Whelen Engineering Company VA-2000 User manual

OPERATION & INSTALLATION MANUAL
Basic description and operation
of the
VA-2000
VA-2000
ALERT
TORNADO ALERT
SEEK SHELTER
R
CLEAR DISPLAY
BACKLIGHT TEST
PIONEERS IN WARNING SIGNALS
ENGINEERING
COMPANY,INC.
51 Winthrop Rd., Chester, CT 06412-0684
Tel.: (800) 63SIREN

WHELEN ENGINEERING COMPANY, Inc.
VA-2000
ALERTMONITOR and MESSAGE
DISPLAY
OPERATION & INSTALLATION MANUAL
The purpose of this manual is to provide operation and installation information about the
use of a Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Model VA-2000, Alert Monitor and
Message Display.
Prior to reading this manual or using this product you should be familiar with Whelen
Engineering’s family of High Power Voice and Siren Systems.
Document # 04-0113179-01D (041511)
replaces 04-0185686-01
ii

The information contained herein is proprietary to the Whelen Engineering Company,
Inc. No part of this manual may be reproduced, recorded or stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form without prior permission of Whelen Engineering
Company, Inc.
The software described in this manual is supplied with the understanding that it may
not be copied or otherwise redistributed without prior permission of Whelen
Engineering Company, Inc.
All materials and specifications contained in this document are subject to change
without notice.
Copyright, 1994 Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
iii

Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................1
Operation................................................................................................................1
Audio Output Option.........................................................................................2
Battery Option...................................................................................................2
Display...............................................................................................................2
Front Panel Controls..........................................................................................3
Getting Started.......................................................................................................4
Rear Panel..........................................................................................................4
Installation.........................................................................................................4
Audio Option.....................................................................................................5
Battery Option...................................................................................................5
Programming.....................................................................................................6
Number of Digits ........................................................................................6
Digits per Second........................................................................................7
Address .......................................................................................................7
Substitute Numbers.....................................................................................7
Messages.....................................................................................................7
View............................................................................................................8
Erase............................................................................................................8
Reset............................................................................................................8
Command Number Tables....................................................................................9
Internal Controls....................................................................................................11
Specifications..........................................................................................................12
Schematics
Work Sheets
iv

Introduction
The VA-2000 is a receive only Warning System Alert
Monitor and Message Display. The VA-2000 is designed to
follow Whelen's High Power Voice and Siren System
activation command sequences, as well as other DTMF
protocols. The Programming section goes into more detail
about other protocols.
All Whelen DTMF format command sequences are
decoded by each VA-2000 in a system. The VA-2000 reacts
to particular decoded commands by sounding a warning
alert tone, flashing an alert indicator and displaying one of
60 preprogrammed messages, on a 32 character display. In
addition, options are available which include a relay output,
an audio output path and an internal audio speaker.
The VA-2000 is a stand-alone desk top unit. It operates from a nominal 12 volt DC. A UL listed wall
mount transformer is supplied for primary power. Optionally, an internal battery backup may be installed.
A VA-2000 must be ordered with a radio receiver and antenna. Four different versions are offered, as
follows:
VA-2000H
VHF high-band,
132-174 MHz
VA-2000U
UHF,
403-430, 450-470 MHz
VA-2000M8
800 MHz,
806-824, 851-869 MHz
VA-2000M9
900 MHz,
928-929, 952-960 MHz
Operation
In normal operation, a VA-2000 receives and decodes a DTMF data string and produces an alerting tone
for about 5 seconds. At the same time, the LCD display and backlight activates and displays the
preprogrammed message. The red LED on the front of the VA-2000 also starts to flash. If the audio option
is installed, the audio monitoring path to the speaker is turned on, the output relay is activated and audio is
switched on at the audio output connector at the rear of the VA-2000. The display, LED and relay (if
installed) remain active until one of the following occur:
1. The CLEAR pushbutton switch on the front panel is pressed.
2. A Clear (or Cancel) command is received and decoded.
3. A three minute time out occurs. (Refer to Internal Dip Switches 2 and 3)
Note: Clear (or Cancel) commands 00,10 and 30 will clear all siren system activity and return the VA-
2000 to Stand-by Mode. Clear command 20 will only clear siren system activity. It will not clear VA-2000
activity.
During the 5 second alert period, the VA-2000 will respond to a new received command. If the received
DTMF string is decoded as a valid command, the VA-2000 starts a new 5 second alert period and displays
the new message.

