Spectrum Technologies 6490S User manual

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TruFirm® Turf Firmness Meter Product Manual
“To Measure Is To Know”“To Measure Is To Know”
[e-mail] www.specmeters.com 800.248.8873
Item #6490S

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GENERAL OVERVIEW
Thank you for purchasing a FieldScout®TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter. The FieldScout TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter is a
technologically advanced soluon that provides superintendents the ability to measure the rmness of sports playing
surfaces, especially golf greens, fairways and bunkers.
The FieldScout TrueFirm Turf Firmness Meter consists of an impact plunger and a rotary posion sensor. Once moon of
the plunger is detected the electronics will collect and process the signal then send a measurement to an LCD display. The
measurement will also transmit to a mobile device via Bluetooth.
Superintendents can monitor their surfaces on their smartphone and make real-me decisions that improve quality and
performance, conserve resources, and increase prots.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Overview.................................................
Geng Started......................................................
Setup........................................................................
TruFirm Operaon..............................................
Specicaons........................................................
Data Logging & Storage.......................................
This manual will familiarize you with the features and operaon of your new FieldScout TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter. Please
read this manual thoroughly before launching the unit.
For customer support or to place an order, call Spectrum Technologies, Inc. at 800-248-8873 or 815-436-4440, FAX at
815-436-4460, or e-mail at [e-mail].
www.specmeters.com
Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
3600 Thayer Court
Aurora, IL 60504
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Components
The FieldScout TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter is made up of a Collar (A), Actuator Arm (B), Plunger Sha (C), Buon (D), Base
(E) and Foot Support (F) - see below.
AB
C
D
E
F

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GETTING STARTED
Get your meter running in the following steps. Find a tutorial video online at www.specmeters.com/videos.
SETUP
Installing the Baeries
The TruFirm meter requires 2 AA Baeries (included). They are installed inside the plasc housing. Remove the four screws
holding the lid in place to access the baery holder.
Note: If the TruFirm will not be used for an extended period of me (over one month), it is recommended that you remove
the baeries from the meter.
FieldScout Mobile App
This app can be used to view measurement results diretly on your mobile device and send data directly to the SpecConnect
web interface.
1. Search for and download the FieldScout mobile app from the app store on your mobile device
2. Open the FieldScout mobile app
3. Enter the SpecConnect username and password to send measurements to the cloud account or tap Use FieldScout
Basic to start grid mode
4. Upon rst use, tap the Golf or Agriculture icon
5. Select an exisng Course/Farm or create a new one
6. Tap the “Start a New Session” buon. Alternavely, you can select an exisng session. In this case, skip to step 9.
7. Select TruFirm as the Meter Type and name the session
8. Select the newly created session
9. Select whether the data will be collected in Grid or Freeform mode
10. In Basic mode, the Grid screen appears. Tap on a grid cell where measurements will be added. The app will display the
Take Readings screen (Figure 1a). In Freeform mode, the app will transion to the session screen (Figure 1b).
11. Tap the Connect FieldScout Device via Bluetooth buon. If Bluetooth is not enabled on the mobile device, a prompt
will appear to enable it.
12. Select the meter from the device list (Figure 2).
13. For Grid mode, conrm that the meter type you are using appears at the top of the screen (Figure 3a)
14. Tap a zone to bring up the Take Reading screen (Fig. 3b). Freeform readings will appear as pushpins on the map (Figure
4)
15. Li and drop the plunger to take a reading. The measurement data will appear on the mobile device
Note: Although the device appears in the app, it may not appear on the phone’s list of Bluetooth devices.
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Install 2 AA Baeries
(included)
Download FieldScout
Mobile App
Connect SpecConnect
Account
Connect FieldScout Device
via Bluetooth
QUICK OVERVIEW
Figure 1a - Bluetooth
Connect Buon (Grid)
Figure 1b - Bluetooth
Connect Buon
(Freeform)
Figure 2 - Scanned
Device List
Figure 3a - Grid Mode Figure 3b - Grid Mode
Readings Screen
Figure 4 - Freeform
Mode

