Depot embarks on year-long project to repair equipment

By Anthony RicchiazziDecember 21, 2010

Depot embarks on year-long project to repair equipment
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Technicians here will repair six different types of the AN/TRC-190 radio terminal over the next year in a continuing Reset mission for the system.

Military units send completed systems for Reset to Tobyhanna. Reset is the refurbishment of equipment used in Southwest Asia that is worn or damaged by increased operational tempo in harsh environments. Reset involves the repair and replacement of components and parts.

The AN/TRC-190 is a multichannel radio terminal that allows point-to-point ultra high frequency radio links between various nodes of the Mobile Subscriber Equipment System.

Technicians dismantle the shelters from Humvees, which are sent to Red River Army Depot, Texas, and the generator, which is sent to Letterkenny Army Depot. The shelter, radio equipment and antenna from each system are repaired here.

"These upgrades are specific to meet the warfighter's tactical requirements," said Joe Ehrenhardt, electronics mechanic leader. "It doesn't matter if there are six, 500 or 10,000 versions, if an upgrade is needed for a unit's unique needs, we can get it done."

Ehrenhardt works in the Digital Group Multiplexer and Mobile Subscriber Equipment (DGM/MSE) Branch, which is part of the depot's Communications Directorate's Voice Communications Division.

In addition to electronics repair, the shelters are power washed and receive electrical work. Technicians prepare the antenna for paint and perform a mechanical check, which consists of cleaning and recabling work. The shelter receives any necessary repairs, is painted and given a final inspection by branch personnel.

"We also prepare the shelter for retrofit upgrades that tailor the systems to customer needs," said Jim Mangan, electronics mechanic.

Humvees and generators are sent back to Tobyhanna and the shelter is remounted on the Humvee. Tobyhanna technicians reassemble the Reset AN/TRC-190 system and return some to the units here and overseas, and put others in stock.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.

About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.