RJG LYNX SG/LX8-S-ID User manual
PRODUCT MANUALPRODUCT MANUAL
Training and Technology for Injection Molding
L™ E-C S
G S A
M ID
SG/LX8‑S‑ID
PRINT DATE 05.12.2022
REVISION NO. 0
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID i
PRODUCT MANUAL
L™ E-C S G S
A M ID
SG/LX8‑S‑ID
INTRODUCTION
DISCLAIMER III
PRIVACY III
ALERTS III
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
APPLICATIONS 1
MULTICHANNEL STRAIN GAGE MCSG SENSOR SYSTEM 1
OPERATION 1
STRAIN GAGE SENSORS 1
STRAIN GAGE SENSORS 1
DIMENSIONS 2
CABLE LENGTHS 2
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS 4
MOUNTING 4
CONNECTIONS 4
SOFTWARE SETUP 5
MAINTENANCE
CLEANING 7
REGULAR CLEANING 7
TESTING & CALIBRATION 7
SENSOR TESTING 7
WARRANTY 8
RJG, INC. STANDARD WARRANTY 8
PRODUCT DISCLAIMER 8
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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TROUBLESHOOTING
COMMON ERRORS 9
INTERMITTENT CONNECTIONS 9
TROUBLESHOOTING SOFTWARE FOR INTERMITTENT
CONNECTIONS 9
SENSOR LOCATIONS MENU 9
RAW DATA VIEWER EDART TOOL 10
TROUBLESHOOTING HARDWARE FOR INTERMITTENT
CONNECTIONS 11
CHECKING eDART SYSTEM LYNX PORTS AND FUSES FOR CONNECTION
ISSUES 11
CHECKING LYNX CABLES AND CONNECTIONS FOR CONNECTION ISSUES
12
INTERFERENCE 13
INTERFERENCE WITH MACHINE INTERFACE MODULES AND SENSORS 13
INTERFERENCE FROM MOLD SENSORS 14
CUSTOMER SUPPORT 15
RELATED PRODUCTS
COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS 17
LYNX CABLES CELX5 17
LYNX EIGHTCHANNEL STRAIN GAGE SENSOR PLATETOADAPTER CABLE
CSG/LX8S 17
EIGHTCHANNEL STRAIN GAGE SENSOR PLATE WITH ID SG8 17
SIMILAR PRODUCTS 18
LYNX EMBEDDED SENSORS 18
PIEZOELECTRIC FOURCHANNEL PZ4 & PZ/LX4FS 18
PIEZOELECTRIC EIGHTCHANNEL PZ8 & PZ/LX8FS 18
PRODUCT MANUAL
L™ E-C S G S
A M ID
SG/LX8‑S‑ID
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID iii
INTRODUCTION
Read, understand, and comply with all
following instructions. This guide must be
kept available for reference at all times.
DISCLAIMER
Inasmuch as RJG, Inc. has no control
over the use to which others may put
this material, it does not guarantee that
the same results as those described
herein will be obtained. Nor does RJG,
Inc. guarantee the effectiveness or safety
of any possible or suggested design
for articles of manufacture as illustrated
herein by any photographs, technical
drawings, and the like. Each user of the
material or design or both should make
his own tests to determine the suitability
of the material or any material for the
design as well as the suitability of the
material, process, and/or design for his
own particular use. Statements concerning
possible or suggested uses of the material
or designs described herein are not to be
construed as constituting a license under
any RJG, Inc. patent covering such use
or as recommendations for use of such
material or designs in the infringement of
any patent.
PRIVACY
Designed and developed by RJG, Inc.
Manual design, format and structure
copyright 2022 RJG, Inc. content
documentation copyright 2022 RJG, Inc. All
rights reserved. Material contained herein
may not be copied by hand, mechanical, or
electronic means, either whole or in part,
without the express written consent of RJG,
Inc. Permission will normally be granted for
use in conjunction with inter‑company use
not in conflict with RJG’s best interests.
ALERTS
The following three alert types are used
as needed to further clarify or highlight
information presented in the manual:
DEFINITIONA definition or clarification of a
term or terms used in the text.
NOTESLA note provides additional
information about a discussion
topic.
CAUTIONaA caution is used to make the
operator aware of conditions that
can cause damage to equipment
and/or injury to personnel.
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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NOTES
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 1
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The eight‑channel strain gage sensor
adapter with mold ID is an adapter that
interfaces the RJG, Inc. eight‑channel
strain gage sensor connector SG‑8 and up
to eight multi‑channel strain gage (MCSG)
sensors to the eDART® or CoPilot® system.
