Astera ARC2 User manual

USER MANUAL
Radio Frequency
Remote Controller
(ARC2)
Manual Version: 3.2.2
Release Date: July. 23rd.2 1
Astera LED Technology GmbH
Address : Nahestrasse 6 -70, 55593 Rüdesheim an der Nahe, Germany Tel.: [phone] Email: [email protected]

Table of Contents Chapter 1
1 Table of Contents
1 Table of Contents..............................................................................................................................2
2 Safety..................................................................................................................................................3
3 Getting Started...................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Overview......................................................................................................................................4
3.2 LCD Display.................................................................................................................................4
3.3 Introduction..................................................................................................................................
3.4 Navigation....................................................................................................................................
3. Power Button...............................................................................................................................
3.6 Micro SD card..............................................................................................................................6
3.7 Batteries.......................................................................................................................................6
4 Preset Programs (MEMOR 1-4)......................................................................................................7
4.1 Tap-sync......................................................................................................................................7
5 Editor..................................................................................................................................................8
.1 Using the Editor...........................................................................................................................8
.2 Colors..........................................................................................................................................8
.3 Programs of the Editor.................................................................................................................8
.4 Adjustments.................................................................................................................................9
. Advanced Adjustments................................................................................................................9
6 Targeting Lamps..............................................................................................................................11
7 Setup.................................................................................................................................................12
8 Technical Data.................................................................................................................................15
9 Troubleshooting..............................................................................................................................16
10 Appendix.........................................................................................................................................17
10.1 Color Index..............................................................................................................................17
10.2 Customizable Programs...........................................................................................................18
10.3 Color Chaser for Random Modes............................................................................................19
10.4 DMX table for Effect Mode.......................................................................................................20
10. Firmware Updating Process ....................................................................................................21
11 Disposal..........................................................................................................................................23
2

2 Safety
Before you operate the unit, read this manual carefully.
Make sure to keep the manual, in case you need to consult
this manual again or you give the unit to another person.
Always make sure to include this manual if you hand out the
unit to another person.
Do not operate the unit in areas where the usage of radio fre-
quency or mobile phones is prohibited, like for example in
airplanes, or when it may cause interference or danger.
Only qualified personnel may repair this product.
Don't open the case.
This device conforms to CE -or- FCC regulations, see type la-
bel!
It radiates in the 868 MHz or 915 Mhz bands. (See “Error:
Reference source not found“, page Error: Reference source
not found for details.
Always make sure, that your national regulations allow the
use of this device!
Only insert Alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries do not
have enough voltage to power the ARC2 remote control.
Keep batteries away from children. In case of a choking haz-
ard go to the doctor immediately.
Make sure contacts are clean before you insert batteries.
Watch the polarity.
Don't try to recharge batteries.
MAKE SURE TO FULLY CHARGE ALL BATTERY-POWERED AS-
TERA LAMPS WHEN STORING THEM.
PARTIALLY CHARGED BATTERIES WILL LOOSE CAPACITY
3

Getting Started Chapter 3
3 Getting Started
3.1 Overview
3.2 LCD Display
Definition of symbols:
(1) - Receiving
(3) - Transmitting
(4) - Inside Editor mode
(5) - Synchronization between units is active
( ) - Battery status
4
Antenna
Switch LEDs on/off
Adjust speed
Display user colors
Adjust fade time
back one level
in top level: adjust bpm
Navigate through menu,
adjust values
Choose program
Choose user colors
LCD Display
Choose groups
Update all devices in se-
lected groups with cur-
rent settings.
Home button: return to top level
Adjust brightness
Save/send value
Launch MEMORY
programs 1- ,

