No "Long" Range Radio?

OK, I get that for plot reasons the writers wanted to make sure the Space Camp Team in orbit could not contact NASA on the ground... And... I am no shuttle technology expert, so perhaps the engineering crews have to some perform some strange maintenance procedures before a mission that I am not aware of...

But, why did Atlantis only have Short Range Radio?

Did I miss something here?

Was this the very first time Atlantis fired it's engines, and so not every part was installed yet? If Atlantis had flown missions before, why was the Long Range Radio not "Flight Ready"? Was it damaged during the last flight, and had not been repaired yet?

Did they take it out? That is like saying, I took the dash off of my car and took the radio out, when I came home last night, and now that I am going going to work today, I have to take the dash off of my car, and put the radio back. Why do this? Why worry about someone stealing a radio that could only be used in approximately FIVE Space Shuttles, all owned by the same person, which are locked up in secure facilities...

Not trying to complain, just something that has been bothering me for a while, and I was curious to know what the "real" story might be.

Perhaps they could have just said in the movie it was damaged during re-entry during the last flight and had not been repaired. That would have done it for me.

But since nothing was said, it makes no sense in the movie.