APPLICATIONS
MULTI‑CHANNEL STRAIN GAGE (MCSG)
SENSOR SYSTEM
The Lynx™ MCSG systems provide quick,
convenient connection between multiple
sensors in a mold to a single sensor
adapter and the eDART or CoPilot system
outside of the mold, saving real estate and
minimizing cabling.
OPERATION
STRAIN GAGE SENSORS
STRAIN GAGE SENSORS
The strain gage uses a Wheatstone Bridge
to measure deformation, or the change in
resistance of the force over the sensor. The
measurement is carried through the sensor
cable to the sensor electronics.
The sensor adapter is connected to the
RJG, Inc. eDART or CoPilot system, which
record and display sensor measurements
for operator aid in process monitoring and
control.
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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DIMENSIONS
CABLE LENGTHS
Lengths must be longer than needed to
facilitate safe installation and removal of
connector from tool to prevent tension on
the lead wire; generally, 2–3” (50–75mm)
of slack is sufficient. Use good sense to
determine the appropriate cable length
required for each application.
CABLE LENGTH PART NO.
20” 0,5 m C‑SG/LX8‑S‑.5M
39” 1,0 m C‑SG/LX8‑S‑1M
79” 2,0 m C‑SG/LX8‑S‑2M
Adapter to Plate Cable C‑SG/LX8‑S Length
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 3
INSTALLATION
The SG/LX8‑S‑ID is mounted on a
frame‑grounded structure or control panel
using the supplied 10‑24x1.75” socket
head cap screws (SHCS). The eight‑channel
strain gage sensor adapter‑to‑plate
cable C‑SG/LX8‑S is installed on the SG/
Sensor
Plate SG-8
Sensor Plate-to-
Adapter Cable
C-SG/LX8-S
Sensor Adapter
SG/LX8-S-ID
LX8‑S‑ID adapter and the eight‑channel
strain gage sensor plate SG‑8, which is
mounted on the mold. Inside the mold, up
to eight MCSG sensors are connected to
the SG‑8. The SG/LX8‑S‑ID is connected to
the eDART system by a Lynx cable CE‑LX5.
to eDART or
CoPilot System
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS
MOUNTING
1. Requirements
The lynx strain gage adapter must be
mounted on a frame‑grounded structure
to ensure proper operation. The ground
potential of the structure must be the same
as the ground required for the eDART or
CoPilot system.
CAUTIONaMustbemountedonaframe‑grounded
structure or control panel; ground
potential is equal to that used by the
eDART or CoPilot system—adapter
and cables are free from contact with
static sources such as feeder tubes
and material hoppers.
2. Mounting
Mount the SG/LX8‑S‑ID to a
frame‑grounded structure or control panel
using the supplied 10‑24x1.75” SHCS.
CONNECTIONS
3. Plate-to-Adapter Cable C-SG/LX8-S
Attach the C‑SG/LX8‑S cable to the
connector of the SG/LX8‑S‑ID; attach the
other end of the C‑SG/LX8‑S to the SG‑8.
4. Lynx Cable CE-LX5
Attach the female end of a Lynx cable
CE‑LX5 to the Lynx Output connector;
attach the male end of the cable to the
eDART or CoPilot system or desired Lynx
junction.
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 5
SOFTWARE SETUP
1. Requirements
The SG/LX8‑S‑ID requires eDART system
software versions 9.4.2 /10.7.3 or higher,
and CoPilot system version 3.0 or higher
(refer to the CoPilot System User Guide for
setup information).
2. eDART Software Setup Version 9.4 or
Higher
The sensor(s) attached to the SG‑8 plate
and SG/LX8‑S‑ID adapter will appear in the
Sensor Locations 1tool for initial setup in
the eDART version 9.4.2 software.
Select the Setup 2button; the Sensor
Scaling Setup window 3will appear. Fill
in the window for each sensor to complete
the SG/LX8‑S‑ID, SG‑8, and connected
MCSG senors setup.
INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS (continued)
• Select the Sensor Model Number 4from
the drop‑down menu.
• The Sensor Type 5and Sensor Full Scale
6will automatically display.
• A default sensitivity is automatically
populated at setup; enter the Sensor
Sensitivity 7listed on the sensor’s
calibration certificate.
• Select the Accept 8button to save
settings.
• Select the Sensor Location 9from the
drop‑down menu.
• Enter the associated sensor’s cavity
number 10 in the Identification column (if
two or more sensors are set to the same
Sensor Location).
