Eagle Seagull Expander User Manual

User Manual for the Seagull Wireless Dashboard Telemetry System

Patent Pending

Document Version 2.5, Model # ETS-SEA

READ ME FIRST!

Please read this manual before using your new system.

Thank you for your purchase! This instruction manual will guide you through the installation and operation of your Seagull Wireless Dashboard Telemetry System.

Please read the entire manual carefully before proceeding. If, after you read the manual (including the Troubleshooting sections!) you have further questions or problems, please visit our web support page for additional support options, at http://www.eagletreesystems.com/Support/support.html. Note that the latest version of this manual is available in PDF form from the Support page of our website.

Steps to Follow

Installation and use of your Seagull system will be quite easy and enjoyable if you follow these few steps:

1. Read through the manual to understand the warnings, determine the installation and setup sequence, etc.

2. Install the Data Recorder and Transmitter as described in Transmitter installation instructions below. Note that installing

your Data Recorder requires referring to the included Data Recorder manual, if you did not purchase your Recorder separately.

3. Configure the Seagull system with your PC, as described the Seagull Configuration instructions below.

4. Bench and range test your model, and have fun!

Important Warnings

• Make sure you have the right transmitter for your area. You are responsible for determining

whether you may use your transmitter in your country! See the transmitter specifications below for information on frequency and power output. In general, transmitters marked EU or CE are suitable for use in Europe, and transmitters marked FCC are suitable for USA operation.

• It is very important that you range check your model per your radio manufacturer’s instructions

after installing or reconfiguring any electronic equipment, and generally before each operation. If you have range issues, see the Troubleshooting section.

• The Seagull system is to be used only as described in the “Intended Uses” section below. Other uses

are not supported, and uses where loss of life or injury may result are expressly forbidden.

• Operating your model requires that you keep your eyes on it and give it your full attention. Looking

at the Seagull LCD display while the model is in operation is strongly discouraged. Use the programmable audible alarms, or have a buddy look at the display, as necessary.

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• The Seagull Transmitter and Dashboard Receiver antennas are very flexible, but use care

that you don’t mount them in such a way that they could cause eye or other bodily contact injury.

Intended Uses and Additional Hardware Requirements

The Seagull System is designed to be used to transmit data in Radio Controlled model Planes, Cars, Helicopters, Boats and other RC models. A Flight V2, Car or Boat Data Acquisition Module (Recorder) is also required for operation. Recorder Firmware Revision

2.16 or greater is required for Seagull operation. Connect your Recorder to USB and select “Help, About Data Recorder” in the Windows Recorder Application (the App) to determine what firmware revision you have. Visit our support page at

http://www.eagletreesystems.com/Support/support.html for firmware update information. Seagull is not compatible with the Flight

Data Recorder V1.

Packing List

Your Seagull system includes the Wireless Telemetry Data Dashboard Receiver, the Wireless Telemetry transmitter, and a plastic clip for mounting dashboard to radio antenna. If you ordered a full package system, the items listed in your Recorder manual (on the CD) are also included.

Seagull Transmitter Installation Instructions

Install your Data Acquisition Module (Recorder)

If you have not already done so, install your Flight V2, Car or Boat Data Acquisition Module (Recorder) and desired accessories in your model, following the included Recorder instructions. You may want to become familiar with the operation of your recorder and the Windows application before installing the Seagull Transmitter, but this is not required.

NOTE: 10 samples/second capture rate is recommended for the Seagull system.

Install the Seagull Transmitter in your Model

Choose a location in your model to install the transmitter. The transmitter is normally mounted with Velcro or double sided tape. Ideally, the transmitter will be installed with its antenna and body as far away from your radio receiver (RX) as possible, with the antenna protruding at right angles with your RX antenna, to reduce the possibility of interference. For example, if you have a model plane with the receiver mounted horizontally along the plane’s fuselage, mount the Seagull so that the antenna is protruding from the model vertically, as far forward of the RX antenna as possible. With a model car, the Seagull antenna can be mounted so that it extends out of the side or front of the car, away and at right angles from the RX antenna.

Connecting the Seagull Transmitter to your Data Recorder

Plug the Seagull Transmitter cable into the “Expansion” port on your Recorder, as shown in Figure 1. Ensure that the Recorder is not powered, and ensure that the red wire of the cable corresponds with the red dot on the port label (to the right of the connector).

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Seagull Dashboard Receiver Instructions

The Seagull Dashboard Receiver (the Dashboard) operates from a standard 9V battery. The battery installs in the back snap-off compartment of the Dashboard. Approximately 12-14 hours continuous use is typical with an alkaline battery. Rechargeable 9V batteries will work, but the run time will be significantly reduced.

Note: If the Dashboard will be unused for long periods, it is a good idea to remove the battery Note: When removing the battery clip, use your thumb to pop the clip off from the side without the wires. Pushing on the wire side can break the battery clip or the wires.

