PHC REGATTA PRO-START User manual
REGATTA PRO-START INSTRUCTION SHEET
Instructions2k8 1 6/4/2010
SEQUENCE SELECT BUTTON
SEQUENCE BEEPER RESPONSE
Apx Q, 1 minute
Apx Q, 2 Minute
Apx Q, 3 Minute
A
px Q, Recall
R
ule 26, 3 Minute
R
ule 26, 5 minute
Rule 26, Recall
Matchrace
P
re-2001 2 minute
P
re-2001 3 minute
P
re-2001 5 minute
NOTE: See Sequence Selection page for details.
QUICKSTART PROCEDURE
• Plug RPS into 12 volt power source (ships battery, battery pack, etc)
Verify that the beeper and horn chirp
• Set Sequence Select for desired starting sequence.
• Depress Sequence Start (You are now running a race)
• See configuration page to change Cycle, Attention, or delay options.
IMPORTANT
• The horn needs a good electrical connection. While it doesn’t use a lot of
power, it does draw 13 amperes for short periods. If the ship’s wiring is
light gauge, long, or corroded it can’t supply the power needed at the horn.
Consider a direct wire run to the ships battery.
MANUAL
HORN
SHAPE
ALERT
SELECT
SEQUENCE
SELECT
SEQUENCE
START
REGATTA PRO-START
RESET
PHC
SYSTEMS
www.phcsystems.com
Depress and release to determine the sequence you are
in.
Depress and hold to cycle through the sequences.
Release when you are at the desired sequence.
Depress and release to determine the seconds for shape
alert.
Depress and hold to cycle through the shape alert values
Release when you are at the desired value.
Depress and release to start the selected sequence.
Depress at any time to sound the horn.
Sequences in progress are not affected.
Depress ‘Sequence Select’ and ‘Shape Alert Select’
together to reset any sequence in progress.
SHAPE ALERT BUTTON
Sets configuration options as follows:
SEQUENCE “SHAPE ALERT SELECT”
FUNCTION
Apx Q, 1 minute
Apx Q, 2 Minute
Apx Q, 3 Minute
Apx Q, Recall
Rule 26, 3 Minute
Rule 26, 5 minute
Rule 26, Recall
Matchrace
Pre-2001 2 minute
Pre-2001 3 minute
Pre-2001 5 minute
Sets Apx Q cycle
Sets Apx Q Attention
Sets Apx Q delay
Sets Rule 26 cycle
Sets Rule 26 Attention
Sets Rule 26 delay
Attention prior to warning
Shape takedown prior to start
Shape takedown prior to start
Shape takedown prior to start
NOTE: See Configuration page for details.
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SEQUENCE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
Instructions2k8 2 6/4/2010
SEQ
NUM
SEQUENCE SELECT
BEEPER RESPONSE
SEQUENCE “SHAPE ALERT SELECT”
FUNCTION
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Apx Q, 1 minute
Apx Q, 2 Minute
Apx Q, 3 Minute
Apx Q, Recall
Rule 26, 3 Minute
Rule 26, 5 minute
Rule 26, Recall
Matchrace
Pre-2001 2 minute
Pre-2001 3 minute
Pre-2001 5 minute
Sets Apx Q cycle
Sets Apx Q Attention
Sets Apx Q delay
Sets Rule 26 cycle
Sets Rule 26 Attention
Sets Rule 26 delay
Attention prior to warning
Shape takedown prior to start
Shape takedown prior to start
Shape takedown prior to start
−
−−
−−
−−
−
−
−−
−−
−−
−•
••
•
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−−
−−
−•
••
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•
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−
−
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−
−
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−
−
−−
−
−
−−
−
ATTENTION (in seconds)
none •
••
••
••
•
10
20
30
40
50
60
Appendix Q Sequence (1, 2, & 3 minute)
DELAY (in minutes)
None •
••
••
••
•
1
2
3
4
5
CYCLE
•
••
••
••
•No cycle (one shot)
Continuous cycle
ATTENTION (in seconds)
none •
••
••
••
•
10
20
30
40
50
60
Rule 26 Sequence (5 minute)
DELAY (in minutes)
None •
••
••
••
•
1
2
3
4
5
CYCLE
•
••
••
••
•No cycle (one shot)
Continuous cycle
ATTENTION (in minutes)
none •
••
••
••
•
1
2
3
4
5
MATCHRACE
15 second delay to first gun
Pre-2001 Five-minute sequence
SEQUENCE SELECTION
Instructions2k8 3 6/4/2010
Regatta Pro Start is setup to run races out of the box.
APPENDIX Q, the dinghy start, is configured as follows:
• Run the sequence once and then stop.
• Issue a ten burst attention twenty seconds before the warning.
• No delay between sequences (of course, it’s only running once)
To select the three minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues one set of three
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
APPENDIX Q RECALL
The recall for the three-minute sequence is the next sequence in the selection.
Push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button. It will first tell you which sequence you are on (hopefully three beeps for the three
minute), then move to the next sequence, three beeps and one chirp (−− •) which is the recall sequence. Release the button
and you are set up for Apx Q recall. When you push the start button, you will get one horn one minute before the warning. At the end
of the sequence, the unit will automatically reset itself to the standard three-minute sequence (The three beep sequence).
