FAQ's
How
long will a single charge operate the cordless outdoor models?
This is very dependent on how often games are played, and how
long they last, but a full charge will last many average games.
When the battery is getting low, the scoreboard will notify
the user by flashing up "Lb" (meaning low battery)
briefly in place of the upper players points each time the score
is updated. When this happens there will still be plenty of
charge left to complete the match.
How
do I recharge the cordless outdoor models?
The small "SOLO" unit is charged from the mains using
the plugtop charger supplied. It's output lead plugs into a
socket on the underside of the display. An overnight charge
will fully charge up the unit (12 hours).
The
larger "CLUB" unit can be charged in different ways.
Either the battery can be removed from the scoreboard, and charged
from the mains using the charger supplied, which takes only
3 hours to fully charge the battery. Alternatively the solar
panel supplied may be plugged into the unit and mounted in an
appropriate nearby position that gets reasonable amounts of
direct sunlight. With this arrangement, the battery rarely,
if ever, needs to be recharged separately.
How
do I know which player is which on the scoreboard?
Before starting the match, one player is assigned to be "red",
and the other "blue". The top row scores are red and
the lower row blue as indicated by the red and blue lights in
the case of the indoor displays, and the red and blue panels
to the left of the scores in the case of the outdoor displays.
The remote control is supplied with interchangeable red and
blue straps. As a reminder of which player is which, the red
player wears the red strap, and the blue player wears the blue
strap. Also the outdoor scoreboards are supplied with a chalk
marker which can be used to write the players initials or names
on the red and blue panels. The writing can be wiped off with
a dry cloth. The markers are supplied with a velcro pad which
can conveniently be used to stick the marker on the side of
the scoreboard or other convenient position as desired.
How
do conditions affect the visibility distances for indoor and
outdoor scoreboards?
Indoor boards use LED displays, which actually emit light. If
used in direct sunlight they may be difficult to see, but this
should not be the case with an appropriately positioned indoor
scoreboard. Additionally, indoor units have a special anti reflective
finish to reduce the reflected glare from indoor lighting. Outdoor
units use electro mechanical displays which "flip"
over vanes which are coloured on one side, and black on the
other. Visibility of these is not affected by very bright sunlight.
In fact the brighter conditions are, the better they can be
seen. Both types have a very wide "viewing angle",
which means they can be still be seen at an oblique angle. As
a comparison guide to distances quoted, a tennis court playing
area is 24 x 11 metres, and a badminton court 11 x 6 metres.
What
will happen of the scoreboard is struck by a fast ball (or even
racket)?
The displays use metal enclosures with shatterproof polycarbonate
front windows, making them very tough.
What
if there are a lot of scoreboards in close proximity? Won't
they 'interfere' with each other?
No. Each remote control emits a unique code which is recognised
only by the scoreboard which has been 'taught' to recognise
it. Teaching a scoreboard to recognise a specific control is
a simple procedure. The remote control has two buttons, red
and blue, corresponding to the red and blue player score on
the scoreboard. Either a single control can be used to score
for both players, or each player can have a remote control to
score only their own points.
What
happens if I make a mistake and enter a score for the wrong
player?
Simple. Just press and hold either remote control button, and
the display will step back (undo) up to three steps.
What
exactly is "sleep" mode
The indoor displays will go blank if they have been inactive
for 20 minutes in order to save electricity. One press of the
remote control will restore the display. The outdoor displays
shut down after 10 minutes to conserve battery power, but the
display does not go blank. Instead, the scoreboard will not
respond to the remote control after it has gone to sleep. To
"wake" it up again just press the reset button underneath.
What
if the battery inside the remote control goes flat?
The remote control will not suddenly cease to function due to
a battery going flat. When its battery gets near the end of
its life, a reduction in operating range may be noticed, but
even then there is plenty of "life" left. Normal range
is approx 75 metres. A battery typically lasts from several
months to five years depending on use.