Audio Output Option
The Audio Output option consists of a relay, an audio output path and an internal speaker. The relay
consists of a common pin, a Normally Open contact and a Normally Closed contact. The contacts are rated
at 1 Amp. Refer to the Specifications for details. The audio output path consists of a 600 transformer
coupled output, with rear panel level setting. In addition, a 1 watt internal speaker is installed, for live
audio, with a rear panel volume setting.
Battery Option
Full battery operation is an optional feature of a VA-2000. The unit may be equipped with an internal Gel-
type, maintenance free, sealed battery. Typically, there is sufficient battery capacity for 30 minutes of
warning at the end of a 24 hour AC power interruption. Dip Switches 2 and 3 may be used to conserve
battery capacity, to further ensure warning capability during AC power interruptions. The battery option
includes a higher voltage wall mount transformer, to insure proper charging levels.
Display
The VA-2000 includes a low power, 32 character, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), with LED backlighting.
The backlight improves the display viewing angle during normal ambient lighting conditions and allows
for viewing when there is no ambient light available. During normal standby conditions, the display reads
"STAND BY MODE" and the backlight is off.
However, if the internal battery backup option is installed, the standby message may be different. The
"BATTERY IS IN GOOD CONDITION" message will be displayed if the wall mount transformer is
plugged in to an active 115 VAC outlet, the battery is in good condition and the rear panel battery switch
is in the ON position.
If the battery is properly charged and the rear panel battery switch is ON, but the wall mount transformer
is disconnected, or the AC outlet is off, the display will read " STAND BY MODE " .
If the battery is properly charged and the wall mount transformer is plugged in to an active AC outlet, but
the rear panel battery switch is OFF, the display will read " BATTERY SWITCH IS TURNED OFF" .
Upon receipt of a valid command, the LED backlight is turned on and the appropriate message appears. A
message may be up to 96 characters long. Messages with more than 32 characters are displayed in a paged
mode, where each 32 character page is displayed for approximately 3 seconds.
A four position Dip Switch is located inside the VA-2000. Switches 2 and 3 are used to control the
backlighting and optional output for power conservation purposes. Dip Switch functions are explained in a
later section.
A red LED alert indicator flashes upon receipt of a valid command, and remains flashing until the Clear
button is pressed or a Cancel command is decoded.
2

Front Panel Controls
There are three pushbutton switches on the front panel of the VA-2000, The switch functions are shown in
the following table:
SWITCH FUNCTION
CLEAR Pressing this pushbutton will clear the active message on the
display, turn off the flashing LED and silence the alert tone. If
the audio option is installed, the speaker and audio output are
turned off and the relay output is deactivated.
DISPLAY Pressing this pushbutton activates or deactivates the backlight
BACKLIGHT for the LCD display. This allows the user to view a message if e
the backlighting has timed out and turned off after three
minutes, because of the Dip Switch setting.
(Refer to Internal Controls for Dip Switch descriptions)
TEST Pressing this pushbutton will cause the VA-2000 to enter into a
Test Mode. The VA-2000 will emit a 5 second alert tone, flash
the LED, turn on the backlight and display the area code and
address code, and the wildcard settings of the unit. If installed,
the optional relay, speaker and audio output are also activated
for approximately 5 seconds.
3

Getting Started
Read this section to become familiar with the installation and set-up requirements of the VA-2000. Some
of the discussion pertains to options that may not be installed, therefore these sections may be skipped.
Rear Panel
All VA-2000 models are equipped with an “ANTENNA’’ connector, a wall mount transformer “POWER”
connector and a two position “SERIAL IN” connector. The “SERIAL IN” connector is used for
programming the VA-2000, as described in a later section.
In addition, a number of optional features may be present. These include a relay closure and an audio
output path through a five position “AUDIO” connector, as part of the Audio Output option, plus
“LEVEL” and “VOL.” controls for audio. For the Battery Back-up option, a “BATTERY ON OFF”
switch and a “CHARGER POWER” connector are included.
Installation
Select a location for the VA-2000 where it can be seen and heard. Be sure that the LCD display is
readable. A 115 volt AC outlet is required. It is important to have room for the antenna and clearance
around the antenna of at least one foot, to avoid any problems with reception.
Connect the antenna to the ANTENNA connector on the rear panel. Connect the standard wall mount
transformer to the POWER connector, in the upper left of the rear panel. If the Battery option is installed,
then connect the wall mount transformer at the CHARGER POWER connector in the lower right of the
rear panel.
4