RULE 26, the five-minute start, is configured as follows:
• Run the sequence continuously
• Issue a four-burst attention one minute before the warning
• No delay between sequences, the start gun of one sequence is the warning gun of the next one.
To select the five minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues one set of five
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
RULE 26 RECALL
The recall for the five-minute sequence is the next sequence in the selection. Push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button. It
will first tell you which sequence you are on (hopefully five beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). for the five minute), then move to the next
sequence, five beeps and one chirp ( −− •) which is the recall sequence. Release the button and you are set up for
Rule 26 recall. When you push the start button, You will get one horn one minute before the warning. At the end of the sequence,
The unit will automatically reset itself to the standard five minute sequence.
MATCHRACE
To select the Matchrace sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues one set of six
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
PRE-2001 FIVE-MINUTE SEQUENCE
This is the five-minute sequence used before 2001. It is available also in two and three minute versions.
To select the two-minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues two sets of two
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
To select the Three-minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues two sets of
three beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
To select the Five-minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues two sets of five
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
NOTE: A handy use for the Two-minute sequence is as a foghorn. Try it.
CONFIGURATION SETTINGS
Instructions2k8 4 6/4/2010
The concept of different sequences being responsible for different configuration settings allows for much greater flexibility for
race committees in managing their races. While it may not seem intuitive at first, it generally only needs to be set up once by race
management, if at all, and then will be used through out the season by the race committees.
APPENDIX Q, the dinghy start, is shipped with the following configuration:
• Run the sequence once and then stop. (CYCLE)
• Issue a ten burst attention twenty seconds before the warning. (ATTENTION)
• No delay between sequences. (DELAY)
To change any of these settings is straightforward as follows: (see sheet 2 flow charts for values)
CYCLE First, set ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ to the two-minute Appendix Q (one set of two beeps
−
−−
−−
−−
−).
Then, press and hold “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” until the appropriate value is reached and release.
ATTENTION First, set ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ to the three-minute Appendix Q (one set of three beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−).
Then, press and hold “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” until the appropriate value is reached and release.
DELAY First, set ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ to the recall Appendix Q (three beeps and one chirp (−− •).
Then, press and hold “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” until the appropriate value is reached and release.
RULE 26, the five-minute start, is shipped with the following configuration:
• Run the sequence continuously. (CYCLE)
• Issue a four-burst attention one minute before the warning. (ATTENTION)
• No delay between sequences, the start gun of one sequence is the warning gun of the next one. (DELAY)
To change any of these settings is straightforward as follows: (see sheet 2 flow charts for values)
CYCLE First, set ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ to Rule 26, 3 minute (five beeps and three chirps −− •••)
Then, press and hold “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” until the appropriate value is reached and release.
ATTENTION First, set ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ to Rule 26, 3 minute (five beeps −− ).
Then, press and hold “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” until the appropriate value is reached and release.
DELAY First, set ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ to Rule 26, Recall (five beeps and one chirp −− •)
Then, press and hold “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” until the appropriate value is reached and release.
To select the five minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues one set of five
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
To select the three minute sequence, simply push and hold the ‘SEQUENCE SELECT’ button until the beeper issues one set of three
beeps (
−
−−
−−
−−
−). Release the button and the unit is set to that sequence until you change it again.
BACKGROUND
Instructions2k8 5 6/4/2010
A question often asked is “Why did you do that like that?” Well, here’s why.
The design philosophy of Regatta Pro Start is to put into the Race Committee’s hands a completely automatic starting system,
which requires a minimum amount of interaction so that the Race committee can attend to the start line. To this end, some features
were purposefully designed into, and out of, the unit.
Minimize the buttons. You don’t need a lot of buttons getting in the way during the sequence. Start, Reset, and Manual horn
get you in the least amount of trouble when tensions are high at the start. Yes, it would be nice to have more controls to set and
maintain the configuration for cycle, attention, and delay, but the reality is that the RC only needs to set up the unit once. After that
you’ll never touch the configuration again.
Minimize the interface. RPS is an aural device. It gives feedback and countdowns via the beeper. If a display were
incorporated with a countdown, then you would be looking at the display rather than sighting the line. This way, you’re sighting the
line and listening to RPS in the background. You have control over your race.
The unit comes in a bag for a purpose, besides the obvious advertising. Don’t store it in a closed container. Any moisture on
RPS will be happy to corrode it when confined. The cotton bag allows RPS to breathe and dry out. It’ll last a lot longer that way. If
you don’t like the advertising, turn the bag inside out, no problem.
And lastly, the third button down, “Shape Alert Select”. Well the touch pad was designed just prior to 2001, when the five-
minute start was changed (who knew). In the old start, there was a shape that came down one minute prior to the start and this button
provided some ability to change the timing of the shape take down. Since the touch pads had been bought and paid for, it made more
sense to use them than to throw them away and start over.
That’s it, Think of RPS as a valuable tool in your RC bag. Take care of it and it will give you many seasons of reliable
performance. If you like it, please spread the word. If you have a problem, please let me know, pete@phcsystems.com.
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