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TRUFIRM OPERATION
The TruFirm meter measures the depth the plunger depresses a surface when it is released from a set height. The value of
this depth is displayed on an LCD readout. The unit will also display the average of a series of measurements and the num-
ber of measurements included in the average on the LCD.
Acvang/Deacvang the Display
The unit is acvated by briey pressing the Buon. The LCD will display the percent baery life for 5 seconds and then
show zeros when it is ready to take a measurement. The TruFirm will power o aer 5 minutes of inacvity.
Taking a Reading
1. Place the unit on the surface being measured. If the surface is sloped, orient the Base so that it is poinng downhill
2. Step lightly on the Foot Support. This will ensure the unity does not p over aer the reading is taken
3. If the Display is blank, press the Buon briey and wait for the unit to turn on
4. Li up the Plunger all the way. The display will now show the number of measurements that have been included in the
average (or zero for the rst reading)
5. Release the Plunger so that it drops smoothly
6. On the rst measurement, the value of the current measurement is displayed. For subsequent measurements, the LCD
will display the current reading for 2 seconds and the average aer 2 seconds. To reset the average, press the Buon
briey while the average value is being displayed. If the average is not reset, the next reading will be included in the
average as well. The average will also be reset if the meter is powered o (manually or due to 5 minutes of inacvity).
SPECIFICATIONS
Characterisc
Power
Weight
Height
Height (with Plunger Extended)
Diameter of Plunger
Descripon
2 AA Baeries (included)
4.3 lb. (1.95 kg)
27 in (69 cm)
46 in (117 cm)
1.68 in (4.27 cm)
Measurement Units
Range
Resoluon
Display
Depth of Travel (inches)
0.1 in - 1.5 in
0.01 in at 1.00 - 1.50 in, 0.003 in at 0.100 in - 0.999 in
LCD

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DATA LOGGING & STORAGE
The data collected by the TruFirm Meter can be viewed on a Smartphone in two formats:
1. Basic Grid Mode - Available with or without a SpecConnect subscripon. The site is divided into a customizable
2-dimensional grid of 3 to 5 rows and 3 to 5 columns. Measurements are taken in each grid cell. Grid cells are color
coded to show the rmness average (Figure 5).
2. Freeform Mode - Available with a SpecConnect subscripon. Color coded locaon icons are placed at every
measurement point using the coordinates from the internal locaon of the app’s mobile device (Figure 6).
The data from the Pro version of the app is sent instantaneously to SpecConnect. Data can be viewed in map form (Figure
7), exported to a spreadsheet, or viewed as a Trend Report (Figure 8). More details are available in the user’s guide for the
app.
The larger the TruFirm value, the soer the turf. The following are general guidelines used to describe rmness
measurements of the TruFirm on greens. With experience, you will see how the rmness measured by the TruFirm
corresponds to ball bounce.
Figure 6 - Freeform ModeFigure 5 - Grid Mode
Figure 7 - Grid Mode Figure 8 - Grid Mode
TruFirm Reading (in)
> 0.43
0.38 to 0.43
0.35 to 0.38
0.30 to 0.35
< 0.30
Metric Equivalent (cm)
> 1.1
0.97 to 1.1
0.89 to 0.97
0.76 to 0.89
< 0.76
Descripon
Very So
Good for Normal Play
Firm but Playable
Very Firm
Extremely Firm, Rock Hard

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WARRANTY
This product is warranted to be free from defects in material or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase.
During the warranty period Spectrum will, at its opon, either repair or replace products that prove to be defecve.
This warranty does not cover damage due to improper installaon or use, lightning, negligence, accident, unauthorized
modicaons, or to incidental or consequenal damages beyond the Spectrum product. Before returning a failed unit, you
must obtain a Returned Materials Authorizaon (RMA) from Spectrum. Spectrum is not responsible for any package that is
returned without a valid RMA number or for the loss of the package by any shipping company.
Form 103 (23-117)
Rev. A 07/2023
Spectrum and FieldScout are registered trademarks of Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
3600 Thayer Court
Aurora, IL 60504
800.248.8873
www.specmeters.com
TruFirm is a registered trademark of the United States Golf Associaon.