Audio Option
The optional relay output consists of a Normally-Open 1 Amp contact closure and a Normally-Closed 1
Amp contact closure. The list gives the connector pinouts.
Function Pin Number
Relay Common Pin 3
Relay N.C. Pin 1
Relay N.O. Pin 2
As previously described, the relay activates when the VA-2000 receives a valid command, and remains
active until one of the following occur:
1. The CLEAR pushbutton switch is pressed.
2. A Clear (or Cancel) command is received and decoded.
3. A three minute time out occurs (if DS 3 = On).
The optional audio output connection provides a path for the audio information received via the radio
receiver. The audio output is essentially the same as the audio at the internal speaker, except that each has
its own rear panel level adjustment. A small screwdriver may be used to adjust the audio path level at the
recessed potentiometer labeled “LEVEL” or the internal speaker volume at the potentiometer labeled
“VOL.”. The audio output path is supplied through a 600 ohm audio transformer. The connector pinout is
below. Function Pin Number
Audio Pin 5
Audio Return Pin 4
The audio output remains active until:
1. The CLEAR pushbutton switch is pressed.
2. A Clear (or Cancel) command is received and decoded.
3. A three minute time out occurs (if Dip Switch 3 = On).
Battery Option
A small battery disconnect slide switch is provided at the rear panel. This switch provides a means of
completely disconnecting the battery from the circuit to conserve battery capacity, typically during
shipping or storage. This switch is intended for factory use or trained service personnel only. This switch
is not to be used as an On/Off switch.
Note: The normal standby display message is “BATTERY IS IN GOOD CONDITION”. If this message
does not appear, the battery is either charging ,there is no AC power or there is a problem with the VA-
2000. If the battery is charging, the message will be “ STAND BY MODE ”.
The “BATTERY ON OFF” slide switch must be in the On position during operation of the VA-
2000.
5

Programming
The following VA-2000 parameters are programmable:
Numbers of digits to decode
Digits per second
Address
Substitute numbers (wild cards)
Messages
The VA-2000 is programmed through a two position connector, on the rear panel. The unit is programmed
via an RS-232 receive signal, using standard ASCII data from a personal computer. The PC is used in a
simple communication protocol. A programming cable kit, Model VA2PKIT, part # 46-0945805-00, is
available to simplify the PC to VA-2000 wiring.
To start programming the VA-2000:
1. Connect the PC to the VA-2000.
2. Turn on the PC and VA-2000.
3. Enter a communication program.
4. Program the following parameters.
In general, each entry starts with an upper-case letter that designates a function, followed by an equals
sign, then an entry and finally the ENTER key.
Note that the character before the equal sign must be upper-case.
Number of Digits
The total number of digits to decode may be from 3 to 8 for touch-tone data, Whelen 8 digit or Whelen 10
digit. In the case of touch-tone data and Whelen 8 digit data, the leading digits are the address and the last
digit is the command. For example, in a 6 digit data string, the first 5 digits are the address. In Whelen 10
digit data, the first 7 digits are area code and address.
To program the number of digits to decode, enter one of the following:
C=T3 for touch-tone 3 digits.
C=T4 for touch-tone 4 digits.
C=T5
for touch-tone 5 digits.
C=T6
for touch-tone 6 digits.
C=T7
for touch-tone 7 digits.
C=T8
for touch-tone 8 digits.
C=8 for Whelen 8 digits.
C=10 for Whelen 10 digits.
Remember to use upper-case letters.
The number of digits default setting, in the VA-2000, is Whelen 10 digit protocol.
6