Refer to Figure 3, which illustrates the front of the Dashboard:

USB Connection: The USB cable supplied with your Recorder connects to the Dashboard at this port. Note that the RED wire of the USB cable goes up, as shown by the red dot above “USB” on the Dashboard label.

LCD Display: The 16 x 2 LCD character display is easily programmed to display up to four model parameters per screen page.

Pushbutton 1 (up arrow): The leftmost pushbutton advances to the next LCD screen page.

Pushbutton 2 (down arrow): This pushbutton returns to the previous LCD screen page

Pushbutton 3 (Disp/Reset Max): pressing this pushbutton briefly causes the Dashboard to toggle between Max and Live modes. In Max Mode, the parameters displayed have a carat (^) next to them to indicate they are the max parameters recorded. Note that some parameters are not captured in Max Mode – these are displayed with “***”. Figure 6 shows which parameters have the Max feature. In Live Mode, the data displayed are the live values received from the Transmitter.

Holding down this pushbutton for approximately two seconds zeros the Max parameters.

Pushbutton 4 (Mute/Power): When the unit is in operation, pressing this button mutes or unmutes the audio portion of the Dashboard, as well as turning off power. What happens when the mute button is pressed briefly depends on the state of the audio system:

• If the audio is unmuted, and no alarm beeps are in progress, pushing the button causes the Dashboard to go into “Mute All”

state. No beeps will be heard in this state.

Figure 3

• If the audio is in “Mute All” state, pushing the button causes the Dashboard to go into “Unmute” state. All

beeps will be heard in this state.

• If the audio is unmuted, and alarm beeps are in progress, the Dashboard will go into “Mute Current” state. This state mutes

only the currently sounding alarm to be muted. All other beeps will be heard, and the currently sounding alarm will be heard once the alarm condition occurs again.

When the Mute/Power button is held for approximately 2 seconds, the Dashboard is powered off. Note: Pressing any of the keys when the power is off powers up the Dashboard. Note: The Dashboard will power off after approximately 5 minutes when no signal is being received, and no buttons are pressed.

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Seagull Configuration Instructions

Setting Metric or English Units

Metric or English units are selected via the Windows Recorder Application (the App). The default setting is English units. To change this, Click “Tools, Choose What to Display” in the app, and click on “Display In Metric.” This causes both the App display and the Seagull LCD display to switch to metric.

NOTE: whenever you change this parameter, you must re-download data to the Seagull Dashboard, as described in “Seagull Dashboard Data Setup Utility Instructions” below.

Seagull Configuration Wizard

Ensure you have App version 2.0 or higher. Click “Help, About” in the App to determine what application revision you have. Upgrade your application from our support web page if you do not have the latest version.

To configure the Seagull system, plug the USB cable into your PC and the Data Recorder, and launch the App and select “Tools, Seagull Setup Wizard.” This wizard will guide you through the rest of the installation process. See the below instructions on configuring specific items in the Wizard:

Seagull Transmitter Type: Select either the FCC US Transmitter (red case) or the EU transmitter (gold case) depending on which system you have.

Seagull ID: The Wizard automatically generates an ID for your Seagull system, which you can change in the wizard. The Seagull ID uniquely attaches your Seagull Transmitter to your Dashboard. This attachment means that it is unlikely that other Seagull systems at your site will interfere with your system, and it also keeps your data private to some degree. Note that the Seagull system will not operate if the Seagull Transmitter and Dashboard are set to different ID’s.

Note: The Dashboard ID is displayed in Hexadecimal in the lower right-hand side of the LCD screen at Dashboard power up.

Set Beep on Seagull Keyboard Press: Check this wizard box if you want a short beep to sound on each press of the Dashboard buttons. Note that in this mode, selecting Mute All will silence these beeps.

Seagull Power Level (FCC transmitter only): The Seagull Transmitter supports operation at low (around 8-12 milliwatt) and high (around 200 milliwatt) power levels. Normally low power is good for indoor use, and high power may be required for outdoor use.

Warning: Always range check your model after changing power levels!

Connecting the Dashboard to USB: When the Wizard asks you to Connect the Seagull Dashboard, disconnect the Recorder from

the USB connection, and connect the Dashboard as described in the “Seagull Dashboard Receiver Instructions” section above. Note: Follow the Wizard instructions carefully – if the computer needs to reboot the first time the Dashboard is installed, do so and relaunch the Wizard after reboot.

After the Dashboard is successfully discovered by your PC, “USB Mode Active” should display on the LCD window. If this does not happen, see the Troubleshooting section below.

Launching the Dashboard Data Setup Utility: After the Dashboard is discovered by the PC, the Next button of the Wizard should ungray, and hitting Next take you to the final page of the Wizard. This page has a button to launch the Dashboard Data Setup Utility. See the below section on running this utility. Once the utility is successfully run, the Finish button of the Wizard will ungray.

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