FarmTek Signature Gear Flyball User manual
Signature Gear Flyball Electronic Judging System
Unpacking and assembly instructions
Required components:
@@ADD DETAILED CONTENT DESCRIPTIONS FOR EACH CASE
□Qty 2 Black cases with one handle and two twist latches. These cases hold the
large displays.
□Qty 2 Black case with tandem handles and three twist latches. This case holds
the uprights, main timing unit, wireless large display receivers and light tree
assembly and charger.
□Qty 2 Nylon tripod cases. These two cases hold a total of three tripods – one for
each large display and one for the trees.
□Qty 1 Nylon upright base bag. This bag holds the metal bases for the uprights
that will be placed at the start finish line.
□Qty 1 Nylon audio bag. This case holds the amplifier/speaker and cable for the
audio function of the EJS.
You will also need:
□40 AA batteries for a weekend and one 9-volt battery. Do not use rechargeable
batteries as they will not reliably operate the EJS components due to slight
voltage differences.
□Three extension cords – one for each large display and one for the audio system
at the timer table.
□Surge protection is required for each large display as well as the audio unit at the
timer table if the system is to be used outdoors and/or connected to a generator.
Surge protection is recommended in all other circumstances.
Step 1 – Inventory what you have received
□Remove a copy of the EJS evaluation form from one of the longer black cases. If none
are present, one can be printed from the web by going to
http://nafadb.flyball.org/ejseval.htm (form not yet ready - present soon). Check that you
have received all the cases listed here and that the set designations on the cases all match
(all the cases you have belong to the same set). Open each case and verify that the
components in each case also match the set designation. Note any discrepancies on the
damaged items.
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Step 2 – Assemble large displays
□Remove the three tripods from the tripod cases. Extend the legs on each to form a sturdy
tripod and gently tighten the thumbscrew to secure the legs. Do not raise the tripods
above their collapsed heights until assembly is complete and they have been moved to
their final location for your event.
□Loosen the top thumbscrew on each tripod enough to slide the crossbar assembly into the
opening. Gently tighten the thumbscrew to snug the crossbar assembly onto the tripod.
Two of the cross bar assemblies will have silver standoffs on the end and the other will
have two upright studs. Set the tripod with the upright studs aside to be used as part of the
tree assembly.
□Open a large display case (one handle – two twist lock latches). Before removing the
large display, open the silver links hanging from each end of the tripod crossbar by
twisting the fitting to create an opening in each link. Remove the large display and hang
it from the two links. Ensure that the Plexiglas side of the display is facing away from the
tripod. Close the two links by twisting the fittings. Turn the large display until it is
hanging directly above one of the tripod legs (for improved stability). The power cord
should be hanging freely from the display.
□Repeat the above procedure for the second display. Set the displays aside as one more
component will be added to each display in the next step.
Step 3 – Assemble uprights and tree
□Open the upright base bag and remove the four metal bases. Separate the bases into two
sets with each set containing one single pole base and one double pole base. Ensure that
each base has a plastic foot on each of its legs. If a plastic foot is missing look in the base
bag as they can be dislodged during shipment.
□Open an upright case (tandem handles – three twist lock latches). Remove two white poles
with green caps and one white pole with a black cap. Leave the one spare pole (may have
a green cap and “spare” marking or black cap) in the case. Remove a battery holder from
the case and install 6 AA batteries into the holder as shown on the holder. The negative
end of each cell (with no button) always goes toward the spring in the connector. Repeat
until three holders have been loaded with batteries.
□Unscrew the dark grey cap from the bottom end of each white pole and insert a battery
holder into each pole. To orient the battery holder, find the green dot on the pole and
align it with the green dot on the battery holder. The battery holder goes into the pole
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green dot end first. Screw the grey cap back onto the pole but do not overtighten. Ensure
proper operation by rotating the black ring on the pole to the on position. Observe that the
LED at the top of the pole lights and then return the switch to the off position. Repeat for
the two other poles.
