Chromoflex - Manual - English V1.5
Rev. 03.05.2010
-4-
Subject due to technical changes
Networking
The ChromoFlex RC CW is working on a radio frequency of 868.3 Mhz. This frequency is often used
for other radio controls and wireless sensors. Very strict regulations ensure that operation, free from
interference, is possible. Therefore ChromoFlex RC CW uses a bidirectional communication to ensure
reliable operation, meaning the Remote Control or the USB-Dongle requires an acknowledgement
from the ChromoFlex RC CW.
A basic application is using one ChromoFlex RC CW and either remote control or USB-Dongle. Both
units have to be set on the same net. This is also the default factory setup mode (default: network 8).
With several ChromoFlex RC CW modules in one net, the shades of white and the two programmes
will run synchronous. Within this net a Master Mode can be set for a single module by using dip
switches. It will forward it´s settings (and time base) periodically to all modules in the same net.
Even if other modules, non-masters, are switched on later, they will receive the settings from the
Master only a few seconds later.
The communication of the Radio Remote Control or the PC Dongle with the master is 2-way. The
master itself sends signals to the other modules only unidirectional. The data transmission protocol is
based on a mathematical algorithm that is very robust against transmission errors. Communication
between the modules is safe, because if any packet is lost, the next packet will follow after a few
seconds. Even if many packets are lost, the network will still work synchronous.
It proved efficiently in practice to set a module as master in the middle of the network. If one of the
other modules is too far from the master, it will not follow reliablely to the master’
s commands.
Note about the range: The Radio Remote Control has a less stronger antenna than the Chromoflex
RC modules or the USB Dongle. Normally the range of the Radio Remote Control is below the range
of the master to the other modules. To achieve a good performance, we recommend justifing that the
antenna of the Chromoflex RC modules is straight ´into the air´. However, dense materials like stone,
concrete and metal parts may reduce the range significantly, especially when close to the antenna. In
case of weak signal, it is quite enough to move the modules only a few centimetres next to each
other.
