Holatron RFLS-6HSXTX Operation & Maintenance Manual

OPERATION & MAINTENANCE GUIDE -

Variable

Channel High Speed

UHF Transmitter

HOLATRON SYSTEMS, LLC

833 ILANIWAI ST, STE. 2

Honolulu, HI 9681

3

[phone]

www.holatron.com

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WARNING

Holatron Systems specializes in the design and manufacture of s

tandard and custom electronic
control systems where reliability and error free data communication are critical. The transmitter
described in this manual is part of a system intended to remotely actuate pyrotechnic or other
hazardous devices, and the compon

ents of this system have been carefully designed to
minimize the possibility of accidental actuation of such devices. Holatron’s design goal is to
ensure that data communication errors due to radio interference or to insufficient signal strength
due to low

battery, exceeding specified range, or conductive objects in the signal path will result
in failure of intentional actuation rather than unintended actuation. Techniques used to achieve
this design goal are described in section 1.9. Though the probability

of unintended actuation is

extremely small, it cannot be guaranteed to be zero. Therefore,

it is important that the user
not enable the receiver until all persons who might be harmed by accidental actuation
are in a safe area

.

As a condition of purchase,

the user must acknowledge awareness and agreement that
utilization of this product and participation in activities utilizing fireworks, rockets, and explosives
is an ultra-hazardous activity carrying implied and explicit risks of injuries and damages to t

he
user and to other participants. The user assumes the risk connected with the utilization of this
product and all risks of participation in the activities for which this product is sold. User
acknowledges that he/she/it has the necessary and required sk

ill, expertise, training and
licensing, as may be applicable or necessary by custom, usage, trade or law, to engage and
participate in the ultra-hazardous activities connected with the use, purchase, transportation, or
employment of the products sold under

this agreement. User acknowledges that Holatron
Systems, LLC, has not and will not conduct any investigation into the skill, expertise, training
and licensing, as may be applicable or necessary by custom, usage, trade or law, of the user or
of user’s agen

ts, employees and assigns, to engage and participate in the ultra-hazardous
activities connected with the use, purchase, transportation, or employment of this product. User
specifically agrees that Holatron Systems, LLC, its officers, employees, and agents

shall not be
liable for any claim, demand, cause of action of any kind whatsoever for, or on account of death,
personal injury, property damage or loss of any kind resulting from or related to user’s or user’s
employees’, agents’ or assigns’ use of this p

roduct, and user agrees to indemnify, defend in any
action at law, and hold harmless Holatron Systems, LLC, from same, whether brought by the
user, user’s agent, or assigns, or any third party.

Usage of this transmitter is authorized under FCC Rules and R

egulations as listed in CFR

47

Ch.1 (10

-1-

96 Edition), p

art 15, subpart C, sections 15.209 and 15.231. This equipment has

been tested and assigned

FCC ID number: OI4RFLS1XT.

Any changes or modifications to the hardware not expressly approved by the

party

responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

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This manual is divided into two sections. The first is a description of the system hardware. The
second covers the recommended operating and maintenance proced

ure.

1.0

HARDWARE DESCRIPTION.

The model RFLS-6HSXTX variable channel high speed UHF Transmitter is a low power
hand-held remote control transmitter which can actuate up to 72 separate devices
connected to six RFLS-12HSRC receivers (12 cues, each),

or to

twelve RFLS-9HSRC or
RFLS-49HSRC receivers (6 cues, each), or to a combination thereof. Transmitted
commands actuate one of twelve possible output numbers and are transmitted over any
of six different digital channels. Each receiver contains a digital swit

ch which is used to

select the channel which will activate the receiver.

Six 12-shot receivers or six pairs of 6

-

shot receivers are typically set to six separate channels for this purpose

.

When first powered up, a transmitter is ready to transmit commands

on its “base
channel”. The “base channel” setting is fixed in software at time of manufacture and
cannot be changed. A label displaying the base channel setting is affixed to the top of
the transmitter next to its antenna. If no more than 12 cues are bein

g actuated per
transmitter, transmitters fixed to separate base channel numbers can transmit
simultaneously without interfering with each other. This permits up to six different
receivers or groups of receivers to be controlled by separate transmitters
sim

ultaneously. Each transmitter will only actuate receivers whose digital channel
switches are set to select the same channel number as the controlling transmitter. Thus,
multiple transmitters may be used to simultaneously control different selected receiver

s

even though all are operating on the same frequency. RFLS-6HS

XTX transmitters fixed
to the same base channel number should not be used simultaneously, as they will
interfere with each other and possibly result in failure-to-fire.

