Digi-Star DataLink User Manual

Operators Manual

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin USA

Panningen, The Netherlands

www.digi-star.com

D3664-US Rev G June 2007

RF DataLink

D3664-F

Operators Manual

RF DataLink Setup 1

Sequence of Operations .............................................. 1

Registering the Software.............................................. 1

Radio Installation and Setup ........................................ 1

Radio Antennas ........................................................... 2

Fresnel Zone................................................................ 3

Radio Interference ....................................................... 3

Standard Range Setup ................................................ 3

Extended Range Setup................................................ 4

USB Black Box Installation .......................................... 5

Passwords ................................................................... 5

Setting the File Paths................................................... 5

Entering Mixer Data ......................................................... 7

Adding Mixers .............................................................. 7

Determining the System Defaults. ............................... 8

Process Selection ........................................................ 9

Pen Data Type............................................................. 9

Make As Fed Data File ................................................ 9

Zone Control ................................................................ 10

Send Mill Demand ....................................................... 10

Pen Delivery List Source.............................................. 11

Batch Number Included ............................................... 11

Timing .......................................................................... 11

Setting the Timing........................................................ 11

Weight Tolerances....................................................... 12

Pen Delivery Weight Tolerances.................................. 12

Operator Acknowledge ................................................ 12

Ration Weight Delivery Tolerances.............................. 13

Operator Acknowledge ................................................ 13

Split Load Minimum Balance ....................................... 13

Operator Interface........................................................ 14

Modify Recipe .............................................................. 15

Modify Pen Enabled..................................................... 15

Manual Load Making ................................................... 15

Wait for Acknowledge .................................................. 15

Bunk Reader .................................................................... 16

Select Bunk Reader Type ............................................ 16

Pen Feeding..................................................................... 17

Pen Delivery Mode ...................................................... 17

Optimize Load to Mixer/Optimize-Split Pens................ 17

Find Pens to Fit............................................................ 18

Mixer Loading .............................................................. 19

Print Mixer Load Sheet ................................................ 19

Weigh Units ................................................................. 19

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RF DataLink

Determining the Load Size for the Mixer...................... 19

Feedings To Mixer ....................................................... 20

Transfer Type .............................................................. 20

Full Load Delay............................................................ 20

Variable Mix Control..................................................... 21

Radio Settings ............................................................. 21

Datalink Reserve Channel ........................................... 22

Base Radio Type ......................................................... 22

Installation Test............................................................ 22

Operating the RF DataLink 22

Quantity of Radios to be Used ..................................... 22

Importing the Feeding Data ......................................... 23

Starting the Process .................................................... 23

How the Process Works............................................... 23

Modifying Ration Data.................................................. 25

Changing Ingredients................................................... 25

Deleting Ingredients..................................................... 26

Adding Ingredients....................................................... 27

Modifying Pen Data ..................................................... 27

Changing Pen Rations................................................. 28

Deleting Pens .............................................................. 28

Adding Pens ................................................................ 29

Changing the Pen Order .............................................. 29

Putting an In-Process Pen back in the Feeding ........... 30

Deleting Records ......................................................... 30

Viewing the Error Log .................................................. 31

Test Communications .................................................. 32

Indicator Status............................................................ 32

Reliability Meter ........................................................... 33

Repair Parts – Std. Antenna ........................................ 34

Repair Parts – Extend Range Antenna........................ 35

Operators Manual

RF DataLink Setup

Sequence of Operations

After installing your software, please follow this section to setup the RF DataLink for use. It
is important that you follow along with this sequence.

Registering the Software

Once the software has been installed, it must be registered. Contact Digi-Star to obtain
your registration code. The code is case sensitive; all letters must be entered in upper
case.

Radio Installation and Setup

When installing the base radio; make sure the “ram mount” is fully extended away from the
mounting surface.

For greater radio communication and range mount the radio in the highest position that it is
visible from the ground or were the mixers are being loaded. Mount the radio in either
position like the illustration. On the corner of the office or on a utility pole.

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RF DataLink

Radio Antennas

The location of the antennas is critical. Check the installation of the antennas and the
antenna location.

Indicator and Truck Mounted Antenna: Truck Mounted Antenna, mount the antenna
outside, on the top of the cab, in the center of the roof. Do not modify the cable between
Truck Mounted Antenna and the indicator.

Yes No Are any building near the Base Station Antenna metal?

Yes No Are any metal structures located between the Base Station Antenna and

the mixers?

Yes No When standing at the Base Station Antenna, can you see the mixer?

Yes No Have any of the antenna cables been modified?

Radio Range:

The picture below shows how radio range would be affected by obstructions like metal
barns or earth. The gray areas show poor radio signal. If the radio is mounted higher, this
may improve radio range.

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Operators Manual

Fresnel Zone

The Fresnel Zone can be thought of as a football-shaped tunnel between two sites that
provides a path for RF signals.

In order to achieve the greatest range, the football-shaped path in which radio waves travel
must be free of obstructions. Buildings, trees or any other obstacles in the path will
decrease the communication range. If the antennas are mounted just barely off the ground,
over half of the Fresnel Zone ends up being obstructed by the earth resulting in significant
reduction in range. To avoid this problem, the antennas should be mounted high enough off
the ground so that the earth does not interfere with the central diameter of the Fresnel Zone.

