BHM Electronics 3 C-FAX Manual de instrucciones
C-FAX
Model 3
RADIO FACSIMILE RECEIVER
USER HANDBOOK
BHM Electronics
CONTENTS
Introduction 3
Unpacking 3
Mounting 4
Connecting Power and Aerial 4
Connecting an External Receiver 5
Loading Paper 6
The Controls 7
Using the C-Fax 8
Sample Weather Maps 10
Weather Map Abbreviations 11
Detailed Description of the Controls 12
Care of the C-Fax 14
Trouble Shooting 15
Replacing the Fuse 15
Specifications 16
Wiring Connections 17
Frequency List 18
2
Introduction
The C-Fax radio facsimile receiver has been designed as an easy to use, reasonably priced
unit with low operating costs.
The materials and finishes used ensure durability and long life, and the small size enables
fitting in areas where space is at a premium.
The C-Fax uses standard fax paper as used in telephone fax machines. This paper is
generally available from any office supply shop or stationer.
Information contained in the weather maps received can be analysed to give useful insight
into the weather trends for your particular part of the world. This makes it a valuable tool for
those to whom the elements are important in their lifestyle or occupation. Useful books on
the interpretation of these maps are available through most larger book stores. After a little
practice you will find that quite reliable predictions can be made as to future weather
conditions.
Unpacking
Remove the unit from the packing and check that the following is included:
1 x C-Fax radio facsimile printer
1 x wall mounting bracket, fixed to rear of C-Fax
2 x rolls of thermal paper, 216mm by 30m
1 x power lead, 2m long with 4 pin plug
2 x spare fuses (2 amps)
1 x coaxial aerial lead, 2m long with BNC plug (internal receiver model only)
or
1 x audio lead, 2m long, 3.5mm to 3.5mm plug (external receiver model only)
1 x user handbook
1 x New Zealand and Australian weather fax schedule
3
Mounting the C-Fax
The C-Fax may be left free standing or wall mounted on the supplied bracket. To fix the
C-Fax to a wall, remove the mounting bracket from the rear of the C-Fax by taking out the
two screws holding it at the bottom. Screw the bracket to the wall, slide the C-Fax back onto
the bracket and replace the two bottom screws.
Connecting Power
Plug the power lead into the round 4 pin socket on the panel on the right side of the C-Fax.
The other end of the lead is connected to the power source, red wire to positive, black wire
to negative. The C-Fax can operate on a direct current (DC) voltage of from 12 to 15 volts
only.
Caution! THE C-FAX MUST NOT BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO A 24V
SUPPLY. To run it on 24V DC a voltage reducer must be used.
The power lead from the C-Fax must not be connected directly to the
mains power supply (110V or 230V AC). For use with the mains
supply a suitable power supply must be used which can supply 12V
DC at 2 amps.
Connecting an Aerial (for an internal receiver)
The aerial lead plugs into the BNC socket on the side panel. At the other end the center
conductor of the coaxial cable should be connected to an outside wire aerial. This should
consist of a length of wire approximately 10 metres long (30 feet). The wire should run
horizontally and be supported at each end by insulators, with a lead taken from one end to
the C-Fax. The aerial is not critical, try any existing high frequency aerial first.
Caution! Never connect the C-Fax to an aerial used by a radio transmitter.
Severe damage could occur to the receiver in the C-Fax.
The outside shield on the end of the aerial cable can be connected to an earth, such as the
hull of a metal boat or a metal rod driven into the ground as close as practical to the C-Fax.
This earthing is not absolutely necessary but can be of help in reducing interference on the
printed pictures.
4
Using an External Receiver
An external receiver may be used with the C-Fax and is required if your model has no
internal receiver. It must be a crystal controlled or synthesised SSB (single side band) type,
with LSB (lower side band) mode.
Connection should be made from either the speaker output or line level output of the
external receiver to the audio socket on the side panel of the C-Fax. This input will accept a
wide range of signal levels from 1V to 5V RMS. Putting a plug into the external receiver
socket automatically overrides the internal receiver, if present.
Switch the external receiver to LSB and tune it to 1.9 kHz above the listed frequency. For
example, to listen to a channel transmitting on 9459 kHz tune the receiver to 9460.9 kHz.
5
Loading Paper
The C-Fax uses standard telephone fax machine paper, 216mm wide. The recommended
paper length is 30m, longer rolls may not fit.
To load a roll of paper into the C-Fax, open the two catches located each side on the front.
Pull the lower edge of the catch away from the C-Fax and then unhook the upper edge. The
lower section of the case will then open down. Remove the empty roll by pushing it to the
right against the spring and then pulling it up and out.
