An apparatus for testing the operation of an irrigation system is disclosed. The apparatus pinpoints defects in the irrigation system controller by simulating control signals and processing the control signals through controller output chips. Visual indicators offer an indication of defects in output chips. The apparatus may be coupled to the controller and receives potential from the controller. The potential is converted to produce a signal for operating the tester. An oscillator/clocking section produces serial data input, strobe pulse, and clock pulse signals to simulate signals produced by the controller microprocessor. These signals operate the visual indicators and are simultaneously processed through the controller output chips. Defects low in the output chips prevent the operation of visual indicators. The absence of an operating visual indicator represents a defect in the output chips. A method is prescribed for testing the controller output chips for defects and replacing defective output chips, and for pinpointing defects in solenoid valve networks and controller triacs. The tester allows a user to test the irrigation system from the location of the controller and enables the user to check all of the outputs of a controller simultaneously while eliminating the need for individually checking each station terminal and its respective solenoid valve.

The signal translating repeater is located in the aircraft and enables a traditional ground-based mobile subscriber station to provide wireless telecommunication services to a subscriber in both the terrestrial (ground-based) and non-terrestrial regions. The signal translating repeater receives frequency translated cell site cellular signals, comprising cellular radio frequency communication signals from a cell site that are in a mode compatible with ground-based cellular communications but shifted in frequency from the standard ground-based cellular radio frequency communication signals to other radio frequencies that are allocated for non-terrestrial cellular communications. The signal translating repeater automatically translates the received frequency translated cell site cellular signals into the ground-based cellular signals, comprising radio frequency communication signals that are in a mode compatible with ground-based cellular communications, used by the ground-based mobile subscriber stations located in the aircraft.

An integrity monitor for TCAS mutual suppression checks the interface circuits and cabling of the suppression system that lies between the TCAS processor and the transponder. The monitor starts by interrogating the transponder while disabling suppression. If no reply is received, the transponder is not functional. If a reply is received, interrogation of the transponder occurs again, however, this time suppression is enabled. If a reply is received, the suppression system has failed and TCAS alarms will be inhibited. If a reply is not received, the suppression system is working.

The present signal translating repeater is located in an aircraft and provides service to mobile subscriber stations that are located in the aircraft, using the ground-based cellular communication paradigm. The present signal translating repeater converts these ground-based cellular communication signals into signals pursuant to the non-terrestrial cellular telecommunication format and transmits these signals to the non-terrestrial cell site(s) presently serving the aircraft. In this manner, the subscribers in the aircraft can use their existing ground-based mobile subscriber stations in a manner that is consistent with use in communicating with the ground-based cell sites, while the aircraft communicates with the non-terrestrial cell site(s) presently serving the aircraft in a manner that is consistent with non-terrestrial mobile subscriber stations.

An automated transceiver is adapted to monitor a frequency of interest. In response to receiving some predetermined protocol, it becomes activated and records the next transmission on the frequency. The transceiver then rebroadcasts the recorded transmission. In this way, a radio operator can be assured that the transceiver is operating when the rebroadcasted transmission is received. If the transmission from the device is an acceptable quality, there is an assurance that the transceiver is operating properly since, to receive the rebroadcasted transmission, both the transmitter portion must operate to transmit the message to the inventive radio check device, and the receiver portion of the transmitter must be operational to receive the rebroadcasted message from the system. The remote operator need not rely on the subjective determination of another. Further, the participation of another person is not required.