Digits per Second
The number of digits per second defines the timing of the data string. The digits per second may be from 1
to 15. For example, assume a digit on time of 125 ms and digit off time of 125 ms for a total digit time of
250 ms. Therefore, the number of digits per second equals 4.
To program the number of digits per second, type D=n, where n = 1 to 9, A, B, C, D, E or F. Characters A
through F are hexadecimal values representing 10 through 15; for example, A = 10, B = 11, etc.
For example, for 10 digits per second, type D=A and press ENTER.
The digits per second default in the VA-2000 is for Whelen 10 digit protocol.
Address
The address may be programmed to any of the 16 DTMF pairs. The address may be factory programmed,
if the appropriate information is supplied with the order.
To program the address, type A=address, where address = 2 to 7 characters.
Whelen 10 digit example:
If the area code = 123 and the address = 4567, type A=1234567 and press ENTER.
Touch-tone 5 digit example:
If the address = 9876, type A=9876 and press ENTER.
The default setting is 1234567.
Substitute Numbers
The VA-2000 may be programmed to respond to group calls by programming the unit to respond to a
substitute number, or a “wild card”. A substitute number may be programmed into any or all positions of
the address. The # symbol is used to represent a substitute number.
To program a substitute number, type W=98## and press ENTER.
For example, assume a Whelen 10 digit protocol, and the VA-2000 is to respond to all addresses. Also
assume an area code of 123. The entry would be W=123#### and press ENTER.
The number of characters after the equal sign must be the same as the number of Address digits (ie. 2 to
7).
The default is no wildcards. Note: the display only displays 0’s and #’s.
Messages
For Whelen 10 digit protocol, one to sixty messages may be programmed. For all other protocols, up to 15
messages may programmed. An individual message may be up to 96 characters, however, the total number
7

of characters must not exceed 1500. The display consists of 32 positions, therefore, messages greater 32
characters require a second or third “page”.
Messages may be upper or lower case characters. Consideration must be should be given to the final
position of the characters on the screen, to minimize splitting of words between lines or pages. A
“Message Display Work Sheet” is included to help with message layout.
For 3 to 8 digit protocols, Message 1 will be displayed when a DTMF 1 is decoded in the command
position, Message 2 will be displayed when a DTMF 2 is decoded in the command position, etc.
For Whelen 10 digit protocol, refer to the Table on the next page, for a breakdown of message numbers
versus commands.
To program a message, type Mn=The message and press ENTER, where n = 1 to 15 (or 1 to 60, for 10
digit protocol).
For example, M1=This is a test of the and only a test and press ENTER.
There are additional functions that may be performed through the PC. These are:
View a Message
Erase a Message
Reset to Defaults
View
To view a message, on the PC, simply type Vn= and press ENTER, where n is the desired message
number.
Erase
To erase a message, in the VA-2000, simply type En= and press ENTER, where n is the desired message
number.
Reset
Typing R= and pressing ENTER will cause a VA-2000 programming parameter reset. This function resets
the VA-2000 to the default conditions and it clears all programmed messages. Following this command
the programming parameters are:
Number of Digits = 10
Digits per Second = F
Address = 1234567
Substitute Numbers = none
Messages = all messages are cleared
Important: The reset process takes about 25 seconds. Do not press any Front Panel Controls during
this time.
8

COMMAND NUMBER TABLES
The following tables show the relationship between Whelen Siren System commands and VA2000
messages. For instance, if a DTMF command of 01 is received by a VA-2000, then M1 (message 1) is
displayed. At the same time, a remote siren will receive and decode the DTMF command of 01 as the
Wail Tone. Therefore, it would be logical to make sure that message 1 relates to the Wail Tone. Another
example are the Digital Voice Messages. From the table, notice that Digital Voice Message 1 and M49
correspond to DTMF command 31. In this case it would be logical to relate message 49 to Digital Voice
Message 1.
For Whelen 10 digit protocol -
Message # Siren System Command Command #
M1 Wail 01
M2 Attack 02
M3 Alert 03
M4 Public Address 04
M5 Air-Horn 05
M6 Hi-Lo 06
M7 Whoop 07
M8 Noon Test 08
M9 North 09
M10 East 0A
M11 South 0B
M12 West 0C
M13 Clockwise 0D
M14 Counter Clockwise 0E
M15 Silent Test 0F
M17 Digital Voice Message 13 11
M18 Digital Voice Message 14 12
M19 Digital Voice Message 15 13
M20 Digital Voice Message 16 14
M21 Rotor Position 15
M22 Counter 16
M23 Clear Counter 17
M24 Arm System 18
M25 Dis-arm System 19
M26 Siren On 1A
M27 Siren Off 1B
M28 Signal/Noise Request 1C
M29 Signal/Noise Status 1D
M30 Test Clear 1E
M31 Status Request 1F
M33 Battery/AC 21
M34 Battery/Temperature 22
M35 Instant Status 23
M36 Transmit Off 24
9

