Zaxcom RX-12 User manual

1
USER MANUAL
Published January 2016
Software Version 1.02
Zaxcom RX12 / QRX212 Module
Streamlined Reception
interstage
Phistersvej 31, 2900 Hellerup, Danmark
Telefon [phone], fax [phone]
www.interstage.dk
-pro audio with a smile

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KNOW YOUR RX12 ........................................................................................................................................ 4
FRONT PANEL ............................................................................................................................................................4
RIGHT SIDE................................................................................................................................................................5
LEFT SIDE ..................................................................................................................................................................6
REAR ........................................................................................................................................................................6
INSERTING THE QRX212 MODULES ..............................................................................................................................7
HOME SCREEN EXPLAINED ...........................................................................................................................................8
SYSTEM MENU.............................................................................................................................................. 9
RECEIVER CONFIGURE MENU ........................................................................................................................ 9
RX MODE .................................................................................................................................................................9
Mode.................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Power ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
FREQUENCY ...............................................................................................................................................................9
TRANSMITTER GAIN ....................................................................................................................................................9
UNIT CODE..............................................................................................................................................................10
OUTPUT TYPE ..........................................................................................................................................................10
AES MODE..............................................................................................................................................................10
TONE......................................................................................................................................................................10
CENTER FREQUENCY SET ..............................................................................................................................10
SCAN MENU.................................................................................................................................................11
CENTER FREQUENCY..................................................................................................................................................11
MARKER .................................................................................................................................................................11
FREQUENCY LIST / AUTO-PICK......................................................................................................................12
HOW TO USE AUTO-PICK ...........................................................................................................................................12
ENCRYPTION................................................................................................................................................12
SETTINGS MENU ..........................................................................................................................................13
FAN SPEED ..............................................................................................................................................................13
LCD BRIGHTNESS .....................................................................................................................................................13
QRX PROGRAM .......................................................................................................................................................13
How to update the software for the QRX212 modules ................................................................................... 13
RECALL FACTORY DEFAULTS .......................................................................................................................................14
ZAXNET FREQUENCY CONTROL ...................................................................................................................................14
SERIAL PORT MODE ..................................................................................................................................................14
How to send remote commands ..................................................................................................................... 14
ADVANCED SET UP....................................................................................................................................................14
Burn Boot loader.............................................................................................................................................. 14
Debug Bits ........................................................................................................................................................14
Allow Logging................................................................................................................................................... 14
Log Screen........................................................................................................................................................ 14

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RX12 CONNECTOR ASSIGNMENTS ................................................................................................................15
SINGLE ANALOG CHANNEL OUT OF ONE TA5.................................................................................................................15
TWO ANALOG CHANNELS OUT OF ONE TA5..................................................................................................................15
AES DIGITAL OUT OF TA5..........................................................................................................................................15
DC POWER IN (HIROSE HR10A-7P 4PIN MALE) ..........................................................................................................15
SERIAL CONNECTOR (USB RS-485) ............................................................................................................................16
Nomad or QRX ................................................................................................................................................. 16
IFB200 or TRX900 Camera Link ........................................................................................................................ 16
UPDATING THE RX12 FIRMWARE..................................................................................................................17
PRODUCT SUPPORT .....................................................................................................................................18
ZAXCOM RX12 SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................................................................19
ZAXCOM WARRANTY POLICY AND LIMITATIONS...........................................................................................20

Zaxcom RX12 Front
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Know Your RX12
Front Panel
1. UHF Antenna A
2. Numeric keypad
3. Back Key
4. Daylight Readable Color LCD Screen
5. UHF Antenna B
6. Enter Key
7. Menu Encoder Knob - Press the menu knob to access the RX12 menu. Rotate and press to adjust the
menu perimeters.
Navigation shortcut from the home screen:
Pressing the star key will advance to the receiver configuration menu
Pressing the pound key will advance to the scan menu.
1 2 34 5
6 7

Zaxcom RX12 Right Side
5
Right Side
123 4
56 7
1. UHF Antenna B RF Loop through RF Out - The RF out is after the 35MHz filter and has 3dB of gain.
2. External Power Connector (Hirose-4F) Voltage range 10 to 18 VDC
3. Audio Outputs for Modules 1 - 6 (TA-5M)
Each output can be configured to output analog or AES audio.
Please note when outputting more than two signals the modules will need to output an AES signal.
4. QRX212 Module Position 6
5. Power Switch
6. Serial Communication Port
The Serial port is used to connect the RX12 to a Nomad, IFB200, TRX900CL or QRX with QIFB.
When connected the RX12 can send remote frequency and gain commands to the TRX transmitter.
7. QRX212 Module Position 5
1
1
1
4
4

Zaxcom RX12 Left Side / Rear
6
Left Side
1 2 3
45
1. QRX212 Module Position 2
2. QRX212 Module Position 1
3. UHF Antenna B Loop through RF Out –The RF out is after the 35MHz filter and has 3dB of gain.
4. QRX212 Module Position 3
5. QRX212 Module Position 4
Rear
1
1. Vent Fan

Zaxcom RX12 Inserting the QRX212 Modules
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Inserting the QRX212 Modules
Rear view of the QRX212 Module QRX212 Modules slide into the RX12 with the arrow pointing to
the top of the RX12
Fastening screws
With the arrow on the QRX212 module pointing to the top of the RX12 gently insert the QRX212 into the
RX12 frame until you feel the module mate with the RX12.
Insert the supplied screw through RX12 into the QRX212 to hold the module in place. Caution: do not over
tighten the screw. The screws for the top RX212 modules will go through the top of the RX12 and the
screws for the bottom modules will go through the bottom of the RX12.

