Light O Rama Easy Light Linker RF-V4 User manual

Easy Light Linker™
RF-V4 Wireless Module
User Manual
March 1, 2006
V1.0
Copyright © Light O Rama, Inc. 2006

Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................. 4
What’s in the Box.................................................... 5
Transceiver Configuration....................................... 6
Radio Frequency (RF channel)............................ 7
Network Speed (RS485 link speed)..................... 7
Transmit Power.................................................... 7
Persistent Memory............................................... 8
Important Note..................................................... 8
Wireless Network Configurations............................ 9
Indoor to outdoor link........................................... 9
Multiple Homes.................................................. 10
Long Distance Relay.......................................... 11
Circuit Board ......................................................... 14
Easy Light Linker Picture................................... 14
Status LEDs....................................................... 15
Pin Headers....................................................... 16
Internals............................................................. 16
Specifications........................................................ 17
Radio Frequency Compliance............................... 18
USA................................................................... 18
Canada.............................................................. 18
Modifications Warning ....................................... 18
RF Exposure Warning ....................................... 19
LOR-RF-V4
Page 4
Introduction
The Light-O-Rama (LOR) Easy Light Linker is a
transceiver designed to work with LOR controllers.
The user can select one of 32 operating frequencies
in the 902 to 928 MHz band. The user can select a
network speed of either “Long range” (19.2 Kbps) or
“Average” (56K bps.) The device is powered by the
LOR controller it is connected to, or if connected to a
PC without an LOR lighting controller, by an LOR
Deluxe USB-485 adapter. The Deluxe adapter has a
power supply in it for the transceiver.
The device automatically operates as a receiver or a
transmitter. Right out of the box, it is configured to
operate at 56K on frequency 16. If there is no
frequency conflict with other devices (LOR or other
manufacturers) no additional configuration is
necessary to use the transceivers.
The frequency range used by Easy Light Linker is
reserved by the FCC for ISM (Instrument, Scientific
& Medical) devices. There are 900MHz phones
which may share this air space. You may have to try
other frequencies if you encounter problems.
The outdoor range is up to 1000 feet. But, as they
say, your mileage may vary. The device can be used
to connect the indoor PC show director to outdoor
controllers. Range will be affected by the walls the
signal must pass through (see Installation
Considerations.)

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What’s in the Box
Your Easy Light Linker™ wireless module includes
the transceiver, bottom cover, bottom cover screws
and user’s manual.
If you purchased the Easy Light Linker with the PC
adapter, then you will also have an LOR Deluxe
USB-485 (USB to RJ45 RS485) adapter and USB
cable.
LOR-RF-V4
Page 6
Transceiver Configuration
The LOR Hardware Utility is used to change the
default configuration of the Easy Light Linker
transceiver. Run the utility and click on the “LOR RF”
tab. The following screen will be displayed:
The transceiver must be the only transceiver unit
connected to the PC. The transceiver must be
connected to the PC with an LOR Deluxe USB-485
adapter unless there is also a 16 channel controller
daisy chained.
Click “Get Current Configuration.” The Hardware
Utility will send a request for configuration to the
transceiver and fill in the current configuration

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Page 7
buttons. The “Current Device Parameters” window
will display this information and more.
Radio Frequency (RF channel)
You can select the frequency by clicking one of the
32 frequency buttons (0 to 31). This is only required
if a nearby user has LOR transceivers or some other
device operating in the 900 MHz band is interfering
with your show. After making you selection, click the
“Update Configuration” button to change the
transceiver’s persistent memory.
Network Speed (RS485 link speed)
You can select the RS485 network speed by clicking
either the 19200 button or the 57600 button. After
making you selection, click the “Update
Configuration” button to change the transceiver’s
persistent memory.
Transmit Power
You can select the transmitter power output by
clicking one of the “Power Level” buttons. After
making you selection, click the “Update
Configuration” button to change the transceiver’s
persistent memory.
LOR-RF-V4
Page 8
Persistent Memory
The transceiver has an EEPROM that is part of the
CPU to remember its configuration settings over
power failures. The transceiver will immediately
reboot when “Update Configuration” completes its
work. This reboot causes the transceiver to load the
new configuration from the EEPROM.
Important Note
If you change the RS485 network speed you must
also do this in the Sequence Editor and Show Player
if the PC is connected to a transceiver that controls
your show. Transceivers do not automatically detect
the network speed. If the PC’s or MP3 Director’s
speed does not match the transceiver, the
transceiver will not recognize and therefore not
transmit LOR commands.

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Page 9
Wireless Network Configurations
This section shows a few ways you can use Easy
Light Linkers to link LOR networks. They behave as
wire replacements, so anything you can do with over
a hard wire, you can do through the wireless units.
Indoor to outdoor link
The Easy Light Linkers are used to transfer data
from the indoor PC directing the show to the outdoor
controllers. Aside from the obvious advantage of not
requiring a hole in the house for the wire, it also
completely isolates the PC from the outside world.
Even if a controller is knocked over and allowed to
fill with water, there is no possibility of AC voltage
getting into the cable to the PC.
LOR-RF-V4
Page 10
Multiple Homes
`
RF-V4
LOR
Controller LOR Controller
LOR
Controller
RF-V4
LOR
Controller LOR Controller
LOR
Controller
`
RF-V4
LOR
Controller LOR Controller
LOR
Controller
RF-V4
LOR
Controller
LOR
Controller
House #1
House #2
House #3
House #4
Here we use Easy Light Linkers to provide a
coordinated the show for multiple homes. House #1
is directing the show for all four houses. The effect is
dramatic when the homes are adjacent and/or
across from one another such that the observer is
inside the show rather than watching from the
outside. You can mix cables with Easy Light Linkers
as needed.

