OTS MK-7 BUDDY-LINE User Manual

Two-Diver Intercom

“Technology in Depth”

User Guide

MK-7 BUDDY-LINE

- NOTICE -

This manual and the information contained herein are provided for use as a
maintenance and operation guide. No license or rights to manufacture, produce,
and/or sell either the manual or articles described herein are given. Undersea
Systems International, Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems hereinafter referred

to as OTS, reserves the right to change specications without notice. It is

recommended that all users read and fully understand this manual before using
the MK-7 Buddy-Line.

All statements, technical information, and recommendations herein are based on

tests we believe to be reliable, but the accuracy or completeness thereof is not
guaranteed; and the following is made in lieu of all warranties, expressed or implied,
including the implied warranties of merchantability and tness for purpose: Seller’s
and Manufacturer’s only obligation shall be to replace such quantity of the product

proved to be defective. Before using, the user shall determine the suitability of the

product for intended use, and the user assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in
connection therewith. Neither Seller nor Manufacturer shall be liable either in tort
or in contract for any loss or damage—direct, incidental, or consequential—arising

from the use of or the inability to use the product. No statement or recommendation
not contained herein shall have any force or effect unless it is in an agreement

signed by ofcers of the Seller and Manufacturer.

- IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE -

(Please read before using product.)

It is absolutely essential that all divers are properly trained and equipped and
fully understand this user’s manual before attempting to use the Aquacom®
MK-7 Buddy-Line.

While the Aquacom® MK-7 Buddy-Line provides divers good underwater
communications, it does not change or eliminate the potential hazards of diving!

© Copyright 2014 by Undersea Systems International, Inc. dba

Ocean Technology Systems. All rights reserved.

Specications are subject to change without prior notice.

P/N 506018-002 A

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Refer to the Library page of our Web site, www.otscomm.com, for a list of

any changes made to this manual since its publication.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Title Page

1 Introduction ........................................................................................1

2 Specications .....................................................................................2

3 Functions & Features .........................................................................3

3.1 Functions .................................................................................3

3.2 Features ...................................................................................4

4 Operation ...........................................................................................6

4.1 Setup for the Tender ................................................................6

4.2 Setup for the Diver(s) ..............................................................6

5 Batteries ...........................................................................................10

6 Troubleshooting ...............................................................................11

7 Maintenance .....................................................................................12

8 Helpful Hints ...................................................................................13

Warranty Information .......................................................................................14

Important Safety Notes .............................................................. i, 3–4, 8, 12, 13

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SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations! You have just purchased the nest, state-of-the-art hard-wire
intercom in the world. Your new MK-7 Buddy-Line two-diver air intercom

represents state-of-the-art technology and innovation—the choice of discriminating

divers throughout the world. Please take the time to read this user guide. With proper
care and use, your OTS product will provide you with the ultimate in high-quality

communications and reliability.

The MK-7 Buddy-Line is a compact, self-contained two-diver air intercom providing
clear communications between the operator and diver(s). The MK-7 Buddy-Line
offers four-wire (round-robin or open-microphone) type communications.

This manual will cover specifications, operating instructions, four-wire
communications, batteries, helpful hints, and warranty information.

These guidelines and illustrations are presented to assist you. If you need additional

information, do not hesitate to confer with your local OTS dealer or representative.
If you require service, contact us:

Undersea Systems International, Inc., dba

Ocean Technology Systems

3133 W. Harvard Street, Santa Ana, California, 92704 USA

Toll-Free: [phone] • Tel.: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

World Wide Web: http://www.otscomm.com

SECTION 2

SPECIFICATIONS

Input Voltage: 12 VDC

Input Current: 600 mA peak

Idle Current: 30 mA

Frequency Response: 600 Hz to 10 kHz

Microphone Type: Dynamic

Power Output: 2 watts RMS

Battery Type: Eight AA alkaline batteries

Battery Life: 12 hours (normal use) using eight AA alkaline batteries

Housing: Injection-molded, high-impact plastic

Size: Height: 6.750 inches from bottom to top of connector
Width: 4.250 inches from latch to latch
Depth: 2.750 inches from front knob to rear buckle

Weight: 1.0 pounds, without batteries

ComCable/ComRope: Up to 1200 feet

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SECTION 3

FUNCTIONS & FEATURES

3.1 FUNCTIONS

The MK-7 Buddy-Line hard-wire system utilizes the “four-wire” approach. It is a
closed loop comparable to a telephone system. A typical hard-wire system consists
of a surface intercom, a headset with a boom microphone, a ComRope (set up for
four wires, shielded or true spiral four), a diver microphone-earphone assembly,
a mask microphone, and some sort of diving mask with accommodations for a
microphone. The Interspiro Divator MKII “AGA” full-face mask (FFM) is what
most professionals prefer, according to our statistics. A hard-wire system requires
a physical connection (i.e., umbilical/ComRope) between the listener and talker.

The signal travels over the communication ComRope.

Most hard-wire intercoms can be congured for either two- or four-wire operations.
Four-wire communications is dened as a duplex communication route. Two wires
provide the uplink signal path, and two additional wires provide the downlink path.

Thus everyone can be online simultaneously (similarly to a telephone conference

call). Since the diver is never cut off the diver while talking, as is the case with
a two-wire system, the four-wire system is the safer of the two congurations.
Due to the increased efciency achieved with a four-wire system (duplex) and its
simplicity of use, the MK-7 is designed for four-wire operation only.

The standard MK-7 conguration functions as follows: After the system is powered
up and all connections are properly made, the tender’s speech is picked up by the
boom microphone located on the headset. The voice is amplied by the upper

electronics module and routed through the ComRope. Connected to the ComRope at

the diver’s end is the earphone-microphone assembly (typically an EM-OTS-2 for
the new Guardian FFM or EMA-2 for the Interspiro FFM). The tender’s speech is

reproduced by the earphone part of the assembly. When the diver speaks, his voice
is picked up by the mask microphone located inside the mask being used. The voice

is routed through the ComRope, received by the upper electronic module, amplied,
and then routed to the tender’s headset. If a second diver is on-line, he will hear and
talk as well in the same manner. The volume of the tender and diver(s) is controlled

by separate volume controls on the outside of the upper electronics module.

- IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTES -

It is extremely important that the divers are dressed out in a manner that will
strain-relieve the ComRope. Commercial dive schools typically instruct students
to have the ComRope tethered to the diver’s harness or buoyancy compensator
with a quick release. If someone pulls on the ComRope and the diver loses control
of the ComRope, the pull is on the harness, not on the diver’s mask. This setup
prevents accidental removal of the diver’s mask.

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