Minimal height of base radio:

Range Distance Height

1000 ft (305 m) 15 ft (4.6 m)

1 Mile (1.61 km) 25 ft (7.6 m)

1.5 Miles (2.42 km) or more 45 ft (13.7 m)

If you do not have enough cable from the computer to the radio there are different cable
lengths that Digi-Star offers, or you would like a higher powered antenna, contact Digi-Star.

Standard length is 50 ft / 15.25 m (RS-232). Extended length is 150 ft / 45.75 m (RS-422)
or custom lengths are available (150+)

Radio Interference

There are many types of wireless networks or (WIFI) and some can interfere with the
DataLink radio. If DataLink is still showing radio interference, check the WIFI network
number. Changing this number can correct for radio interference. For further information
about WIFI, check the website of the brand of your radio. 802.11 2.4GHZ use channels 1 –
6 and 13 & 14.

Standard Range Setup

When using the standard range kit, connect the DB9 serial connector to either a serial port on
the PC or use the USB to Serial adapter included and connect the
12VDC power supply to the cable. The base radio is shipped from
Digi-Star setup for standard range. The switch settings on the
radio are set to the picture to the right: Verify this if you are not
able to communicate with the base radio

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RF DataLink

Extended Range Setup

If you are using the extended range radio kit (RS-422) you must
go to System, then Defaults, and select [Radio Settings]. Under
Base Radio Type, select [Extended Range Base Radio (RS-422).
RF Datalink will then pause while looking at the radio for the new
settings.

Next open the housing of the base radio. There is a bank of dip
switches on the right side,

Set switches as the picture on the right:

Install the AC/DC power transformer into the base radio box and run AC power into the unit
as shown. When attaching the female plug to the power cord, remove green ground wire
and attach either of the remaining two wires to either terminal. AC/DC adaptor is not
polarized.

Antenna Assembly

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Operators Manual

USB Black Box Installation

Plug in the Black box into a USB port. Windows will detect
the Black box and at this point Insert the driver CD.
Follow the Windows prompts.

Open the end cover of the Black Box and install the wires
as follows:

Passwords

Many of the settings under the System, Defaults menu are critical to the overall operation of
the RF DataLink program. To protect these settings, you have the ability to set a password
that will prevent unauthorized access to these settings. Once a password has been set on
any default screen, it is set for all default screens.

As with all passwords, please be sure to record your password in a safe place and guard it
from other users. Should you lose or forget your password, you will have to call Digi-Star

to have it reset.

Setting the File Paths

RF DataLink shares files with other software. As such, each program must know where to
send and where to look for these files.

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RF DataLink

To set the File Paths, from the main menu select [Systems], [Defaults] and [File Paths].
This will display the File Path screen.

1. Path to Pen and Ration Data Files - this is the data that is transferred from the third
party software or TMR Tracker. Ration mixes and pen calls.

2. Path to Mixer Load Demand File - Not used in this application.

3. Path to As Fed File - this is the data that is transferred from the RF DataLink to the third

party software. Completed Ration mixes and pen feedings.

4. Path to put Send Load Demand File - this option will send a file out to a mill demand to
show the total load size of the next load sent to the mixer.

5. Path to Load Exception File - this is the error log for any weight tolerance that you set.
This data does not have to be transferred from the PC running the RF DataLink program.

If you are not using a network, the path settings for 1 and 3 would be set to C:\. If you are
using a network, set the paths to whatever your network drives have been set too.

If you setup a file such as ERROR above, that Folder must exist before you can save the
settings. The RF DataLink will not create the Folder for you.

When complete, click [Save].

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Operators Manual

Entering Mixer Data

Adding Mixers

To access the Mixers screen, select Mixers from the File Menu. This will display the Mixers
screen. In a new installation, the Mixer screen will be blank.

Select the Add button to add a new mixer. Enter the Mixer number 1-12 (this number
should match the Scale Number).

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RF DataLink

Mixer Number – a two-digit number to identify the Mixer.

Description – a detailed Mixer description. The first letter of this may be displayed on the
Process Screen.

Radio Channel – the radio number will be set on the EZ indicator. To view or change the

number use the direct access number (231). Press (Select) to change the number, and
press (On) to save. Make sure if you are using two or more mixers that you don’t use the
same radio ID.

Mixer Size – Enter the lbs/Kg per cubic foot/Meter or enter the load number. The load
number is used with Bunk reader programs.

Active - to signify that the Mixer is available for feeding, click on [Yes] in the Active box.
Clicking on [No] will make the Mixer un-available for loads or feeding.

Acknowledge – Acknowledge – This option is used to send a message to the scale if the
operator would like to receive another load. If the operator does not press the Tare key
within 10 seconds at the scale, Datalink will continue to other mixers.

To save your entries, click [Save].

If you are using static mixers/dump boxes and delivery wagons, go to the default setting to
change this setting.

Determining the System Defaults.

The system defaults control how you process your feedings. These settings can help to
further optimize your feeding process. Please take some time to read and understand these
settings and their affect on your feeding process.

To set the System Default Settings, from the main menu select [Systems], [Defaults], and
[System Defaults].

The system defaults screen
contains all the choices
available to change the
manner in which the RF
DataLink processes your
feedings.

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