Insert a new roll of paper by pushing the right end against the spring and then pushing the
left end down. Make sure the outside surface of the paper roll is against the print head, as
shown in the illustration below. This is the side of the paper that the C-Fax prints on. Pull
the end of the paper up and out the front before closing the door.
To close the paper compartment, push the cover closed until both parts of the catches
interlock. Then hook the lower catch over the upper part and push the lower catch down
until it clicks into place.
6
The Controls
1
2345 6789
10
11
12
13
14
Brief Description of the Controls
1 Audio On/Off/Picture Align
Up - received signal audible
Centre - no audio
Down - hold down to manually align picture
2 Align Indicator - used for manual align
3 Fast Paper Feed
4 Paper Out Indicator
5 Stop/Auto/Start
Up - receiver only, no printing
Centre - automatic start/print/stop
Down - continuous printing
6 Run Indicator - printer is operating
7 Power On/Off
8 Data Indicator - printing signal
9 Channel Display (internal receiver model only)
10 Channel Selection Buttons (internal receiver model only)
11 Fuse
12 Power Input Socket
13 External Receiver Input
14 Aerial Input Socket (internal receiver model only)
7
Using the C-Fax
Switching On
Make sure power plug and aerial connections have been made and that a roll of paper is
properly inserted in the C-Fax, as described on pages 4 to 7.
Move the power switch (number 7 in the picture on the previous page) down. If your C-Fax
has an internal receiver the channel display (9) should show the current channel number,
location and frequency the C-Fax is listening to.
for example:
3 Auckland
ZKLF 13550.5kHz
This indicates that the receiver is set to channel 3, which transmits from Auckland on a
frequency of 13550.5 kHz (kilohertz) using the call sign ZKLF.
Selecting a Channel
To change the channel use the two channel selection buttons (10) to move up or down the
list. Refer to the frequency list starting on page 18 to find the channel number of a station
transmitting near you, then change to this channel. If you are using an external receiver you
must manually enter a frequency into your receiver.
The yellow data light (8) should be on or flickering. This indicates a signal is present.
If it is not already on, turn on the audio by switching the Audio switch (1) up. You should be
able to hear the received signal.
If you hear a continuous tone, this is generally a resting tone, a signal many stations send
between maps. If you can hear a signal quickly changing between two tones then a picture is
being sent. Try all the different frequencies for your local station to find the signal which
sounds loudest and has the least static in it.
Printing a Picture
Set the Start switch (5) to the middle position for automatic stop and start.
When a picture is sent it is preceded by a start signal, telling the receiver to start printing.
This is heard as a tone lasting from 5 to 10 seconds. Next the transmitting station sends the
alignment signal which synchronises the picture being sent with that being printed. This
usually sounds as two tones, a very short tone and a longer half second tone, repeated for 30
seconds. Following this is the actual picture, which is two tones alternating randomly, one
tone represents the white parts of the picture, the other tone is used for the black parts. The
8
picture generally takes about 15 minutes to send. Finally the stop signal is sent. This is 5
seconds of alternating tones followed by 10 seconds of a steady tone.
You may turn off the audio by putting the Audio switch (1) back to the middle position. It is
only required for determining the signal quality of a channel.
While the C-Fax is left on Automatic it will start and stop printing whenever a picture is
received. You will generally not need to do anything else.
If for some reason the C-Fax misses the stop signal, for example if the radio signal becomes
very noisy or fades, it will continue to print even after the picture has finished. A built in
timer will automatically stop the C-Fax printing after about 40 minutes if it hasn't had a stop
signal, minimising paper wastage.
Useful Hints
If you switch on the C-Fax and the start tone has passed and a picture is being printed,
switch the Stop/Auto/Start switch down to start the printer, then back to Auto. Let it print for
about 10 seconds then fast feed the paper out a little to see where the edge of the picture is
positioned. Manual alignment can now be carried out as described on page 11.
If the printer is started after the start tone but during the phasing pulse period (during the
first 10 seconds or so) it will automatically align the picture.
Before tearing off the paper fast feed out about 5cm so as not to leave any of the printout
inside the C-Fax.
Tearing off the paper is best done in a downwards direction against the edge of the metal
strip.
9
Sample Weather Maps
Australia Significant Weather Prognosis Australia Mean Sea Level Prognosis
Darwin Tropics Significant Weather Prognosis Indian Ocean Mean Sea Level Prognosis
Example of a noisy signal
10
Tabla de contenidos
