RaceAmerica - Technical Support

TECHNICAL SUPPORT Troubleshooting Guides

Problem: 4520/4620 Wireless Data Comm Links no longer communicate.

The Wireless Data Comm Links located between the Timer or the PC and the Scoreboards or Printers do not work and no race results are displayed and/or no timeslips are printed.

Troubleshooting:
RED LED POWER INDICATOR
4520/4620 Wireless Data Comm Links have a red LED which illuminates when power is applied. The green and yellow LEDs should not be illuminated when at idle and no data is being transmitted or received. If the red LED is not illuminated, check the power source and ensure the ON/OFF switch, if present, is in the ON position. If nothing appears to be wrong with the power adapter and the red LED does not illuminate, the wireless unit should be sent to RaceAmerica for inspection and repair.

DIP SWITCHES
Power off the wireless unit before changing any DIP switch settings. Wireless units using red communication cables are RS422 and units using blue communication cables are RS232. Both models have DIP switches to configure their interface. On RS422 models, DIP switch 2 should be in the ON position and all other switches should be in the OFF position. On RS232 models, DIP switch 1 should be in the ON position and all other switches should be in the OFF position

TRANSMIT OPERATION
When data is sent from the Timer or PC to the wireless unit, the green LED will flicker on as data is received by the wireless unit through the communications cable. The wireless unit buffers the incoming data momentarily, then transmits the data through the wireless link and flickers off the red LED slightly as data is transmitted. Send data to the wireless unit and observe these LEDs. If the green LED does not flicker on, data is not getting to the wireless unit. Check the communication cable at both ends for proper seating in the connectors. If the green LED flickers but the red LED does not, the wireless unit should be sent to RaceAmerica for inspection and repair.

RECEIVE OPERATION
The transmitting wireless unit must be operating properly to troubleshoot the wireless unit receiving the data. When data is received by the wireless unit, the red LED will flicker off as data is received through the antenna. Received data is buffered momentarily, then send to the communication cable. When outgoing data exits the wireless unit, the yellow LED will flicker on as data is transmitted from the wireless unit to the Scoreboard or Printer. If the red LED does not flicker off or the yellow LED does not flicker on, the wireless unit should be sent to RaceAmerica for inspection and repair.

INTERNAL SCOREBOARD WIRELESS
Some scoreboards are equipped with internal wireless units. A small red LED illuminates when the scoreboard is powered on to indicate the wireless is also powered on. This red LED functions the same as the power LED on an external wireless unit. The red LED will flicker off when data is received by the wireless unit. If a second red LED is present on the scoreboard, this LED could be illuminated or blank when at idle. This red LED will flicker on if off or flicker off if on when data exits the wireless unit similar to the yellow LED on external wireless units.

WIRELESS WITH USB INTERFACES
Wireless units equipped with a standard USB cable connector will have three green LEDs positioned above each other in a line. LED operation is the same as described above with an added signal strength indicator. When data is received by the wireless, one to three green LEDs will illuminate to indicate the RF strength of the signal. 3 green LEDs indicates the strongest signal, 1 LED indicates the weakest signal. The LED will freeze for one second then turn off in sequence until another transmission is received.

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