RaceAmerica T-Link 3.0 Wireless User manual

T-Link 3.0 Wireless
RaceAmerica Corporation
105 Bonaventura Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
[phone]
www.raceamerica.com
[email protected]
Copyright 2021 RaceAmerica Corporation
Rev A
Models 5840AW/AZ

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
Table of Contents
PRODUCT INFORMATIONAL LINKS...........................................................................................3
PRODUCT OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................4
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS .........................................................................................................4
T-LINK SETUP....................................................................................................................................4
USING SPARE T-LINKS ....................................................................................................................5
BATTERY CHARGE ..........................................................................................................................5
TYPICAL TRACK SETUP.................................................................................................................6
TECHNICAL DETAILS .....................................................................................................................7
Connection to a PC or Timer ........................................................................................................7
Data String Protocol ......................................................................................................................7
Error Codes ....................................................................................................................................7
MAINTENANCE.................................................................................................................................8
SPARE PARTS .....................................................................................................................................8
SUPPORT AGREEMENTS................................................................................................................8
07/01/21

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
PRODUCT INFORMATION LINKS
RaceAmerica Website www.raceamerica.com
RaceAmerica Online Store store.raceamerica.com
Raceamerica Online Forum www.raceamerica.com/forum
Product Warranty www.raceamerica.com/legal.html
Service & Repairs www.raceamerica.com/service.html
Technical Assistance www.raceamerica.com/techcall.html
Owner’s Manuals www.raceamerica.com/prodpdf.html
Mounting Diagrams www.raceamerica.com/mountpdf.html
Product Catalog www.raceamerica.com/catalog.html

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
T-Link 3.0 Wireless replaces track cables normally
used to connect track sensors to the timing system.
Model 5840 T-Link 3.0 connects to an external
track sensor using a short interconnect track cable.
NOTE: THIS PRODUCT OPERATES ON
HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO WAVES. DO
NOT POWER ON THE T-LINK2 WITHOUT
ATTACHNG THE ANTENNA AND DO NOT
OPERATE UNITS CLOSER TOGETHER
THAN FOUR FEET. ADDITIONALLY, DO
NOT PLUG ANY DEVICE IN THE CHAR-
GER PLUG BUT THE CHARGER. PLUG
ONLY DESIGNATED RACEAMERICA
CABLES IN THE T-PORT CONNECTOR.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Model 5840AW T-Link 3.0
Frequency 900MHz band
Internal Battery USB Battery Pack
Lithium-Ion
T-Port Connections 05-5825 to Sensor
Connection Type RJ-45 Modular
Identier Codes A-G to sensors
Max Operating Range -20ºF to 120ºF
Model 5840AZ T-Link 3.0
Frequency 2.4GHz band
Internal Battery USB Battery Pack
Lithium-Ion
T-Port Connections 05-5825 to Sen-
sor
Connection Type RJ-45 Modular
Identier Codes A-G to sensors
Max Operating Range -20ºF to 120ºF
.
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
05-5825 Cable for Ext Sensor 25ft
6070T3 Blow Molded Carry Case
4591A High gain antenna
T-LINK2 SETUP
Each T-Link 3.0 unit is congured with a
unique ID code and a wireless optimizer code.
These codes are listed on the identity label located
on the bottom of the T-Link 3.0 unit. Valid T-Link
3.0ID codes are A, B, C, D, E, F, or G. The
wireless optimizer code is also listed on the identy
label for wireless communications optimization
and compatibility with other T-Link 3.0 units.
Install the antennas on all T-Link 3.0 units.
If the antenna has been bent down for transport,
loosen the antenna slightly and rotate the upper
portion of the antenna into position. Hold the
upper portion of the antenna while tightening the
knurled area on the bottom portion of the antenna.
Locate a 4520BU or 4520 UIDZ USB Wireless
Unit and connect the USB cable, then connect the
USB cable toany USB port on the PC. . When
the 4520 is the only wireless unit powered on, the
LED will quick ash red each time it transmits.
When other T-Link 3.0s are powered on, the LED
will ash green when a wireless signal is received.
During normal operation, the LED on each T-Link
3.0 will ash red during transmit and ash green
each time signal is received from another T-Link
3.0.
Position the T-Link 3.0 unit with ID A at the
start line and ID B at the nish line. Connect the
external Track Sensor to the T-Port of the T-Link
3.0unit using interconnect cable 05-5825. Power
on all available T-Link 3.0 IDs A through G. The
LED will step through the startup sequence. If
the external track sensor is aligned with the beam
emitter, the LED will blink green when receiving
data and red when responding. If the LED is on
solid red, the track sensor is out of alignment.
Re-position the track sensor until the LED goes
out and begins to display the red/green transmit/

