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AlphaEclipse 3600 Series A Sign Installation Instructions (9711-8001C)
Networking
Up to four AlphaEclipse 3600 signs can be connected together into a network (see "Sign-to-sign connections"
on page 21).
Also, in order to display messages, a sign must be connected to a computer that is running AlphaNET
software (see "Computer-to-sign connections" on page 25).
Sign-to-sign connections
NOTE: When two or more signs are connected together, they must be properly terminated. See "RS485
termination" on page 34.
Two or more signs can be set up as either
•
Master/Master signs (page 22) — two to four signs that can display a different message. While the same
message could be sent to both Master signs, the messages may not appear at exactly the same time on the
signs. In order to display the temperature in Master/Master signs, a temperature probe must be connected
to each of the signs.
•
Master/Secondary Master (page 23) — identical to signs connected as Master/Master except for
temperature display. Signs connected as Master/Secondary Master only require that a single temperature
probe connected to just the Master sign. This is the main advantage of Master/Secondary Master sign
connection.
•
Master/Slave signs (page 24) — all these signs display the same message at the same time. In this setup, one
sign is configured as the Master and all the others as Slave signs.
Adaptive Explains
Does it matter if signs are set up as Master/Master, Master/Secondary Master, or Master/Slave?
The most important difference between Master/Master and Master/Slave signs is that Master/Slave signs all display the
same message at the exact same time. On the other hand, signs configured as Master/Master or Master/Secondary Master allow
you to display a different message on each of the signs.
However, to display the temperature on signs, use either Master/Secondary Master or Master/Slave mode because only
one temperature probe is required. (In Master/Master mode, a temperature probe is needed for each sign.)
How are signs set up to be Master/Master, Master/Secondary Master, or Master/Slave?
Signs are configured at the factory.
Is there any way to tell if a sign is a Master, a Secondary Master, or a Slave sign by just looking at it?
Probably not without turning the sign off and then on again. When you do this, the word "Master", "Sec-Master" or
"Slave" will appear in the sign's startup messages.
Also, if you are able to see the back of the sign's wireway, there is a label that indicates how the sign is configured.
Networking
September 28, 2004
21
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