M37 not used 25
M38 not used 26
M39 Wind Shift 27
M40 Reset wind & temp. 28
M41 Reset rainfall 29
M42 Weather 2A
M43 Temperature 2B
M44 Wind 2C
M45 Rainfall 2D
M46 Humidity 2E
M47 Barometer 2F
M49 Digital Voice Message 1 31
M50 Digital Voice Message 2 32
M51 Digital Voice Message 3 33
M52 Digital Voice Message 4 34
M53 Digital Voice Message 5 35
M54 Digital Voice Message 6 36
M55 Digital Voice Message 7 37
M56 Digital Voice Message 8 38
M57 Strobe On 39
M58 Strobe Off 3A
M59 Digital Voice Message 9 3B
M60 Digital Voice Message 10 3C
M61 Digital Voice Message 11 3D
M62Digital Voice Message 12 3E
M63 Active Status 3F
Note: The Clear (or Cancel) commands 00,10 and 30 will clear all siren system activity and return the
VA-2000 to Stand-by Mode. Clear command 20 will only clear siren system activity. It will not clear VA-
2000 activity. These commands correspond to M0, M16, M32 and M48.
For Whelen 8 digit protocol -
Message #
Siren System Command
Command #
M1
Wail
1
M2
Attack
2
M3
Alert
3
M4
Public Address
4
M5
Air-Horn
5
M6
Hi-Lo
6
M7
Whoop
7
M8
Noon Test
8
M9
North
9
M10
East
A
M11
South
B
M12
West
C
M13
Clockwise
D
M14
Counter Clockwise
E
M15
Silent Test
F
10

For touch-tone protocol -
Message # Keypad Character
M1 1
M2 2
M3 3
M4 4
M5 5
M6 6
M7 7
M8 8
M9 9
M10 A
M11 B
M12 C
M13 D
M14 *
M15 #
CANCEL 0
Internal Controls
The VA-2000 is equipped with a four position Dip Switch for additional control of certain functions. The
Dip Switches are intended for factory use or trained service personnel only. The switch functions are
defined as follows:
DIP
SWITCH FUNCTION
DS 1 On = Displays all received data.
Off*= Displays only valid messages.
DS 2 On* = Backlighting turns off after 3 minutes.
Off = Backlighting follows normal control.
DS 3 On* = Optional relay, audio path and speaker turn off after 3 minutes.
Off = Optional relay, audio path and speaker follow normal control.
DS 4 On = Battery option installed
Off = Battery option not installed
* = default
11

VA-2000 SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL -
Input Power: 12 volt DC nominal, 40 mA typ., 225 mA max.
UL listed wall mount transformer.
Physical: Desktop design, driftwood color.
3.4" H x 5.9" W x 7.6" D.
3.6 pounds.
Environmental: Operating temperature, 0 to 60 degrees C.
Humidity, 0-95%, non-condensing.
Communication: Radio receiver and antenna,
Typical freq. ranges: 132-174 MHz
403-430, 450-470 MHz
806-824, 851-869 MHz
928-929, 952-960 MHz
DTMF protocol; Whelen 10 digit format or other
3-8 digit formats. Digit rate programmable from
1 to 15 digits per second.
Controls: Clear, Display Backlight, Test.
Indicators: Flashing, high intensity red LED.
Display: 32 character LCD, 2 line by 16 characters, 5.55 mm high.
Internal Backlighting.
Tone alert: Piezo, 3.7 KHz tone.
106 dBa, nominal.
Message 1500 total characters.
Capacity: Up to 96 characters per message.
Page scrolling.
OPTIONS -
Battery: 12 volt DC battery back up.
Gel-type, sealed battery.
Internal battery charger.
24 hour stand by, followed by 30 minute warning activation.
Relay: 2 Form C, NO, NC.
1 Amp @ 24 VDC or 125 VAC.
12

Message Work
Sheets