3.3 I ntroduction
Astera ARC2 radio frequency remote control is being used to control Astera's wireless lamps,
wireless controllers and wireless DMX transmitters. The system offers several sets of pre-
defined programs that can be quickly launched.
For advanced applications the programs can be customized over the Editor (see Chapter 5).
The replaying colors can be defined to fit a theme or corporate identity. These colors can be
used in programs which can be adjusted on speed, brightness and fading effects.
It is also possible, to address, group and synchronize several units and to stretch programs
over several lamps. For example the RAINBOW effect can be stretched over two or more
units displaying the full rainbow spectrum at the same time.
3.4 Navigation
Navigation through the system is done with the top 4 buttons
of the remote control. Enter confirms a value, + and – button
choose a value and Back moves up 1 level in the navigation.
The top level of the navigation contains the 3 sets of pre-defined memory programs
(MEMORY 1 – MEMORY 3) as well as an area to store own programs (MEMORY 4) and the
SETUP. The + and – buttons are used to navigate between them and Enter offers deeper
editing of the MEMORY programs and the setup.
From any point in the navigation, the home button can be pressed to return to the
top level of the navigation. This is especially useful when an inexperienced user
gets lost in advanced settings and is afraid he will alter important settings.
3.5 Power Button
Power Mode: LIGHT ON: Returns from BLACKOUT to normal operation.
Power Mode: BLACKOUT: Switches all targeted lamps off and keeps them in
standby, power is reduced.

Getting Started Chapter 3
3.6 Micro SD card
For special functions like saving programs and firmware update a micro SD card can be in-
serted into the ARC2.
3.7 Batteries
In many countries, the ARC2 ships without batteries due to safety regulations. If this is the
case for you, please buy 2 Alkaline AA batteries and insert them in the correct positioning
with + and – positioned correctly.
When closing the battery compartment push each corner until the compartment cover sits in
the right position. Then close the slider to fix the battery compartment closed.
6

Preset Programs (MEMORY 1-4) Chapter 4
4 Preset Programs (MEMORY 1-4)
For quickly changing the mood of a lamp or setup of lamps, the 24 pre-programed MEMORY
programs can be quickly launched and optionally be customized (see Chapter 5).
To start a MEMORY program, click one of the white buttons while in one of the 3
pre-programed MEMORY tabs on the top level of the ARC2's navigation.
If you not sure in which level you are, press the home button to reach the top level.
In addition to the 3 pre-programmed tabs (MEMORY 1-3) the MEMORY 4 tab provides room
for own creations that can be launched with the white buttons when inside this set.
MEMORY 1 decorative: This set is suited for basic events, presentations, background
lighting and a a general decorative mood. Also, this is the set
where the home-button leads to.
MEMORY 2 party slow: This set has pre-programed color transitions for dinner parties,
early hours of disco-nights etc.
MEMORY 3 party heavy: This set has fast and strong color effects, strobe-effects and
rapid changes between colors. It is suited for dancing events
and to hightlight special parts of a show.
MEMORY 4 user define: This set is not pre-programed by Astera. Chapter 5 will discuss
how its keys can be programmed with customized colors and
effects. It can be used by event-preparing companies to
prepare special programs for their customers or for quickly l
aunching them during their events.
4.1 Tap-sync
Tap-sync can be used to adjust the speed of the transitions of MEMORY 1-3 pro-
grams and programs defined by the user. It can be used to synchronize the
lamps' speed to music that is played but also to the mood of an event.
To tap-sync, while in the top level of the navigation press the tap-sync button twice
in the rhythm you want to synchronize the lamps. If you not sure in which level you
are, press the home button, then press tab-sync twice.
Tap-sync does not affect all types of programs. Only if they use a random color
chaser, tap-sync has an effect.
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Editor Chapter 5
5 Editor
5.1 Using the Editor
The Editor is an advanced function that lets you customize the 3 sets of preset MEMORY
programs (decorative, party slow, party heavy). In addition you can save your own
programs onto MEMORY 4 user define if you want to keep the original programs in MEMORY
1-3.
To enter the editor, while in the top level of the navigation in any of the 4 MEMORY
sets, press and hold one of the white button for 2 seconds. Alternatively, when in
the top level navigation choose any of the white buttons, and press press enter to
edit the button's Memory.
5.2 Colors
You can customizing the pre-defined programs with up to 4 colors (C1-C4). All predefined
programs, except RAINBOW take the displayed colors from a four color palette. This palette
can be defined by selecting the colors C1, C2, C3 and C4 and is shown at the top of the re-
mote control when editing the colors. For example, if PROGRAM is set to SIMPLE RUN-
NING, background color will be C1, and the color of the running pixel will be C2.
There are 3 kinds of colors available for that:
Standard Colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, magenta, pink, white warm,
color warm, black can be quickly chosen
Index Colors: 256 standard index colors can be chosen when selecting INDEX
COLORS. The colors are listed in Appendix B
User Colors: If this is not enough choose USER COLORS. Here, you can mix colors
out of the 3 color channels (red, blue, green)
To change colors, enter the Editor, then click any of the C1 – C4 buttons to change
their color. Leave the Editor or click the home button to save their value.
5.3 Programs of the Editor
In addition to colors, there are 20 customizable programs that can be selected when in the
Editor. The programs of the Editor use the colors defined in 5.2 to display static or moving
structures. These structures are formed out of several pixels and can stretch over several
lamps as well. A list of the 20 programs can be found in the appendix.
Note: It is also possible to let the random chaser choose colors for the programs. To use
this feature, see Chapter Appendix 10.3. Every time the Programs setting is changed, ran-
dom color chaser will be switched off!
8

