Rapid Deployment Portable Repeater (RDPR) Specfications(PDF)

 

The physical challenges facing many point-to-point radio communications include man-made structures, such as solid walls, and topographic obstacles like mountains. These obstacles can block a radio signals.

RELM/BK Rapid Deployment Portable Repeater:  This unit was originally designed to extend the range of the Squad radio and to facilitate limited interoperability with other platforms used in the Army’s Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). Mounted in a small, mobile and durable pelican case, the repeater is portable to carry or it can be carried in a vehicle. The RDPR can mount any two radios of the same type to double their effective range or of two different types to function as a cross-band repeater.  With the RDPR, FS, CS and CSS forces using a TYPE III LMR or other radios can now communicate directly with the Tactical radios such as SINCGARS. .

 

 

Good old soldier ingenuity caused the RDPR to evolve. The 4th ID requested the addition of a port to allow RELM, Motorola, EFJ, or any other type III AES encrypted handheld the ability to communicate directly with ASIP SINCGARS. RELM responded and now the RDPR is  capable of bridging any LMR, conventional or trunking, regardless of frequency range into the SINCGARS network to include plain text, cypher text, and frequency hopping modes - this opens a host of applications for the dismounted soldier. The 3HBCT/1CAV field tested the RDPR and gave it a two thumbs up. In fact we have not come across a tactical radio that we haven't been able to interface. PRC-117, PRC-150, PRC-148 MBITR, PRC-152 Falcon have all been tested and confirmed to work with the RDPR.

The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade was looking to utilize the RDPR with PSC-5 Satcom radios. This was no problem for RELM. During a recent field excercise in North Carolina they proved the concept and are looking to procure units.

The 72nd FA BDE saw the RDPR as a viable way to utilize the various different radios they have been fielded for training. Normally these radios would not communicate with one another due to different frequency ranges, protocols, encryption standards, but the RDPR proved worthy during 72 FA BDE field tests.

The latest concept has developed in regards to dealing with IRAQI military and Police, who often have equipment that is not compatible. U.S. Forces that need to communicate securely and yet not compromise Encryption key data can bridge the two networks, leaving both networks securely in tact.

As the operational community continues to investigate the capabilities of the RDPR, its simplicity, and low cost, it will become a common piece of equipment throughout the military.