)

3 The Installer screen will be displayed as

4 Read and accept the license agreement to

5 If you have 117F RPA installed on the

6 Follow the on-screen instructions to install

(ON SLIDE #24)

(3) NRDI Installation In order to connect to network

(a) The Installer screen will be displayed as shown

(b) To exit the installation program, click the X

(ON SLIDE #25)

(4) START-UP After installation of the Falcon III RPA

on the PC desktop. Alternatively, click Start > Programs >

(5) UNINSTALL To uninstall the Falcon III RPA

(a) From Windows, click Start > Settings > Control

(b) Select Harris Falcon III Radio Programming

(ON SLIDE #26)

APPROVED BY ______ DATE _