Note: programs are best displayed on a multi-pixel lightsource (e.g. the AL6 series) or
stretched over a group of lamps. If used with a one-pixel lightsource (e.g. AL3-M) only one
color will be shown at a time.
Note: Not all programs use all 4 colors (C1-C4). For example the program called TWO COL-
OR STATIC uses only 2 colors so half of the pixels will be in C1 and the other half in C2.
5.4 Adjustments
The programs you have chosen can be further adjusted in fade, speed and brightness.
To adjust fade, speed and brightness, enter the Editor, then click fade, speed or the
brightness button to change their values. Leave the Editor or click the home button to
save their value.
Fade: Sets fading transitions between steps of the program in amount of the step-
time. If set to 0%, there will be no fading at all, the color will be switched at
once. If set to 100%, the color change will go smoothly from one to the other
color. Any value in between will be a mix of these two settings.
Speed: Changes the speed of the program. A time between 0,09 seconds and 9
minutes and 21 seconds can be set. This time reflects the duration of the
selected program.
Note: With the change of speed you might get the units out of sync. In order to
re-sync press the Send key or change the program (Chapter 4.1)
Brightness:You can select the Brightness Intensity or the Power Scheme of the lamp.
Both are strongly effecting the battery runtime of the lamps. Choose
INTENSITY to change the brightness of the LEDs between 0% and 100% in
intervals of 10%. Choose Power Scheme to adjust the overall power scheme of
the lamp between HIGH-BRIGHTNESS, NORMAL and MAXIMISE RUNTIME.
Attention: Battery runtime of all the Astera lamps is stated for the Normal power
scheme. Altering the power scheme will lead to different battery runtime.
5.5 Advanced Adjustments
In addition it is possible to adjust a range of parameters if the three basic adjustments are
not enough.
To change additional adjustments of colors and programs enter the Editor then press
the plus and minus buttons choose the setting you want to change and confirm with
Enter.
9

Editor Chapter 5
Stobe Speed: Adjust frequency and confirm with Enter.
Program Direction: Choose between forward (left to right), backward (right to left) and
if you want to run the effect only once or repeat it in a loop.
Program Parameter: Changes parameters depending on the program currently running.
Blower Speed: Changes the power of the blower.
Use Random Colors: When switched to YES it starts the random color chaser which
places random colors on the 4 user color channels(C1 – C4).
Each time tap-sync is pressed the 4 user colors will change.
Random Mode: Features a range of different chaser modes.
(overview in Appendix 10.3).
Random Fade: Fading time of the random chaser.
10