Zaxcom RX12 Home Screen
8
Home Screen Explained
The home screen is divided into six sectors, one sector for each QRX 212module. Each sector will display the
following information:
Frequency - The current selected frequency will be displayed for each receiver. If the module is in dual
mode both frequencies will be displayed. The A frequency will be on the left and the B receiver will be on
the right. If the frequency is highlighted in red that means the selected frequency is outside the 35MHz
filter. Keep in mind while frequencies outside the range of the 35MHz may still work though performance
will be less than optimal.
Battery level - A battery indicator will display the approximate battery level for each transmitter. A
fully charged battery will display green and then turn red as the battery depletes its charge. The battery
icon will start blinking when the battery has roughly 15 to 30 minutes of charge left. Please note that
when the battery is low the transmitter may not go into record.
Transport status -The transport status of the TRX transmitter’s onboard recorder will be indicated just
above the RF signal strength meter:
STOP –Recording / Playback is stopped
REC –TRX is recording
PLAY –The TRX is playing back
RF Signal Strength - Each module has two RF meters, one for each receiver. The meters show the
amount of RF signal being received. The signal level is visually displayed in the ramp shaped RF meter icon.
As the shading increases from the left to the right the more signal is present. If the icon is shaded red that
means the receiver is seeing unwanted RF from a source other than from a TRX transmitter. If the icon is
green the RF is being received from a TRX transmitter. Within the icon the actual signal strength, in
decibels, is displayed numerically.
Audio meter - Each module will display audio meter(s) for each signal received. If the module is set to
single mode one large meter will be shown. If the module is set to dual mode two large meters will be
shown. If the module is receiving a signal from a stereo transmitter the large meter will be split in half into
two smaller meters, representing the left and right audio of the transmitter. The meters will show the
audio modulation in dBFS. Within each meter the signal will be represented in green, yellow and red
showing the levels, there is also a peak hold indicator. If a meter has a white X through it that is showing
that the receiver is not receiving a valid signal.
Save Indicator - A pixel on bottom of screen that moves right to left indicates that the RX12 is saving a
parameter setting to its memory. If the RX12 is powered down while the pixel is moving the settings will
not be saved and could possibly corrupt the setting memory.

Zaxcom RX12 System Menu
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System Menu
To access the system menu press the MENU encoder knob.
Receiver Configure Menu
The receiver configure menu is where each of the 6 QRX212 receiver modules are be set up from. To access the
receiver configure menu press the star key from the home screen. Or select it from the system menu.
Once in the receiver configure menu individual receiver modules can be accessed by pressing the corresponding
number key on the numeric keyboard.
RX Mode
From the RX mode menu each individual QRX212 module can be powered on and off and set to single or dual
mode.
Mode
Single –The QRX212 module is set to receive a single TRX transmitter.
Dual –The QRX212 module is set to receive signal from two TRX transmitters
Power
This is used to toggle on and off the power to the QRX212 module. Turning power off will shut off the
individual module and will conserve power.
Frequency
This displays the current frequency that the QRX212 is set to and is where the frequency for the A and B receiver
can manually be set from.
To set the frequency highlight the frequency of the receiver you would like to change and rotate the menu
encoder knob, or press the desired frequency on the numeric keypad.
Transmitter Gain
If the RX12 is connected to a Nomad, IFB200, TRX900CL or a QRX with QIFB, the gain for each TRX
transmitters can be adjusted from here and will be remotely sent to the TRX transmitters via the serial port
connection.
In each receiver configuration menu the status
of each transmitter will be shown. This is the
same configuration that is in the home screen.
Included are the frequency, battery level, signal
strength and audio levels.

Zaxcom RX12 System Menu
10
Unit Code
This is where the ZaxNet unit code for each module is set. The unit code on each QRX212 receiver must
match the unit code set in the TRX transmitter so that remote frequency and gain commands can be sent to
the proper transmitter. Each receiver and transmitter pair must have its own unique unit code. The unit code
number can be set to any number between 1 and 99.
Output Type
The output type sets what audio signal the individual QRX212 module will output via the TA5 connector. Each
module can be set to output the audio as either an analog signal or an AES signal.
AES Mode
There are two AES output pairs per QRX212 module. When receiving two mono transmitter signals on a
single QRX212 module the two audio channels will appear on one AES pair by choosing the AES swapped
mode
Tone
Each QRX212 module has its own tone oscillator. Turning tone on will output tone from the TA5 connector
at -20dBFS allowing for the levels to be calibrated at the mixer or recorder.
Center Frequency Set
The RX12 has a 35MHz tracking front end filter that eliminates unwanted stray RF which can desensitize the
receiver and result in poor performance.
The center frequency is the middle frequency of the 35MHz window.
After deciding on the 35MHz operating range the center frequency should be set to the middle of that range.
Therefore the best performance of the RX12 will be frequencies chosen 17.5MHz above and 17.5MHz below
the center frequency. Please note that this is a global setting for all QRX212 modules meaning that that the
35MHz window will be the same for all modules.
To adjust the center filter rotate the menu encoder knob to the desired frequency, or manually enter the
desired frequency using the numeric keypad.