LPRS Radio Modules makes it Easy for Sports Judges

JPAD Wireless data entry systems (or Judges Pads) are designed to be a rugged and reliable method of wirelessly sending and receiving data between a PC or other Serial host and one or more Handsets. The system uses LPRS ER400TRS (or ER900TRS) RF modules for communications between the Base Station and the Handsets. This enables the PC to talk directly to each handset using simple RS232 serial commands.

During the initial design phase it became clear that MazingTree needed a system that would be extremely simple to operate and set up. A “bought in” RF module would be required to handle the wireless communications to save time and ensure a quick and simple design route. As the system was required to be able to run up to three Diving events at the same time and place, the wireless solution needed the ability to change RF channels easily. After evaluating several different modules the LPRS Transceiver ER400TRS became the clear winner because they are simple to use and in this application required no user set up in the final product. They simply plug and play.

John Allan, of MazingTree comments, “During the design phase we were able to just drop them into the circuit design as a straight replacement for an RS232 cable connection.” The added advantage over a cable system, in addition to completely removing connecting cables is that communication with more than one handset was then possible using a single RS232 port on the host PC. In order to compensate for the possibilities of data collisions occurring, a collision detection protocol was installed in the handset PIC firmware and Host PC software. This ensures that all data is correctly transmitted from the handset to the host PC, even if the Judges all send their scores at the same time.

Allan continues, “The JPAD system has possibilities for use in other applications such as industrial process control, instrumentation or in other recording or scoring applications. The built in firmware can be customised either by us or even the end customers own developers as required.”

Barry Gillibrand, Managing Director of LPRS adds, “This is a good example of where “Easy Radio” provides a simple, cost effective and solution to a wireless communication application. From the evaluation kit, through to the OEM modules, “Easy Radio” works so well. No RF experience is required and all the software and approvals are taken care of by LPRS. The time required to get an “Easy Radio” equipped product to market is much faster than any comparable discrete component design”

Physically the handset has been designed to be easily customised for similar low volume applications. It has a customisable keypad and Screen Overlay so that the handset may be supplied with end users own branding and dedicated keys for different applications. The handset can display data sent from the base station host on its 2 x 16 Digit backlit LCD display. Competition scores or commands can then be returned when the user enters data or selects dedicated options on the keypad.

Two base stations used together can be used as a serial cable replacement between two host PC’s or other applications and is in fact more or less identical to the LPRS Evaluation Modules used during initial breadboard testing.

John Allan concludes, ”We have worked with several other end user companies and software developers and recently secured a deal with DiveMeets in the USA who have easily integrated the JPAD system into their own Software.”