LOR-RF-V4
Page 11
Long Distance Relay
Here Easy Light Linkers are used to relay
information beyond the range of the first transmitter.
The Easy Light Linkers on the right are set to one
frequency. The ones on the left are set to another
frequency. The PC directing the show transmits the
data for the show using the locally connected Easy
Light Linker. The right Easy Light Linker in the
second row of the diagram receives this show data
and sends it to the attached controllers and the Easy
Light Linker on the left side which re-transmits the
show data on a different frequency to be received by
the Easy Light Linker in the bottom row.
LOR-RF-V4
Page 12
Installation Considerations
The Easy Light Linker was designed to be a simple
replacement for the data cable between LOR
controllers and/or the controlling PC. It requires no
change (software or hardware) in any LOR
controller. You do not configure Easy Light Linkers
as transmitters or receivers. They automatically
switch as necessary by continuously monitoring both
the RF (Radio Frequency) for LOR commands and
the RS485 (hardwired cable) for LOR commands.
Use a LAN cable to connect the Easy Light Linker to
either an LOR controller or a PC using an LOR
Deluxe USB-485 adapter.
Please take the time to read through the following
dos and don’ts.
1. The cable between the transceiver and the
controller or adapter must be 25’ or less. The
transceiver is powered by the controller(s) or
an LOR Deluxe USB-485 adapter. A long
cable causes excessive voltage drop resulting
in transceiver failure.
2. The antenna should point up, be a least a foot
away from any vertical surface and about 8’
off the ground. If possible, try to avoid
obstructions between transceivers.
3. The case is water tight for water falling on top
of it (antenna pointing up.) Do not mount the

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Page 13
transceiver where water can splash upward or
be forced into the case from below. (I.e. avoid
mounting it where an irrigation system may
force water up into the case.)
4. Don’t use data cables with boots. The boot
results in too tight a fit against the transceiver
case and puts too much stress on the RJ45
jack when the bottom cover is put on.
5. After connecting the data cable, route the
wire though the notch in the bottom panel.
The notch should be placed on the opposite
side of the case from the RJ45 jack to
minimize strain on the RJ45 connector.
6. Always put the bottom on the case after
connecting the communications cable.
7. If you are using the device to connect from an
indoor show director (PC or MP3 Director) to
outdoor controllers be aware that the walls
the signal must pass through will affect the
range. If the house is covered in aluminum,
you may have to place the transmitter in a
window.
8. NEVER remove the antenna. It is sealed to
the case with silicone and removing it will
break this seal possibly allowing water to
enter and destroy the transceiver.
LOR-RF-V4
Page 14
Circuit Board
Easy Light Linker Open Bottom
The above picture shows the Easy Light Linker with
the bottom cover removed. The RJ45 connectors for
power and communication are on the lower left. The
CPU is above the RJ45 connectors. The transceiver
module is the postage stamp sized surface mount
board on the upper right.
The transceiver contains no user serviceable parts.

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Status LEDs
There are three labeled LEDs above the RJ45
connectors. They are used as follows:
LED1 This LED pulses approximately once per
second when the unit has successful
configured itself and is operating. It may pulse
more slowly if the unit is extremely busy.
LED2 This LED indicates transmission activity. If the
device is functioning as a transmitter, it is ON
when the radio transmitter is active. If the
device is functioning as a receiver, it is ON
when data is being transmitted on the RS485
network line.
LED3 This LED indicates an error, usually an
overrun. Overruns occurs when the show is
too complex for the transceiver. Meaning that
the unit is unable to keep up with the data
required to run the show. This LED really
shouldn’t light.
LOR-RF-V4
Page 16
Pin Headers
No connections should be made to the two pin
headers on the circuit board. One of these headers
is used to program the board at the factory. The
other is reserved for possible future versions of the
software to provide a limited number of input/output
ports.
Internals
The Easy Light Linker is based on a 10 MIP CPU
directing a 900 MHz transceiver. There is a SAW
filter between the antenna and the transceiver to
provide for superior transmission purity and rejection
of adjacent frequency signals during reception. The
antenna used is a dipole to concentrate transmit
energy and increase receiver sensitivity.
Every effort has been made to achieve maximum
range given the power levels permitted by US and
Canadian radio device regulations.

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Specifications
Power requirements 9 VDC, 150 ma
Transmit power levels 0 dBm (1 mw)
5 dBm (3.2 mw)
10 dBM (10 mw)
15 dBm (32 mw)
Frequency range 902 – 928 MHz
RF channels 32
RS485 link speeds 19,200 bits/second
57,600 bits/second
LOR-RF-V4
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Radio Frequency Compliance
USA
FCC ID: TU7-RF02
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Canada
IC: 6255A-RF02
This Class A/B digital apparatus meets all
requirements of the Canadian Interference-
Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A/B
respecte toutes les exigences du Réglement
sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
Modifications Warning
Changes or modifications to this device not
expressly approved by Light O Rama could
void the user’s authority to operate this
device.

LOR-RF-V4
Page 19
RF Exposure Warning
This equipment complies with FCC radiation
exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled
environment. This device's external antenna
must be installed in accordance with provided
instructions and it must be operated with a
minimum 20 cm spacing between antennas
and all persons’ bodies (excluding extremities
of hands, wrists and feet) during wireless
mode of operation. Further, this transmitter
must not be co-located or operated in
conjunction with any other antenna or
transmitter.
Light-O-Rama, Inc.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]