• Select the Accept 11 button to save
settings.
1
3
2
4
5
6
7
8
109
11
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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3. eDART Software Setup Version 10.6 or
higher
The SG/LX8‑S‑ID and associated sensors
are set up during the Mold Setup/Inputs 1
in the eDART version 10 software.
• Click, drag, and drop the associated
sensor from the Available Sensors 2list
into the correct cavity and cavity location
listed under the mold name on the left
(the individual cavity’s window 3will
appear when selected).
• Click the to open the Mold Sensor
Configuration window 4.
The Mold Sensor Configuration window 4
will appear. Fill in the window to complete
the setup.
• Select the ejector pin type 5behind
which the sensor is locatedfrom the
drop‑down menu; enter the ejector pin
diameter 6.
INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS (continued)
• If the selected/entered ejector pin
information is the same for all sensor/
pin combinations in the mold, select the
check box “Use this as default” 7; the
software will automatically assign each
placed sensor the specified ejector pin
type and diameter for scaling.
• Select Done 8to save settings.
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
3
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 7
MAINTENANCE
CLEANING
REGULAR CLEANING
Pull sensors from the mold and clean out
the pockets and channels when a mold
is pulled for preventative maintenance.
Sensors must be installed in pockets free
from oil, dirt, grime, and grease.
TESTING & CALIBRATION
The Lynx Eight‑Channel Strain Gage
Sensor Adapter SG/LX8‑S‑ID requires
no calibration. Follow all instructions
and recommendations for individual
sensor testing and calibration for optimal
operation.
SENSOR TESTING
1. Sensor PreCheck
The Sensor PreCheck provides diagnostics
on typical sensor problems such as sensor
drift, preload, and zero shift, and can also
detect sensor installation errors caused
by improper pocket dimensions, damaged
wires, and damaged sensor heads. A test
report with sensor configuration can be
emailed or printed from the device. This
device allows testing of up to thirty‑two
sensors at one time and can verify that a
force was applied to the sensor.
2. eDART Software—Raw Data Viewer
The eDART Raw Data Viewer displays the
status of the sensor, either Valid, No Reply,
Stale, or Invalid.
• A Valid sensor has raw counts that
change when force is applied to the
sensor; this indicates a properly working
sensor.
• A No Reply sensor is not communicating
with the eDART; the sensor may be
unplugged.
• A Stale sensor indicates a sensor that is
unused.
• An Invalid sensor will indicate a Failure of
either Over‑range (Ovrng) or Under‑range
(Undrng). The Ovrng indicates the
sensor’s calibration has changed too
far in a positive direction, outside of the
upper specification. The Undrng indicates
that the sensor’s calibration has changed
too far in a negative direction, and the
sensor may report a number below zero
when load is applied.
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
8
WARRANTY
RJG, INC. STANDARD WARRANTY
RJG, Inc. is confident in the quality and
robustness of the SG/LX8‑S‑ID, and so
are offering a one‑year warranty. RJG’s
eight‑channel strain gage sensor adapter
is guaranteed against defects in material
and workmanship for one year from the
original date of purchase. The warranty is
void if it is determined that the adapter was
subjected to abuse or neglect beyond the
normal wear and tear of field use, or in the
event the adapter box has been opened by
the customer.
PRODUCT DISCLAIMER
RJG, Inc. is not responsible for the
improper installation of this equipment, or
any other equipment RJG manufactures.
Proper RJG equipment installation does
not interfere with original equipment
safety features of the machine. Safety
mechanisms on all machines should never
be removed.
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 9
TROUBLESHOOTING
COMMON ERRORS
INTERMITTENT CONNECTIONS
Intermittent connections or drop outs
can be from causes such as damaged or
contaminated Lynx connections, improperly
seated Lynx connections, damaged
transducer cables, or failed sensors (over‑
pressured, preload, incorrect pocket
sensor installation, modules, or grounding
issues). All these factors can cause the
eDART system to lock up, freeze, shut
down, or in rare cases, damage the eDART
system unit itself.
When troubleshooting Lynx connections,
please make sure that the machine,
mold, parts will not be affected while
troubleshooting (Example, eDART is
controlling Valve Gates or Part Sorting).
Wear proper PPE when needed to reduce
the risks of any potential shocks or
ungrounded equipment. Please follow all
safety guidelines.
TROUBLESHOOTING SOFTWARE FOR
INTERMITTENT CONNECTIONS
Use the Sensor Locations menu and/or
the eDART Raw Data Viewer to identify
intermittent connections or “dropouts”.
