© Copyright 2004 Adaptive Micro Systems LLC. All rights reserved.Adaptive Micro Systems • 7840 North 86th Street • Milwaukee, WI 53224 USA • 414-357-2020 • 414-357-2029 (fax) • http://www.adaptivedisplays.com

Trademarked names appear throughout this document. Rather than list the names and entities that own the trademarks or insert a trademark symbol with each mention of the trademarked name, the publisher states that it is using names for editorial purposes and to the benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of improperly using the trademark.

The following are trademarks of Adaptive Micro Systems: Adaptive, Alpha, AlphaLert, AlphaNET, AlphaNet plus, AlphaEclipse, AlphaPremiere, AlphaTicker, AlphaVision, AlphaVision InfoTracker, Automode, BetaBrite, BetaBrite Director, BetaBrite Messaging Software, Big Dot, Director, EZ KEY II, EZ95, PagerNET, PPD, PrintPak, Serial Clock, Smart Alec, Solar, TimeNet

The distinctive trade dress of this product is a trademark claimed by Adaptive Micro Systems LLC.Due to continuing product innovation, specifications in this manual are subject to change without notice.

April 5, 2004 9712-1103

Alpha RF900 Wireless Transceiver Instructionsfor Outdoor Signs

Equipment description

Equipment connection

RF900 server connection

Alpha RF900 server(connects to computer)

andAlpha RF900e client(connects to sign)

Power supply(only used with

Alpha RF900 server)

Antenna, 2dBi

Antenna connector

LEDs:• PWR — lit when the unit has power.• LINK — on the server, should always be lit. On the client,

only lit when the client detects another Alpha RF900.• RX — blinks when the unit receives data.• TX — blinks when the unit transmits data.

Power connection (only on Alpha RF900 server)

Computer or sign connection

RF900 Server RF900e Client

Operating temperature: 0°C to 70°C -40°C to 80°CFrequency: 902 - 928 MHz (US/Canada) FHSS

Range:300 to 500 feet (indoors)

Up to 3500 feet line-of-site (outdoors)RS232 interface: DB9 female 5-wire

Computer connection

Computer cable(pn 1088-8634)

Connect to a COM port

Alpha RF900 server

http://www.adaptivedisplays.com

April 5, 2004 Alpha RF900 Wireless Transceiver Instructions for Outdoor Signs (pn 9712-1103)

2 Equipment connection

RF900e client connection

The RF900e client is installed inside of an outdoor sign as shown below:

AlphaEclipse 2500, 2600, and 3500 outdoor signNOTE: The antenna bracket should not be attached to the sign itself.

GND+ 5VRED

BLACKBROWN

ORANGEBLACK TUBING

Controller board

Coax cable, 2 feet(pn 1160-9008A)

Antenna, 2 dBi(pn 1211-9201)

Antenna bracket(pn 6811-6117)Do not attach to sign.

Coax cable, 20 feet(pn 1160-9009A)

Signcasing

Alpha RF900ewireless transceiver

RS232 RXDRS232 TXDSHIELDRS485B (–)RS485A (+)

Equipment connection 3

Alpha RF900 Wireless Transceiver Instructions for Outdoor Signs (pn 9712-1103) April 5, 2004

AlphaEclipse 3600 outdoor sign

4-foot coax cable(pn 1180-9034)

The communication cube is on thebottom row of a sign. However, itcan be located on either the farleft or right side of a sign.

Antenna, 2 dbi(pn 1211-9201)

Antenna bracket(pn 6811-6117)Do not attach to sign

20-foot coax cable(pn 1160-9009A)

RF900e client(inside communication cube)

Wireway terminal block

CommunicationCube

Wire

way

(sid

e vi

ew)

Blac

k

SHIE

LD

Red

Oran

geBr

own

TB1 TB2

TB3TB4

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 1 2 34 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

April 5, 2004 Alpha RF900 Wireless Transceiver Instructions for Outdoor Signs (pn 9712-1103)

4 Software setup

Software setup

1. Install AlphaNET version 3.0.2 or higher software on your computer.

2. Open the Site Manager and click Edit > Connection Device > Add. Select an Alpha RF900 connection device. Then click OK.

3. Next, create a site that uses the Alpha RF900 connection device. Click File > New Site:

4. Finally, select Messages > Edit. Create a message and click File > Transmit. At the Transmit Options prompt, check To All Sites. Then click OK. The TX indicator on the Alpha RF900 unit should blink as your message is sent.

Select the COM port connected to the Alpha RF900 server.

Name the new site.

For AlphaEclipse 2500, 2600, or 3500:• select Alpha 2.0For AlphaEclipse 3600:• select Alpha 3.0

Check this box.

Select the Alpha RF900 connection device you just created.

Check Enable error checking to make sure messages are received by the sign. However, this will increase the time it takes to transmit messages.

Click OK. If an error message appears, click OK again.

Equipment descriptionEquipment connectionRF900 server connectionRF900e client connectionAlphaEclipse 2500, 2600, and 3500 outdoor signAlphaEclipse 3600 outdoor sign

Software setup