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Aero Dana
February 10th 06, 04:06 AM
I am so lost. I am trying to better understand avionics.
Specifically, communication electronics vs. navigation radio vs.
navigation products. More specifically, these are Rockwell Collins'
core franchises and I am trying to understand what firstly
Communication avionics for a commercial aircraft entails? Is this the
HF VHF stuff? What is the radio navigation then? What's the
difference.

What is Rockwell Collins really known for in terms of communication
products on aircraft? What do these products do?

Thanks so much!

kontiki
February 10th 06, 11:54 AM
Aero Dana wrote:
> I am so lost. I am trying to better understand avionics.
> Specifically, communication electronics vs. navigation radio vs.
> navigation products. More specifically, these are Rockwell Collins'
> core franchises and I am trying to understand what firstly
> Communication avionics for a commercial aircraft entails? Is this the
> HF VHF stuff? What is the radio navigation then? What's the
> difference.

Most domestic civilian aircraft these only have VHF radios for communications.
Overseas flights still use HF for communications. Navigation radios are
can be low frequency (in the case of ADF and Loran), VHF (in the case of VOR,
& Localizers), UHF (DME, transponders) and ultimately SHF and above (GPS).
The difference between navigation and communications radios is only in the
modulation/demodulation method and information content and processing.

> What is Rockwell Collins really known for in terms of communication
> products on aircraft? What do these products do?
>
Collins has been around since the very early days of radio communications
(AM and FM broadcasting) building all sorts of communications electronics
equipment for industry and military/government. Collins has made aircraft
radios also since the early days of aircraft radios but mostly in larger
commercial airplanes. Not sure how big a player they still are today
because all of my experinece is in General Aviation and there isn't much
use of those radios in smaller General aviation aircraft.

Aero Dana
February 10th 06, 01:44 PM
what is modulation/domodulation method?

What is DME?
What is SHF?

So GPS is thru a radio?

Aero Dana
February 10th 06, 01:46 PM
Did collins make the first aircraft radio?

Rolf Blom G (AS/EAB)
February 10th 06, 02:18 PM
On 2006-02-10 14:46, Aero Dana wrote:
> Did collins make the first aircraft radio?
>

No, not according to this site:

http://earlyradiohistory.us/1963hw14.htm

(26 july 1912, Wireless Specialty Apparatus Inc.)

Btw, what is Google used for?

(This sounds more and more like a school questionnaire.)

Aero Dana
February 10th 06, 03:21 PM
Not in school, just trying to finally understand this field.

GPS --> is considered radio navigation
But IRS, FMS, and MMR considered just navigation.

Is that a correct way to break it out?

Also in terms of flight communications, what is SATCOM? Is that also
through a radio?

Marco Leon
February 10th 06, 04:29 PM
If I were to guess, I would say that you're a consultant that was just put
on a new project and who needs to get up to speed on your client's industry
buzz words.

You need to go through Wikipedia for a couple of hours. It's much more
efficient and immediate than this newsgroup.

Marco

"Aero Dana" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Not in school, just trying to finally understand this field.
>
> GPS --> is considered radio navigation
> But IRS, FMS, and MMR considered just navigation.
>
> Is that a correct way to break it out?
>
> Also in terms of flight communications, what is SATCOM? Is that also
> through a radio?
>



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February 10th 06, 10:29 PM
Aero Dana wrote:
> Not in school, just trying to finally understand this field.
>
> GPS --> is considered radio navigation
> But IRS, FMS, and MMR considered just navigation.
>
> Is that a correct way to break it out?
>
> Also in terms of flight communications, what is SATCOM? Is that also
> through a radio?

These questions are very general; huge in fact.

I suggest a bookstore (new or used), perhaps a good pilot shop that has
many technical books of a basic nature regarding aviation electronics,
and a friend in the electronics hobby,.

A good google search whould be a help.

Gerry Caron
February 11th 06, 03:21 AM
"Aero Dana" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Not in school, just trying to finally understand this field.
>
> GPS --> is considered radio navigation
> But IRS, FMS, and MMR considered just navigation.
>
> Is that a correct way to break it out?

Not really. Simplifying somewhat; GPS, IRS, and MMR are nav sensors. FMS
is a multi-sensor navigator. The sensors feed position data to the FMS.
The FMS tells you how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

> Also in terms of flight communications, what is SATCOM? Is that also
> through a radio?

SATCOM is SATellite COMmunications. It's a radio that talks thru a
satellite link.

If you're looking for a decent introduction to the field, I recommend the
following book:

Principles of Avionics, Third Edition by Albert Helfrick

It's available from Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1885544200/sr=8-1/qid=1139627088/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2435044-7066220?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Gerry

Jim Macklin
February 11th 06, 04:08 AM
Why not get the free on-line version of the AIM?
http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/AIM/index.htm


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.




"Gerry Caron" > wrote in message
. ..
|
| "Aero Dana" > wrote in message
|
oups.com...
| > Not in school, just trying to finally understand this
field.
| >
| > GPS --> is considered radio navigation
| > But IRS, FMS, and MMR considered just navigation.
| >
| > Is that a correct way to break it out?
|
| Not really. Simplifying somewhat; GPS, IRS, and MMR are
nav sensors. FMS
| is a multi-sensor navigator. The sensors feed position
data to the FMS.
| The FMS tells you how to get from where you are to where
you want to be.
|
| > Also in terms of flight communications, what is SATCOM?
Is that also
| > through a radio?
|
| SATCOM is SATellite COMmunications. It's a radio that
talks thru a
| satellite link.
|
| If you're looking for a decent introduction to the field,
I recommend the
| following book:
|
| Principles of Avionics, Third Edition by Albert Helfrick
|
| It's available from Amazon.com:
|
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1885544200/sr=8-1/qid=1139627088/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2435044-7066220?%5Fencoding=UTF8
|
| Gerry
|
|

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