More than twelve separa

te cues can be actuated from a single RFLS-6HSXTX

transmitter in

semi-automatic (single-shot)

or

automatic (machine-gun)

mode by using

multiple digital channels. To actuate cues in

semi-automatic mode, press the “A” button

repeatedly, as described in secti

on 1.4. While armed, each button press fires the next

output in sequence, starting from output number 1

of the base channel

. After output 12 is
fired, the next press switches the transmitter to the next higher channel number and fires
output 1 on the recei

ver set to that channel. Firing continues through those 12 outputs,
after which the transmitter again switches to the next higher channel number, etc. After
output 12 is fired on channel 6, the transmitter switches to channel 1, and firing
continues from o

utput 1 on that channel. To actuate cues

in

automatic

mode

, p

ress the

“B” button

, and firing will continue until it is released.

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When used with RFLS-9HSRC, RFLS-9HSARC, RFLS-49HSRC, RFLS-49HSARC,
RFLS-912HSRC, or RFLS-912HSARC receivers, a range of ½ mil

e can be achieved. All
inscriptions on the transmitter panel are luminescent to facilitate use of the transmitter in
a dark environment. The panel will continue to glow for two to three hours after being
exposed to a bright light source. The transmitter’s

commands are digitally encoded and
amplitude modulated on a single carrier frequency of 418 MHz (or optionally 433.96
MHz). This frequency is controlled by a SAW (surface acoustic wave) device for
exceptional stability. No alignment or tuning procedures a

re ever required to maintain

optimum performance.

The modulated RF output occurs continuously while one of the
two transmit buttons is depressed. Resulting receiver output is continuous while the “A”
button command signal is being transmitted, and the receiver fires outputs in rapid-fire
mode at a rate selected by the FIRE RATE SELECTION SWITCH while the “B” button
command signal is being transmitted.

The command signal is transmitted by amplitude

modulating the carrier to indicate to the receiver

which cha

nnel and

which outputs

are

to

be actuated.
The user has access to the following components:

1.1

THE ANTENNA.

The RF signal is radiated by a quarter-wave flexible whip antenna which screws
onto the top end of the transmitter box.

The transmitter should never

be

operated without this antenna in place, as damage to the RF components
could result. Such operation will void the warranty.

Antennas with red rings are used for 433 MHz, and antennas with blue rings are
used for 418 MHz.

Be careful not to overtighten

the antenna when screwing it on,
as this could cause its mating connector to rotate and break its internal
connection. Rotation could also occur, with the same result, when subsequent
removal of an overtightened antenna is attempted. The recommended way to
install the antenna is to grasp it by its small diameter upper part and rotate gently
in a clockwise direction until increased resistance is felt. It need not be tight to
achieve a good electrical connection. When removing the antenna for storage,
observe

the base of the mating connector to ensure that it is not rotating. If the
antenna is so tight that rotation is occurring, grasp the hex base of the mating
connector with long nose pliers, and then unscrew the antenna.

1.2

THE SAFETY LOCKING SWITCH.

The Saf

ety Locking Switch is a miniature keylock with two positions, “Safe” and
“Xmtr Enabled”. In the “Safe” position no RF output occurs even if a button is
pressed. In the “Xmtr Enabled” position modulated RF output occurs
continuously while a button is presse

d. Whether transmitting or not, a

green
warning indicator near the switch flashes whenever the switch is in its “Enabled”
position and the battery voltage is above the low battery detect threshold.
Approximately 1 milliamp is drained continuously from the

battery while the
transmitter is enabled and not transmitting. So this switch should always be
turned to the “Safe” position while the transmitter is not being used. Keys are
interchangeable, as all Holatron RFLS-6HSXT and RFLS-6HSXTX

transmitters

are keye

d the same.

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Firing always commences at cue 1

of the transmitter’s base channel

after the

transmitter has first been enabled. Thus

the system

can be reset to cue 1

of the

base channel

at any time by turning this switch momentarily to “Safe” and then

back t

o “Transmitter Enabled”.

The system will be similarly reset if the
transmitter’s digital switch setting which selects automatic firing rate is changed
during operation.

1.3

THE “XMTR ENABLED” INDICATOR.

This

green

lamp, located at the “Enabled” position of t

he lockswitch, warns the
user that transmission will occur when a button is pressed, and that battery drain
is occurring. It also verifies that battery voltage is adequate to transmit a signal
over the specified range.

When the transmitter is turned on (transmitter enabled) with the keylock switch,
battery status is indicated by the flashing of this lamp. It is of sufficiently high
intensity to be visible in direct sunlight and will flash intermittently in bursts of
one, two, or three flashes at a time if

the battery has enough capacity to power
the transmitter. If no flashing occurs, the battery must be replaced before the
transmitter can be used reliably. Three flashes per burst indicate that the battery
has full capacity, two flashes indicate that its c

apacity is beginning to diminish,
and one flash indicates that it is near the end of its useful lifetime in which case it
should be replaced immediately after the current use. Adequate transmitter
output to achieve the specified range will occur as long as

the battery voltage is
above approximately 7.0 volts, but the battery voltage will drop rapidly at this
point.