TBox-Radio User manual
switches
Jack Inputs
(TBox
-4x only)
TBOX-RADIO
1. Appearance
2 x Photocells
Ext GPS antenna
2 manual input
Power Status
4 Group / ID
LEDs
Radio
Config button
Sync Jack
The TBox-Radio is a compact and well equipped timing console. It accepts wired and wireless
peripherals like photocells or other starting devices.
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
2. Power ON/OFF
The ON/OFF switch has 3 functions:
1) Switch ON / OFF the TBox
a) Press briefly the ON/OFF button (0.5s – 1.5s) until the battery status is indicated on the
Input’s LED’s 1-4.
b) Release the ON/OFF button and repress it within 1 second, and hold down until the 4
inputs LEDs are ON, and the audible beep signal is emitted (provided that the buzzer is
not deactivated).
2) Battery status
Press and hold the ON/OFF button
The Inputs LEDs (1 – 4) will illuminate to indicate the battery charge status
4 LEDs ON green: 75-100 %
3 LEDs ON green: 50-75%
2 LEDs ON green: 25-50%
1 LED ON green: 10-25%
1 LED ON red : < 10% (Will work only with external power plugged)
3) Reactivate Bluetooth advertising
Power Status LED
TBox On/Off USB Battery
Yellow ON OFF connected Battery Charging
Green ON OFF connected 100% charged
Yellow blinking ON connected Battery Charging
Green blinking ON connected 100% Charged
Green blinking ON disconnected > 25%
Red blinking ON disconnected Low battery
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
3. Timing Inputs
The TBox-Radio model offers 2 hardware inputs and 4 wireless Radio-Inputs
Manual Push Buttons (inputs 1 & 2)
Jack-Mono inputs (inputs 1 & 2)
Working contact without potential (short-circuit)
Wireless inputs for WIRC / WINP (inputs A - D)
Each press of a manual push button, short-circuits on the Inputs or radio impulse are stored in
the TBox-Radio memory, with associated date and time of impulse as CSV files.
The user has the ability to configure a locking time using the “TBox-Setup” App. This facility
allows the blocking of undesired impulses corresponding to the channel configured.
E.g. – To ignore multiple impulses from dirt or snow dust
4. Wireless configuration
The TBox-Radio is configured and linked to WIRC photocells using two Parameters:
Group (radio frequency)
Input (TBox-Radio inputs A-D)
NOTE: TBox-Radio and WIRC photocells must be configured with an identical Group setting
4.1. Groups (Radio Frequencies) - EU / INDIA
6 Groups are available.
Group A, B, C, D:
Wireless Transmission Distance: up to 2000m (clear line of sight)
Each group uses ¼ of the full frequency band
Min locking time of 200ms
Group E, F:
Wireless Transmission Distance: up to 5000m (clear line of sight)
Each group uses the full frequency band
Those groups limit the use of 2 WIRC only
Min locking time is longer: 500ms
OFF:
The radio transmission function is disabled. This mode is selected to save power when
you prefer to connect TBox-Radio to photocells using a hard-wired solution rather than
wireless.
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
4.2. Groups (Radio Frequencies) - North America
8 Groups are available
Group A, B, C, D:
Wireless Transmission Distance: up to 4000m (clear line of sight)
Min locking time of 200ms
Group E, F, G, H:
Wireless Transmission Distance: up to 6000m (clear line of sight)
Those groups limit the use of 2 WINP/WIRC only,
Min locking time is longer: 500ms
OFF:
The radio transmission function is disabled. This mode is selected to save power when
you prefer to connect TBox-Radio to photocells using a hard-wired solution rather than
wireless.
To configure your desired Group, press the Setup button
The current Group selected is indicated by the (LED array A, B, C & D)
Release and press the number of times you want to change the setting.
Group LED A LED B LED C LED D
A GREEN
B GREEN GREEN
C GREEN GREEN GREEN
D GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN
E YELLOW
F YELLOW YELLOW
G (*) YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW
H (*) YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW
OFF RED RED RED RED
(*) only available for North America
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
4.3 TBox-Radio Input (WINP/WIRC Pairing)
Each WINP/WIRC has a unique ID (serial number) that can be paired with a TBox-Radio input
(A-D).
Pairing can be performed on a TBox using the “TBox-Setup” application (no need to power
ON WIRC/WINP). Pairing can also be performed manually without any application. In this
case, both TBox-Radio and WINP/WIRC have to be powered and the following procedure
executed.
1) On the TBox-Radio, enter the pairing mode by pressing the Setup button for 3 sec
until a long beep sounds and LED A flash yellow.
2) Select then the desired input (A, B, C or D) by performing short press on the same
button.
3) Finally enter the pairing mode on the WINP/WIRC by pressing the Setup button for
3 second.
When pairing is completed, LEDs A to D of the TBox flash yellow and both TBox and
WINP/WIRC resume normal operation.
To exit manually the pairing mode on either TBox or WINP/WIRC, just press the Setup button
for 3 second until a long beep sound.
NOTE: Each TBox-Radio radio input (A to D) must be configured with a different
WINP/WIRC ID to avoid data conflict.
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
5. Radio communication
Every time an impulse is received from a WINP/WIRC, the corresponding input LED flash on the
TBox. The TBox-Radio immediately send back an acknowledge.
WIRC/WINP radio protocol will resend any message several times if no ACK is received form the
TBox-Radio (up to 8 times).
Radio transmissions cannot be 100% guaranteed. An unfavourable environment, lack of line
of sight, interference or an improper installation might lead to the loss of data.