□Place the pole with the black cap into the single upright base (you may need to loosen the
wing nut in the base to allow the pole to slide completely in). Ensure that the alignment
stud has seated into the slot in the base and that the pole is fully inserted in the base.
Insert the green capped poles into the double base. For the left lane (poles marked LP and
LS), LS should be to the left of LP when facing the lenses on the front of the poles. For
the right lane (poles marked RP and RS), RS should be to the right of RP when facing the
lenses. @@DIAGRAM HERE
□Gently snug the wingnut to secure each pole. Do not overtighten the wingnuts as damage
to the poles can occur. Once both poles have been placed in the double base, remove a
green alignment connector from the case and snap it into the slot near the top of each
green pole. The alignment connector should be on the opposite side of the pole from the
lenses and should hold the poles parallel to one another. The poles can be gently twisted
once the alignment connector is in place to ensure they are parallel.
□Remove the light tree assembly from the case by grasping the U-shaped portion of the
black shroud. Do not handle the tree by the thin shroud and do not stand the light tree on
end. The light tree should be laid down at any time it is not in the case or mounted on the
tripod.
□Place the U-shaped portion of the shroud over the stud in the crossbar of the tree tripod
and secure with a wingnut. Ensure that the labels on both trees face the same direction.
Ensure that when facing the trees such that the labels are visible, the middle switch on the
bottom of the tree is set correctly (left tree is left lane and right tree is right lane). The tree
can be tested by depressing the power switch. The tree should cycle through each of its
lights and then go dark. Depress the power switch again to turn the tree off. Remove the
charger from the case. The charger should be used each evening to recharge the internal
batteries in each tree. The charger plugs into the jack on the bottom face of the tree. Each
tree can be charged for up to 15 hours – do not overcharge by leaving plugged in for
extended times. The trees will also operate with the chargers plugged in in case the
batteries were not recharged. Place the chargers back in the cases when not being used to
avoid their being misplaced.
□Remove the large display receiver from the case. Attach it to the crossbar of one of the
large display tripods using the thumbscrew on the crossbar. Attach the connector at the
end of the wire to the db-9 connector located at the end of the large display. Note the lane
designation on the receiver as this will determine which large display will support each
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lane. You may wish to move the large display to the appropriate lane at this time to avoid
later confusion.
□Remove the timing console from the case (only present in one of the two upright cases);
install four AA batteries as shown in compartment (battery cover slides off bottom).
Ensure proper operation by switching it on, watch for the startup message on the display
and then turn off again. Place the timing console on the timers table.
□Remove the judges handswitch from the case (only present in one of the two upright
cases) and install one 9v battery as sown in compartment (battery cover slides off – may
be partially obstructed by the belt clip). Ensure proper operation by pressing the power
switch and watching for the red LED next to the switch. Press the power switch again to
turn it off. Hang the judge’s switch by its lanyard from a thumbscrew on the tripod for the
tree.
□Repeat entire procedure for the other lane with the remaining black case.
Step 4 – Audio setup
□Remove the speaker/amplifier and place it on the timing table. Connect the
speaker/amplifier to the timing console using the supplied cable. The cable should go in
“Line 1” on the speaker/amplifier @@INSERT COLOR HERE and “audio” on the timing
console. Plug in the speaker/amplifier and turn on with the rocker switch located on the
back panel. The volume can be adjusted by turning on the timing console, waiting for the
startup to complete and then pressing the “horn” button. The sound should be audible to
the judge but not loud enough to startle a dog. You may wish to point the
speaker/amplifier at the approximate position where the judge stands during a heat in
progress.
