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Technical Support

This page generates programming instructions for RAK-2 and RCS series systems that have firmware version 6 in the embedded RFC-1. Users of earlier models, including RAK-1 systems and stand-alone RFC-1 systems, should use the programming pages that are compatible with those models.

Program a Telemetry Alarm

The RFC-1/B can respond to telemetry conditions using alarms. This requires setting both the alarm conditions and an action sequence.

Action Sequence

An action sequence is a series of instructions stored in memory to perform a task. It has no information about when the task occurs.

  • An action sequence is a stored set of instructions that perform a task
  • An action sequence is triggered by an alarm or a date/time trigger
  • The system stores stores eight programmable action sequences

Action sequences can operate control relays, print readings, etc. A typical action sequence to turn on a transmitter is activate a relay, pause several seconds, then activate another relay.

The RFC-1 can store eight action sequences. Each sequence can have eight steps. Steps are performed in order and the sequence terminates at the first blank step.

As of firmware version 6, action sequence 1 is not used in the factory settings. All eight programmable action sequences are unused by default.

Alarm Conditions

The alarm consists of the upper and lower limits and a trigger rule. Upper and lower limits set the tolerance for the channel. The trigger rule determines how the system uses the limits to determine when an alarm occurs.

  • Alarm limits are determined by the device that is monitored
  • When an alarm occurs it triggers an action sequence
  • The system stores eight alarms

Some trigger rules ignore the limits and look for the reading to change by a certain percentage. These rules are useful for stations that operate at multiple power levels.

Alarm Limits

Alarms limits do not use decimal points and they always use four significant digits. See the links section of this page if you need help determining alarm limits for a channel.

Blocking an Alarm

Alarms can be blocked so that they do not operate during specified hours. See the links section of this page for a page that can assist with alarm block programming if you need help blocking an alarm.

Instructions

Use the selections below to setup an alarm. All items must be completed.

The values and adresses will be calculated and displayed. Click the "Show Instructions" button to display step-by-step programming instructions.

Channel Number

This is the channel that the alarm monitors.

select a channel from the list

Upper Limit

The alarm trips when the channel reading exceeds this value. Enter '9999' to ignore the upper limit.

upper limit, 4 digits, use leading zeros, omit decimal

Lower Limit

The alarm trips when the channel reading falls below this value. Enter '0000' to ignore the lower limit.

lower limit, 4 digits, use leading zeros, omit decimal

Trigger Rule

The trigger rule sets the conditions for the alarm to occur.

select a trigger rule from the list

  • Conditional rules are used for most alarms. The "condition" is that the channel reading must be within the limits and then go out of tolerance. The factory setting is "Conditional: both limits active".
  • Unconditional limits trip the alarm as long as the reading is out of tolerance even if that is the desired state. For instance, if the transmitter is turned off for service, an alarm will trip. Consider this carefully before using.
  • Percentage change rules do not use the limits. The reference value is updated by the system after a phone call or when an action sequence ends. So, for example, if the RFC-1/B changes the transmitter power the reference is updated.

Action Sequence

Select an unused action sequence. Selecting an action sequence that is in use will not harm the system but will overwrite the existing information and change the behavior of the system.

When a task is repeated, for instance turning on a transmitter, the same action sequence number can be re-used.

As of firmware version 6, action sequence 1 is not used in the factory settings. All eight programmable action sequences are unused by default.

select the action sequence from the list

Action sequences 9 and higher are pre-programmed sequences that perform commonly used functions. No action sequence is programmed (no actions are required in the next section) when a pre-programmed action sequence is selected.

Actions

Select the steps to perform the task in the order they should occur. Select "(unused)" for steps that are not used. Relay actions are always momentary.

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

select an action from the list

Alarm

Select an unused alarm. Selecting an alarm that is in use will not harm the system but will overwrite the existing information and change the behavior of the system.

Start with number 1 and use the next item for each new event. No alarms are programmed at the factory.

select an alarm from the list

Results

Program these addresses with the values shown below.

Alarm

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

Action Sequence

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

At memory address: program value:

Programming Instructions

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