FDS cannot be held responsible for any of the above.
6. Time delay and precision
In case of a good radio communication with no interferences, the time delay from the IR beam
detection to the generation of a time event by the TBox-Radio will vary from 10ms to 150ms
depending of the selected Group. In case of interferences this delay might reach a few seconds.
However, whatever the delay value, the TBox-Radio takes it into account and generate a
corrected time event with a precision of less than 1ms.
7. Mini-USB
The Mini-USB connector has various functions including:
External power supply and battery charging
COM port emulation for RS232 communication and data transfer
- Real time of day in many formats (FDS, TAG Heuer, Alge, Seiko)
- Configure the TBox-Radio options and parameters (with the app “TBox-Setup”)
2GB USB Flash Drive
- All impulse data are stored in a .csv file on the drive
A new file is created every time the TBox-Radio is swiched ON
- User needs to maintain sufficient memory availability to ensure storage of data
- The space required for a competition of 1000 times is approximately 40 Kbytes
- Flash Drive access is only possible when the TBox-Radio is turned OFF
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
8. RS232
Jack-Stereo connection 3.5mm.
In conjunction with the TBox-Setup, the protocol output can be configured by the user.
FDS / TAG Heuer / Alge / Seiko Time of day protocol
Serial printer
Display Output (TAG Heuer / Alge Protocol)
1: TBox TXD
2: TBox RXD
3: GND
9. In/Out Synchro
Jack-4pin connection 2.5mm.
Allows to synchronize the TBox with other timing systems
1: TBox +3.3V
2: TBox Sync In
3: TBox Sync Out
4: GND
TBox Sync In:
Internal resistor to Vcc: 10 kOhm
Active state: Tie to Gnd, Sink current 0.3mA
Inactive state: Leave unconnected
TBox Sync Out:
Min ext resistor to Vcc: 1 kOhm
Max Vcc: 5V
Active state: Tied to Gnd (1ms)
Inactive state: Open circuit
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
10. Synchronization
There are four different methods to synchronize the TBox-Radio.
After power up, all 4 inputs LEDs will flash yellow as long as the TBox-Radio is not synchronized.
a) Sync at Zero.
This is the default synchro method. Once the TBox-Radio is switched ON, the first
impulse will sync the internal time at Zero
b) GPS Sync
To start the GPS Sync, ensure TBox-Radio is powered off, hold down the button “Input 1”
whilst powering ON the TBox-Radio
The sync will commence once the TBox-Radio receives sufficient GPS data
Once synchronized, the internal clock drift is constantly compensated by GPS signals (as
long as GPS coverage is maintain)
c) External.
Not yet implemented.
d) Sync via app
All synchro methods presented above can be controlled manually or automatically by
our Timing Applications
It is also possible to synchronize the TBox to a user define time of day, using one of the 2
inputs
11. Bluetooth
A Bluetooth connection can be established with compatible FDS timing or setup Apps.
After power up, the TBox advertises its presence for 2 minutes. During this period the box can be
detected and connected by the user App. To re-establish detection after the 2 minute period
simply momentarily press the power button to reactivate the Bluetooth advertising process.
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
12. How to update the TBox-Radio Firmware
Update the firmware is an easy task. No software is required.
a) Copy and paste the “.bin” file to the USB Flash Drive root directory of the TBox.
Note that you should have only ONE firmware file on the drive. If you want to save the
previous “.bin” files, create a sub-directory.
b) Ensure that you have no file called “UPDATLOG.txt” on the Flash Drive. If so delete the it.
c) Disconnect your TBox from your PC.
d) Ensure that the TBox is OFF, then press the ON/OFF button.
The 4 Inputs LED’s will switch Yellow then Green to indicate that the firmware updated
successfully.
e) A file “UPDATLOG.txt” is created on the Drive to confirm that the new firmware is installed.
f) Once the operation completed, it is advised to remove the “.bin” file from the root
directory.
13. Technical specifications
Radio Power 100 mW
Frequencies : Europe
India
North America
Ext inputs precision: 1/100’000 sec
Radio impulsion precision: 1/1000 sec
Operating temperature: -20°C to 50°C
Time drift: 1ppm @ 20°C; max 2.5ppm from -20°C to 70°C
External power input: USB compatible (5V +/- 10%) up to 1A
Battery: LiPo 2200mAh
Autonomy: 140 hours (GPS and Radio inactive)
Bluetooth module: BLE-4.1
869.4 - 869.65 MHz
865 - 867 MHz
920 - 924 MHz
70 hours (Radio active and GPS inactive)
45 hours (Radio and GPS active)
Dimension: 124x86x31mm
Weight: 180gr
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
TBox-Radio User manual
14. Copyright and Declaration
This manual has been compiled with great care and the information it contains has been
thoroughly verified. The text was correct at the time of printing, however the content can
change without notice. FDS accepts no liability for damage resulting directly or indirectly from
faults, incompleteness or discrepancies between this manual and the product described.
The sale of products, services of goods governed under this publication are covered by FDS’s
standard Terms and Conditions of Sales and this product publication is provided solely for
informational purposes. This publication is to be used for the standard model of the product of
the type given above.
Trademarks: All hardware and software product names used in this document are likely to be
registered trademarks and must be treated accordingly.
Contact:
FDS-TIMING Sàrl
Rue des Philosophe 63
1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
Switzerland
www.fdstiming.com
February 2019 - Version EN 2.1
www.fdstiming.com
Loading...