Step 5 – Place the system in the ring
□Place the base with the two left poles to the left of the left lane. The poles should be 6-12
inches from the edge of the racing lane mat or approximately 3 feet from the center of the
lane (when no mat is present). Place the base with the two right poles to the right of the
right lane – again the poles should be 6-12 inches from the edge of the racing lane mat or
approximately 3 feet from the center of the lane (when no mat is present). The lenses in
the LS pole should align with the start/finish line and the LP pole should be on the box
side of the start finish line (you may need to swap the LS and LP poles in the base if they
were assembled incorrectly). The lenses in the RS pole should also align with the
start/finish line and the RP pole should be on the box side of the start/finish line (you may
need to swap the RS and RP poles in the base if they were assembled incorrectly). The
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LS and RS poles should face each other on the left and right sides of the start/finish line
respectively.
□Place the two single pole bases between the two lanes. The distance from the double
poles to their corresponding single pole (measured across the racing lane) should be 7
feet. The seven foot measurement should be between the poles and not between the bases.
Ensure that the legs with arrows are pointing directly at the start pole (LS or RS) in the
opposing double upright stand. The arrow should align with the start/finish line. Ensure
that all four bases rest firmly on one surface (e.g. not spanning matting and floor). The
bases can be adjusted for uneven surfaces using the three screw-in feet on each base.
□Power on all six poles by rotating the black power ring at the base of each pole. The LED
at the top of the black capped poles should glow red and the LED at the top of the green
capped poles should glow green (after briefly flashing red during power on). Constant red
LEDs on the green capped poles indicate lack of alignment – power off the poles, repeat
alignment in that lane and then power on again. Aligning the poles with the power
already on may result in a weaker and less reliable alignment. Assure that all six poles are
powered on and aligned before leaving this step.
□Power on the timing console, audio speaker/amplifier and judge’s switch.
□Power on both trees by depressing the power switch on the bottom of the tree. If the trees
are being used outdoors, they can be switched to their brightest mode by momentarily
depressing the bright/pgm switch. Subsequent activations of the switch will toggle
between indoor and outdoor settings. Do not hold the switch in as the tree may enter a
programming mode. Programming mode can be exited by powering off the tree. Tree
brightness must be set for outdoors each time the tree is powered on – indoor is always the
power on default.
□Plug in the two large displays (they will show a dash (-) when first powered up.
Step 6 – Testing the system
□Walk through the start/finish line in both the right and left lane. The large displays should
now show numbers and you may see a red light on the tree for the corresponding lane. Go
to the timing console – the bottom window should show S P and Not Run or Not Ready
for each lane. If you see an Xrather than an Sor a P, check the alignment in that lane and
then walk through the start finish line for that lane again.
□Press the clear time button to make the system ready for a heat. The display should
indicate ready for both lanes and a green LED should illuminate at the base of each tree.
Depress the judge’s handswitch or the large black button on the timing console to start a
heat. The tree will sequence rapidly up to test its lights and then begin the start cadence.
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The speaker may also beep if that option is enabled. Break the left lane beams before the
green light comes on and the system will indicate a false start in the left lane and reset. A
negative time will be shown on the left large display and the top red light on the left tree
will come on and stay on. Depress the judge’s handswitch or the large black button again
to restart the heat. The tree will sequence again. Break the right lane beams before the
green light comes on and the system will indicate a false start in the left lane and reset. A
negative time will be shown on the right large display and both top red lights on the trees
will come on and stay on. Depress the judge’s handswitch or the large black button one
more time to restart the heat. The tree will sequence again. Simulate several dogs running
and observe the split times and bad pass indications. Depress the judge’s handswitch or
the black button to signal the end of the heat. The final time will display on the large
displays and console and a winner may be indicated by a blinking light on the tree if four
“good dogs” ran in either lane. Press clear time to ready the system for another heat.
□Once you are satisfied that the system is operating correctly, power off all six poles, the
judges handswitch, the timing console and both trees to conserve batteries. The large
displays should be unplugged when not in use for extended periods (overnight) and the
audio speaker/amplifier should be switched off. Both trees should be plugged in to
charge overnight before each day of racing. The whole tripod with the trees can be
moved to a convenient location where AC power is available – often near the timing table
or large displays works well. After a brief delay, the green lights on the front of the trees
will flash while charging.
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