SENSOR LOCATIONS MENU
The Sensor Locations menu shows all
sensors and modules connected to an
eDART system. Intermittent connections/
dropouts can be identified by serial
numbers that disappear/reappear on
the Sensor locations menu; the sensor
or module with the associated serial
number(s) is/are experiencing intermittent
connection(s)/dropouts.
In addition, if OVRNG or UNDRG readings
occur during machine cycling, the sensor
could be over‑pressured, the sensor is
improperly seated in the sensor pocket
inside of the mold plate, the sensor is
preloaded, or the sensor cable wires are
damaged exposed and making contact with
the mold steel.
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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RAW DATA VIEWER EDART TOOL
The Raw Data Viewer shows more detailed
information than the Sensor Locations
page, and can be used for detecting
intermittent connections or dropouts that
may not be visible on the Sensor Locations
page. For troubleshooting dropouts or
intermittent connections ensure that “Only
Show Sensors” is selected.
Next, select and highlight “Port 1” under the
“Locations” tab in the Raw Data Viewer and
right click on the highlighted section. This
will open up the “Lynx Port 1 Diagnostics”
window, where sensors and/or modules
connected to the port will display current
data of different existing issues.
The Lynx Port Diagnostics window can
display “short streams”. Short Streams
happen when the eDART system does not
receive a full packet(s) of data from sensors
or modules connected to the port. A short
stream packet will display as a count in the
short stream “count box”, and will indicate
a dropout or miscommunication error.
NOTE: Short Streams can show up when
connecting or reconnecting sensors. Short
streams can also appear in a low numeric
value (1–100) on a job if the eDART system
has been running for a period of time
(typically a week or longer)—this is normal.
If Short Streams are in the 100–1000
range in longer periods of time without
connecting or reconnecting sensors, this
is an indicator of a dropout or intermittent
connection issue(s).
It may be difficult to see which sensor is
having the dropout issue. The “Sensor
Order Box” to the right‑hand side of
the Lynx Port Diagnostics window will
display the list of serial numbers that are
connected to the selected port. If a sensor
is dropping out consistently, and for a short
period of time, question marks will display
where a serial number would be give you
the faulty sensor.
If issues persist without being able to
identify which sensor is having issue with
the Lynx Port Diagnostics, unplug sensors
one‑by‑one from the eDART system to see
if the issue will stop occurring.
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 11
TROUBLESHOOTING HARDWARE FOR
INTERMITTENT CONNECTIONS
If an intermittent connection cannot be
identified during troubleshooting within the
software, check the hardware using the
following information to locate connection
issues.
CHECKING eDART SYSTEM LYNX PORTS
AND FUSES FOR CONNECTION ISSUES
1. eDART System Lynx Ports
Intermittent connection issues may occur
within the eDART system Lynx ports. If
short streams are observed on the eDART
system Raw Data Viewer “Lynx Port
Diagnostics” tool (refer to X), perform the
following to troubleshoot connection issues
with the eDART system Lynx ports.
Remove both Lynx cables (CE/LX‑5) from
eDART system Lynx ports one and two;
install the Lynx cable from eDART system
Lynx port one onto Lynx port two, and the
Lynx cable from eDART system Lynx port
two onto Lyn port one.
If short stream counts persist in a port
after swapping the Lynx cables, one of the
eDART system Lynx ports may be damaged.
NOTESLSwapping or reconnecting cables while
the eDART system is powered on will
cause short streams. Always reset the
short streams and other information
on the Raw Data Viewer “Lynx Port
Diagnostics” window after swapping,
reconnecting, or replacing cables. The
“reset” option is located at the bottom of
the Lynx Port Diagnostics window.
2. eDART System Fuses
The eDART system Lynx ports one and two
have fuses and constant voltage sources
chips to help protect from power surges. To
check the fuses for Lynx ports one and two,
complete the following steps.
• Stop the machine and disconnect the
eDART system Lynx ports one and two
connections.
• Stop the job and shut down the eDART
system.
• Remove the four screws and lid from the
of the eDART system and retain.
• On the inside of the eDART system, two
fuses for Port 1 & 2 will be present. If the
fuses have been blown, replace the fuses
with the provided fuses attached to the
eDART system lid. Remove the fuses and
test with a multimeter to ensure that the
fuses are still functioning even if they do
not look blown.
• When installing the fuses, use a pair of
small tipped pliers to gently squeeze
the two tabs on each end of the fuse to
ensure proper connectivity.
