Class Notes: Technisonic TDFM-136 CAP FM Radio

CAP FM Radio
Wideband/Narrowband Compliant
Digital Capable

These are being issued by NHQ, to replace the old non-compliant radios in our aircraft.

MAIN Volume button has the ON/OFF detent.

“GUARD” is pre programmed by the Wing COM or MAINT officer. You can’t change it; just use the toggle to select which one you want to guard. (i.e. you’re working A2G, but want monitor primary simplex)

RX = Receive
TX = Transmit

SQUELCH is preprogrammed. Just press the button to pop the squelch open or closed.

HI/LO toggles transmit power. (Good for going to low power when talking to a Ground Team directly below you.)

- Select CHANNEL by pressing CHAN, then the number (i.e. 4 for A2G) and ENTER
- Select FREQUENCY by pressing FREQ, then the frequency you want. (i.e. 157.1 to talk to the Coast Guard) and ENTER.

Trivia: $9,995 per copy for these babies.

LEFT ARROW (4) & RIGHT ARROW (6) scrolls through preprogrammed channels.
UP ARROW (2) & DOWN (8) dims and brightens the display.

There is a bug in v. 1 of the software, if you don’t see v. 2.x or higher when the unit first powers up... then go talk to the A/C POC.

DO NOT PUT THE UNIT INTO PROGRAM MODE (which isn’t easy to do anyways)

Don’t worry… you won’t overwrite any pre-programmed channel settings.

Bonus Hint: If you don't have one of these in your airplane today, go talk to the POC or your Wing MAINT Officer... They should either have a plan for when the new unit should be installed, or they are doing something wrong, and you need to light a fire under their ass!

Comments

[Gene]

Looking for info on a DB9 Connecter mounted on some CAP C172 Aircraft Instrument Panel.

Some think it is for GPS or CAP FM Transceiver Software updates

Also what speeds are utilized.

Thanks