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
receive data indication. It may be easier to align
ID A and ID B with 4520 powered o. The 4520
initiates the transmit/receive sequence, so the LED
will not ash on IDA through IDG until the 4520
is powered on.
USING SPARE T-LINKS
T-Link 3.0 identifier codes are preset at
the factory. Using an external Recong Jumper
provided with the backup T-link 3.0 unit, a T-Link
3.0’s ID code can be changed enabling a single
backup unit to replace any unit with the same
optimizer code. To temporarily change the ID
code of a T-Link 3.0 unit, power the unit o.
Select the Recong Jumper with the desired ID
code and install into the T-Port of the T-Link 3.0
unit to be recongured. Power on the T-Link 3.0
unit. The green LED will ash three short times to
conrm the T-Link 3.0 unit has been recongured
to the new ID code. Unplug the Recong Jumper
and connect any cables to the T-Link 3.0 unit for
normal use. Do not power o the T-Link 3.0
unit after a new ID code has been assigned. The
change of ID is temporary. When the T-Link 3.0
unit is powered o, the ID code will revert back to
the preset ID shown on the bottom of the T-Link
3.0 unit.
BATTERY CHARGE
Charge the batteries using any USB battrey
charger. A PC USB port will charge but is a low
power output device and will not charge the T-Link
3.0 to full charge. All functional electronics are
disabled during battery recharge to avoid damage.
Typically full battery charging will take up to 6-8
hours if fully discharged. The charger indicator
LED will turn from red to yellow to green when
charging is complete.
Figure 1 - T-Link 3.0 power and external connections
Power
Blink RED/GREEN - Power ON
RF Receive Status
Blink GREEN - Receive
Blink RED - Transmit
Align Status
Solid RED - Not aligned
ID Code
e.g. ‘C’
Optimizer Code
e.g. C305

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
TYPICAL TRACK SETUP
Model 5840 T-Link 3.0
05-5825 Interconnect Cable
5140 Track Sensor
Model 4520UIDZ
USB Interconnect Cable

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Connection to a PC or Timer:
The output of the 4520UIDZ USB Wireless
unit has the following:.
Data String Protocol:
Data strings are sent from the 4520UIDZ
unit to provide timing timestamps from each
track sensor, battery charge level in each T-Link
3.0 unit, and RF Data Integrity level of the
wireless communications between the T-Link
3.0 units. The data strings are always terminated
by a ‘carriage return’ (cr) character and are 11
characters in total length.
<id> is the ID code of the T-Link 3.0 - A thru G
are valid
<timestamp> is a 9-digit number for timing use
<error code> is a single digit number explained
under Error Codes
<rev level> is a 3-digit number of the Revision
Code of the T-Link 3.0
<batA> is a single digit number of the Battery
Charge Level of a T-Link 3.0 unit
<rfA> is a single digit number of the RF
Integrity Level of a T-Link 3.0 unit
<id> <timestamp> cr
ZB <bA><bB><bC><bD><bE><bF><bG><bZ> cr
ZW <rA><rB><rC><rD><rE><rF><rG> 0 cr
<id> E <error code> 0000000 cr
<id> R <rev level> 00000 cr
Error Codes:
When a condition occurs interrupting normal
T-Link 3.0 operation, an error message is sent by
the 4520UIDZ unit. T-Link 3.0 are self-correcting
devices and can with stand continuous interruption
of up to 10 seconds with 100% timing accuracy.
The error codes are sent in the format of:
<id> E <error code> 0000000
(example: AE3000000)
E1 - Bad trigger data on ID B, C, D, E, F or G
E2 - Greater than 10 sec since last good data
received from ID B, C, D, E, F or G
E3 - Nothing received from ID A during the
last request
E4 - Greater than 10 sec since last good data
received from ID A
E5 - Math overow during calculation on
ID B, C, D, E, F or G
All error messages are realtime during
normal operation with dierent levels of urgency.
Errors E1, E3, and E5 indicate local interference
eecting the wireless communications or loss of
signal. These are error messages to alert the user
of intermittent interference and do not eect the
accuracy of the timing system unless the error codes
continue for more than 10 seconds of operation.
Errors E2 and E4 also indicate local interference
eecting the wireless communications or loss of
signal unless these error codes are preceded by 10
seconds of continuous error codes.
MAINTENANCE
To insure uninterrupted operation on race day,
it is suggested to keep track of battery usage hours
so as to have fully charged batteries. To maintain
the highest level of timing accuracy and minimize
false trips, annual preventive maintenance and
calibration should be performed on all system track
sensors and beam emitter units.
SPARE PARTS
Further to minimize race program interruptions,
RaceAmerica recommends some spare parts. A
spare emitter/sensor pair should be available in the
event of an unfortunate accident during a program.
Contact RaceAmerica for availability and pricing
of spares items.

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
SUPPORT AGREEMENTS
Support agreements are available from
RaceAmerica providing Telephone Assistance on
technical issues and operational questions, repair
and/or replacement of hardware failures, Software
and Firmware updates and bug reporting, and
Annual Preventive Maintenance on all system
track sensors and beam emitter units. Contact
RaceAmerica for more information and pricing
of Support Agreements.

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RaceAmerica 5840 T-Link 3.0 Wireless
REVISION HISTORY
01/13 - Initial release
07/14 - Logo update
03/15 - T-Link 2 with Power Safety Lock picture