• Reinstall the lid of the eDART system
using the four screws, and reconnect
both eDART system Lynx port cables on
port one and two.
If issues persist after verifying functionality
of the Lynx ports and fuses, check Lynx
cables, Lynx cables connectors, and Lynx
modules.
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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CHECKING LYNX CABLES AND
CONNECTIONS FOR CONNECTION
ISSUES
Intermittent connection issues may occur
within the eDART system Lynx cables.
If short streams are observed on the
eDART system Raw Data Viewer “Lynx Port
Diagnostics” tool (refer to X), perform the
following to troubleshoot connection issues
with the eDART system Lynx cables.
NOTESLSwapping or reconnecting cables while
the eDART system is powered on will
cause short streams. Always reset the
short streams and other information
on the Raw Data Viewer “Lynx Port
Diagnostics” window after swapping,
reconnecting, or replacing cables. The
“reset” option is located at the bottom of
the Lynx Port Diagnostics window.
To check Lynx cables and connectors for
connection issues, complete the following
steps.
• Remove one cable from either Lynx port
one or two, and follow the cable path
from the eDART system, to the machine,
to the mold, to discover any potential
damage.
• Verify Lynx cable connections are seated
with each module or sensor properly.
• Look for possible corrosion, damage, or
debris inside of both male and female
connections.
• Replace any components that are
unsatisfactory.
If the Lynx cables, connectors, or
connections do not show any signs of the
possible issues, continue troubleshooting
as described in this chapter.
Product Manual | Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID 13
INTERFERENCE
INTERFERENCE WITH MACHINE
INTERFACE MODULES AND SENSORS
If Lynx cable connections from the eDART
system to the machine, as well as to the
mold or tool, have been checked, but
interference continues, check module
cabling that interfaces with the machine.
Check each module’s voltage for input
or output and take note of the maximum
temperature tolerances. The machine
interfacing module tolerances are as
follows:
1. Machine Interface Modules
Modules, such as the OR2‑M or ID7‑M‑SEQ, have wires that connect to the inside of a
machine, conveyor belt, or robot. These cables are not normally shielded and can be
susceptible to electrical noise, interference, and loose connections with the electrical
buses in the machine, conveyor belt, or robot, Verifying these connections and having
the module wires away from any electrical interference will help improve eDART system
performance and any possible dropouts.
LYNX™ SHIELDED
MACHINE SEQUENCE
MODULE ID7‑M‑SEQ
LYNX™ SHIELDED
DUAL‑RELAY OUTPUT
MODULE OR2‑M
LYNX™ SHIELDED
ANALOG OUTPUT
MODULE OA1‑M‑V
LYNX™ SHIELDED
ANALOG INPUT
MODULE IA1‑M‑V
Maximum Input
Voltage 36 V DC
Minimum Trigger‑On
Voltage 18 V DC
Contact Rating 1 A 30
V DC
Maximum Output
Voltage 0–10 V DC
Maximum Input
Voltage 0–10 V DC
Maximum Operating Temperature 140° F for all machine interface modules.
2. Mold/Tool Interfacing Lynx Modules
LYNX™ EIGHT‑CHANNEL STRAIN GAGE SENSOR ADAPTER WITH ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID
Is powered from the eDART system, and provides power to the sensors for information
feedback.
Can be prone to power surges if machine or mold is not grounded properly.
Lynx™ Eight‑Channel Strain Gage Sensor Adapter with Mold ID SG/LX8‑S‑ID | Product Manual
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INTERFERENCE FROM MOLD SENSORS
Cables can move out of the sensor cable
channels inside of a mold or tool during
assembly before the retainer plate is
installed. This can lead to damaged
cables where cable wires get damage
and are exposed to the steel of the mold,
resulting in electrical shortages or possible
interference.
Often, Lynx sensor adapters and electrical
cases/boxes (LS‑B‑127/159‑XXXX
models) are installed on a mold and are
exposed to excessive heat causing the
electronics communications to fail and
result in dropouts or damage. When
troubleshooting, check the temperature
of the mold or tool surface—this also
includes the transducer buttons. RJG
provides both a normal heat range and
a high temperature range of button style
transducers.
To detect if dropouts or interference
is occurring with a specific transducer,
disconnect the Lynx cable to see if short
streams still occur. Continue to disconnect
Lynx cables from sensors until short
streams have stopped occurring. “Reset”
the Lynx Port Diagnostics after each
disconnection and reconnection.
If all troubleshooting steps fail to identify
the cause for intermittent connection or
interference issues, please contact RJG
Customer Support.
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